Page 2 of Dark Daze
"Do you remember Ricardo DiMarco?" Bella asked.
"Ric," he corrected, smoother than butter on the blade of a dagger.
"Right," she said, undeterred. "He's Vinny's best man."
Shit, really? I should have left while I could.
"It looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together." Ric offered his hand without missing a beat.
When I reluctantly held out mine, he shook it slowly, and for longer than necessary.
"What did you say your name was?" he asked, as if he didn't know.
Fine, if he wanted to play stupid games, fucking let him.
"Daisy Lasalle," I said. Even after so long, his voice and touch made my heart race, and my panties threaten to flood. I’d have to be careful around him.
So fucking careful.
"And who is your little friend?" Apparently he only now noticed the little girl who clung to my other hand. It was an act. He never missed anything.
"I'm big," Nova declared. Apparently she'd recovered her usual childlike bravado. "My name is Nova Lasalle."
"That's a pretty name, big Nova Lasalle," Ric said. "I bet you'd love a bowl of ice cream, wouldn't you? Why don't you come inside?"
He knew exactly what to say to get a girl on his side. To get them to do whatever he wanted.
So fucking careful.
"Yes please," Nova said happily. She didn't let go of my hand.
"Let's get these cases first," Vinny said. He slipped away from Bella's side and walked to the back of the car to pull out mine and then Nova's smaller case.
"Is that all you brought?" Bella asked. "I usually bring two or three times that when I go away."
"We know," Vinny said teasingly.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"If there's anything Daisy needs, she can get it here." Ric’s eyes raked over me as we stepped into the light of the doorway.
I didn't miss his double meaning. Or his hungry eyes.
He was as devastatingly handsome as I remembered. Dark hair kept back neatly, but with a slight curl at the nape of his neck. Tanned skin. Brown eyes that looked straight into people's souls. He still had an air about him that suggested he stole those souls and sold them to the highest bidder. The fierce loyalty until he slid a blade between your ribs. The sense of danger that made him compelling and sexy and terrifying at the same time.
"I always travel light," I said. "It takes less time to pack and unpack." And if I have to run, I leave less stuff behind.
"So practical," Ric said. "Nova, there's a bunch of other kids in the playroom. I bet you'd rather play with them than help mummy unpack?"
She looked up at me beseechingly. She didn't want to leave my side but the sounds of shouting and playing filtered down the corridor like a siren song.
"Go ahead," I told her. "I won't be long."
She barely waited a breath longer before she trotted in the direction of the sound. For the first time in her life, she didn’t look back at me for assurance.
"Bella," Ric drawled, "why don't you go back to your guests? I'll show Daisy to her room."
Bella hesitated.
