Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I stepped onto the terrace and felt the warm sun strike my skin, felt the sea breeze enter my lungs and cleanse me of the final drops of despair. The summer sunshine hit the surface of the Tyrrhenian Sea and made it sparkle like diamonds. “I can’t believe you left this place.”
He came to my side and looked out at the view with me. “It was easy.”
“How can that be possible?” I loved the vineyards and the smell of jasmine and the hot summers in the center of the island and the rolling hills and the sight of Mount Etna in the distance, but this was like a dream.
“The second I looked at you, everything was easy.”
He took me out to dinner at Ristorante Quattro Mani in the historical center of Palermo. It had outdoor seating in the walkway between the buildings, so we sat outside on the well-lit street. Picture frames were hung on the wall of the restaurant, and there were pots of cacti growing. It definitely felt like a place for locals because it was a few blocks back from the water.
The waiter came over with the biggest smile on his face. “Wolfe, it’s been a minute.”
Wolfe grinned and embraced him with one of those hand grabs that men did. “Been too long of a minute.”
“How are things?”
“Good. I was in Caltanissetta for work for a bit.”
“Well, I hope that job’s done because we need you to keep us in business.”
Wolfe laughed at the joke. “You got it, man.”
“I’ll bring you two some wine.”
“Zorin.”
He turned back before he left the table.
“This is my woman, Francesca. Baby, this is my friend Zorin.”
“Lovely to meet you.” He shook my hand then waggled his eyebrows at Wolfe before he walked back inside the restaurant.
I wouldn’t have cared if Wolfe hadn’t introduced me, but it did make me feel special when he did. Like he was proud that I was his woman. “So, you come here a lot?” I teased.
“Used to come here every week with the guys.”
“What guys?”
“Cosa Nostra.”
“Oh.” I should have figured that out. “You think word will get back to them that you’re in town?”
“Probably, but I don’t give a damn. This is as much my town as it is theirs.”
“Now that you aren’t working for my father, you think you’ll take their offer to come back?”
“No,” he said with a slight scoff. He grabbed the menu and took a look at the entrées. “They can fuck right off.”
I ignored the tension my questions created and looked at the specials menu. “What’s good here?”
He set the menu aside like he already knew what he wanted, even though he’d barely had time to look. “The citrus-crusted swordfish. That’s what I always get.”
“That does sound good.”
“The only thing that would make it better is if you made it.”
I released a quiet chuckle as I looked at the menu. “I don’t have a lot of experience with fish.”
“Well, this is the perfect place to learn. We can go down to the market in the morning and grab fresh fish every day. That’s what my maid does for dinner.”
“Will I meet her while we’re here?”
“No. I gave her the week off. Don’t want any interruptions.”
Even though my eyes remained on the menu, I could feel his hot stare on my face. It was hard to fight the grin as it stretched my mouth wide. “It’s nice how your top floor is separate from the rest of the house.”
“She knows not to go in there when I’m in residence.”
“A house with two kitchens…what a dream.” I set the menu on the table.
“What are you getting?”
“Couscous di pesce.”
“That’s good too.”
“You’ve had it?”
“I’ve had everything.”
I flipped to the dessert menu. “I might have to get this chocolate cannolo.”
“Do it.”
“It’ll make me bloated.”
“I won’t notice.”
I smirked slightly before I set down the menu. “I doubt that.”
“Hard to notice something like that when I’m busy looking at other things.”
He was strict with his diet and worked out every single day, had so much muscle on him that he was like a furnace constantly burning fat before he had the chance to store it. The epitome of fitness and health, but he never cared about my love for sweets and the little belly I had. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to earn a perfect man, when I was so flawed and imperfect. I’d never worked out a day in my life. The most exercise I got these days was riding his dick, and even then, he did most of the work.
“You look really hot in that dress, by the way.”
It was a little black dress with a deep cut in the front that showed my cleavage. I wore a little gold necklace too, the pendant stopping a few inches above the plunge. The dress had been sitting in my closet forever. I’d bought it on a whim but never had a reason to wear it—until now. “Thanks.”