Putting a smile on my face, I make my way toward the customer, but as I get closer, he turns to his side, so I can see his profile, and I nearly stumble when I realize who it is.
Massimo Bonetti.
It’s been a while since he last brought in one of his little girlfriends, so I guess it makes sense he’d be here. It was only a matter of time before he showed back up in my boutique.
Massimo’s been coming here for years with whatever woman he’s banging at that moment, and each time, he requests me to help style her. I should’ve said no the first time he came in, but I didn’t want him to think anything of me saying no, so I just went along with it. Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, Massimo has brought in some pretty influential women throughout the years who have gotten my brand’s name out.
When he notices me approaching, he turns to face me, and an annoyingly charming smile takes over his face, showcasing his absurdly straight, white teeth.
Glancing around the boutique, I say, “Where’s your new girl of the week? Do you need my help dressing your newest conquest… again?”
“Liana, it’s such a joy to see you too,” he says, with his hands shoved into his perfectly tailored black slacks. It annoys me how comfortable he looks inmystore. “I didn’t realize you were keeping tabs on me and my…conquests.”
I fold my arms over my chest, hugging my iPad to me. “It’s kind of hard not to notice when you’re in here every so often with a new girl on your arm.”
Massimo slowly rakes his gaze up my body, and the heady look in his eyes makes me squirm.
“Are you seriously checking me out right now?” Annoyance seeps through my tone.
“How could I not?” he asks, unfazed by me calling him out.
“What do you want, Massimo?”
He slowly closes the distance between us, invading my space like it’s where he belongs. Bending down, he lowers his tone and whispers in my ear. “I kind of liked it when you called me Phantom, you know.” Then he chuckles as he brushes past me.
My face heats. It’s been six years since the night we met. He choosesnowto bring it up? I thought we had moved past this.
Whipping around, I see he’s made his way to the bridal section and is now looking through our latest gowns. I stomp over to him and smack his hand. “Do not touch anything. Do you know how frustrating it is to get stains out of these dresses?”
He laughs, shoving his hands back in his pockets, then turns around to face me.
“Whatdo you want?” I ask again. “Or are you just here to annoy me?”
Massimo narrows his gaze as if he’s studying me. Trying to figure something out. What that is, I have no freaking idea.
“Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met?”
My mind draws a blank for multiple reasons. One, because it was several years ago, so remembering every last detail is above me, and two, I’ve done everything in my power to forget that night ever happened. It was a moment of weakness and misunderstanding, and to this day, I haven’t toldanyoneabout it. Catching the eye of one of New York’s most powerful men in the crime world is not something I care to disclose to anyone.
Shaking my head, I say, “No. Must’ve not been too memorable.”
Massimo chuckles, and the cocky sound grates on my nerves. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because you’re an arrogant asshole who thinks the world of himself?”
He lets out a humorous breath. “Why do you hate me so much?”
“I don’t hate you. That would be too strong of an emotion to feel for a man like you. I just don’t care to have you in my space.”
Closing the distance between us once more, Massimo wraps his arm around my waist, and I stiffen, my iPad nearly slipping out of my hand in the process. “You can put on this facade and act like you don’t care about anything I do, but we both know that’s false,” he whispers in my ear.
I scoff and press my hand to his chest to make him back up, but it doesn’t work. “You’re wildly confused about what’s going on between the two of us.” I press my hand into him again, this time with a lot more force, and he reluctantly takes a step back, dropping his hands to his sides.
I would think I’ve just won, but the shit-eating grin on his face tells me he hasn’t given up on whatever the hell this is.
“We’re inevitable now.” He sears me with his dark penetrating gaze.
“Excuse me?”
