Page 19 of Deception

I give him a shaky thumbs up as I cram my hat back on and stumble toward the head. The guy in the mirror looking back at me as I wash my hands is barely recognizable. No suit. Disheveled hair and three days of stubble.

The glasses really do make me look smart. Ha!

Stepping into the cramped hallway I almost run into someone, excusing myself before I get a good look at her. When I do, it stops me dead.

Long, silky black curls fall to the middle of her back. Her skin is that perfect shade of ivory, and her cheeks flush as she looks up at me.

Instantly, I’m transported back in time twenty years.

Standing on a rooftop in Florence, taking a knee. Asking Catalina to make me the happiest man in the world. Of course, it’s not her, and I’m fucking drunk.

But man, is this girl a stunner…

“Sorry,” I mumble, stepping out of her way. She nods, continuing out to the bar.

Then she flicks me a look over her shoulder like she can see right through me, right into my fucking soul.

Our eyes lock.

And I realize how hard my dick is, my whole body tight and clenched. I can't tell if she's looking at me like she wants to tell me to fuck off or ask me for a romp in the bathroom. Both?

Faint guilt rises up at the thought. I look away before I can do something stupid.

Out in the taproom, Adriano's waiting by the door.

“Did you see that girl?”

“The one who looked like she wanted to tear you a new one?”

“Yeah. That one. Does she look out of place to you?”

“There’s pretty girls in every town, Aless. Keep it in your pants.” He chuckles, offering me an arm as I miss a step on the way out.

“I can walk on my own,” I slur.

“Sure. Let's see how that works out. I’d love to see you face-plant out here in the snow.”

“Damn…where’d all this snow come from?” It looks like Christmastime outside.

And the car is completely covered.

After a finger-numbing few minutes of scraping, we’re on our way. The drive is tense, slow going. It takes us twice as long to get up the mountain. But Adriano keeps us safe, so much so that I doze off a few times.

The staff’s asleep when we arrive.

I manage to only make half a ruckus, crashing into the entryway table and knocking a pot over. Adriano is doubled over, silently laughing his ass off all the way to his room in the east wing.

The drive and the winter chill got me amped up. My body feels restless, so I head to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of wine, some cheese and bread and head back to the den to sit by the fire.

An hour slips by and my eyes are drooping, fading.

Images of the woman at the bar flit through my head, snapping me back awake. Who was she? Probably some tourist. She'll likely be gone by the time I head back to the village.

“Go to bed, Aless,” I mumble, dragging myself up.

I’m crossing the foyer when I hear something, a bump at the door.

Pausing, I wait, then it comes again, louder.

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