I came here after Bella sent me a text this morning asking what I had lined up for lunch. Since Case had to go to work, I messaged her back, agreeing to meet at her grandma’s restaurant.
Case arranged for Drake’s driver to bring me here even though I insisted that I was enjoying learning the intricacies of the subway.
Our plan is to meet at his office later.
“It looks like he’s shirtless in that.” Bella wiggles her fingers at me. “Is he in a bed? Give me your phone. I want to see.”
Shaking my head, I glance toward where her grandma is standing. “Let’s talk about something else, this feels…”
“Marti knows about sex.” She laughs. “How do you think she ended up with so many kids?”
Chuckling, I scoop the phone back into my palm and hold the screen toward her so she can see the last image of Case that I took.
Leaning forward, her gaze darts from the screen to my face. “He’s gorgeous, Emma. Do you see how he’s looking at you?”
I turn the phone back so I can stare at the picture. “He looks happy, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t know him, but that is the face of a very content man.” Leaning her elbows on the table, she lowers her voice. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”
Even though I only met Bella recently, I feel close to her.
There’s something about her that is disarming. I know I can trust her.
“Last night.”
The corners of her lips curve up. “You look happy too.”
Shaking my head, I let out a sigh. “It was the best. I mean, by far, the absolute best I’ve ever had.”
“It’s incredible when that happens, isn’t it?” She lowers her chin. “My first time with Barrett blew my mind. I couldn’t think straight. I could barely walk straight.”
My knees trembled after I came in the shower this morning, so Case carried me back to the bed. He toweled me dry before he crawled between my legs and ate me to an orgasm.
After he dressed in a navy blue suit and a white button-down shirt, he watched me choose a pair of jeans and a red blouse. I felt nothing but happiness as he helped me dress, kissing the skin between my breasts before he buttoned my blouse.
This morning couldn’t have been any more perfect than it was.
“I’m glad you went for it.” She glances at Marti as she approaches. “My grandma always says that you can’t win if you don’t take the chance.”
They’re wise words, but I can’t win.
Soon, I’ll board a plane and head back to Seattle with only the memories of last night.
“What can I get for you beautiful girls?” Marti slides a hand over Bella’s hair.
“I could go for the avocado pesto linguine.” Bella looks at me. “How about you, Emma?”
“That sounds delicious.”
“You’ll both have the lamb ragu.” Marti starts toward the kitchen. “I made it myself.”
Watching her walk away, I laugh. “Did she just veto your order?”
“Our order,” Bella corrects me with a wink. “Consider yourself an honorary Calvetti. You know you’re part of the family when my grandma feeds you what she thinks you need, instead of what you want.”
I waitto approach Elias until he ends the call he’s on.
He’s not the same assistant that my brother had last year, but I like him. I know he’s been helpful to Drake and that matters to me.
