Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“Why dismay?”
“Because she’d been teaching me for years and I wasn’t exactly the best student. But in one summer here, I learned the shit she tried to show me.”
“So, what is your signature dish? If you had to impress someone, what would you make them?”
“I make a mean manicotti,” I told her, pushing my plate closer when she reached to twirl another forkful. I didn’t even care if she left me any at that point. I was just loving watching her enjoy.
“Do you bake too, or is it strictly cooking?”
“I never got super into baking, but I can make some good brownies. My sister used to demand I make them monthly back when we both lived at home.”
“Brownies are my favorite dessert. Especially if there is some vanilla ice cream and whipped cream involved.”
“And cherries?”
“I mean, what kind of monster would turn down cherries?”
I had sudden visions of bringing her à la mode brownies. In bed. Naked.
Hell, I was about to suggest we stop for the ingredients on the way to her place when we finished up our meal.
“No, you have to let me chip in at least,” she said as I slipped cash into the bill binder.
“Absolutely not,” I said, slipping out of the booth.
“But—“
“But nothing. This is where, if I were a cheesier man, I might say that the pleasure of your company is all the payment I need.”
“Well, of course, you aren’t that cheesy,” she said, shooting that big smile at me. “Though, secretly, I kind of like cheesy,” she added as we made our way out onto the deck. “This must be nice in the warmer weather,” she said, looking out at the water.
“Best place in town,” I agreed. “They usually bring in live music too. They close for the 4th of July, and the whole family comes to watch the fireworks over the water.”
“That sounds amazing,” she said as we made our way toward the steps.
The stairs were slippery from the sea, and Dasha slipped on the last step, sending her falling into my arms.
It was practically a fucking movie moment.
And she was looking up at me with stars in her eyes.
Until my fucking phone started to ring in my pocket.
“Sorry,” I said when she stepped back.
“Don’t be,” she insisted, shaking her head as I reached for my phone.
I was expecting my mom, full of accusations and questions. Instead, it was Luca.
That was unexpected.
“Luca, can I—“
“Santo, get down to the docks,” he demanded, sounding like he, too, was rushing to get there.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Dunno yet. But I need you there as soon as possible.”
“Okay. Alright. I have—“ I started, but he’d already hung up.
“You need to be somewhere?” Dasha asked. I had to give her credit; she was trying really hard not to sound disappointed. But I was getting good at reading her.
“Unfortunately.”
“It’s okay! I can order a ride,” she said, already reaching for her phone.
“No,” I said.
“It’s fine! I used them all the time back in my old town.”
“Dasha, no,” I said, walking us toward my car. “You’re on my way,” I added, mostly telling the truth.
I knew they’d come a long way since their inception, but I still didn’t feel like rideshares were safe. We kind of forbade the girls in our family from using them. Which went over about as well as you can imagine. Smush used to use them just to spite us, despite having her own car.
We made our way back to her place, and the whole way there, I noticed her tension growing. I wanted to ask why. I wanted to park and go inside with her. I wanted to suffocate between her thighs, to settle deep inside her. Then I wanted to make her brownies in bed.
But there was no time for any of that.
“Thanks for dinner,” Dasha said, giving me a smile that didn’t meet her eyes as she fished for her keys.
“Anytime, sweetheart. I’ll wait until you get inside,” I said, knowing I was only a few minutes away from the docks. And I could speed there after this.
With that, Dasha climbed out.
By the time she stepped inside, her shoulders were damn near by her ears.
But she went inside.
The lights through the whole house flicked on.
And I couldn’t sit there idling for another second.
Sighing, I floored it the rest of the way to the docks, finding several cars and SUVs parked haphazardly in the lot where the other Family members had already pulled up and run off to… whatever possible danger there was.
I rushed out of the car, going into the trunk, and pulling out a gun and extra ammunition as another car pulled up behind me.
“Any idea what is going on?” Dante asked, gun already in hand as he came up to me.
“Not a fucking clue. But everyone’s gone so… let’s move,” I said, nodding toward the rows and rows of shipping containers, some stacked five or six high, creating a labyrinth where any kind of danger could be hiding.