Page 56 of Sins and Secrets

With that in mind, I stride past him and slide into the driver’s seat. Alessio’s chuckle sends butterflies erupting in my stomach.

Down, girl, he might have put casual sex on the table, but it would be a mistake to take him up on that. You’re trying to get out of here, not get closer to him.

I turn the key in the ignition and the engine roars to life. For a second, I consider driving away and leaving Alessio there. I would probably loop back, just to see the look on his face.

There is no way I could disrespect him like that, though. Especially not when there are other people watching and we are in cartel territory. It would make him seem weak and he would have no choice but to punish me.

“You know, you get this devilish look in your eyes that I really don’t like sometimes,” Alessio says as he shuts my door. He rounds the front of the car and slides into the passenger’s seat.

“Good.” I smile over at him before pulling out my phone and connecting it to the stereo system. “Now, do you want country or pop?”

He groans and shuts his eyes, leaning his head back against the seat. “Neither. Don’t you have something saved on that phone with some bass?”

“For this drive? No. If you keep letting me drive while we’re here, then maybe.”

Alessio opens his eyes and smiles, shaking his head. “I’ll let you drive when I can, but if we're going to any meetings, that’s not happening.”

“Have to look like the big man in charge,” I say as I pick a song and turn up the volume. “I get it.”

“Sure you do.” He reaches out and taps the display screen, pulling up the map. “GPS will tell you where we’re going. It’s about a half an hour drive.”

I nod and glance at the screen before putting the car into drive and pushing down on the accelerator. The car takes off like a dream, speeding up as I steer us toward the highway that leads away from the private airport.

The music pounds through the car as I roll the windows down and let the warm breeze stream through the car. Everything smells like the ocean and sunshine.

Maybe I should move somewhere on the coast. I’ve always loved visiting the beach.

I weave in and out of traffic, loving the way the car handles. Alessio hums along with the music as it blares, looking like he is genuinely enjoying himself.

Despite why we are in Miami, he actually seems relaxed for once. Oddly enough, I can’t think of many other times when I’ve seen him relaxed and enjoying himself. Alessio’s hand hangs out the window and his fingers spread as they slice through the air.

The drive is shorter than expected, and soon I’m pulling into a long driveway lined with hedges. I stop in front of an iron gate and lean out the window to punch in the code Alessio gives me.

The iron gates open with a loud creak, revealing the rest of the driveway. I take it slow, trying to soak up the gorgeous landscaping that surrounds us. It feels like I’ve stepped into a lush jungle with bright flowers and tropical bushes growing everywhere.

“Like it?” Alessio asks as a white Spanish-style house comes into view. “There is a private dock and two pools out back. Several bedrooms inside, so pick which one you like the best. I’ve hired a private chef for the week, so there is no need to worry about cooking.”

I shrug, parking the car beside the cascading waterfall fountain in the middle of the driveway. “It’s alright. I’ve seen better.”

Alessio laughs and shakes his head. “You’re so full of shit. I saw how big your eyes got when you saw the house. You love this place.”

“Alright, fine. It’s stunning. I love the charm that Spanish-style homes have to them. All those massive windows and the stucco walls. The architecture alone is beautiful.”

“This particular house dates back to nineteen thirty-six. There have been a few renovations since, but the family who has owned it since then have tried to maintain the charm of the original construction.”

We get out of the car and Alessio grabs the bags. When I try to take mine from him, he holds it out of my reach.

“I can carry my own bag, Alessio.”

“Yeah, sure. Get moving. You look like you want to go take a look at the house. I can deal with this. The key should be in a lockbox beside the door. The code is the same one it was for the gate.”

I leave him with the bags and head for the house. Excitement is racing through me as I get out the key and step inside. Dark wood floors run the length of the hallway and the living room to my right. I glance around at the arched doorways and the high ceilings, picturing myself living in a home like this.

The stucco walls are painted a pale cream, adding more warmth to the space around me. Large mirrors and beautiful depictions of Spain hang on the walls. I stop to look at one of the watercolor paintings, taking in the warm tones and the light reflecting off the water.

“This house really is something else, isn’t it?” Alessio says as he appears behind me. “I left the bags in the hall. Once you pick which bedroom you want, let me know. There’s one on the main floor with a courtyard and its own private pool.”

“Do you mean I get some time away from you if I pick that one?” I ask, my tone teasing as I look over my shoulder at him. “This is a really nice place. Thank you for bringing me with you.”

---