25
Bianca
I wakebefore dawn and lie in bed, staring at Vinnie in the faint glow of the city lights that surround our building.His massive frame takes up more than half of the bed, but he’s peaceful in his sleep.It’s my moment to study the features of his face and the dips and ridges of his chiseled body without being distracted.
Ever since I met with Susan, I’ve been going through a million different scenarios, trying to figure out how to end my novel.Vinnie’s actions tonight and his willingness to end his entire career for me was a huge gesture.One a hero would typically make in my novels for the love of his life.
I never thought I’d be so content again.Opening my heart to someone else, especially a playboy like Vinnie, isn’t something I thought would be possible or smart.But here I am, lying next to this beautiful man, completely and totally falling for him.
I slide out of bed and tiptoe across the room, grabbing my clothes off the floor as I make my way to the door.Thankfully, Vinnie doesn’t wake.My muse is speaking to me, and I want a few uninterrupted hours to hash out the final chapter of my novel before it’s due to my editor, along with all the changes I still have to make.
The words are pouring out of me, and I’m so engrossed in the ending, I don’t hear Vinnie wake or notice him standing in the kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee, until I turn around, going for another cup myself.
“Did I wake you?”
His lips move but I can’t hear anything he’s saying, and I realize I’m still wearing my noise-canceling headphones I use to block out the city noise.I remove them, placing them on the center island as Vinnie laughs behind his coffee mug.
“You didn’t wake me.I have an early practice, and I have to talk with Coach and Mr.Turner before I take the field.I want to know Tracie is gone before I tell them yes.”
I rake my gaze over his bare chest.“Is there ever a day you don’t work out?”
He shakes his head and places his coffee cup on the counter.“I never miss a workout unless I’m on vacation.”He reaches out and grabs me around the waist.“If I didn’t, I would be sore after some of those moves from last night.”
“You went above and beyond.”
He nuzzles his face in my neck.“I’m just beginning, baby.I have a whole lot of moves I’ve never even tried yet.”
I melt against him as his teeth graze my neck.“I look forward to seeing what you still have up your sleeve.”
I’m riding high, floating on cloud nine in the arms of a man I never would’ve imagined myself with.“You better go before we both get sidetracked.”
I want to fall back into bed, spending hours exploring each other’s bodies, but my novel and his team are waiting.
“What are you doing today?”
“I have lunch with my mother.”
I’m not overly excited by the idea.While I love her, my mother’s ideas about my future and my own are very different.She’s still not sold on Vinnie, and the last time I talked with her, I wasn’t either.
“You’ll need a car,” he says and reaches for his phone on the counter.
I grab his arm, stopping him from whatever call he is about to make.“I’ll take a taxi.”
His beautiful green eyes roam across my face.“You sure?”
Moving onto my tiptoes, I kiss him quickly and nod.“Entirely sure.I wouldn’t have taken my car anyway.Parking is murder downtown.”
He wraps his arms around my middle and presses my body flush against his.“What are you doing Sunday?”
“Working, probably.”
“Come to dinner with me at my parents’.”
“Again?”
I had fun the first time, although it was a bit overwhelming.They were so much more relaxed compared to my family.
“Yes, again.It’s a Sunday tradition, and Ma already told me to bring you.It’s a requirement, and unless you want Betty banging on your door, I’d advise you to come.”
