I chuckled as I twirled, watching the amazing flow of the design over my body. I was wearing a Valentino dress to play at the most expensive restaurant in the city, having dinner with the owner himself on Valentine’s Day.
My first gig.
My first Valentine’s date—it wasn’t a date at all, but that was how I was gonna remember it for the rest of my life.
I admired the dress one more time, doing one more twirl, another memory burst in my head.
The dressheput in my closet.
A bleak cloud darkened my mood as I remembered how similarly happy I was that day, only to have gotten my heart shredded later. Would that happen today, too?
“Stop ruining my life. I’m done letting you toy with me. I won’t let you ruin tonight for me.” The situation was similar but way different. A man who knew exactly my size without asking bought me a beautiful, expensive dress and left it in my room.
Hefigured my size and the dress I was dying to wear by stalking me and going through my own closet without permission. Tino figured it out because he was here, with me, out in the open, staring at my body so bluntly. Uncomfortable yet clear. No hiding. No stealing.
Hethoughthecould buy me with the dress. Tino had no ulterior motive other than overprotecting me from unwanted eyes.
Hewas fucking up my world. Tino was giving me the world.
I took a deep breath, determined I wouldn’t lethimsteal from me again, neither from my time nor my happiness. Enough was enough.
“Mr. Bellomo, you’re here.” Nicky’s faint voice streamed into the dressing room.
I hurried out. Was I late? Shoot. I hadn’t done my hair and makeup yet.
“Nicole, per favore, mia figlia, call me Tino. You’re family now,” he said as I stepped out into the bedroom.
“If I’m late, I’m so sorry. I thought it was still seven. I’ll be ready in—”
“You’re not late.” His eyes fixed on me, sparkling, and he swallowed.
“Thank God. And thank you,” I gestured at my body, “for this. It’s perfect.”
“It is.” There was a slight shake to his voice that wasn’t like him. His gaze on me was different than the one I was used to from him. It was more manly than fatherly.
Or that was what I hoped for.
Butterflies in my stomach, I went to grab the shoes. “I’m gonna go finish now.”
He grunted, not looking away. “Nicole, have you tried your dress yet?”
“My dress?” she exclaimed. “You got me a dress, too?”
“Certo. It’s in your room.”
“Wow. Thank you. I didn’t even know I was invited.”
“That goes without saying. Unless you have something more important to do.”
“Not at all. You didn’t have to get me anything, though, Tino. It’s extremely generous of you.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. What did I say? We’re family. Go try it on.”
Nicky gave me a quirky, surprised smile behind Tino before she left. I grinned back and then looked at him, pointing at the dressing room. “I’ll be in there.”
“I’m coming with you,” he said.
My brows shot up. “To the dressing room?”
