Page 102 of 7+Us Makes Nine

“Okay, sweetheart.”

I ended the call, feeling somewhat unnerved by how easily the lies had sprung from my lips. But there was no use thinking about it. My adventure had come to an end, and it was time for me to get back to the real world and the obligations before me.

I searched around the room for my clothes, finding them tossed haphazardly on the floor from where Gio had practically ripped them off me.

I could hear him stirring about from somewhere in the front of the apartment.

Quickly, I unwrapped his black satin sheets from around me and placed them back on the bed.

“Morning.”

I gasped and gave a start at the sound of his voice. I spun around, finding Gio standing in the doorway and getting another eyeful of me as I stood before him, completely naked.

Heat rose to my face, and I crouched over, attempting to cover myself.

Gio laughed. “So, you’re a lot shier in the daytime, I see,” he said. He crossed the room and picked my clothes up from the floor. He then handed them to me, without really looking directly at me.

“Thank you,” I said, watching him turn his back to me to provide me some semblance of privacy as I quickly squeezed into my clothes. That’s wh

en I noticed that he was already showered and fully dressed.

“I was going to let you sleep in, but I’m actually glad you’re awake,” he said. “I don’t want to be rude, but I have somewhere to be.”

“Oh,” I said after a slight pause. Heat rose to my face again.

Gio glanced over his shoulder to see if I was dressed. Seeing that I was, he turned back around and headed towards his dresser to get a watch, which he began fastening to his wrist.

“Do you need me to call you a cab?” he asked, his voice too nonchalant for my liking.

A bitter taste formed in my mouth. “Uhm…where’s your bathroom? Do you mind if I wash up a bit first?”

He blinked and checked the time on his watch. “Sure. Right down the hall. Hey, listen—do you think you could let yourself out then? I’ll go ahead and call you a cab. When you leave, just lock the door, all right?”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat and nodded. I then hurried down the hall toward the bathroom, where I quickly shut the door behind me. I pressed my hand over my mouth, stifling a sob.

What was wrong with me?

It was like he didn’t even care. That’s what was wrong.

After the passionate night we’d shared together, he was carrying on as if it meant absolutely nothing to him. He was practically rushing me out of his apartment because he had better things to do now.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, almost not recognizing the woman—the simple-minded girl—staring back at me.

What did you expect from a one-night stand? A voice in my head chastised. How could you? And you’re about to be married! No respectable guy would want a woman who participates in this kind of sordid antics.

Turning on the faucet to run cold water over my face, I realized just how much of a mistake this night had been after all. My rebellious streak had been nothing but stupidity. And I knew for certain, that the deeds I’d done the previous night had to remain a secret for as long as I lived.

It was time for me to pack my things, get in the cab, and prepare for the rest of my life without ever looking back at this wild night.

CHAPTER 8

Giovanni

It had only been a day since I’d told my father that I would agree to marry the Marino girl so that we could secure her family’s fortune. What I hadn’t expected though, was for him to put me to the task so quickly. I should have known better though. Luca Romano didn’t play around, and he certainly didn’t waste time because as his favorite motto stated, time is money.

Still, when he’d called me at the crack of dawn, I had been somewhat taken aback.

“Dad? What the hell? What time is it?” I’d said groggily as I stumbled out of my bedroom and into the living room, not wanting to wake Ari.

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