Page 5 of Bite Marks

Maria grimaced and turned her attention to her tablet with all the current paintings listings. “It … it might not be that bad. I … um. Well, we could refocus the event on the Renoirs. It’s completely salvageable.”

Vanessa barked a laugh. “See?Salvageable. You know just as well as I do that this is an unmitigated clusterfuck.”

With the Monet pulling out, Vanessa couldn’t even imagine how in the world she was going to pull this off. This had the potential to ruin her.

The office, which consisted of a desk and a sitting area with a couch and coffee table, shrunk in on her. It was too much that the single painting sheneededwas the one to back out. She stood, burning up in the office, which was rapidly becoming more claustrophobic. “I can’t be in here. I need to think.” She walked into the gallery, the cool air hitting her skin, slowing her brain so she could think.

The front door opened, and Nunzio pulled one of the privacy tarps to the side before stepping through the next screen and into view. His tall, broad shoulders took up the breadth of space, excellently silhouetted by the sun hitting the opaque tarps.He would make a fine painting himself.

Heat splashed her cheeks as the corners of her lips pulled up into a small smile. It was nice that such a good-looking man was crushing so hard on her, but she really didn’t have time for this. “Ah, this is off-limits to the public. Including you, Nunzio. You have to leave.”

Nunzio covered his eyes as if intruding on a women’s shower room. “Yeah, hey. I’m sorry. I promise I won’t look.” His cocky grin showed a flash of teeth. “Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise before opening night.”

And who’s to say you’ll be here opening night, Mr. Sarducci?Vanessa’s smile grew, plumping her cheeks like small apples. Confident men were definitely a turn-on. The more subtle, the better, and Nunzio danced back and forth between brazen and under-the-radar well enough for her tastes.

“I need to speak with you alone if that’s all right.” Nunzio motioned to the front door. “We could get a cup of joe if you’d like?”

Maria’s eyes were shocked wide open as a devious little smile crept over her face. She backed away toward the office. “I, uh, forgot my thing in here.” Maria peeked out through the last little sliver as the door closed and winked at Vanessa.

How dare that little backstabber.With the door shut, Vanessa rolled her eyes and huffed. “Listen, Nunzio … I just can’t. I’m in a bit of a crisis here, and I really need to be looking for a solution.”

Nunzio peered through his fingers into her emerald eyes, his grin growing like a wolf that had a hare cornered. “I’m here with a business proposal for you. Whatever crisis you’ve got, I think I’ll be able to help. Come on, let’s go somewhere so that I can look at you without having to have my hand covering my face.”

She clenched her jaw and swallowed her initial rejection. He was connected through the families. If she was overly rude or mean to him, it would likely get back to her relatives, and even if she wasn’t in the life, those who were could suffer consequences.

Even though they’d seem minor, like a little snub here or being excluded from a job, that could mean food on someone’s plate, and she couldn’t let herself be responsible for something like that when all she needed to do was say yes to a coffee.

It’s just a business proposal. I can always turn him down. Then again, maybe it won’t be so bad going on a little mini-date.

“Okay, fine.” She let out a disgruntled sigh. First, the Monet was lost, then Maria abandoned her, and to round it out, Nunzio was likely trying to get into her pants. It was just one of those days where you couldn’t expect it to get better, and you just prayed it wouldn’t get worse.

Nunzio played the part of the perfect gentleman, helping her through both double layers of privacy tarps. He opened the door, and the cold air smacked her across her cheeks … then her shoulders and chest.

“Damn it! I left my cardigan in my office.”

“The one your assistant locked?” Nunzio chuckled.

“Locked? I don’t think she locked it.”

He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it over her shoulders, the residual heat of his body instantly cloaking her from the frigid wind. “I heard the latch click. Come on, where do you want to go?” He offered his arm, and Vanessa took it.

“Those are some pretty good ears.” She smiled up at him as she flipped her hair over the collar and added in Italian. “I’m shocked you don’t have a gun on you. There’s not one in the jacket, is there?”

Nunzio laughed a deep belly laugh as he threw his head back. He peered down at her and spoke in Italian, as well. “No. I’m not a man who carries a gun. Not anymore.”

One of her red brows lifted. “Oh? Is that so? Moving up in the world, I see. Must be nice.” She led him to Craig’s since it was the shortest distance and to see the look on that barista’s face when Nunzio walked back in. Unfortunately, the man wasn’t there. “So, what’s your proposal?”

Nunzio stared down at her. “Has anyone ever told you, you make Italian sound even more beautiful than it already does?”

She turned her head down so he wouldn’t see her blush. “Can’t say I get the chance to speak this much at once. Unless it’s arguing with my mom.”

He chuckled. “I’m certainly not as brave as you. I’d never argue with my ma. God rest her soul. How is Emma, anyway?”

Vanessa’s jaw tightened. For a moment there, she almost let herself forget that Nunzio was a mobster, but the simple fact he knew her mother’s name was like a slap in the face. “So, your business offer, what is it?”

They reached the front of the line, and Nunzio started to order in Italian before catching himself and switching to English. They took a seat before he looked at her with stern eyes, the gray almost taking on a steel-like appearance, sharp and deadly serious.

“I want to propose that you and I start seeing each other … for looks only. I know you don’t want nothing to do with a guy like me, and I respect that. I just need to be seen as settling down, and it’s been impressed upon me that the woman needs to meet some outstanding criteria. Italian.” He held up a finger. “Beautiful.” A second finger raised. “And very classy.” A third finger joined the other two before he gestured at her. “You are all three of those to the nth degree.”

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