Page 29 of Of Grief And Gratitude

“Oh,” I breathed. “This is amazing.”

“Mhm.” Romeo stared at me with heat in his eyes, his bottom lip pinched between his teeth.

I looked away quickly because that look did something to me I didn’t like. My body and mind warred, both aroused and disgusted. Taking a sip of espresso, I let the bitter brew wash away the heavenly flavor of the dessert.

“This has been wonderful,” I said to Antonella. She didn’t deserve my wrath.

She grinned and nodded her head. “Oh, I am happy you liked it! You must come for family dinner on Sunday.”

“I appreciate your offer,” I started, ready to let her down easy.

Before I could finish, Romeo cut in. “It’s getting late. I should get Riona home.”

“I—”

He yanked my chair back, jolting me and making me bite my lip. The others watched us curiously, but the men at the table rose when I did, acting the part of gentlemen. Antonella pushed her chair back and embraced me, kissing my cheeks.

“Come see us soon,” she said like it was a certainty.

My face hurt from smiling so much. “I hope to be back soon. Thank you again.”

I hated lying to such a kind woman. I would do everything in my power to never attend another family meal, even if it meant picking up other jobs for the O’Connor family and working every weekend. There must be something I could do.

“Here.” Romeo held my coat out when we reached the foyer.

I snatched it from him and put it on by myself, buttoning it up to my neck. Then I grabbed my purse and pulled my phone out. “You are not taking me home. I’m calling Sean.”

Romeo pulled the phone from my hands before I could unlock the screen and slipped it into his pocket. “No, you’re not. I’m taking you home. Let’s go.”

He propelled me forward with a hand at my lower back; the men stationed at the door opening it for us. When it closed behind us, I spun to yell at him, but he stopped me with a finger to my lips. “Don’t say anything you’ll regret, mia fiamma.”

“I wouldn’t regret anything,” I hissed as I followed him to his car, and he held the door open so I could slide inside. I buckled in and crossed my arms, staring out the window and refusing to talk to him the entire drive back to my apartment building.

He parked at the curb, and I flung the car door open, slamming it behind me and stomping to the building door. My heels made a dramatic exit nearly impossible. I punched in the code to the door and pulled it open when the lock released.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Romeo called out as he caught the door and slipped through before the lock re-engaged.

I looked over my shoulder, cursing myself for not paying closer attention. “I’m going home. And you can fuck right off.”

He refused, following me into the elevator. When we arrived on my floor, I was tempted to kick him in the shins and run for the apartment door. If Sloane were home, she’d probably hear me if I screamed.

I didn’t do either thing. I unlocked the apartment door and whirled to face Romeo. “What the hell do you want? I’m here. You can leave now.”

He leaned against the wall next to me, his large body looming over mine. “We need to talk.”

“Why?”

“What are you going to tell the O’Connors?” he asked, shoving a hand in his pocket. I hated how casually suave he looked in the dim hallway lighting. I scrunched my nose when he produced my phone, and his hand brushed against mine as he deposited it into my jacket pocket.

I sighed and figured if I told him, he’d leave faster. “I’ll tell them the truth. There’s no way in hell they’d believe me if I told them I’d suddenly fallen in love with you.”

“Fair enough.” He looked around before continuing. “Make sure they don’t let it slip to anybody in my family. I don’t want my mother to find out.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “But you owe me for this. I expect you to be ready to work at our next meeting. You still have to fix your image for any of this to be believable. I won’t let you embarrass me.”

“Oh, I’ll happily pay you.” He smirked and threaded his fingers through the back of my hair, slamming his lips against mine. When I gasped, he thrust his tongue into my mouth, and I bit down, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

“Fuck!” He stepped back. “You bit me!”

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