Page 101 of Arturo's Temptation
“You deserve to grieve too, she was your best friend,” Arturo sighed, composing himself for a moment. “I lost my father whenI was in school. It’s how I ended up falling in with the crowd I did. The Hamilton’s.”
I frowned as the name spun in my mind. Something tugged on a memory but it wasn’t strong enough to grasp.
“Who were they?”
“Nasty bastards, that’s who…” he shuddered. “They were the lowlifes that took my mum from me. They murdered her in cold blood and wore a fuckin’ smile while they did it.”
“Arturo, I’m so sorry…” Pain etched across his face as he shared this new information with me. I folded my legs up beneath me and turned to face him, swiping tears from my face.
“They killed her all because I wouldn’t return as Frank’s right hand man. They punished me through my mum.” The guilt and grief was now so easy to see. How long had he been carrying the weight of his mother’s death on his shoulders? “Anyway, I don’t want to make this conversation about me, it’s not about that. It’s more to show you that we all grieve in our own way. I grieved in the dark. Away from people.”
“Is that why you wanted out?” I asked, curiosity making my heart beat a little faster. The puzzle pieces were finally slotting into place.
“Mhmm. And why I left London. The woman who raised me died because of the choices I had made. I knew one day I’d need out.” It seemed I was no longer the one who needed consoling. “I can take you there, if you want?”
“Where?” I asked.
“It’s a special place I found away from the city. Somewhere you can be alone with your thoughts. It’s where I go to… talk to them.” His eyes flashed with nervous energy. This was clearly somewhere important to him.
“You’d share something so special with me?” I asked, taken aback a little.
“Bella, I’d share my whole fuckin’ life with you,” he shifted, before pushing himself from the bed. “Come with me,” he held out his hand for me to take, a heart stopping smile warming his face.
“Where?”
“I’m takin’ you out on a date” he took my hand before I had chance to take his.
“No, Arturo. I can’t! I should really go to the dinner. It’s something we do every year to remember her.”
“You don’t need to attend a meal to remember her, you can remember her anywhere,” he pulled me up effortlessly, “now, come on, let’s go and have some fun,”
I really shouldn’t, should I?
Don’t you dare blow off a date with Mr Sex On Legs to go to a meal for me, B.
But it’s the first one I’ll miss…
And? It’s not like I’m going to be there to enjoy your company, is it?
I smiled as Peyton’s chuckle filled my head.
“So, what do you say?”
“Can we take the bike?” I smiled, making Arturo visibly relax at my lighter mood.
“If my woman wants to take the bike, then that’s what we’ll do,” he tugged me towards the door. And for the first time we strolled through the house hand in hand.
You’d better make this work, B… I like him.
When we reached the garage, Arturo reached into the cupboard before placing a brand new purple helmet on my head.
“Wait… This isn’t the one I wore before,” I said, confusion filling my thoughts.
“Nope, this is yours. You need your own if you’re goin’ to ride with me,” he smiled, securing it tightly.
“But… I thought you liked to ride alone. Isn’t that what you said?”
“Maybe once but not anymore,” he smiled, mounting his bike. “Come on, princess… Let’s have some fun.” God, I couldn’t get enough of this man. From domineering one moment, to comforting the next, that man was beginning to make my heart tumble.
