Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
As soon as I close the door behind me, I sink into one of the reading chairs and let it all out as Beppe does his best to comfort me.
I don’t know why the thought of Romeo doing something nice for me feels like pure agony, but it does. Maybe because it challenges everything I thought I knew. Or maybe beneath the broody, sarcastic exterior, he’s still the same person he’s always been.
When I think of the way Eros set up my workspace, I can’t help but compare the two. And the longer I sit with it, the more that question lingers.
Realistically, I could just go ask Abella right now and find out the truth. But I don’t want her to witness the emotions on my face when she confirms or denies it.
A different idea takes shape as I study the spiral staircase that leads to the lower level. This one exits near the central courtyard, and it would give me a straight shot to Romeo’s wing.
Abella said they were gone, and now that the thought has entered my mind, I can’t seem to talk myself out of it.
I descend the stairs and move through the house quietly. I haven’t been to Romeo’s wing in years, and I’m not even sure it will be unlocked. But when I reach the door, it opens without resistance.
The space is dark, and my heart races as I slip inside. The motion-activated lights startle me, but when I glance down, I realize they line the base of the walls. As I continue down the hallway, passing the kitchen and living area, they light my path all the way to the primary suite.
I open his door, bracing for him to jump out and scare me, but he doesn’t. The room is quiet and dark, and when I step inside, I have no choice but to turn on the light. I don’t know how much time I have to look around, or what I’m even looking for exactly, but I feel like I have to do this.
I set Beppe down and let him explore the space on his own while I glance around.
The first thing I notice is a black hoodie draped across the end of the bed, so I grab it and bring it to my nose to inhale, feeling slightly unhinged.
It smells clean, with no discernible notes, so I think it’s just been washed.
I return the hoodie to the bed and wander over to his desk. The computer isn’t currently turned on, and I don’t bother since I know I wouldn’t have a chance of getting into it. But I try to open each of the desk drawers, only to find they’re all locked.
Annoying.
With nothing else to check, I venture into his walk-in closet and start rifling through his drawers and cupboards. When I see his black briefs, and I pause to stare at them, I question my sanity.
His clothes are all more of the same—black jeans, pants, T-shirts, dress shirts, trousers, and a few suits. There are also a few pairs of boots, and I lean down to inspect them, comparing them to the ones Eros wears. I can’t say for certain, but I don’t think these are a match.
As I walk back into the bedroom, I glance at the bed, briefly wondering if he’s ever brought a woman in here. The thought makes me nauseous, and I try to delete it from my brain, because this is absolutely neurotic.
“Looking for anything in particular?”
The low, lazy drawl startles me, and I yelp as I turn around to find Romeo watching me.
He leans against the doorframe, all ink and muscle in a plain black T-shirt that should be illegal. My eyes burn a path over his body, staring at him for far too long before I snap myself out of it.
I have no idea how long he’s been there, but knowing he caught me staring at his bed makes my face burn with embarrassment.
“Beppe ran off,” I say, my voice pitching higher. “I had to come find him.”
I’m a terrible liar, and it’s obvious when Romeo scrapes a hand over his jaw, hiding his amusement. “Mmm hmm. I’m sure you did.”
Thankfully, he doesn’t mention that the door to his wing was closed. That argument would fire a shotgun-sized hole through my defense.
When Beppe casually strolls out of the bathroom, I scoop him up as if that will prove my point.
“Found him.”
Romeo smirks as I walk toward him, but he doesn’t move. I stop a foot away, eyeing the gap between him and the doorframe. It’s not big enough to squeeze through, but I’m still tempted to try.
“You know there’s a fine for trespassing,” he says.
“I’m not kissing you again,” I blurt. “You have a girlfriend, so you never should have kissed me to begin with.”