Page 29 of Better Left Unsaid

“That’s a hard no.” Then Maria laughed. Actually laughed. “I can’t believe you thought I’d do that. I’m a little surprisedyou’ddo that. Aren’t you worried about your mother or nonna seeing you like that in the ads? Or Isabella?”

Putting a hand up, I had to stop her. “Whoa! Of course I am, but Jeff said I’d be covered. By your body, actually.”

“What? So we’d be pressed up against each other, our bodies totally bare? How in the world does anyone think this is a good idea? You know what happens whenever we’re naked together,” she said and eyed me suggestively, curling her index finger up in the air.

I ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I’d thought about that, but I figured we could rein it in. A little restraint in the moment for a big payoff after the fact. We could have dressing room sex.” As the words left my mouth, I realized that wasn’t a bad idea. It could be fun.

Plus, the idea of her naked body pressed up against mine got me going.

Maria collected her trash and slung a leg over the bench, standing up. “Sorry, but I haven’t completely lost my mind. Unlike you, apparently.”

Running to catch up with her, I tried to think of a way I could save this. While I’d easily pass up the opportunity if it was just about the money or my career, I was suddenly very interested in the prospect of doing this with Maria, being that vulnerable together. Watching her come into her own through the experience. And then rewarding her in the most carnal way possible afterward.

“Wait up,” I called, closing the gap between us. “Listen, I have an idea. You were open to it before you found out we wouldn’t be wearing clothes, so maybe you are open to it, period. And being naked, that’s no big deal. We sort of do it a lot.”

“Yeah, but in private. Not forever captured on film.” That was half the reason it was so good.

“We could practice by making a sex tape?” I said, having it come out as a question. Although, my mind was suddenly going to a million dirty places. Places it had no business going to right now. But I couldn’t be blamed—could I?—because this was Maria we were talking about, and I knew surprisingly little restraint where she was concerned. Regardless, I shook my head as she raised an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes. “Okay, bad idea. What if we made a little wager?”

“What kind of wager?”

“I play you for it. If I win, you do it. If you win, you don’t.”

Maria sighed and stopped, coming to stare at me. “Dom, don’t get me wrong, the idea is hot as hell. It sounds very sensual, and I’m sure it’ll be directed in a very tasteful manner, but this doesn’t feel like me.”

“And on and off sex with your best friend does?” I countered.

Another sigh escaped those beautiful lips of hers. “By what method would this wager happen? Cards?”

My mind reeled. So many possibilities. Then it came to me. I snapped my fingers and pointed at her. “Chess.” The game of life.

“Chess?”

“I play, but not often enough that I’m like my father. You’ve played before. Feels fair.”

Maria narrowed her gaze like she was contemplating it. Then she answered, “Fine. I’ll play you. But do me a favor and never bring up your father again when we’re talking about being naked or anything even remotely close.”

I laughed and swung an arm over her shoulder, falling into step with her as we started back toward her building. “You got it.” I wasn’t going to lie—I felt good. Better than good. I felt like a damn king.

Chapter Eight

Maria

Between Dom’s ideato shoot a naked ad campaign together and this—spending time with Jade—I was beginning to seriously dislike him. Not really, but he was being a mighty big pain in my ass as of late, what with all his ideas and suggestions. New thing: if it came out of Dom’s mouth, then I was going to see it for what it was—bad.

All right, fine! Hearing Dom out on this one and deciding to actually grab breakfast with Jade wasn’t all that bad. It was perfect timing, too. Especially because the family had a long weekend in the Hamptons planned, and Jade would be coming.

Interrupting my thoughts, Jade said, “See, that’s whyI don’t need a man in my life.” She tore off a piece of her bagel and slathered it in cream cheese before popping it in her mouth. “Relationships aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.”

She wasn’t entirely wrong. We all knew I still hadn’t found mysoulmate. Honestly, sometimes I wondered if there was even such a thing. And if there was, would I know it when they came along? Perla, Bianca, and Allie all swore there was such a thing, and I actually believed it when I thought about their love stories. Because let’s be real, they found the people they were meant to be with. But maybe some people—ahem, me—were meant to never find their person. That could be a thing, right?

Yes, yes, I knew what you were thinking—Jade wasn’tthatbad. And she really wasn’t, I supposed. I just needed to learn more about her. And I was doing that. Trying to do that, at least.

While she had similarities to me and my sisters, she was also different. She was more aloof. She preferred listening to talking if she could help it. She believed deeply that the best relationship you could be in was the one you had with yourself. That eventually spiraled into talk about our equally shitty dating history. The number of good guys out there was surprisingly low, and it was scary to say the least.

Jade hadn’t had the best luck in love, and I think that also contributed to her. . . we’ll say guarded personality. I appreciated that she had compartmentalized that because when it came to getting to know me—and even my sisters—she seemed to let her walls down so we could get to know each other.

I picked up my coffee cup and sipped it. “Listen, I’ve always said there needs to be a romantic comedy movie centered around one main character who finds love within themselves, and it’s a journey of their own making. Maybe they have friends or siblings, but that’s it. No significant other.” I spoke with my hands. “Anyway, Bibi thinks it’d be dreadful. Even when we’re not watching a romance, she tries to spot the romantic thread in the film. Sometimes she grasps at straws.”

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