Page 65 of Beautiful Desire

He’s also why every time I hear his low, husky voice or smell his heavenly mint and wood scent, I replay the horrible breakup between Paul and I, so I never go down that road again. One officescandalis enough to last a lifetime for me.

Ripping the note, I throw it in the trash, take a seat behind my desk, and get to work.

Thankfully, the morning passes in a blur and the gods are on my side, because I don’t see, hear, or smell Dom for that entire time. I don’t know if it’s because he’s avoiding me, or when I logged into the schedule this morning, I saw he added eight new clients for the day. Whatever the reason, I’m not complaining. He can stay in that conference room in meetings all day and away from me for all I care.

I’m just getting back from lunch when I see an even bigger bouquet of flowers on my desk.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Leave me alone, Paul! Take a hint, dude. The four years of silence should have been a big enough one, but when I didn’t reach out to you for the flowers, that was because I’m not interested. That didn’t mean to send me more.

I’m so annoyed when I reach my desk that I yank the card out of its holder and some of the petals fall onto my keyboard. I’m curious to see what Paul has to say now, but once again, I’m thrown for a loop.

Mi dispiace.

Ti prego perdonami, fiore.

-D

I read this note until my vision becomes blurry. I have no clue what it says, but the one word,prego, keeps catching my eye. Finally looking away from the note, I blink to regain some focus, and that’s when I take in the big, beautiful bouquet of white lilies.

He knows.

A bead of sweat rolls down my spine, and a shiver wracks through my body. If he thinks I’m going to roll over and let him get his way after one hot-as-hell make-out session and surprising me with my favorite flowers, then he has another think coming.

Pushing back from my desk, I stand and march right over to his closed office door with the note still in my hand. Not bothering to knock, I push my way inside and let him have it.

“How fucking dare you?! You’ve got some nerve, you know that?” I say as I wave the note in the air so he can see what I’m talking about.

His sexy face turns in my direction, and if I was easily intimidated, I would cower under his stony look and the death glare he is sending me. Luckily for me, I’m not.

“Now is not a good time, Miss Parker.Leave,” he says through clenched teeth and lifts his arm, pointing for the door.

“Excuse me? Did you just—”

Cutting me off and holding his hand in the air, he inclines his head toward the chairs in front of his desk, and that’s when I see he’s not alone. Willing my nerves to stay at bay and praying I don’t look as red as a tomato right now, I take in the man before me.

Although he’s sitting, he looks tall, clad in a tailored made dark charcoal suit that hugs his muscular legs, torso and chest. His white button-down shirt is opened at the top, showcasing his toned neck and shaggy brown hair. When he turns his head in my direction, I’m taken aback not just by his good looks, but his eyes. They’re almost the same color blue as Dom’s and…I shake that thought out of my head, because that asshole doesn’t deserve to be in mind right now.

The shaggy-haired, handsome man turns his body in his seat, giving me his full attention. I begin wracking my brain for who this could be, because this isn’t a client I recognize. He holds his hand out to me for a shake. As I slip my hand into his, he speaks with a slight accent.

“Ciao, bella. I’m Nero. This stronzo’s cousin.” He drops that bomb on me before lowering his lips and kissing the back of my hand, and I swear I hear Dom growl.

I can’t take my eyes off Nero, because all I keep thinking is Dom has a cousin when he told me he didn’t have any family.

CHAPTER20

DOM

After spendingthe morning locked up in the conference room with back-to-back meetings I set-up to ensure I would see as little of Elle as possible, I’ve come back to the office to try to have some peace and quiet.

Making my way over to the large office window overlooking the city below, I look down and take in the lunchtime rush of the people coming and going. I feel a small niggle in my neck, no doubt tension from all the stress I’m under. Rolling my neck, I close my eyes, trying to take just five minutes to breathe instead of feeling like I’m drowning.

“Cosa ti ha stressato, caro cugino?” I hear from a voice I’m unfortunately used to hearing.What’s got you stressed, dear cousin?

I huff out an annoyed breath before turning to see Nero standing in the office doorway. That smug fucking grin that irks me plastered across his face.

Not for long, stronzo.

Shoving my hands into my pants pockets and trying to stop myself from throttling him, I make my way over to my desk.

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