Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 59176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Those shoes do things to me,” he mutters.
“I know.” I tuck my makeup bag under my arm and follow him into the elevator. When we reach the garage, the driver meets us and tucks our bags into the trunk.
Because it’s so early, traffic to the airfield isn’t crazy. We don’t go to SeaTac. Instead, we’re driven to Boeing Field, where many private planes come and go.
The driver parks near the Martinelli jet, and before long, we’re tucked safely inside, coffee at our elbows, and a flight attendant at our beck and call.
I don’t like the way she ogles Carmine.
Not that he’s mine. He’s not. But I still don’t like it.
“Have you fucked her?” I ask quietly.
He frowns down at me. “Who?”
“Her.” I don’t look up at the flight attendant.
“Look at me.”
I don’t do as he asks. I won’t look at him and show him the vulnerability in my eyes. It pisses me off that it’s there in the first place.
“Nadia.”
“Forget I asked. Let’s talk about how high-maintenance you are, Carmine. Why can’t we just take a commercial flight to New York? First class is pretty swanky these days.”
“Your father has a jet.”
“Yeah, for him to use. The only time I’m on it is if I’m traveling with him. I’m okay with a normal flight.”
“Must I remind you that you’re carrying a ten-thousand-dollar handbag?”
I glance down at my Birkin and smile. “I never forget about my bag. But it was a gift. And a one-time purchase. It doesn’t cost me anything to maintain it.”
“You’re decked out in luxury brands from head to toe, Nadia. You live well. I won’t apologize for doing the same. We all have things we’re willing to splurge on. This is one of mine. I fund every flight I take on this jet. Not the family. And because I’ve been savvy with my money, I can afford the luxury.”
“Hey, I’m not irresponsible with my money.” I poke him in the side. “I just don’t have a fancy portfolio.”
“I’m going to help you with that.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because it’s important to have investments. It only adds to your independence. And after what you told me about your lack of trust with your family, I think it’s imperative that you’re dependent on them as little as possible.”
I stare at him, my mouth agape. “You’re worried about me.”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be silly.”
“You like me,” I continue, teasing him. “I think you like me, like me, Carmine Martinelli. What will people say?”
“Stop talking.”
“The next thing you know, you’ll be pledging your undying love and proposing. I don’t want to have babies, Carmine. I’m telling you that now—”
The next thing I know, I’m trapped against the back of the seat, and he’s kissing the hell out of me. This isn’t a playful peck to get me to stop talking. It’s passionate, full of frustration and lust, and I hear the moan coming out of my throat as I sink my fingers into his dark hair and hang on tight as he takes me on an erotic ride.
“That’ll teach you to shut up when I tell you to,” he mutters against my lips as the plane taxis down the runway. “And the answer to your question is, no. I’ve never fucked her.”
I clear my throat as he backs away and returns to his seat, settles in.
“It’s none of my business.”
“Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”
* * *
“Maybe I should stay here.”
We’ve been in the suite at the Four Seasons for an hour. The space is decorated in black and white, all modern and clean and completely sterile.
It’s beautiful, most likely costs a small fortune, and is not my style at all.
But I’d rather stay here than head into the lion’s den.
“You’re not staying here, Nadia.”
“I told you before…the Sergi family doesn’t like me, Carmine.”
That’s putting it mildly.
“What did you do, kill one of them?”
“No. I was supposed to marry Billy but I threw a fit, and my father told them never mind. It pissed them off. You know how it is when a family is supposed to marry into another.”
“Elena was supposed to marry Alex,” he says dryly. “She dodged that bullet.”
“Exactly. I dodged the same one. And they’re just not happy about it. They don’t trust us now.”
“When did this happen?”
“Six years ago.”
He whistles between his teeth. “That’s a long time, Nadia. If all’s been quiet since then, I’d think they’ve moved on and have other things to be mad about.”
“Yeah, well, you’d think.” I bite my lip. “Still, I’ll just hang out here and wait for you.”
“No, you’ll come with me. But I suggest you change out of those heels.”
I shake my head, resigned to my fate. “They’re a weapon if I need them. And I can run in them as easily as I can in my sneakers. I also have a concealed sidearm on me.”