I can feel my panties grow wet even as disappointment spreads beneath my skin. There it is. He’s waiting for me to declare surrender and hand him his prize.
I jerk my chin out of his grasp. “I don’t know what you mean.”
His gaze sparks. “Are we just going to pretend you didn’t spend the last few mornings salivating over my body?”
A bucket of cold water breaks right over my head. I rip off the duvet and push past him as I get out of bed. “Fuck you.”
“You will. Very soon.”
I whirl around, ready to find something to throw at him, but he’s already halfway out the door.
He leaves, but the ghost of his touch remains branded into my skin.
Nero’s waiting in the foyer when I come downstairs in my first-day-at-work outfit. I decided to optimize for comfort, since I don’t really know what Loretta will have me do all day, so I’m wearing a pair of wide-legged jeans, a green blouse, and some sneakers.
Nerves dance beneath my skin. I want today to go well.
Nero looks up from his phone and takes stock of me. “You actually don’t look too bad.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Gee, thanks.”
He laughs and drags his palm over the scruff on his chin. He’s nearly as tall as the doorway behind him. Today, he’s dressed down from the usual black suit I’m used to seeing him in. Instead, he’s wearing a pair of jeans, a gray T-shirt, and a black leather jacket. “I meant it as a compliment. Heard you got banged up.”
“Felt like a pretty backhanded compliment.”
He slides his phone into his jacket pocket. “You always assume the worst of me.”
“Always? We’ve spoken like…twice.”
“Yes, but our first interaction was so insightful. I feel like I really got to know you.” He opens the front door and waves me forward.
I step out and breathe in the crisp March air. “You mean when you and Rafaele pulled me off the side of the road like two barbarians?”
Nero unlocks the car and opens the door for me. “It was the beginning of your beautiful love story.”
I can’t help but snort as I slide into my seat. “Oh yes, because all love stories involve kidnappings, being forced into marriage, and dates that end in a hailstorm of bullets.”
He grins. “The ones that aren’t boring do.”
I put on my seat belt while he comes around and gets in on the other side.
“Well, maybe some of us like boring.”
He starts the car. “Yeah, but not you.” He smirks at me, like he genuinely believes he knows all about me.
I clench my teeth and decide that I’m over this conversation.
But Nero is not. “So, how are things going with you and Rafe?” he asks as we pull out of the driveway.
He’s trying to sound way too casual.
“Fine.”
“You warming up to him? He’s not as bad as he seems at first.”
I groan. “Is this why Rafaele assigned you to me? So that you could make a case for him on the drive over?”
“No. He asked me to do this because he’s worried about you.”
“He doesn’t worry about anything or anyone.” It comes out bitter. I’m annoyed about this morning and how I actually wanted Rafe to kiss me…until he ruined it. Is there some pathetic part of me that’s hoping this marriage might work? I really am a colossal idiot.
Nero shrugs. “That’s what he’d like to believe, but his actions indicate otherwise. Heard he fired Sabina because of something she said to you.”
“Yes, well, apparently my existence has been reduced to being an extension of him. He takes any offense against me very personally.”
“You really don’t get it, do you?”
I glance at him. “Get what?”
“Sabina’s been with the family for four decades. And he fired her without even thinking it over. Rafe thinks everything over.”
I shift in my seat. “What are you implying?” That Rafaele acted emotionally for once?
“Nothing. I’m just making observations.”
“Just observe the road.”
Nero huffs a laugh and turns on the radio. He cycles through the stations until he finds one playing hip-hop, and then he bops his head along with the song. A puff of air escapes my lips as we get onto the highway. My perception of Rafaele is shifting like a kaleidoscope. I don’t know what to make of my husband anymore.
When the song ends and the commercial comes on, Nero turns down the volume. “You know, there’s at least one other thing Rafe did quite impulsively.”