“Those are the words I said to you the night.We’re inevitable now.”
“And if you remember what you said, then you surely remember what I said. I believe it was something along the lines ofabsolutely not.”
His smile broadens, accentuating his annoyingly perfect jawline covered in fine hairs. “So you do remember our conversation that night.”
I open my mouth with a rebuttal, but he continues. “I came here with a proposition for you, and I think you’re going to want to hear it.”
“I highly doubt that.”
Massimo tilts his head. “Come on, Liana. All I’m asking for is a few minutes of your time.”
“You’ve already taken several, Massimo, so please explain to me why you think you’re entitled to more.” I pop a hand on my hip, waiting for his response.
“I love a woman who can play hardball with me,” he says, a sexy, heady tone taking over his voice.
I’m taken off guard by how much I like it, but I force that down, ignoring any kind of flattering feeling I might have for this man. It’s purely physical. His personality is nothing I’d ever want to be around.
“You need to leave. This is my place of business, and you’re taking my precious time away from it.”
“I’ll leave… but not before I say what I have to say.”
I roll my eyes, fed up with the back-and-forth. “I don’t want to hear what you have to say, so please,just go.”
“Nah… not going to happen,” he says, rooting himself in place.
I study him for a moment. If he was just a regular guy—a white-collar worker coming here right from Wall Street—Imightbe interested in entertaining this.
His black slacks match his black button-up that’s undone at the top. Everything is perfectly tailored to his tall, broad frame. Then I take in the tattoos on his hands and the scar that runs down one of his thick brows, and I’m reminded he’s not your average, everyday Joe Schmoe. He’s a made man whose life is dedicated to danger and illegal business tendencies.
“Fine, let’s hear it.” I finally concede, that twinkling look in his eyes warning me he’ll refuse to leave my boutique until I give him what he wants. So if I need to entertain whatever proposition he has for me, then fine.
“Is there somewhere… private where we can have this conversation?”
I roll my eyes. “Seriously? You need privacy too?”
“Hey, I just offered that for you, but if you want everyone to hear your business,” he says, getting louder, “then fine. I have no qualms about that.”
I glance around the store, and Lainey is standing nearby, trying to keep busy by spacing the hangers on the rack, but I know she’s trying to eavesdrop. Drawing my attention to other sections of the store, I take in the several customers enjoying a nice day of shopping.
“Fine,” I say, stopping him from continuing with whatever he was about to say. “Follow me.”
I brush past him and make my way to the fabric room. I would go to my office, but Izzy is there, and I don’t want to bring her into anything that has to do with Massimo.
Opening the door, I usher him in and shut it behind us. “Okay, you got your privacy. Now, out with it.”
Massimo glances around the room filled with different fabrics. “This career you’ve made for yourself… it’s quite impressive.” Bringing his attention back to me, he adds, “You should be very proud of yourself.”
“Of course I am,” I snap, not wanting to spend any of this time bonding with him. “Now, out with it.”
“Alright, alright, alright. I heard you paid one of my capos a visit the other day.”
Shit.
That is not what I thought this was going to be about. When Tomasso saida higher power, I assumed he meant Massimo’s father.
“Yourcapo?”
“Oh, yes, you probably haven’t heard yet. I’m taking over for my dad soon, so he’s been having me be the direct contact for everyone.”
