Page 34 of Filthy Desire

A kindred soul.

That wasn’t good either. His heart began to race out of control and his palms grew damp.

Would bringing her into his business be the smartest thing he’d ever done? Or the beginning of the end?

Gio had faith in himself. He trusted his instincts. And his gut knew what his brain didn’t want to hear.

Someway, somehow, this woman was part of his destiny.

12

GIO

SATURDAY EVENING…

Gio arrived at LaFiora at 6:45 PM.

He always liked to arrive early to scope out the room and order a special bottle of wine. Unlike last Saturday, he arrived alone and waited for his guest. He didn’t pick Kara up.

Picking her up was too much like a date.

Not that he knew what that was. Dating was for other people. Gio couldn’t be bothered when all he wanted was sex. He didn’t want a girlfriend or - God help him – a wife. He didn’t need that kind of headache.

He knew what his grandfather expected, but Gio would fight that one to the end.

Finding a woman who would understand his life would be no easy feat…

At that exact moment, Kara walked into the restaurant and all his senses overloaded. Her red hair was styled in a fancy updo, her head held high, shoulders back, as she strutted down the aisle to their table. She was wrapped in a black bodycon dress, her curves on full display. Every man in the room turned her way. It didn’t matter that she had changed her name and preferred to avoid public life, Kara stood out anywhere.

Gio felt the shockwave of desire ripple through his body but ruthlessly shut it down.

He wanted her to have no confusion when it came to this conversation.

If – that was a big if – he decided to take her on as a partner, there would be no fucking around. Mixing business with pleasure would be all too easy with her.

Gio stood as she reached the table, her sexy vanilla scent wafting over him. His dick was now wide awake.

He pulled out a chair for her. As she slowly took the offered seat, he became mesmerized with the sight of her slender neck. She was such a temptation before him. Forcing himself not to lean over and taste her skin, he cleared his throat and sat back down beside her.

“You’re early,” Gio commented.

“So are you,” she replied.

“I like to people watch, to scope out who’s who.”

“Just like me. You pick up so much more about people when you watch and listen, don’t you agree?”

Gio nodded.

The waiter stopped by and presented the wine he’d requested, pouring two glasses. The red wine glowed ruby red, as dark and seductive as Kara’s lips.

Fuck…

“To going into business together?” Kara asked as she raised her glass.

Instead of following suit, Gio took a sip of the wine and shook his head. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, sweetheart.”

Kara raised one eyebrow at his comment. “I don’t think so,darling.”

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