“Never mind.Go change into your pajamas and brush your teeth.It’s late.”
Thankfully, she didn’t push the subject and just wandered off to her room.
I sat down on the couch and exhaled probably the deepest breath of the day.My whole body ached from sitting on that hard concrete floor all night last night, but I was glad I did it.Scrolling through my phone, I brought up Sam’s teacher’s number and shot off a quick text to Cheryl.
Hey, Cheryl.Sorry to message so late.Just wanted to touch base about today and what happened between Clyde and Sam.He pulled her chair out from behind her, and she fell.Then he opened her backpack at the bus stop and all her stuff fell into the mud.And he sat behind her on the bus and put gum in her hair.Do you have his parents’ number by chance?I’ve only spoken to them at school events so I don’t know how to get in touch.Thanks.
Closing my eyes, I leaned back against the soft microfiber couch.It’d been nice holding Tom’s hand earlier today.I didn’t really even think about it; I just did it.He looked like he was about to lash out and punch the man on his porch, so I stepped in and helped calm him down.Then I held on.Loving the way his calluses from hard work felt against my skin.He even smelled good.Like horse, sweat, and man.
Reaching up, with my eyes still closed, I ran my fingers through my hair, pretending they were Tom’s fingers when he gathered my hair into a ponytail so Mouse would stop trying to nibble on it.
I’d closed my eyes when he did it then too, resisting the urge to moan.
Was I just hungry for human contact—male contact, to be specific—or was I actually falling inlikewith Tommaso Barone?
My phone vibrated in my palm, and at first I thought it might be Tom.
I gave myself a quick mental lecture to calm the hell down and opened up the message from Cheryl.
Hey, Danica.Yes, I meant to email you today about the incident with Clyde.Is Sam okay?I have a meeting scheduled with his parents at the end of the week.She’s not the only student he’s tormenting.I’m sorry it’s getting so bad.
Well, at least Cheryl was trying to do something about it.I didn’t have a lot of hope for anything to change when she spoke with Clyde’s parents, but maybe they’d see the light.
Closing my eyes again, I leaned my head back against the couch, and the first image that popped into my mind was Tom.Standing there wet from the pond water after trying to get Piñata out.The thin, white T-shirt fabric clung to his abdomen and showed off every defined ridge.
I swallowed as my breathing picked up and my pulse thudded in my ears.
Is this what the kids called “thirsty”?Was I thirsty?
“Goodnight,” Sam said, rousing me from my little fantasy and causing me to startle.She gave me a funny look when I bounced in my seat and opened my eyes wide.“Were you asleep?”
“No.Just … just resting my eyes.”
And fantasizing about a sexy, older Italian man in a wet T-shirt.
She yawned.“I’m going to read for like ten minutes and then go to bed.”
I stood up from the couch, a twinge in my back making me slow my roll a little, and met her in the middle of the living room, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek.“Goodnight, sweetheart.Tomorrow will be better.I promise.”I cupped her cheek and gave her an encouraging smile.
She gave me one back, but it held very little belief and definitely wasn’t real.“We’ll see.”Then she headed off to bed.
Another yawn took hold of my body and I decided that despite it only being nine o’clock, I was ready for bed too.
I fell asleep within seconds, images of Tom, his smile, and those kind brown eyes lulling me into a deep, welcoming slumber.I wrapped my arms around myself, and could almost believe that they were his, holding me, keeping me warm and safe as he whispered soft, sexy Italian words in my ear.
I’d always liked Italian food, but it was never something I’d craved.
Now, tasting Italian was all I could think about, and I was beginning to think it was a craving that could never be satisfied.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tommaso
Boltingstraightupinbed, I gasped.My body hot, my pulse hammering.
Portia, in her bed at the foot of mine, snorted and lifted her head to check on me.
The clock on my phone said it was five in the morning.I usually got up at six, meditated, did some yoga, then got on with my day with the animals.
