Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Juliette looked up at me and murmured, “Me, too.”
Then my phone rang. “It’s your father,” I said before picking up. “Vince. How’s it going?”
“How are things down the shore?”
I hesitated. “My grandmother passed away. But I had the chance to see her before she died. So thank you again for clearing us to come.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
I noticed Juliette turn around and begin changing into her sleep clothes. I moved to the farthest corner of the room to give her some privacy.
“I wanted to let you know that things have calmed down,” Vince said. “You and Juliette are free to return to California. But you should still be on high alert—just no need to go back to Italy.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Okay. I’ll let her know.”
“Very good, then. Take care of my baby girl.”
“Of course. Thanks, Vince.”
I was still looking down at the phone when Juliette asked, “What’s going on?”
After I filled her in, Juliette looked like someone had pissed in her Cheerios. “I was actually hoping to go back to Italy, believe it or not,” she said. “Although this is probably best for me workwise.”
“I hear you. A part of me was kind of hoping for that, too.”
My feelings on the matter were starting to mess with my head. So were Juliette’s nipples, which I could see clear as day through the thin shirt I was pretty sure she’d put on to torture me tonight.
CHAPTER 14
* * *
Juliette
I couldn’t sleep.
It had been close to an hour since Wes had turned off the light, and I was still staring up at the ceiling, feeling wide awake despite the long day. I’d assumed Wes would conk out pretty quickly, considering the day’s emotional toll, but I hadn’t heard his breathing smooth out yet.
“Wes?” I whispered. “Are you still awake?”
“Yeah.”
I turned to face him and tucked my hands under my cheek. “Where would you see yourself in five years, if you didn’t work for my father?”
He was quiet a moment. “If we’re playing in the land of make believe, then I’m back on the force. Maybe in a different unit and with a higher rank that comes with more pay.”
I smiled. “What unit would you want to be in?”
Wes had been lying on his back, but he now turned to face me. It was dark, but not so much that I wasn’t reminded how handsome he was.
“I always thought I might want to go into the Special Victims Unit—work with women and children who were abused.”
I didn’t have to ask why that would interest him, not after finding out how his father had treated his mother.
“Do you think you’d be married with children?”
“Maybe. I’d like to have a couple of kids someday.” He lifted his chin. “What about you? Where would you like to be?”
“Well, I’ll be thirty-two in five years, so I’d love to be married and have a child. Possibly even pregnant with a second.” I smiled, imagining it. “I’d love to continue working, too. Maybe part time. To me, that would be the best of both worlds. My mom never worked, and I feel like her identity was her family, and she could’ve used something of her own to be passionate about.”
“That sounds nice.”
I sighed. “Too bad it will likely never happen.”
“Why not?”
“Well, for starters, since I moved out to California, I haven’t even told a man my real last name. Imagine dating me for a while and then one day I drop a bomb that my last name isn’t what I go by and oh, by the way, my dad is Vince Ginocassi, head of one of the five families.” I scoffed. “I’m pretty sure Jett would’ve run the other way if I’d told him.”
Wes scoffed. “Jett’s a weasel. I told you, any real man won’t care about who your family is. He’ll take you for who you are, no matter what obstacles come with it.”
“I guess I haven’t met any real men then yet.” I placed a palm on Wes’s chest. “Present company excluded.”
He didn’t respond, but I heard his breathing grow labored. My heart pumped faster.
“As long as we’re living in the land of make believe,” I said. “Could you…see yourself coming home to me?”
“I thought I was a cop.”
I smiled. “You are. I didn’t mean come home to me because you work for my dad. I meant because you want to.”
“Juliette…”
“What? You said in the car that wanting me wasn’t a problem. Are you attracted to me?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
“Maybe. But I’d really like to hear you say it.”
Wes was quiet for a long time again. When he spoke, his voice was gritty. “You’re unbearably beautiful. When I look at you, it’s impossible to think of anything else. A lack of attraction is probably the one issue we don’t have.”