Page 141 of Steamy Ever After

“How long’s it been since you’ve slept with someone?” she blurted, thinking back to his standup skit last night.

“Honestly?”

She gave him a hard look. “Are we lying?”

He sighed. “Two.”

“Months?”

He glared at her.

“Two years?” Her eyes bulged. “Why? Are you trying to be celibate on purpose?”

He climbed out of the bed, pacing across the floor and scooping up the various bags of snacks that fell onto the carpet. “No. New York’s expensive. I’m always in cities—Philly or Atlantic City or wherever. I’m on the road too long to make any real connections, and it’s not like I can afford to wine and dine someone I meet after a show.”

“I thought comedians made pretty good money.”

“Yeah,” he laughed, “The big ones. I’m still starting out.” He threw several bags on the bed and stepped into his shoes. He shook his head. “Forget I said anything. This was stupid. I’ll go see if they have a minibar at the front desk.”

Before she could stop him, the door was open and a gust of snowy wind blew into the room, causing her to hunch deeper under the covers.

Two years?

Was there something wrong with him? And who were all those women he mentioned in his act last night? Had he just made them up? Why?

Several minutes later, the door opened again, and Giovanni rushed inside, holding various bottles and tracking snow and slush over the carpet. “It’s colder than a room full of ex-wives out there.”

He dumped several bottles onto the bed.

Holy crap, how much did he expect them to drink? They were only two people.

“I have to run back to the vending machine and get mixers. Coke okay?”

“Uh, sure.”

The door opened again, sucking the last of the heat out of the room. As she stared after him, she realized she wore a half-smile, just a casual curve of her lips for no reason at all.

What exactly was happening?

Before she could figure it out, he was back with several bottles of cola. “I got a lot because in crazy weather the hoarders come out.”

She chuckled. “I think you’re the hoarder.”

He glanced down at his bounty and shrugged. “Maybe I am.” He uncapped a soda and handed it to her. “Drink some of that and we’ll top it off with the rum. I don’t have cups.”

Her stomach was going to rot by the end of this storm if she didn’t eat something other than sugar soon. She took a few sips and he did the same. Then they topped off the bottles with rum.

“Cheers.” He held up his plastic bottle and kicked off his shoes.

They each took a long sip and she welcomed the warming sensation of alcohol. Giovanni shoved down his pants and climbed into bed.

“Um, what the hell are you doing?”

“My pants are wet from the snow. Besides, you’re not wearing any underwear. What difference does it make?”

Her shoulders tensed. “Ew, did you look at me when I was sleeping?” How did he know she wasn’t wearing underwear?

“God, no.” He took another sip and scooted lower under the covers where it was warm. “I looked when you were in the bathroom changing.”

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