Page 49 of Wild Ace

“Vinny.” I look up at him through my lashes. “You need to stop saying all the right things.”

“Not a chance, dolcezza.” He taps me under my chin to get me to raise my gaze so he has a full view of my eyes. “And it’s not just me saying shit to say shit. I mean every word. When I speak, it’s the truth. I don’t lie. Ever. You can ask my entire family if you want, but hearing me now, do you think I’m lying?” He asks seriously, his voice calm. “Has anything I’ve said to you since we met sounded like a lie?”

“No.”

“Then let me say all the right things. Because they’re all true.”

“Okay,” I whisper, my heightened emotions clogging my throat.

Vinny leans down and plants a soft kiss to my lips and hovers right above them for a few seconds. The centimeters of space are sparked like a live wire after a storm, bouncing all over the pavement, just waiting for something to come in contact with it so it can set it ablaze.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he rasps, the intensity of him holding back coming through.

“Starved,” I tell him, and he groans, pressing his forehead to mine and closing his eyes.

“You’re killing me, bella. If I kiss you how I want, I won’t be able to stop, and I want you to know how fucking badly I want to know you.” Kissing my lips quick, he straightens to tower over me. “And you said you’d give me your nice side. I wouldn’t want to miss out on that.”

Playful Vinny is back with a grin and a wink, and I exhale the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

I’m so fucked with him.

Chapter 16

Vinny

I brought Lexi up here to show her that men who do bad things still have hearts.

We still feel.

We still care.

“This is delicious,” Lexi praises, covering her mouth with her hand and taking a sip of the wine I just poured.

“It’s from Carfanos.”

“You have a restaurant?”

I nod. “Down in the casino. Best Italian in town.”

I had an assortment of dishes brought up, not knowing what she likes or would be in the mood for.

Lexi’s sampled the scallops, white fish, and veal, and I love how unabashedly she eats and enjoys her food. I’ve gone on dates where the girl I’m with only eats a few forkfuls of lettuce, opting to drink wine instead.

Where’s the fun in that?

I don’t want to go on dates where I’m being watched as I finish my meal because she doesn’t want to appear like she eats.

I know women can eat. My mom, aunts, sister, and cousins can pack away food like they’re going into hibernation the next day, and I fucking love them for it. We’re Italian. We like food.

“I think you’re right. For dinner dishes, at least. Lunch, on the other hand, my grandfather wins.”

“I have no problem agreeing with you there.”

“Speaking of which, he says he owes you a soppressata sandwich and to come by any time.”

“I’m not going to lie, I’ve thought about that sandwich every day since the club.”

“Really?”

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