Page 37 of Meet Me in Montreal

12

EXCURSIONS

SANTINO

Santino grinned, reminiscing about that first time as he sat in a chair in the living room, sketching the view from the window. They’d already worked out in the gym, and she was meditating near the large windows in the bedroom.

He knew Vanessa was confused about last night and this morning, expecting he’d beast out and attack the minute they were alone together. Had it been rough holding back? Yes, fucking rough, considering he’d been fantasizing about being back inside her on the daily since they’d split.

The things he wanted to do to her, the things he had planned for that body, made him so excited he could hardly contain himself.

But he had to wait until it was right again, until any traces of resistance in her had faded. In the meantime, he’d enjoy the cruelty he was inflicting because, despite her calling it coercion, he knew she wanted him just as badly. It wasn’t just her obvious reaction to his reminiscing while they were side by side in bed. Itwas in the way she’d stopped tossing those little wary glances at him as they’d walked the city, the way her body was beginning to move in time with his again, a secret dance that only the two of them knew by heart.

When Vanessa went to shower, she paused, as if expecting him to barge in and join her, but he hung back. Her glances in his direction were searching, but she didn’t say anything.

His phone rang. It was Gina calling.

“Yo.”

“Hey. Where are you?” she asked.

“What do you mean, where am I?” he responded evasively.

“I tried dropping by yesterday morning before work, and you weren’t home, then Angelo said you weren’t on shift last night. What’s up?”

“I needed to go out of town for a few days. It kinda just came up.”

“Well, why didn’t you tell any of us you were going out of town?” When he was silent, she exclaimed, “Nooo…. You’re in Montreal, aren’t you?” When he still didn’t answer, just grinned like a fool, she let out a shriek. “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, youarein Montreal! Where’s that guy? Are you with Vanessa right now, or are you just stalking her like a creepo?”

Creepo didn’t even cover what he’d been doing the past three years, none of which she knew about. Maybe his sister really was psychic?

“He’s out of the picture. She agreed to give me one week to prove to her we should get back together. I only fuckin’ bet my whole soul on it, so, yeah, wish me luck. And don’t tell anybody, not even Angelo or Nico. And especially don’t tell Ma. I don’t want her fuckin’ jinxing everything with bad energy or some shit. I’ll be back Saturday.”

“I won’t, I swear. Oh my God! Okay, well, I’ll leave you to it. But yay, I get my Vanessa back. Donotscrew this up for me, Tino.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Vanessa looked at him and then at the phone briefly when she came out of the shower fully dressed. She was probably wondering who he’d been speaking to. Unfortunately, that had been a hallmark of their worst times, the suspicion without proof that had been the cause of many fights.

Their breakfast in the hotel breakfast hall was hearty yet silent. She’d just finished her healthy oatmeal and dried fruit, and he was done with his not-quite-so-healthy first meal of the day, a salty, juicy slab of Canadian bacon, fried potatoes and French toast smothered in butter and locally harvested maple syrup.

Although she hadn’t said much, her eyes ran over him whenever she thought he wasn’t paying attention. He was dressed casually today, ditching the button-down for his FDNY navy T-shirt, khakis and his boots. She wore one of his favorite outfits, a light denim short-sleeved romper that showed some delicious cleavage and her long, toned, dark satin legs. Instead of sexy sandals, she wore a pair of pink Converse in expectation of all the walking ahead. Her hair was parted in two long braids under a straw hat. She was too fucking cute for words.

He downed the last of his coffee and broke the silence.

“I thought we’d check out the old part of the city today. Chinatown and the light show at the cathedral.”

“Okay. Those were actually on my list,” she said.

“Cool.” His phone rang. Santino looked at the caller ID and said, “I should take this. It’s Virgil.” He winked at her as he answered the call. “Hey, what’s up?”

“How’s it going? How are you liking Montreal so far?” Virgil asked.

“It’s been cool. We just had breakfast and we’re about to head out for the day.”

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