Page 35 of (UN)Bounded

“Do you have work to finish?” I ask him, hoping he says no.

“I was waiting for you. I made a point of finishing everything that was pressing before you arrived. Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” I say as I exhale a breath. Suddenly, I’m exhausted.

“Okay, let’s go find some food. Anything you have in mind?” he asks, and I look at him sheepishly.

“Actually, yes. Not sure why, but I’m craving seafood. Do you know a place?”

“I have the perfect place,” he says with his signature smirk, and for a moment, I forget we still need to talk about this girlfriend thing.

“G, I came in my car. Should I follow you to the restaurant?” This stops him in his tracks.

“Rocco can drive it back to the penthouse. You’re not leaving my sight, principessa.” I huff, feigning annoyance and pouting for good measure, but secretly, I love that he can’t be away from me.

“Seriously? I don’t think Rocco will fit in my car.”

Gabo chuckles. “He will if he wants to keep his job.” With a wink, this conversation is over. Gabo’s ability to find a solution for everything in a matter of seconds amazes me.

Once comfortably in his car—he drove the Rolls Royce today—Gabo splays his right hand on my thigh, and a shot of electricity runs through me. It’s like there’s a kinetic current between us. He almost makes me forget we still need to talk about this girlfriend deal… almost.

“So, G, what’s this thing about you calling me your girlfriend?”

“I thought it was clear already. We’re taking it slow, but you’re mine,” he answers like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I can’t help but throw my head back and laugh.

“Is that so? I didn’t realize that made me yours.” I challenge him with a smirk after my laugh calms down. I love giving him shit. He’s such a caveman and so possessive. If he didn’t make me melt like he does, I would be concerned about how much he’s into me in such a short time.

“It is so. Listen, principessa. I can be patient and give you all the time you need to understand you’re not a fling to me, but never think for even a second that I’m playing games with you. When I tell you you are mine, it’s because you are,” he informs me in such a low and deep voice that my insides tremble with the promise of more.

“Understood,” is all I manage to say.

Yup, my walls are crumbling down.

“Good.” He squeezes my thigh a couple of times before removing his hand. “We’re here.”

When I look outside, we’re in a residential area. There’s no restaurant in sight, but Gabo gets out of the car and jogs toward my door to open it.

“This way,” he says as he helps me out of the car and places his hand on my ass. This man can’t be subtle to save his life. He’s so possessive, and if I didn’t find it sexy, as hell, I’d be concerned.

“Are you sure there’s a restaurant around here?” I ask as I look around, and all I see are a bunch of residential buildings.

“It’s the best kept secret in all of Bologna. They only open for a couple of hours every day.”

“So how do we know we’re getting a table?” I ask innocently. The look Gabo gives me makes me laugh.

“Okay, I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget I’m with Mr. Billionaire.” That earns me a chuckle.

We arrive at a wooden door on the first floor of one of the buildings, and Gabo knocks twice. A waiter answers, and the moment he sees Gabo, his face lights up, and he opens the door wide for us.

“Mr. Godoy, what a pleasure to have you here. We were about to close, but for you we’re always open,” the waiter says as Gabo gets the seat for me.

“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. We don’t need a menu; just give us whatever you have available.” Gabo looks to me for approval, and I nod. I’ve never been surprised like this in a restaurant. I like the idea of eating the chef’s recs.

“Right away, Mr. Godoy.”

“So, G, any other projects going on besides the warehouse one?” I ask him while we wait for the appetizers.

He shakes his head and takes a few seconds to gather his thoughts. “Honestly, I’m itching to find a project that challenges me, you know? Lately, I feel like all I do is the same project over and over again,” he says, and I wonder if he has people in his business to confide this kind of thing to.

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