Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“I wouldn’t,” I began, but stopped. “Okay maybe I would, but I’m glad to see you.” Things at work were incredibly busy, especially today. “But I’m afraid that I can’t skip work today. Tomorrow, however, is all yours.”
“Perfect. Today we’ll hang with Lena, maybe take her to the zoo, if that’s all right.”
“Of course it is. I’ll let Lucy know.”
“Let Lucy know what?” She appeared as if I’d conjured her up, smiling in skintight jeans and soft pink tunic.
“We’re taking Lena to the zoo,” Mom announced. “Would you like to join us?”
Her gaze slipped to mine and then back to Mom. “I’m happy to tag along if you need help with Lena, otherwise I think she would enjoy spending time with you guys on her own.”
Mom looked as if she wanted to say more, but she surprised me when she held her tongue and nodded. “Maybe another time.”
“I’ll get you the keys for the Escalade. The car seat is already installed along with everything else Lena might need for a car trip.” She smiled sweetly at my parents before she turned to leave the kitchen again.
“Sounds good,” I told my parents. “Tonight we’ll all go out to dinner. You too, Lucy.”
She froze at my words and turned slowly, a stormy expression flashing on her face briefly. “Fine, ok, thanks.” She turned to Lena and my parents with a smile. “Have fun today!” She spun and left for real this time. Quickly.
“That was interesting,” Mom said, her voice filled with curiosity.
“I have to agree,” Dad said with a laugh as his gaze swung to mine.
“No, it’s not,” I said and stood abruptly. “I need to get going.”
Mom and Dad erupted in laughter as I kissed them all and rushed out the door before they started asking questions.
Chapter 29
Lucy
“You look beautiful Lucy.” Dante’s mom beamed at me like it was my prom night.
I looked down to see if I was overdressed. I wasn’t sure where Dante planned to take his family, but it was a sure bet the place would be fancy, and by extension expensive. I opted for a plain navy blue dress that highlighted my curves without making me stand out.
“Am I dressed all right? I wasn’t sure where we were going.”
“Oh honey, you are dressed perfectly. Such a knockout, isn’t she Dante?”
My hands balled into fists at my side, but that was my only concession to Dante’s presence. I told myself that it didn’t matter what he thought about me or my appearance. “Lucy looks gorgeous as always.”
My skin heated at his seemingly sincere compliment, damn him. “Thanks,” I muttered and turned away. “I need to help Lena.” It was a weak excuse, but it happened to be true, so I made my escape. “Hey Lena, need some help?”
She nodded. Her curly pigtails swung with the move.
She looked so distraught that I couldn’t help but smile at her small face. “Let’s find you a dress. What color do you feel like wearing?” I took her hand and led her to the closet, filled with more clothes than a four-year-old girl would need before her next growth spurt.
Lena tapped her chin deep in thought before she stepped forward and touched a pale purple dress and then a deep pink one. “This one?”
“It’s beautiful,” I told her honestly. Lena’s clothes were perfect for any stylish little girl, colorful and flattering and adorable. “Now you need shoes.”
She picked out shoes and then tights and I helped her get dressed and fixed her hair.
There was nothing else to be done, which meant I’d exhausted all of my stalling tactics. We piled into another SUV—not the Escalade—and I jumped in the back, as far away from Dante as possible. His father took the front passenger seat while Lucy and Cheryl sat in the middle.
I didn’t belong and I refused to pretend anymore. It was a lesson I was determined not to forget.
But I planned to enjoy every delicious morsel of the food served at the upscale steakhouse Dante took us to somewhere in the heart of Houston. We were shown to a round table and I sat beside Lena to help her, because that was my role here, nanny. Not friend and not family.
Employee.
I played the role of observer for the night, watching everything, and what I saw made it harder to want to keep a physical and emotional distance from Dante. He was grumpy because that was his default setting, but he was also charming and affectionate with his parents, just as he was with Lena. There was an easy affection between all four of them, they touched freely and easily, laughed together, and teased each other good-naturedly.
It was a nice side of him to see, or at least it would have been if I wasn’t so determined not to care. I shouldn’t have had sex with him—again—last night. It was a mistake, even if it was the most enjoyable, satisfying mistake of my life. The things he made me feel terrified me because it was deeper than sexual satisfaction. It was more than chasing orgasms, more than satisfying a physical need, and it was that more that I refused to address.