Page 80 of Sweet Deception

"Chat about what? And how did he know it was you? I never gave them your full name."

At the look of horror on her face, I want to laugh again. So much for letting her sleep.

"While you were shopping with your mom, your dad went golfing with Chief Canton. As for what we discussed … you know, the usual. What's your intention with my daughter? If you hurt her, I'll kill you kind of thing."

Kylie groans and face plants into my chest.

I chuckle then kiss the side of her head. "Really, it was good that we met without you and your mom. He needed to size me up and find me capable of taking care of his baby girl. It went well. I promise."

"I bet this was the first time you had to meet your sugar baby's parents." She settles into my embrace and I decide this is the time to give her a few truths.

"It is, but that's because you are my first sugar baby."

She pulls back again and whips the hair out of her face so she can see me. "I'm sorry. What did you just say?" Head tilted, she looks adorably confused.

I move my arm under my pillow and relax my head down. "You heard me. You're my one and only sugar baby I've contracted with."

"But—but—you said you don't do relationships, that this is easier?" Her brows dip even lower.

"Itiseasier. I didn't lie to you, Angel. I don't do relationships because I never found anyone I wanted to have a relationship with. If I slept with a woman, it was only once. The few times I tried to do more, they wanted way more than I could give, but they were just one-night stands. No contracts."

"But then why me?"

She searches my face for answers, but I'm not ready to lay it all out there just yet, so I give her only part of the truth.

"I saw you and wanted you. You'd just walked out of Sweet Connections, so I looked into you. I've already told you this. Now, come backhere. You need your sleep tonight." I tug her arm to bring her into me, hoping it's enough to stave off more questions I'm not ready to answer.

"That's going to be hard because I'm wide awake now." She huffs.

Chuckling, I roll her to her back and settle in between her luscious thighs. "In that case, let me relax you."

I kiss her mouth before sliding down her body. I've never liked having to deny my needs, anyway.

Chapter thirty-three

Luca

The office is quiet. Everyone is long gone except for Gio and myself. We've been hitting the ground hard with the new hotel renovations and we're back in the office, killing time. I'm going over another set of revised plans while Gio updates the reports on our other properties. Normally, Rafael would be with us, but he's been working closely with Rome strategizing the take down.

I've always been a bit of a workaholic, but that drive is waning since Kylie entered my life. It's harder than I thought, knowing she's waiting for me at home. I didn't fully realize the struggle it would be to stay away from her.

Sitting back, I take my reading glasses off to rub my eyes. Instead of focusing back on the computer screen, my attention strays to the desk drawer. Giving in to the urge, I pull it open and take out the jewelry box and flip open the lid.

It was an impulse buy after our talk in my office weeks ago and it's been sitting in my desk drawer since. I didn't realize it until her visit with her father, but that night changed everything. While I wasn't able to give this necklace to her or the dinner cruise on Lake Michigan, I've since made plans to take her to Miami. We'll make it a long weekend for us to connect. Plus, I love the idea of Kylie in a bikini all weekend soaking in the sun.

I can't take credit for the idea. It was Rome who suggested it. He felt we should leave town while everything went down and I have to agree with him. I don't want Kylie anywhere near what's going on. I just didn't think it would take this long.

These past weeks have been rough. Keeping her relegated to late nights to make these assholes think she was just a fuck toy has been torture, but worth it. I couldn't risk her being a target.

The highlight of my days are when I go home to find her in my bed, sometimes already asleep, where I proceed to wake and pleasure her half the night. If I thought my need for Kylie would eventually wane, I now know how wrong I was. It's getting harder and harder to stay away. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing Joseph is protecting her when I'm not around.

I see the hurt in her eyes since I've taken this step back, but I'll make it up to her. We have a meeting with Rome in an hour and he damn well better tell me it's time to end this.

The guy Rome nabbed weeks ago hinted at more than one plant, and Rafael was finally able to tie Lisa to the bartender. She was good, never giving away her knowledge of the man. Once Robert messed with the cameras in the Sweet Connection's office so he could steal the files—not realizing we'd installed a second set of cameras—they started getting sloppy. My guess is since they found what they were looking for, they figured it didn't matter if we tied them together.

As far as I can tell, she was only placed in my club as a distraction so that Robert could snoop. Once the take down happens, she'll be fired. In the meantime, Gio's doing everything he can to keep her busy. The woman probably thinks she's succeeding in her task.

"Are you ready?" Gio steps into my office, stopping to place his hands on his hips as he eyes the jewelry box in my hands.

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