Page 35 of My Sweetest Temptation

He blinked at me, and I could have sworn the little shit rolled his eyes at me.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Yes?” I growled, my patience fraying. All I craved was a moment of peace and quiet, for fuck’s sake.

“Señor Nico?” Gloria, my house manager’s, voice floated into the room.

“Come in,” I replied, trying to temper my tone.

As the door creaked open, she peeked her head in, her white and gray hair neatly pulled back into a bun. She had her usual sense of almost infectious calm.

“Is there something you needed, Gloria?” I asked, resting my hands on my lap, forcing myself to calm down.

“I ordered the flowers you requested for Señorita Winter,” she said, her eyes shining with their familiar warmth. “They are expected to be there tomorrow.”

Ah yes, the flowers. I’d arranged for a dozen white roses and another dozen red roses to be delivered to Winter. It was a reminder that she belonged to me. And now, she would have no choice but to think of me whenever she looked at them.

“And the box of candy?” I asked Gloria.

Gloria’s smile widened. “Sí, Señor Nico.”

When Luca had done some digging into Winter’s background, he discovered she was a sugar junkie, never leaving the house without a candy bar.

“Thank you, Gloria,” I said with a smile.

“She must be special, señor,” she commented, her voice softening as she closed the door behind her.

If only she knew how much Winter had turned my life upside down. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she haunted me, invading my thoughts day and night. It was the first thing in years that scared the hell out of me.

Playing music had always calmed me and provided me with a safety bubble whenever I felt lost, especially these past few months. I was excited to give Sam her first violin lesson and pass on my knowledge to her.

Sam’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she held the instrument in her small hands.

“Alright, Sam, are you ready to start your violin lesson?”

She nodded vigorously, a bright smile spreading across her face.

“First, hold the violin under your chin like this.” I demonstrated, nestling the violin under my chin. “Make sure it’s secure but not too tight.”

Sam watched me closely and followed my instructions, adjusting her hold. “Like this?” she asked.

“That’s perfect. Now, let’s focus on the bow. Hold it gently and place it on the strings like this,” I said as I showed her. “And remember, the sound comes from the way you draw the bow across the strings.”

Sam tried to mimic my movements. Her face scrunched up in concentration, eyebrows furrowed, as she drew the bow slowly across the strings. After several attempts, the result was a high-pitched squeak.

“It’s so hard! It keeps making funny noises.”

I smiled, trying to ease her frustration. “That’s okay, Sam. Playing the violin takes time and practice. Trust me, it took me a good number of attempts before I overcame that annoying squeak.”

“Really?” she asked.

I nod. “Let’s try it together.”

I demonstrated the proper bowing technique, creating a melodic sound that filled the room.

“Now you try, Sam. Remember to keep your wrist relaxed and draw the bow smoothly across the strings.”

Sam took a deep breath and tried again, this time managing to create a soft, gentle sound. “I did it!”

---