Page 17 of The Roman's Woman (A Singular Obsession)

The kaleidoscope of lights was captivating, the effect mesmerizing. The music had a slower beat than she associated with nightclubs, matching the pace of the shifting lights, but it was still a little loud.

“Who do you know here again?” she half-yelled, dazzled by the whole effect of the decor.

“Oh, my friend Calen has part interest in this place,” he replied, his mouth close to her ear in order to be heard.

“Really?”

Sophia shouldn’t have been surprised that Gio had a connection to such a hotspot, but she would have guessed it would be to one of the bartenders, not an owner.

There was also his appearance tonight. He was wearing an elegant pair of black pants and a tailored shirt. Did he borrow his outfit, too? Puzzled, she studied him out of the corner of her eye before remembering his second job. He probably used his salary as a bank teller to buy this ensemble. No doubt he had a few items like it in his wardrobe, clothes he could wear out on the town or to his moonlighting gig.

If bank tellers looked like him back home, I’d stop banking online.

Satisfied at solving that little mystery, she relaxed as he led her through the well-dressed shifting crowd. They sat at one of the booths on a raised dais overlooking the dance floor—one of the prime seats in the club.

A waitress in an extremely short skirt hustled up to them to take their order, her eyes locked on Gio like a love-struck schoolgirl.

Sophia was more amused than annoyed. It helped that her companion didn’t notice his admirer’s attention. Instead, he asked what she wanted to drink. In the mood to splurge, she ordered a Cosmopolitan while he ordered a Lagavulin whiskey. He continued to ignore the waitress’ flirtatious glances when she came back with their drinks; his attention remained fixed on Sophia.

Pleased that he only had eyes for her, she finished her drink quickly. She was feeling festive so she let him order her another one before they went to dance. Wanting to be unencumbered, she slipped her cell phone in his pocket during the first song.

Gio was a little stiff on the fast-moving numbers but moved with fluid grace on the slower ones. Euphoria heightened every sensation, and she forgot all her earlier aggravation with her ex as they danced in each other’s arms.

It had been a long time since she'd had so much fun. Richard hated going dancing, and he frowned on her going out with her girlfriends. Eventually, his passive-aggressive disapproval had led her to drop out of her regular girls’ night out. But tonight she was making up for lost time.

Gio couldn’t keep up on the dance floor, but he didn’t seem to mind her partnering with others so long as they didn’t get too handsy with her. Which was just fine with her. She didn’t want another man’s touch right now. Only Gio’s. And she soon learned, he liked to watch her move…

Buzzed from the alcohol, her inhibitions fell away. She forgot that she was too heavy to be sexy, and that Gio was nothing but a street performer. Here on this dance floor, she was whatever she wanted to be. Eventually, after finishing her last drink, she got rid of her erstwhile partners and danced for Gio alone. He watched from his perch, the crowd thinning around her as if he’d ordered them to part so he could have an unobstructed view.

Gio’s gaze was like a physical caress. There was enough light for her to see that he was smiling down at her, his lips parted. His lust-filled expression spurred her on, making her feel sensual and bold. The beat was keeping time with her pulse, and she danced like she hadn’t in years.

It was pretty late by the time she started to tire. Hot and damp with sweat, she went back to the booth where Gio was waiting, watching her with those intense gold eyes. But when she sat down and turned to him, she realized the expression in his eyes wasn’t amorous anymore. It was angry.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Her voice could barely be heard over the music, but Gio shook his head and handed back her phone. She glanced at the screen. Four missed calls from Richard.Perfect.

She rolled her eyes and accepted another Cosmo from the waitress. She had apparently been ordered to keep a steady stream of them coming. When Sophia turned back to Gio, he was glaring at her, his burning expression almost enough to singe the tips of her hair.

“What?” she mouthed.

“I thought you said you were broken up,” he shouted in her ear, making her wince.

There was no hint of a slur in his voice, but she could tell he’d drunk a few more whiskeys while she danced—she could smell it on his breath. Flushed from the dancing and alcohol herself, her temper flared.

“I am.”

“Then why is your ex calling you so much? And not just today, but this whole past week. He is the one you keep hanging up on right?”

“I told you he was,” she said, raising her voice when the next song’s bass started to drown out her words. “I also told you we have unfinished business.”

He gestured to his ear in annoyance, indicating he couldn’t hear her. She tried again, but it seemed like the music grew even louder. After a fruitless minute trying to gesture her aggravation, Gio snapped. He took her hand and tugged her to her feet, propelling them through the crowded dance floor.

Sophia teetered on her high heels, nearly tripping as Gio’s grip and quick pace threatened her balance. By the time he pulled her out of the side door into a cobblestone alleyway, she was spitting mad.

“What the hell, Gio!” she yelled, yanking her hand out of his.

He spun around and grabbed her head, pulling her close till she was only an inch away from his lips.

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