Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Let me try it,” Aunt Chiara said.
They fought back and forth.
I stopped outside my bedroom door.
“Give it back—”
Click.
“Well, so much for that.” I put the phone in my pocket, then opened the enormous golden door that led to my bedroom, a door that cost fifty thousand euros, completely bulletproof and impenetrable—and stunning.
My wing of the house had a private bedchamber with its own dining room and living room, basically a luxury apartment within the villa. And the second I opened the door, I heard Medusa jump off the bed and sprint across the room toward me with the speed of a jet.
I took a knee right when she crashed into me. I let her knock me over as I laughed. “That’s my girl.” She licked my face as she moved over me, her paws on my chest, looking down at me with those brown eyes that always made me a sucker. I gave her a good rubdown behind the ears before I pulled her into a bear hug. She let me hold her for a second before she was anxious to break free.
I got back to my feet, grabbed a tennis ball from the floor, and chucked it across the large room, watching her sprint after it. She was quick like a racehorse, grabbing the ball and running straight back to me like she was in training.
I played with her for a while because I hadn’t seen her all day. My butler took care of her walks and made all of her meals from scratch, so she was well taken care of. She hung out with the security guys during the day so she would feel like part of the team. But like everyone else at this time of day, she got a little tired and retreated to my room for some peace and quiet.
I sat on the couch, and she immediately jumped with me, cuddling into my side and resting her chin on my thigh, her eyes glancing up at me every few seconds. I gave her a pat before I rested my arm on her back.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out, hoping it wasn’t Rocco or more bullshit for me to handle for the day. I hoped it was one person, the person I always hoped to hear from, the one who made me smile in a way I hadn’t since I was a boy.
Hey. It was her.
The woman who was falling in love with me.
Looks like I wasn’t the only sucker in this relationship. Hey, sweetheart.
Can I take you to dinner?
Damn, she really was into me. No. But I’m happy to take you out.
So you’re one of Those guys . . .
Yep. I’ll be there in an hour. And let’s stay at my place tonight.
Bit presumptuous.
Am I wrong, sweetheart?
The three dots were visible for a while before she finally responded. No comment.
Good. I want you to meet someone.
Who?
The woman I’ve been sleeping with for the last four years.
Sorry, what???
I chuckled to myself before I took a picture of Medusa as she lay across my thigh.
Oh my god, you have a dog??? Oh, she’s so cute. I already love her.
Well, not gonna lie, you’re going to be a tough sell for her.
Yeah, I can totally see why.
I picked her up in my Range Rover, which was stocked with guns, just out of sight so she didn’t have a clue. If you lifted the floor panel in the back, five loaded shotguns were on racks beneath. A handgun was stashed both underneath my seat and hers. And if she checked the glove compartment, she wouldn’t like what she found.
She wore this little dark-blue dress with a ton of boobage . . . and damn.
I parked my car wherever the fuck I wanted, then I took her hand, and we walked inside together. I didn’t have reservations, but that wasn’t an issue when I was friends with the owner. They whipped up a table for me, and the two of us were seated where there’d been open space just a moment ago.
“So what’s her name?”
“Medusa.”
“Whoa, that’s quite the name. Is she a sea monster?”
“She’s definitely a monster,” I said with a grin. “She’s a police dog. Met her at work one day, but you know, it was love at first sight, so I took her home.”
“Aww, that’s cute. How old is she?”
“Four.”
“Good, she’s still young. Why didn’t you mention her before?”
I shrugged. “Didn’t come up.”
“I can’t believe you went a week without her in Taormina.”
“I mean, I missed her, but she’s well taken care of. She still has a family at the house when I’m not around. She sleeps with my butler, Elio, when I’m out. Everyone loves her. She’s a great estate dog.”
She didn’t react to the words butler or estate, as if she’d already assumed I was wealthy. But she probably didn’t understand exactly how wealthy I was. “How have you been?” It’d been a couple days since we talked. I gave her some space after the whole I’m falling in love with you thing.