Page 10 of Gio

“I plan to.”

“Good,” Rocky laughed and stole his beer back. “Because you’ll be her date to the gala.”

I frowned. “What? Why? I don’t have shit to wear to a gala.” And there was a good reason for that, I didn’t get dressed up. Ever.

“It’s a good thing you and Harper are sticking close, I’m sure she can help you pick out something perfect to wear to her event.” Rocky’s joy at my expense was exactly what I expected from my annoying big brother, but the weird thing was that I wasn’t as annoyed or as pissed off as I should’ve been.

“Sounds like a plan,” Diesel answered when I didn’t. “I’ll let you know when we have the rest figured out.”

There was no getting out of it at this point and the thing about it was that I refused to let anyone else be responsible for Harper’s safety. Cole was as close as blood to me and Harper mattered to me. I was the best man for the job.

Hell, I was the only man for the job.

And the only thing to do now, was break the news to Harper.

Chapter 7

Harper

“Istill don’t get why you have to go as my date?” The sixteen-year-old girl inside of me screamed in defiance, wanting to know why in the hell I was questioning this good fortune. Back then, all I wanted was to go out with Gio who’d never given me the time of day. But the reality was that my sixteen-year-old self was a hormonal idiot and didn’t realize that this was all fake. Sure, the suit was real, and he looked damn good in every cut and color of suit we tried on, but I refused to let myself get wrapped up in a man that I couldn’t have and who probably still saw me as a kid.

“Because,” he began, catching my gaze in the three-way mirror where he tried on a dark blue suit that looked good. Too good.

“Oh, because? Great answer. I accept it,” I answered, heavy on the sarcasm.

“Because I need to stick as close to you as possible and a madly in love, possessive boyfriend is the most believable.”

See? Fake. This fake date was why we were shopping together, like a happy couple. “Do you even know how to be a madly in love boyfriend?”

Gio turned to face me with a wolfish smile. Step-by-step he drew closer to me and laid his hands on my shoulders, so close I could see the whirlpool of gold that circled the green and brown flecks in his eyes. His full lips had me mesmerized, hell the whole damn package was mesmerizing. “You’re a beautifulwoman with a killer body and I happen to think you’re pretty fucking fantastic. Not much pretending to do.” He took a step back and spread his arms wide. “So what do you think?”

I think he looked hot as hell. The blue designer suit was made for his perfectly built body, lots of muscle but the lean, wiry kind. His tattoos were visible at the neck and throat, and it was too damn sexy for words. “You’ll do,” I told him and laid my hands on the black lapels, ignoring the way his pecs danced under my palm. My body was overheated, and I felt the moisture dampen my panties. I needed an hour or two alone with my vibrator which was back in California. An oversight on my part. “Yep, you’ll do nicely.”

He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me flush against his hard chest and harder abs. “Just nicely? I don’t do anything nice, Harper.”

“That’s too bad because nice is kind of my thing.”

“Bullshit,” he whispered. “How about you tell me all about this nice thing over a meal while they tailor this monkey suit for me?”

“Sounds good.” I wasn’t sure extra time with Gio was wise. Chances were good it would only revive my teenage crush, and I couldn’t handle that. Not now. Not ever.

“Perfect.” Gio leaned in close, and I heard the smile in his voice when he spoke. “I’ll go change. Want to come enjoy the show?”

Yes, please.I just knew he looked damn good in nothing but a pair of snug boxer briefs. “No thanks.”

“Liar.” He wore a smile, and his laughter sounded as he headed back to the dressing room.

“Food,” I mumbled to myself. “All I want is food.” Food and nothing else. No big, sexy, tattooed bikers that I used to pine after in my teenage years.

I stared out the shop window and watched all the people passing by, laughing and smiling, holding hands. Some walked with a purpose, and some seemed angry at the world. The main difference between them and me was that they could be oblivious. They could afford to be a little bit careless or reckless. I couldn’t just step outside to get a fresh breath of air because life was unfair and ridiculous, and it was all mine.

“What are you thinking about?” Gio’s voice startled me and when I turned, he was so close that my breasts brushed against his chest sending electric shocks from my nipples right down to my clit.

I swallowed a moan and blinked away my embarrassment. “Just that things are all screwed up now. You take for granted things like being able to step outside to get fresh air.”

Sympathy flashed in his eyes and a small smile lit up his face. “Come on, I’ll get you an extra dose of that fresh air and you can tell me all about your fancy life in California.”

“Fancy?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s hardly fancy but I live in Santa Barbara in a small one-bedroom apartment. It’s about two miles from the beach not that I have any free time to go, but every week I promise myself to get there.” The job kept me too busy to make use of my bathing suit, beach towel and sun hat.

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