Page 50 of Good Girl
I won’t be taking that call, though. Not a chance. From our short conversation earlier it became patently clear to me that there was nothing there for me any more. No attraction whatsoever.Nada.
I’m just making myself an extra-strong cup of coffee in the break room when I hear the sound of loud male voices in the corridor outside. I almost drop my mug when I realise I’m listening to the beautiful, haunting sound of an Italian male’s voice. But it can’t be Sandro’s, can it? Why would he be here, right now?
‘Yes, I’m he,’ I hear another voice reply and I make an involuntary squeaking noise when I place Adam’s voice as the other male. So an Italian man is asking for Adam. This doesn’t bode well.
Putting the mug down, I rush out into the corridor, my heart racing, to see the extraordinary sight of Sandro, looking as dauntingly handsome as ever, staring down at my rather cowed-looking colleague.
‘She’s an amazing woman and you’re a fucking idiot for turning her down,’ Sandro is saying in a loud, commanding voice. ‘I can vouch for that personally. I just wanted you to know that.’
‘Erm...okay,’ Adam says, holding up his hands and backing away, clearly perplexed and perhaps a little bit scared by what he’s found himself entangled in here.
‘And the reason I know that,’ Sandro continues, his amazing eyes flashing with a passion that makes me catch my breath, ‘is because I made the same stupid mistake as you did. And if she doesn’t forgive me I’m going to regret it for the rest of my fucking life.’
‘Sandro!’ I call out loudly, aware of some of my other colleagues sticking their heads out of their offices to see what the drama is all about.
He turns to look at me and the moment our eyes meet I know it’s all going to be okay. That he’s suffering the same way I am and that he wants what we had back. He wants me back.
Not that I’m going to let him just waltz in and sweep me off my feet without making him work for it first.
I watch with my heart in my mouth as he slowly walks over to me. My body reacts in its usual wanton way whenever he’s near me and I flush with heat and longing for him.
Stepping back into the break room, I beckon for him to follow me.
‘Why are you here?’ I ask as soon as I’ve shut the door on the curious faces of my colleagues.
‘Because I love you,’ he says without preamble, moving closer to me, the delicious scent of him that I’ve missedso muchwinding through my senses. ‘And I wanted totellyou that I love you and that I’m a fucking selfish idiot. I know that now, but I’m going to change. For you, Juno—and for me, but mostly for you. And I’m begging you to forgive me. I want you back. With me. Where you belong.’
My whole body is shaking with relief and happiness now. ‘You love me?’ I say, wanting to hear him say it again.
‘Yes. I love you.’
I nod and fold my arms, not sure I’m going to be able to maintain my cool, but determined at least to try for a few more minutes. To torture him for just a little bit longer, as his absence from my life has been torturing me for the past few days.
‘Just tell me one thing. Was it an act at first? Were you pretending for those first few days to have fun with me?’
‘No, Juno, of course not,’ he says fiercely, lifting his hand as if wanting to touch me, then dropping it again, clearly feeling it’s not the right time when I tense a little.
‘Surely you know that, deep down?’ he pleads, his eyes dark with apprehension. ‘I loved having you with me from the beginning. That’s why I wanted you to stay on another week. I couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving.’
‘But you were just following your father’s orders when you initially agreed to our deal?’
He shakes his head. ‘When I started to get to know you I genuinely wanted to help you, Juno, I swear. It wasn’t just about appeasing my father.’
‘I wish you hadn’t lied to me, Sandro.’
He nods. ‘Me too. I’m so sorry. I hate myself for it. Please believe me. I wanted to tell you, but I thought you might leave if you knew what I’d done, and I really didn’t want you to go. And I couldn’t stand the idea of you hating me. I already thought I wasn’t good enough for you and admitting to what I’d done would have proved it. I stopped calling the photographers as soon as I knew they’d taken a few pictures of us at the beginning of the first week, hoping that would be enough. But it seems people are more fascinated by us than I imagined possible.’
I can’t stop the corner of my mouth from quirking at that. ‘I guess we are an unusual match.’
He frowns. ‘Not that unusual. We’re extremely compatible in all the ways that matter.’ He gives me a slow, seductive smile now and I feel the heat of my longing for him intensify.
‘I imagine people looking in will be wondering why someone as intelligent as you would go for a no-talent playboy like me,’ he adds, looking away from me now, down at his hands.
His insecurity tugs at my heart. ‘You have a huge amount of talent—you just haven’t had a chance to show it off yet. As I’ve said from the beginning, you have to get your sculptures in front of people, then you’ll see I’m right.’
‘Actually, I have a confession to make about that,’ he says, looking back into my eyes.
‘Another one?’ The tremor in my voice must have given away my concern because he shakes his head and smiles.
