Page 129 of The Holiday Hate-Off
“Yes, unfortunately,” he says, his brown eyes full of humor. “We’re doing all of it. I won’t feel like I’ve proven my sincerity to you until I’ve done every awful holiday activity Hideaway Harbor has to offer.”
“Charlie and Lars are going,” I say, watching him for a reaction. He’ll need to spend time around Lars if we’re going to try legitimately dating. He’ll have to be kind.
“I promise not to make a single death threat.” He grins, plenty of humor in his expression. “I have no problem with Lars. Aria is living in paradise. I’ll buy him a drink, slap him onthe back a little too hard, and we’ll be good with each other, you watch.”
“Okay,” I say, my heart beating fast. “We’re doing it.”
“We’re doing it,” he confirms. “Together. Now, will you please show me what you’re working on?”
“In a minute,” I say, then take him by the hand and lead him to my bed. “I have other plans for you first.”
CHAPTER 29
ENZO
Isee the sealed letter on her windowsill, propped up.
She hasn’t opened it. Why hasn’t she opened it?
Even though her mouth is on me, her hand working at my belt buckle, I acknowledge to myself that it’s time to tell her everything. If I keep the truth from her any longer, she might see it as another manipulation.
So I pull back and point to it. “It looks like you have a letter to read.”
She gives me an incredulous look. “You seriously want me to stop taking your pants off so I can catch up on my correspondence?”
I swear under my breath, because I’m already straining to be inside her. That’s what I need, but the next time we enjoy each other, I want it to be on an even playing field.
“Yes,” I say, my voice almost sulky.
Her eyebrows wing up, and she regards me with wide eyes as she releases my belt. “Enzo…”
I nod to her. “Read the letter, Lucia.”
She picks up the envelope and tears into it, eager enoughthat it almost rips in half. My Lucia is no wilting flower. She tears into life like this. Intomelike this.
A feeling of apprehension grips me as she starts reading. I want to take off my shoes but don’t feel like I should until she finishes.
I stick my hand into my pocket, finding the red Sharpie I’ve been carrying around, just in case, and fiddle with the cap.
Finally, she sets the letter on her lap and looks at me, her eyes swimming with emotion. “It’s you.”
I take the Sharpie out of my pocket and step over to her, claim her trembling hand and draw a heart on it, withDQ and LSinside.
“I’ve only known for a few days,” I say. “The first time I saw you through your apartment window, it filled me with joy. I wasn’t happy to be back in Hideaway, Lucia. I felt like a failure. But I looked up and saw you dancing around that tree. I could only see your silhouette, but it changed my night.”
Her lips part as she stares down at her hand. Then she looks up and meets my eyes. “You left your job because you wouldn’t fire those people.”
I smile at her. “You inspired me to send that brief to my boss’s boss. I doubt it will do any good, but it made me feel less powerless. Thank you for that.” I nod to the letter that’s still on her lap. “And for writing to me. Sometimes it’s hard for me to say what I’m feeling out loud. When I was younger, I was always told a man shouldn’t share his feelings. My grandparents were wonderful, but they could be very old-school about such things. Writing is an easier way to share.”
She stands, letting the letter drop to the floor. “You were Santa Claus for your brothers and sister.”
“My grandparents helped,” he says, “but yes. I did it until Giovanni and Nico found out. Then we kept it up for Aria for a few years.”
Her eyes are brimming with tears, and my heart is pounding. She could still turn me out. She could decide I’m still not a man she could open her heart to.
She places her palms against my shirt, the heat of her searing me down to my soul. “Why didn’t you tell me when you first figured it out?”
“You’d told me you only wanted this relationship to be physical. I was afraid you’d decide it crossed the boundaries of our agreement. I didn’t want to stop writing to you.”
