揑f people don抰 know the truth, they make up their version of it,?Dad said.
I rolled my eyes. 揥hat kind of rumors are they spreading now??
揟hat you抮e pregnant with Clifford抯 child and that抯 the reason why you抮e engaged to him. That you抮e pregnant with someone else抯 child. That you抳e run off with someone.?
揑抦 back. If I抎 run off, I wouldn抰 be here, right??
揥hich is why we need to make sure you keep attending social events. And that抯 why we抎 like you to stay until the start of the semester.?
揙kay.?That was only two weeks more than I抎 thought. That wasn抰 so bad. Of course that meant Santino and I would have to stay away from each other for two months?I抎 probably combust. 揑s there a date for my wedding yet??
Mom and Dad exchanged a look. 揥ell, while the Clarks are willing to wait, we have to make sure we don抰 offend the conservatives in the Outfit. Your mother and I think a wedding in the summer after you finish your fashion school would be advisable.?
揙h.?I swallowed. That would be in three years, which really wasn抰 that soon, but at the same time sooner than I would have liked. 揟hat sounds like a good plan. Do Clifford抯 parents agree??
揟hey do. Clifford will be done with his undergraduate studies by then and in law school, so they think children should have to wait a bit longer.?
I almost laughed. Was there anything Clifford and I could decide on our own?
Mom touched my shoulder. 揑s that okay for you??
揙f course.?
Three years.
That was enough to enjoy myself, my freedom, Santino.
When I walked out of the office, I texted Santino to tell him when we抎 return to Paris, but I left out the part with the wedding.
Our texts were always professional, no cute emoticons or endearments, and definitely no sexting.
揑 wasn抰 sure we抎 be returning to Paris at all,?Santino said suddenly, startling me half to death.
I whirled around with wide eyes and touched my chest. 揧ou scared me.?
Santino抯 eyes burned into mine and a little shiver passed my spine. I slanted a glance at Dad抯 office door which was only down the corridor, and swallowed. Santino stood close, and I wanted to bridge the remaining distance between us.
揥hat are you doing here??
揧our parents asked me to come over for a conversation.?
揟hey抮e going to tell you about Paris.?
Would they mention the wedding as well? I really hoped they抎 keep it to themselves for now. I didn抰 want things to get tense between Santino and me again.
揑抦 sure they will,?Santino murmured.
I took a step back before I could do something increasingly stupid. 揗aybe you can come up to my room later and tell me what they said??
Santino cocked one eyebrow. 揑 think it would be a better idea if you came over to the guardhouse. I have the night shift and can抰 abandon my position in front of the monitors. If you come over at ten, I抣l have time for a quick chat about Paris.?
I stifled a smile. Did that mean he was alone in the guardhouse?
揑 appreciate that,?I said politely, and amusement twisted Santino抯 lips.
揑抦 sure you do.?
I turned around, trying not to be too giddy.
After a shower and a thorough shave, I put on a simple sleeveless summer dress for easy access. I didn抰 bother with underwear. I wasn抰 sure how much time we抎 have so I wanted to avoid wasting time.
I headed through the underground corridor toward the guardhouse and knocked. My pulse picked up in anticipation.
Santino opened the door and motioned me in, acting professional, and as if we weren抰 meeting for a booty call. At least I hoped that was what it was.
He closed the door and took in my outfit. He could probably see that I wasn抰 wearing a bra because my nipples were already growing hard.
揂s expected your parents told me we抎 be returning to Paris in early September.?
My face made it clear that I didn抰 care. I perched on the edge of the table with the monitors. 揟hat抯 not why I抦 here.?
揘o??
I narrowed my eyes then opened my legs wide so my dress rode up, revealing I wore nothing beneath.
Santino leaned against the door with a groan. 揧ou抮e going all in.?
揥e don抰 have any time to waste.?
Santino chuckled. 揑 can抰 lock the door, so this is very dangerous.?
揑 thought you had the night shift alone??
揑抦 alone in the guard house but there are other bodyguards on the perimeter as always. My father for one.?
揌e wouldn抰 tell on you, right??
Santino pushed away from the door and prowled closer. 揇idn抰 we agree to stay away from each other while in Chicago??His expression told me he had other plans.
揇o you want to stay away from me for two months??