“Tell me your thoughts,” Francis pressed in a bedroom voice that did nothing to quell Tracy’s desires.
“Um…nothing. I was thinking of Will. I hope everything’s okay with him,” she lied.
Will hadn’t crossed her mind once. Not since Francis’ hand made contact with hers.
Tracy had chosen Will as her escort because he was safe. He was a fairly good-looking colleague that had been asking her out for a long time, but she had no sexual attraction to him whatsoever. She wasn’t at all interested in having anything more than a professional relationship with him, and she’d told him as much. However, Tracy didn’t want to attend another event solo and endure looks of sympathy from other attendees.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Francis mumbled dismissively.
Before Tracy could respond, the SUV was pulling over in front of Hugo’s Frog Bar, Natasha’s favorite restaurant. Apparently, it was where she and Gianni had gone on their first date.
The door opened, and Tracy moved to get out, but Francis grabbed her elbow, halting her movements.
“Always let me exit first, donna. It’s safer this way.”
“Yeah…okay,” Tracy responded, sitting back.
She would’ve questioned his overly cautious behavior, but after witnessing, first hand, the hell that Victoria and her family had been through, she didn't dare. Someone once said, “Just because they call you paranoid, doesn’t mean that no one is after you.”
Francis got out and walked around to open the door for Tracy. When he offered his hand, Tracy placed her smaller hand in his. And she, again, was immediately affected by a jolt of excitement that she received from the connection.
Francis walked her into Hugo’s Frog Bar and several women, alone or accompanied by a man, were openly ogling the sexy Sicilian. But if Francis was aware of his effect on women, he hid it well. He escorted Tracy up the winding staircase without so much as a glance in their direction. Admittedly, the thought of Francis ignoring the thirsty women made Tracy smile on the inside.
As soon as they made it up the stairs, Tracy spotted Natasha and Victoria. They were in what seemed to be a humorous conversation with their husbands. Tracy marveled at how much Gianni and Jack looked alike. Since their fathers were identical twins, the cousin’s resemblance was uncanny. Whereas Jack was polished but rugged, with eyes as blue as the sea, Gianni was a total badass with emerald irises. Nonetheless, both were definite head turners. But lately, Tracy’s head only turned for Francis. He had an air of authority. In fact, in the Storm and Savelli families, Francis’ word was law. He never raised his voice, he hardly ever cursed, and he never argued. He had a way of simply instructing others on what they were going to do, and somehow, he was never refused.
A boss.
That was what he would’ve been referred to in the hood. This was strange to Tracy since Luca was the alleged mob boss. Maybe he commanded respect simply because he was a few years older. Maybe that was the way Sicilian families worked.
“Go. Talk with your friends,” Francis said, releasing her hand.
Tracy felt a cold sense of loss from the disconnection, but she wasn’t about to show it. She smiled up at him and said, “Thanks for the ride.”
Francis stared pointedly at her as if he understood that that was Tracy’s way of reminding him that they weren’t on a date. He smiled, showing perfectly white teeth. His smile was neither sweet nor playful, but devilish.
“Thank me later,” he responded, looking past her.
A quick nod of his head had Luca headed in their direction. When he made it over to them, he leaned in and placed a kiss to Tracy’s forehead. Although the kiss was clearly innocent, Francis growled.
Luca’s grin was mischievous. “It’s good to see you, Tracy,” he greeted with a wink.
“You too, Luca. I’ll see you guys later.”
“Si, later,” Luca said with an accent that would cause most women to quiver.
If his mission was to irritate Francis, he was succeeding. Tracy shook her head, narrowing her eyes at Luca.
“Be good,” she warned as she walked away.
“I’ll do my best,” he said to her back.
****
After a wonderful dinner and entirely too many drinks, Tracy, Mia, Victoria, Natasha, and Tammy were in the middle of the dance floor jamming to some home grown, old school house music. The men watched from the edge of the dance floor, probably making sure that no other men tried to penetrate the dance circle.
Tracy knew all too well exactly how possessive her friends’ significant others could be. It was for that reason that Tracy hadn’t allowed herself to get caught up with Francis. Hell, they weren’t even an item, and he was damn near as bad as Jack, Gianni, and Luca.
Tracy swiped sweat from her forehead, figuring that she was probably looking a hot, sweaty mess. “I’ll be back!” she shouted over the music.
