Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Until a dark shadow falls over me, that is.
I shoot up out of the water, all the peace of moments ago vanished as water splashes the pristine marble floors.
“Are you trying to drown yourself, Dandelion?” Amadeo asks with a smirk, letting his gaze slowly glide over me.
“You fucking asshole. I had locked the door!” I slap the water to splash him.
He just laughs and steps back in time to avoid most of it. “I have a key,” he says, presenting it to me before closing his palm around it. “It is my house, after all.”
“It’s a fucking bathroom. Don’t you respect anything?”
He shrugs his shoulders, then pushes his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. He’s dressed casually, the sleeves of his sweater pushed up to his elbows. My gaze moves over his forearms, dusted with dark hair, and catches on the dandelion tattoo. He checks the time on his expensive watch before stepping toward the tub and reaching in.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask, scooting as far away as possible.
He glances at me like I’m the one with the problem as he pulls the plug and water begins to drain away.
“I wasn’t done,” I say stupidly.
He shakes the water off his arm, then reaches for a towel to dry it before unfolding it and holding it out for me. As if I would step out of the tub right here, right now in front of him fully naked, and let him wrap the goddamn towel around me.
“What the fuck?” I ask again, covering myself with my arms.
“Out, Dandelion. Come on. We have an appointment.”
“What appointment?”
“We need to get your ring sized before the big night.” He winks at me.
“It’s a fake engagement. I don’t need a ring.”
“But you do. Let’s go. Out.”
“I don’t want one.”
“Christ. Don’t be a fucking baby.” He gestures to the towel.
“Turn around.”
“I’ve seen you naked,” he reminds me, then grins that deviant grin that I at once hate and that does something to my insides. “I’ve touched you. Smelled you. Tasted you. You taste good. I don’t know if I mentioned that last night.”
I grab the nearest thing, which is the stupid loofah, and throw it at him. He just laughs like he’s really amused as it bounces off his shoulder.
“I’m going to fucking kill you in your sleep!”
“I am sure you’re going to try.”
I reach out far enough to grab the towel, but he tugs it just out of reach, making me slip back into the tub, so I have to catch the edge before I slam my face against it.
“Careful, sweetheart. Don’t want your pretty face bruised before our big night. People will talk.”
After taking a deep breath in, then forcing it out, I climb more carefully out of the tub and snatch the towel away to wrap it around myself. I’m surprised he lets it go.
“Better. I’ll see you downstairs in five minutes,” he says and turns to walk out.
“Fine. Asshole.”
He stops at the door and turns back to me. “You know,” he starts, stepping back into the bathroom, which, although not huge, didn’t feel as small as it does with his hulking form in here now. It takes all I have to stand still and not back away when he reaches out to tilt my chin up, then takes my jaw more tightly. “For such a pretty girl, you have a very foul mouth.”
I jerk out of his grasp. “You bring out all my best qualities.”
“Daddy may not have washed your mouth out with soap and water, but I just might.”
I grit my teeth and hold my tongue because I have no doubt he would, and although I’ve never experienced that, I’m pretty sure it’s gross.
“Better. Five minutes. And remember to be convincing. If you’re not, no Emma.”
Before I can say anything, he’s gone.
12
Amadeo
The jeweler, something Preston, I can’t remember his first name, prattles on about nonsensical things. He’s nosy, looking around at everything as if taking inventory. Making a spreadsheet of my net worth. My mind is on Vittoria upstairs. Vittoria naked in the tub. She doesn’t shrink away like I expected her to. She also has a smart mouth. I’ll teach her to put it to better use. I do worry that I find her more than a little attractive, but I tell myself that finding a gorgeous woman attractive is human. Even if her last name is Russo.
“There she is,” he says as Vittoria descends the final step into the hallway. “The beautiful bride-to-be.”
She looks my way and gives me a glare. I wink as she turns the corner and shifts her attention to the jeweler.
“Ah.” I wrap a hand around the back of her neck and pull her to me, planting a kiss on her mouth. Surprised, she pushes against my chest, and when I release her, she gasps for breath. “My fiancée is lovely. And so sweet.” I remind her before introducing her to the jeweler. “Vittoria, this is Mr. Preston. He was kind enough to do a rush job on this.”