Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
I surveyed the room. It was nice, luxurious, even. Soft dove gray walls, big dark wood furniture, lots of leather, exposed beam ceilings with ceiling fans. It didn’t really match the hacienda theme outside, and I wouldn’t say it was my taste, but it was nice. There was a big difference from this room to the kind of room I was used to. The small room I’d shared with Bethany was small, containing two twin loft beds with desks underneath, drawers for stairs. Here was a room I was expected to share with a man. I cringed, looking at the bed, fearing what I’d be expected to do. I knew nothing about this Tommy. All I knew was that I was in a pickle of a situation, and I didn’t know how I’d get myself out.
Rose, Cal, and everyone must’ve been worried about me right now. Or had Dad made up an excuse? They’d probably report me missing if they didn’t hear from me in a few hours. They knew how stoked I was about this party. Rose had made my favorite artichoke and spinach dip as well as mozzarella sticks plus a plethora of appetizers that the other girls had requested. There was a huge cake for us, two thirds vanilla and a third chocolate because me and Mia preferred vanilla and Beth preferred chocolate. Cal had suggested three separate cakes or cupcakes with icing slathered all over to hold them all together but we were all so close we wanted the same cake. Rose had said she had our photos put on in icing. I never saw my cake. A tear slid down my cheek. Then I heard the doorknob turn and I dashed it away and held the others back. I put my lips together and stood still, back straight, took a deep breath, and waited.
3
When I opened the door and saw her standing there, I wanted to capture the moment in time. It went from her being stoic, trying to hide her fear, standing tall and rigid in a gorgeous, clingy black dress, high heels, her hair up in a sophisticated style, to the flash of recognition that led to her forehead crinkling and her eyes staring at me accusingly.
I stepped in, closed the door behind myself, and I stood there, waiting for her to say something.
Oh my God. OH MY GOD! The hottie from the ice cream parlor. I couldn’t believe this! I told my friends about him and how gorgeous he was to the point that the subject had been banned because they got sick of my going on and on about him. I’d fricking dreamt about him, about him and his cherry stem-tying tongue. And here he was. This was him.
He’s tall. Like really tall, six foot three, six foot four, maybe. Caramel brown kind of curly, kind of messy-on-purpose hair, chiseled face, light brown, sort of whiskey-colored, eyes. He resembles his father. His mouth? Drool-worthy. He had a bit of a five o’clock shadow just like the other day. He was standing in a suit, a black suit with a dark blue dress shirt and no tie. That suit fit him very well. He looked like a million dollars. Five million dollars. He has to be close to ten years older than me. He has to be the sexiest fricking man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Ever. But What.The.Fuck?
If this were ancient times or whenever arranged marriages were common and I’d been brought up to know that I’d someday have an arranged marriage, I’d have been thrilled at what was standing in front of me.
Obviously, I’d been betrothed to a wealthy gorgeous man. It could be worse. A lot worse. But this wasn’t ancient times. I’m not thrilled. I’m freaked right the heck out. Not only are my choices being taken away and not only am I under threat, but this is a fricking mafia family. What the heck?
“Athena,” he said, a little smirk on his face. That meeting at the ice cream parlor was so obviously no accident.
I stood still, totally in shock.
“Tommy Ferrano,” he said. “Nice to officially meet you.” He extended his hand.
I snickered and folded my arms. He gave me a little smile and pulled his hand back without reacting, then proceeded to circle me. Circle me! Fear prickled my scalp because I suddenly felt like prey; felt like a piece of meat. That’s exactly how he circled me.
“So, I’m told you’re missing a party right now, one that’s important to you,” he said, meeting my eyes with his and stopping directly in front of me. Close to me. Too close. In my personal space, really.
I nodded slightly, feeling my skin heat up under his appraisal. Damn, he was tall, broad, and authoritative. I felt like I was at a huge disadvantage.