She swallows heavily, looking conflicted for a moment before her features soften. “Thank you. It’s very thoughtful. No one has ever done anything like this for me before.” Her expression turns sheepish. “No man has ever bought me flowers or chocolates or anything.” Her voice cracks, and a fresh delicate flush creeps onto her cheeks. “It means a lot to me.”
The way she’s looking at me will be forever cemented in my mind, and I want to put that expression on her face every day for the rest of my life. “You’re welcome.” My heart beats to a new rhythm as I slowly lean down and kiss her, pouring everything I’m feeling into every sweepof my lips. This kiss is unlike any I’ve ever experienced. It’s full of emotion and joy and purity and warmth, and I hold her closer, never wanting to be away from her.
"Ahem.” My sister coughs, ruining the moment, and I break our kiss, glancing at Sofia with transparent annoyance. “I didn’t drop by for the hell of it. I need a favor. Can we talk in your office?”
Valentina slips out of my arms, and I instantly feel cold. “Talk to your sister,” she says. “I’ll be busy moving all this stuff.”
Hauling her back into my body, I press a quick, hard kiss to her lips. “Leave the heavier stuff for me.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not an invalid, Fiero. I’m perfectly capable of carrying all this myself.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spy Sofia’s lips twitching.
I swat Valentina on the ass. “What did I say about sass?” She pouts, and I laugh. “Move stuff around in my closet to make room for your new things. I don’t care how you clear out the space.”
She opens her mouth to object, no doubt to tell me that doesn’t make sense as she’s leaving on Sunday, but I don’t want to hear that bullshit, so I clamp her lips shut with my fingers. “Nope. Remember what I said this morning?” Her brow furrows, and I’ve clearly still got work to do to convince her I’m genuine. “No arguing.”
She expels air from her mouth before she says, “Okay.”
“Good girl.” I kiss her lips again. “That wasn’t so hard, now was it, kitten?”
She glares at me, and I’m chuckling as we leave her in the living room. Sofia’s high heels click off the dark hardwood floors as we walk side by side down the corridor toward my office. She doesn’t say anything, just looks over at me a few times wearing an inquisitive face. I know Sofia is reserving it for when we’re in private.
I unlock my office door and usher her inside, locking it after me.
“What’s going on, Ro?”
I walk to the far right of the long, wide room, scanning the multitude of screens that project the feeds from the cameras mounted all over my property. The only places I don’t have cameras are the bathrooms and guest bedrooms.
“It’s better you don’t know,” I advise as I check the screens quickly. Satisfied all is in order and the property is secure, I turn around and walk to the other side of the room and sit down behind my desk. My sister takes the vacant chair across from me, depositing her briefcase and purse on the ground.
“I’m involved now, so you might as well tell me.”
“You’re not involved.” Removing my jacket, I hang it on the back of my chair. “You didn’t see her. She doesn’t exist.”
Sofia sits up straight, pinning me with a shrewd look. My sister is gorgeous, elegant, and smart, and she has her fair share of admirers, but she’s focused on her legal career, and getting involved in the family business is not her cup of tea. Nor is marrying and settling down. In that regard, we’ve always been alike, so I know she’s puzzled and trying to figure it out.
“I have never known you to bring a woman here or to shower her with gifts. I’ve never seen you act like you just did withanyone. You’re in love with her,” she proclaims, watching me like a hawk to see how I’ll react.
Sof is like a dog with a bone when she gets her teeth into anything. She’s not going to let this drop, so I might as well give her something. “I think I might be.” It’s the first time I’ve even admitted it to myself.
Shock is splayed across Sofia’s face, and when she opens her mouth, nothing comes out.
I chuckle as I lean back in my chair, crossing my feet at the ankles. “Don’t tell me I’ve rendered the notorious Sofia Maltese speechless. I’ll need to note this moment for posterity.”
“Iamshocked, Fiero. All I have heard from you, over and over, for years, is that you’re not interested in settling down or getting married. I can count on one hand the girlfriends you’ve had over the years. You don’t do this. You fuck them and walk away without a backward glance.”
I wince a little. She’s not wrong, but it all seems so frivolous and callous now.
“What makes Valentina so special?”
“Everything, Sof. Everything about her calls to me on every level. I just want to be with her, protect her, love her, adore her.”
“I’m sorry I misjudged her. I was taken aback, and my first thought was she was manipulating you somehow.”
I snort. “I’d like to see any woman try.” Though, to be fair, Valentina will probably have me wrapped around her finger in no time. I remember how quickly Massimo became pussy-whipped.
“She’s young.”
