She is no longer pissed but intrigued.
“I did.” I nod. “It humbled me after living the lavish lifestyle. My parents spoiled me as I am their only child, but they have taught me morals and manners. We have a distant cousin who lives on the island and on a homestead, so I lived with him and fuck, it taught me hard work. I learned that you have to work hard in life if you want it badly enough.”
“And you did.”
“I did,” I confirm. “Lux was my first baby. One of my uncles gave me the startup money, but I was to pay him back with interest, which I did within the first three years of opening.”
With a big bright smile on her face that smacks me in the chest, she replies, “That is a huge accomplishment, Romeo. Then you went on to open more clubs and casinos.” I dip my chin. “I love that. I know that you make plenty of money but even my small bookstore takes a lot of work, so I can only imagine how much you put into keeping them running smoothly and doing enough to keep people coming back for more.”
“It seems we have something in common then.”
“I believe so.” Her voice lowers.
“Nell, I like you.”
She looks at me with wide eyes. “Well, I kinda hoped that you did, as you brought me to Hawaii, all expenses paid. If you did not like me, I might find myself sunk in some lake, like they did in those old-time Mafia days,” she jokes.
Shaking my head, I’m unable to keep the smile off my face. It seems that Nell has a tendency to have me permanently smiling and feeling fucking good. No stress or worries like I have experienced with other women in my past.
Nell is light, free, and a breath of fresh air. And fuck me, I want to keep her.
“You, Nell Bana, are someone I never thought I would want in my life. Seeing family and friends settle down, it made me think that I would never get that. Fuck, most of the time I thought I didn’t want that kind of commitment. Asher used to joke that I would die in my office of a heart attack, alone, and no one would find my body.”
A frown slips across her face, and she reaches for my hand that is resting on the small table between us.
“You would be missed, Romeo, so please do not let anyone joke about you dying alone,” she states, then her eyes flash withmischief. “But you are old. I am sure that I saw some graying in your hair back at the pool. Right there.” She reaches to touch a curl at my temple.
Reaching up, I grip her wrist firmly, and her eyes widen but not in fear. My thumb rubs back and forth over her pulse point, her gaze filling with desire for me; I like that. She is doing things to me that I am clearly also doing to her.
“Fuck, you do things to me, Nell. Things I never expected.”
She bites her lip, lowering her gaze before looking back at me. I kiss her knuckles, and her body shivers, making me pleased as fuck that I get to her like this.
“I feel the same.” Her voice is low, husky, making my balls ache and my cock needy. “After my ex, I never thought I would catch feelings for someone again.”
“I understand that. It seems that we are the exception, baby.” The endearment rolls off my tongue and it feels right to use it with her.
I have not used it with any other women before— it seems that Nell is my exception.
Chapter Thirteen
Nell
Dressed in cream linen pants and a navy camisole with thin straps, I join Romeo’s mother Renata and the women from his family, plus his bitch of an ex, for our nail appointment.
Apparently, it is tradition for the family of the bride to get a mani-pedi for the wedding, so here I am with my feet being pampered, while a lovely young Hawaiian girl does my toenails, as my hands are already done. We opted for navy and gold as it will match my dress.
“So, tell us, Nell, how are things with my nephew?” Romeo’s aunt asks; she is the mother of the bride.
I sip from the glass in my hand, a mimosa to help me deal with these women, not Renata of course, she is lovely, such a sweet lady. It is the bride and Romeo’s ex who are being bitchy, but his aunts and cousins are just pushy and nosy.
Swallowing, I ignore the stares that are filled with hate that Daniella is sending my way. She purposely took the chair opposite me to try and intimidate me.
It is freaking working, but I will not show her that.
My inner bitch is rearing her head, wanting to drown her in the foot spa at her feet. She cheated on Romeo, she lost him, and she only has herself to blame.
I reach inside to my inner tough girl and pull up my big girl panties, and not let it show that she is getting to me. Romeo has told me all about what she was like when they were together. It makes me wonder what he was thinking, and I question his motives for shacking up with a woman like her. She is vile, and he deserves someone better.
