Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Like I told Renzo—”
“He’s not here so don’t give me that bullshit. How’d you do it?”
I clench my jaw. “You don’t believe that we’re in love?”
“I believe one of you is. I think she’s got other reasons.”
I go quiet. Saul can be very fucking perceptive sometimes and it’s more than a little frustrating. But I don’t know if he’s right about loving her.
I want her. That’s true. I can’t get her out of my head and whenever she’s around, I have this stupid, physically painful need to reach out and touch her. I like her smile, I love her laugh, but she’s right, we don’t know each other anymore. It’s been ten years.
How can I love a girl I haven’t seen in a decade? We only spent a week together.
But I blew up my life. I gave up Vegas, everything I’ve known, everything I’ve built, just to be with her. When she asks why I did it, I’m not lying.
I couldn’t bear the thought of her being with anyone but me.
So I married her.
And yeah, okay, the shit about wanting a baby was a little much and mostly I was fucking with her.
But if she wanted to get pregnant?
I’d do it in a heartbeat.
What the hell does that say about me?
“I’m going to divorce her in a year,” I say as I stare out across the garden. “That’s our deal. We’ll wait until our families are deeply allied then she’ll get her life back.”
“Huh.” He sounds genuinely surprised. “I can see why she’d go for that. Hurts my feeling a bit, but I get it.”
“She just wants her own choices. That’s all.”
“I understand.” He looks at me sideways. “But do you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“She wants choices, but here you are, married to her exactly the wrong way. Can you honestly say you really think you two will get divorced a year from now? Are you really going to do it?”
“If she wants me to, I will.”
“Yeah, there it is. If she wants you to.” He drinks his coffee and sighs. “You’re setting yourself up to get fucked here, little brother.”
“No, I’m not. I’m dealing with it.”
“Pretty sure that’s not true.” He gets up, shaking his head. “I’m still pissed with you. Don’t fucking think otherwise. But we both know you’re setting yourself up to get hurt here and I guess I feel like I have to warn you.”
“Like I said, I have this handled.”
“Sure you do. Thanks for the coffee.” He walks to the back door.
“Does this mean we’re good?” I get up, watching him. “You and I are okay?”
“Fuck no.” Saul doesn’t look back. “I’m still livid, but I’ll get over it eventually. The money’s going to help.”
“You prick.”
“Yeah, brother, I know.” He flashes me a grin. “Good luck.” Then he’s back in the house. I stand there, annoyed that he thinks I’m screwing myself, and even more annoyed that he’s right.
But I don’t have time to consider it. I hear voices in the kitchen and find Allegra pouring herself some coffee. My heart stutters in my chest at the sight of her: long, curly dark hair down to the middle of her back, wearing short cotton shorts and that thin t-shirt which doesn’t do much to hide her shapely chest. Saul’s not even bothering to look away.
“Hope your honeymoon’s going great,” he says to her as he heads out.
I glare at his back then turn to Allegra. “What’d he say to you?”
“Nothing. Just that there are no hard feelings with us.” She sips her coffee, eyebrows raised. “You look unhappy. And tired. Did you have trouble sleeping?”
“I’m fine.” I pour more coffee, pissed off over how this morning is going. “I made food. Eat if you want.”
“Thanks.” She cocks her head. “Are you sure you’re okay? You weren’t left all hot and bothered, were you?” She tries to cover her teasing smile with her mug as she takes a sip.
“Not at all. I took a nice, long shower, and thought about fucking your pretty little mouth as I came.”
She sputters and laughs. “Holy shit, Gian. That’s a little intense.”
“Sorry, should I have given in to fucking your tight ass instead? In my fantasy, you were game for both. Not necessarily in the right order.”
“You’re disgusting.” She’s grinning as she walks away. I note her hips shaking, just a little bit. Like she wants me to look at her ass.
“I’m an optimist.”
“You’re never getting inside my butt. Get that out of your head right now.”
“But there’s a chance I’ll fuck those pretty lips of yours then.”
She rolls her eyes. “Not what I said, but go ahead and dream.” She heads back upstairs and I’m left in the kitchen, grinning to myself.
But my smile fades away as I think about what Saul said.
Do I really think I’m going to divorce her in a year? I stare at the hall, shoulders slumping. Or am I doing this because I think I’ll convince her to stay with me before I have to make that call?