Page 64 of Beautiful Desire

“Sorry, G, but I really need to get in the shower or my boss will hand me my ass.”

“Yeah, he will. And the next time he does, I expect to hear about it.” She gives me an overexaggerated wink, and I just shake my head at her.

“How would you like it if Dom knew about your and Fabi’s sex life, in explicit detail?” I ask, thinking I’ve got her.

But she pulls the rug out from under me and leaves my jaw on the floor with her next sentence.

“Oh, he already does. Fabi painted him a pretty picture the other day when I was spread-eagle in my birthday suit, starting without him because he chose to answer Dom’s call instead of filling me with his dick. I was mortified at first, but then thought if Fabi is willingly giving out that information, it’s because he trusts Dom. Anyone else would get a bullet in the head.”

How she can sit there and say this like it’s a normal, everyday conversation is beyond me. I open and close my mouth a couple of times before I’m able to form words.

“I’m going to take my shower now,” I say, hitching my thumb over my shoulder and trying to shake those thoughts out of my head.

“Go. I’ve got this,” she says as she motions around my apartment. “Hey, Elle? You’re welcome.”

Completely confused, I look at her with wide eyes. “For what?”

“For whipping whatever thoughts were keeping you up at night out of your head. Now you’ll just picture me naked instead,” she says as an evil laugh erupts from her throat.

“Uh, yeah, thanks for that, G.”

I can still hear her laugh as I get in the bathroom and turn the shower on. I rush through my shower and get ready in record time. I hurry out of my bedroom and stop when I see Gia holding the baby.

“Santino is downstairs, ready to take us back to my house, if you’re okay?”

“Of course. I’ll be at work, so no sense in you staying here. Go back to your castle and Prince Charming,” I tell her.

Taking the sweet baby from her arms, I snuggle close and drop a gentle kiss while inhaling that heavenly baby scent.

“If you’re ready, I’ll walk out with you guys.”

“Yep. Let me grab Nico’s diaper bag and stroller.” She goes around collecting his things before walking over and handing him his favorite plush toy.

I drop one more kiss to the beautiful baby in my arms as she grabs his stroller and heads out.

The elevator is ready and waiting for us as soon as we hit the button, which is nice because waiting for it with a baby in my arms wouldn’t have been fun.

Stepping out of the elevator, I can see Santino standing on the sidewalk in front of the car. As soon as he sees us, he opens the door and helps us out of the building. I have to say we look quite comical. Two young women: one short in workout clothes with a diaper bag hanging from her shoulder and pushing a big stroller, and the other a tall blonde dressed in a pencil skirt, see-through black blouse, and stilettos while carrying a baby. Just our height difference alone is funny.

Santino reaches for the stroller and collapses it to put in the trunk. After my lack of sleep last night, I’m a little emotional having to say goodbye to Gia this morning. I’d much rather play hooky and spend the day with her and this sweet baby I’m holding.

G gives me a big hug, and when she pulls away, she reaches for the sweet bundle in my arms. I lower my face to get one last sniff and to drop a final kiss before I let Gia have the baby. Fighting back tears, I bend down into the car and say goodbye to Nico.

Gia gives me one last hug. “I’m always here if you need anything, okay? Go kill it at work and show that man who’s boss! We’ll see you later.”

Unable to articulate words, I nod. She gives my shoulder one last squeeze before climbing into the back of the car. I stand there and watch as Santino pulls away from the curb and into traffic before I start my walk to work.

Even with waking up late and having some girl time with Gia this morning, I still manage to make it to work on time. I’m just getting off the elevator and heading over to my desk when I see a bouquet of flowers adorning the top of it.

As I get closer, I’m able to see they’re red roses. Ihateroses, especially red ones. They’re so cliché. There’s only one asshole I could think of who would think getting a girl a bouquet of red roses is romantic. I’m about to march my way into his office to tell him to shove his roses up his ass, but my eye catches a tiny card between the petals that stops me.

Reaching for the note, I read it over and over, because it just doesn’t make sense.

Can’t stop thinking about you.

Paul xo

Why the hell is Paul sending me flowers again? It’s been, what, four years since we broke up? He is exactly why I made rules and stick to them. Or at least I did until Dom came along.

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