“Yes.” I let out a sharp laugh. “It’s not like this is some sort of torture. Most girls would love a night out like this. A fancy dress, four course dinner, open bar…And besides, aren’t you required to be there for work?”
“Yeah,” she grumbles, twisting a golden curl between her fingers. Her shoulders slump as she stares off toward the busy street beside us. “I’m just nervous about seeing Bauer. I haven’t run into him since I’ve been home and I know he’s going to push me for my answer about LA.”
Maddie’s been over this LA thing backwards and forwards and a thousand times over, and she still isn’t any closer to making a choice. Now that she knows her dad got her the spot, the whole thing has been tainted, but she’s not quite ready to give up on everything she’s worked for. That program has been her dream, and it’s right in front of her now, but her bastard father ruined it. Obviously, I’d rather she stay here, but I won’t be the holdup. She deserves to live out her dream, however she sees fit, and if that’s LA, then that’s LA.
I’ve gotten used to the idea of commuting if that’s what needs to happen, and I’ll support her, regardless. The fact that her father hasn’t makes me want to snap his spine—not that he has one to begin with. God help the man if we ever meet in person.
“You leave Bauer to me, Maddie. He won’t bother you about LA.”
She’s skeptical, but doesn’t fight me on it and comes back with yet another excuse of why we shouldn’t go. “I don’t even own a fancy dress. What am I supposed to wear?”
“You can leave that to me, too.” I reach for my wallet and slide out a business card. “A friend of mine owns this shop. Stop by there this afternoon and she’ll take care of you. Put it on my account.”
Maddie clicks her tongue. “You’re not buying me a dress, Roman.”
“Relax.” I chuckle, taking a drink of my water. “I’ll figure out some way for you to repay me.”
She narrows her eyes, not appreciating my innuendo as much as I thought she might.
“Just humor me, okay? I want to do something special for you. I’m sure you’ll find something you like.”
“If you’re so set on this, why don’t you come with me and we can find something for me to wear thatyoulike?” She flutters her eyelashes at me as she leans forward onto her elbows. The view I get of her cleavage is almost enough to make me cancel my afternoon plans. We haven’t even been together all that long, and yet Maddie knows how to push every button I’ve got. Some I didn’t even know I had.
“I’d love to come with you, but I have to work this afternoon. But feel free to send me some sneak peeks from the dressing room.” I wink at her.
“God, you’re impossible sometimes.” She rolls her eyes, laughing at me. “Speaking of work…aren’t you supposed to be there at one?”
“Damn,” I growl, glancing down at my watch. “I am. But I can always rearrange things for you.”
“I appreciate it, but I promise I’m fine.” She smiles, squeezing my hand gently. “I’ll see you for dinner?”
“I’ll be counting down the seconds.” I nearly vomit as the words came out of my mouth. What the hell is happening to me?
A taunting smile tugs at Maddie’s lips. “You know, for such a big, tough mafia leader, you’re kind of a big sap.”
There’s that sass I love so much.
“Don’t you dare ever repeat that to my men, or I’ll have to show you just how scary of a mafia man I can be.”
“I’m not scared of you.” She purses her lips confidently, almost begging for me to kiss them.
I happily oblige, giving her a hungry kiss and pulling away at the exact moment I feel her relax into it. “You should be.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” I brush my lips against her forehead quickly so as not to fall even deeper under her spell. I have to get some work done today, and if she keeps looking at me like that, I won’t ever leave. “Even if you are a tease.”
She giggles, waving innocently at me. I don’t even look back because it’s already taking so much restraint to walk away from her. The sooner I can get this over with, the sooner I can go home and thoroughly enjoy her.
Dr. Taylor’s been holding out on me since my injury, claiming sex was too much activity and I might bust my stitches. She cleared me this morning when I all but threatened her life, and I was planning on taking full advantage of it tonight. The girl needs a good fuck to relax just as much as I do.
The warehouse is a quick ten-minute drive from the restaurant. Joe and Dante located a Chavos leader, and we’re right on the cusp of breaking this entire thing wide open. I can’t wait to put this shit behind me and finally move on with Maddie and Ty. They both deserve that more than anything, and I’ve never craved something so much in all of my life. Right now, it’s all I can think about.
I want this to be over as soon as possible, and all distractions have to be on the back burner until I get what I need from him. And that’s a name. The name of the guy who’s been behind all of this.
I find my way to the back room where Joe and Dante are waiting for me.
“It’s about time you got here.” Joe chuckles. “Maddie let you off the leash for the afternoon?” He and Dante share a smirk.
