Page 36 of Bound to You

Big mistake.

“Whatever you think, I trust your decorative judgment.” I couldn’t care less about how the place is decorated, as long as it’s a success.

Stefan gasps with mock drama. “You flatter me, but where is your head today?”

“It’s here, I just didn’t get much sleep last night.” True. I haven’t been able to get a solid night's sleep since my last encounter with Isla, which was nearly two weeks ago now. Last night it took hours of tossing and turning before sleep finally claimed me, and even when it did my mind didn’t rest. I dreamed of Isla, of her soft skin, of how it might feel against mine. Of how her silken hair might feel wrapped around my hand. Of her pretty pink lips and how they might feel wrapped around?—

“Okay, well make sure you get enough sleep before this event.” Stefan starts collecting his stuff, his voice like a bucket of cold water over my fantasy. “You need to be in top shape. Especially if you want to impress the lovely Isla.”

“What?” Could he tell I was thinking about her?

He stands up and begins walking away. “Well, you are inviting her, aren’t you?” he calls over his shoulder.

He’s gone before I have time to answer, not that I have one. I hadn’t thought to invite her. It’s not like she’s under any obligation to come with me this time, so...what? It would be a date? Would she agree to that? I see the way she reacts to me, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything more than what it is: attraction.

I shouldn’t have been as forward as I was that night, but I couldn’t help it, I just wanted to see if she would react the same way to me as I do to her.

It’s clear that Isla feels that same spark that I do, otherwise she wouldn’t react the way she does when we are alone together. The tips of her ears wouldn’t turn red at my proximity, and she wouldn’t fumble her words like she does when I look at her in a more than friendly way. It’s undeniably endearing. If anyone saw us interact the way we do, some might think she’s uncomfortable. But I see the moments when her guard slips, when interest flashes in her eyes, and it only encourages me to continue. But again, that doesn’t mean she wants anything to do with me outside of forced situations. I know I do. But I guess there’s only one way to find out.

Later that dayI’m sitting at the bar in Olive&Vine, twiddling my thumbs.

Rafael is making us a pasta lunch as I go over our speech and we organize which parts either of us want to say on Saturday night. It’s his specialty. Whenever I need time away from the hotel, I come here for one of my best friend’s meals, and his pastas are definitely my favorite. The kitchen is connected to the bar, so I can sit here and watch him work while I have a drink.

“We can just wing it,” he says, stirring up a carbonara sauce. “That’s what we normally do, so why do you seem stressed about this? We do the same thing every year. You do all the talking and I stand there looking pretty.”

I get up from my stool, leaning on the bar top. “Are you bringing a date?”

He stops what he’s doing to look at me. “A date?” He asks. I nod in response.

“Who would I take as a date, Caio?”

“I don’t know. Whoever is warming your bed right now?”

“That would be no one,” he sighs. “Plus, even if someone was, I wouldn’t take them to an event like this. We don’t need Vanessa and Nora meddling in both of our love lives now do we?”

“I don’t know, might be nice to have someone else to share the load. Plus they won’t even be there,” I shrug.

“Caio,” he pins me with a look. “Neither of us is naive enough to think it wouldn’t get back to them the next day. Those two have their spies everywhere, honestly their dedication to knowing everything about anything going on in this town is admirable.” He’s not wrong. “Besides, there is no one anyway.”

I struggle to believe that. Rafaelreallylikes women, and womenreallylike him. No one has kept his attention long enough for me to seriously meet any of them, but he catches the eye of pretty much any woman that walks into his restaurant, and they all fall at his feet. May is the first girl I’ve ever met who hasn’t succumbed to his “rugged appeal” and I must say, it is beyond enjoyable to sit in on those two’s interactions.

“Why? Are you bringing a date?” He asks.

“Haven’t decided yet.”

“Just ask her if you want to,” he begins serving up our plates.

“Who?”

He rolls his eyes before they land on mine. “The woman your eyes are glued to as soon as she enters a room. Who else?”

I didn’t realize I was being quite that obvious.

“Don’t act like you’re not the easiest person to read. You forget I’ve known you for far longer than I’d prefer,” I scoff before he continues. “You barely even look at women on a good day, let alone stare like you do when Isla is around.”

“I look at plenty of?—“

He cuts me off before I can get another word in. “And don’t think any of us haven’t noticed how much extra time you have been spending outside of work lately.” He points his serving spoon in my direction, raising a brow at me. “I’m not foolish enough to believe that’s a coincidence.”

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