Page 21 of The Last Call
Finally she looks up. Meeting my gaze and showing me the inferno always simmering under the surface. “Destroying my business, ruining my finances, and keeping me from my friend is not taking care of me!”
Fine. I will explain this to her one final time. I give her an inch of breathing room before I release her arms from my hold and slide out my phone. One of the images of her escape still fills the screen. Irritating but nonetheless sexy as hell to see her determination as she swings from the balcony. Her lithe body suspended for a few seconds before she sails to the patio and sprints like the athlete she is. Fucking gorgeous.
I swipe through a few more apps to get to the document I want her to see and rotate the screen to make the words as clear as fucking possible. “Look. I’ve deposited double your estimated earnings for the next three years…” I glance at her surprised face, chuckling at her cute little o shaped mouth. “…since that’s when you were retiring, according to your ten-year plan, into your account. I did the same for what you pay Mack. Neither of you are suffering any financial detriment from our relationship.”
“Holding me against my will isn’t a relationship!”
Ignoring her outburst because I know she mistakenly believes she has to maintain the façade of being angry with me despite how much she likes me. I tap on the glass, highlighting her name and account number before scrolling down to the total at the bottom. “Not that you’re going to need the money because I’ll provide you with everything you’ll ever want, but I’m tired of you fucking questioning my intentions. You, my tiny lion, are set for life. A glorious, luxurious life without a worry or care because of me.”
Good thing I’ve got her smashed against the wall, or I think she would fall on her sweet little ass from shock. Or maybe relief even if she’s too stubborn to admit it. “You’re welcome.”
“I can’t…I don’t…”
My generosity has her tongue tied. Shocked to realize, and more importantly accept, that Iama good guy. Well, at least to her. She should be much more grateful for all I did and will continue to do for her.
“It’s just…”
With my point proven and my stomach growling, I toss my phone onto the overstuffed bookshelf next to us and glide my hand to the small of her back. The cotton slightly damp from her impromptu run. No worries or rush. We’ll take our time showering later. “Come on. It’s time to eat.”
Mute and agreeable, she walks like a zombie next to me and into the kitchen much to Nonna’s returning delight. Grandmother hops up from the table and yanks on her long red oven mitts to retrieve Syd’s breakfast from the warming drawer. Despite her perplexed expression, she remembers her manners and thanks Nonna for the plate. Who basks in the warmth flowing between them. While I enjoy another one of her perfect pastries, this time covered in raspberry flavored custard. Damn this woman can bake.
Syd’s a fool to shake her head from the brioscia Nonna offers her. “Thank you but I can’t have all that bread.” She pats her flat stomach and offers her a smile full of regret. “Too many carbs.”
This time Nonna argues with her. Her head shaking furiously at the claim. Pleasure always overrides caution in her mind. I would have to agree, especially when it comes to Sydney. “They are too delicious to worry about calories.”
Her wrinkled hands motioning for us to eat up. Enjoy. Savor. Relish. Yet hesitation still lines Syd’s stunning face.
Easy for me to reassure her. “Don’t worry. We’ll burn them off later.”
Scarlet tinges her cheeks while she acts indignant from my innuendo. Angry wide eyes as she shakes her tilted head. I don’t want to fight in front of Nonna, so I smooth over my insinuation. “I have a gym here. You can work out all you want.”
As long as I don’t have her occupied with something else. Which will burn even more calories than a weight lifting session. After a few seconds, she nods. Settling down before taking a small bite. Stirring up my cock for the millionth time this morning from her absolute sexiness with her eyes sinking shut and the little purr of delight vibrating in her throat. Fuck me.
“See? I knew you would love it!”
A genuine smile I rarely see—or I guess generate—lights up her face as she agrees with Nonna’s proclamation. “I do. It’s absolutely amazing. Thank you.”
Nonna’s grin fails to fade while she eats, micromanages what Syd and I eat, and clucks at the housekeeper for sneaking in to try and clean up. All the while a happy matriarch finally presented with what she’s always dreamed of. The future of our family clearly visible.
Her frail hand pats Sydney’s. “I can go shopping with you today, if you would like. So you can pick out your own things.”
“Yes, I would love that.” The pleasant tone and expression morphs to bitter antagonism when she turns to me. “Since I prefer not to wear your old girlfriend’s clothes.”
One of the few subjects—few people—who actually make guilt churn in my gut. “They were my sister’s.”
“And, where is she? Locked in the attic?”
She’s mad and teasing and doesn’t know, but I still can’t play with her. Not about Joslyn. No one fucks around with me regarding that topic. “She’s dead.”
Nonna crosses herself, murmuring soft prayers in Italian. A mournful intercession for the granddaughter she lost because of my stupidity.
Both Syd’s face and hand fall. Returning her pastry to her plate and clasping her fingers together in her lap. “I’m so sorry.”
I appreciate yet don’t deserve her sympathy. Fucking hating her heartfelt condolences and pitying tone and kind expression toward my grandmother as well as to me. I have to shut this shit down. “Me too.”
They both startle from my chair legs scraping across the slate. Escaping from the compassion I haven’t earned, I stride to the sink and set my plate in the basin. Nodding to the hovering housekeeper to approve of her resuming her duties before Nonna even finishes her food.
“Julius, I was kidding. I had no idea. I would never disrespect–”
