“Oh, that name is familiar. But I’m not sure where I’ve heard it.”
“His family owns a number of businesses, so I imagine you might have seen something in Times magazine or perhaps the paper,” he shrugs.
I look up, lifting my hand to shield my eyes from the glaring sun. In the winter, the sun seems harsher to look at. But I think it’s more about the snow reflecting the light than anything else.
At least the snow from last night has stopped, and the ground around the industrial area is clear and ice-free. The air is still frigid, though, and I pull my coat tighter around me to try and keep the chill from reaching my bones. My toes are cold even though I put on two pairs of socks this morning and a pair of gloves.
Adrian notices and puts his arm around me. “It’ll be warmer inside, come on,” he says, guiding me toward the entrance. It’s strange how protective he is. And how observant he is of the little things. Most people wouldn’t pay attention to someone else tightening their coat. Especially not if the person is practically a stranger to you. He is exactly the type of man Iwould want to be with. The type of man I would want to date. I mean, apart from being in the mafia!
It’s strange to acknowledge that I’ve never been with any man.
Someone like Adrian would never want someone like me. He’d get bored. I wouldn’t have the first idea how to please a man. Never mind a man like him.Why in the world am I even thinking such things?
I glance up at Adrian. He’s not looking at me; he’s looking toward the warehouse.
Dammit, he’s so sexy. Especially when his lips curl into a smile as he spots someone he knows coming out of the warehouse.
“Antonio! Thanks for meeting me here,” he says.
“No problem, sir. I’ve set up what you wanted in the office.”
Antonio turns to me and smiles, “Good morning,” he says, holding out his hand.
I pull my glove off and shove it into my pocket, then shake his hand. “Hello,” I smile. His hand is warm and large.
“This is Athena,” Adrian introduces us. “Antonio is my right-hand man.”
Smiling tightly, I stand quietly while they talk about things that have nothing to do with me. A shipment. A client who wants a quote. My eyes peer into the warehouse, trying to see what’s going on inside there. “Shit, sorry, we’re talking out here, and you’re already cold,” Adrian chuckles.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod, biting at my bottom lip. “As ready as I will ever be,” I shrug.
Antonio smiles tightly. He’s giving me a pitying look, which makes me think he knows what’s going on. My cheeks flush pink with embarrassment. What must he think about my family?
Adrian nods goodbye to Antonio, and we head into the warehouse.
It’s busy. And noisy.
But very well organized. People are coming and going, but they all look like they know what they are doing and where they need to be. As we walk, they greet Adrian with a wave and a smile. Another man comes to talk to him, and he excuses us, saying he has something to attend to first. He glances at me.
Then the man nods and leaves.
“It’s up in the office, it’s set up and ready,” he explains, guiding me toward the corrugated steel stairway that leads to an upper floor with an office that has a long window that overlooks the warehouse floor space.
Inside the office, it’s much warmer.
I guess it’s difficult to keep heat inside a warehouse when massive doors are opening and closing at the same time as people and trucks come and go.
He gestures for me to take a seat in front of the computer. I sit.
My heart is racing. I know I asked for this, but I’m not sure I’mreadyfor it. Although… everything that has already happened. This is sort of the last knife twist. The final thing that will either make or break the looping thoughts in my mind that want to defend my father. It’s like I can see what he’s done, butI’m desperate for an explanation that doesn’t paint him in a bad light.
Adrian stands behind my chair and leans over me. His cologne distracts me from my thoughts, and I take advantage of the distraction to calm my mind by taking in a slow, deep breath. Dammit, this man smells amazing. I close my eyes.
He looks amazing. He’s been protective of me…
But I can’t shake the idea that it’s all a game to him. Like he’s playing me somehow and tricking me about my father.
