Page 59 of Reckless Fate

Gina

“Wake up, baby.” Massi’s voice penetrates the darkness. He glides his strong, warm hand up my thigh and peppers my shoulder with kisses.

“It’s dark,” I groan, but I turn to him. The man has an insatiable appetite. Well, he’s not the only one. It’s as if we are trying to make up for lost time.

“You don’t have to come with me, Blue, but I need to shower and get going in half an hour.” He kisses my forehead.

I force my eyes open. The room is dim, but I still have to blink to fight the sleep. My lids are too heavy, but I remember it’s the day of the event and I promised I’d go to the market with him.

“No, no, I want to come.” I yawn.

“Join me in the shower, but hurry.” He leaves and I shiver, immediately feeling the loss of his warmth.

We’ve had the craziest week in history. My mother got lost, forgetting where she was going, interrupting the potential moment of truth during our do-over date. With the help of Bianca and the police we found her. Seeing her ashamed for her brief lapse in memory was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced.

It was apparent she can’t stay alone. And it’s insane what money can achieve. I’ve spent weeks looking for a place for my mom… yet Massi made a few calls and my mother is soon moving to a wonderful home.

A hefty donation was involved, but I’m pretending I don’t know about it because at this point I can’t deal with another money issue. One more problem to file for later. For after the event.

For now, I accepted Massi’s offer to pay for a twenty-four-hour nurse, under the condition I’ll pay him back. My mom is pretending to hate “strangers” in her house, but I suspect it’s for show as I caught her laughing a few times this past week. It’s so much easier to leave her now, knowing someone is there all the time to support her.

I’m speeding headfirst into disaster, but the constant support and the loving arms of the generous man—who, for now, I can call mine—softens all the sharp edges and thorns in my life.

Massi has been supportive on all fronts while getting ready for the event. This is the area where I clearly see how he’s matured, dividing his attention and love between his private and professional life. The lines are blurred since we have been working together, but still, this is a new version of Massi that I love even more.

Me, on the other hand, I’m still the lost girl. With more wrinkles and pounds. I still haven’t told him why I married Frederick and stayed on the West Coast.

I push myself up, resting against the pillow and taking in the beauty of my surroundings, trying to wake up. It’s still dark outside, the lights of the city not yet ready to say good morning to its citizens.

The view of the park is gently interrupted with the light fabric of curtains that hang like pillars, giving the room a slightly Mediterranean feel. I’ve spent every night here this past week, and every time I admire the view I fear it may be the last time I see it.

I drag myself out of bed and join Massi in the shower. I wrap my arms around him and let us stand there under the hot water. He then washes me like a child, which is oddly arousing as evident by his erection.

He looks at the clock above the door and startles me when he spins me around, plants my hands on the tiled wall and spreads my legs. I guess we have time for a quickie.

“I have something for you,” I say as we finish dressing.

Pulling his watch from the drawer in his closet he looks at me, smiling. “Yeah? I don’t think we have time for another orgasm, Blue.”

I shake my head, laughing, and open my carry-on suitcase that has been lying in the corner. I pull out the box. I brought it when I was in LA the last time, finally ready to give it to him, but now I’m oddly nervous about it.

“What is it, Blue?” He tries to tame the urgency. Perhaps I should have waited for tonight, but it’s too late.

“Here.” I hand him the box.

He eyes it before he lays it on the bed. “What is it?” He lifts the lid. “Blue…” Emotions color his voice and tug at my chest. He lifts one watch from the box and admires it. “This-this is…”

“I got one on your birthday every year since I left. For your collection.” My voice is softened by the bout of vulnerability I feel. “I got each of them to remember something I wanted to share with you that year. They aren’t expensive, not like your own pieces—”

He crushes his lips to mine, swallowing my words and worries, holding me so tight I can barely breathe. “Thank you, baby.” He lowers his forehead to mine.

“Don’t get sappy with me, Massi. We need to go get the fish.” I fail to bring lightness to my words as we reluctantly pull apart, both of us wiping tears. Happy tears. Hopeful tears.

He takes a watch and replaces the one on his wrist with it. “What is the memory of this one?”

Fuck, did he have to choose that one? I can’t tell him that. Not now. We have to focus on the event.

“We better go. We’ll talk about the memories after the event.” I hate that I can’t be open with him. I hate that I’ve let things go unsaid for this long.

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