Kingpin(37)

“I’ll make it work. Or I’ll die trying,” I tell him as I stand up to get my bag from my car. “We’re in connecting rooms?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want you putting a hole in my wall to make your passageway.”

I laugh, but if anyone knows how crazy a woman can make you, it’s Sal.

Let’s just hope I have the same luck as he did.





Chapter 4





Emma





I watch Gio’s retreating form leave the room, still in shock that he’s here. How is that possible? He’s shown up everywhere I am. I should have been more scared, or noticed that something was going on. I clearly have no street smarts, with my nose always stuck in a book.

“You do kind of have a Dollface,” Thea says, but she smiles and there’s no malice behind her words.

“Because I’m so pale,” I mumble. I look back to where he exited, and I wonder when he’ll come back.

“It’s your eyes. They’re so bright and beautiful,” she adds, then shrugs.

She picks up a piece of bacon, takes a bite of it, and moans at the taste. “This little boy loves bacon,” she says, going for another piece and shoving the whole thing in her mouth.

“Don’t we all,” I say, grabbing a piece off my plate.

“I’ll make sure the cook has this breakfast every morning for you if you like.”

“You have a cook?” I don’t know why I ask. Of course they have a cook. I’m guessing along with a gardener, a couple of cleaners, and maybe a pool boy.

“Yeah. Lately I haven’t been up to cooking as much. Normally I love it. I still do sometimes, but the cook gets all the food and makes breakfast every morning, then makes some easy meals I can throw together for lunch and dinner. Mostly she does prep work for me.”

I nod and go back to eating my food. My mind is still running wild about Gio being here. Gio. I finally have a name. He looks like a Gio. I’d been trying to guess what it might be. I knew it had to be Italian.

“He’s really sweet, you know,” Thea says, cutting through my thoughts.

“Who?” I ask, thinking she’s talking about her husband. I want to snort. Maybe to her he’s sweet.

“Gio. I saw your blush when he walked into the room.”

I want to say that I didn’t, but I don’t want to lie to her or myself. My fair skin shows everything.

“He’s single,” she adds, wiggling her eyebrows.

“I’m not looking.” Well, I thought I wasn’t. I’d always been so busy with school, then I was a live-in nanny for so long that I didn’t have time. Normally I spent my days at the home I was staying in, so dating wasn’t something I’d given much thought to. I’d always wanted to get married and have babies, but I didn’t know when it would ever happen.

“If you say so,” she says nonchalantly. The smile she’s giving me says she doesn’t believe me. We both go back to eating and I savor some of the best food I’ve had in weeks.

“Let me give you a mini tour,” Thea says after we put our dishes in the sink.

We both get up and she shows me around the house. She takes me to the pool, the game room, theater, and then about a dozen other rooms. I’m in awe at the expanse of this place. She shows me the different wings of the house, and I hope I don’t get lost.

“The one place you never go is into my husband’s office. Unless invited in. It’s the first door on the left when you walk into the house.”

I nod. I wouldn’t walk into any room with a door on it without knocking first. Plus, I will probably do my best to avoid her husband as much as I can.

“And this is your room.” She opens the door and steps inside, holding her arm out for me to come in.

I’m a little surprised to see my things are already here. I knew they were coming, but that seemed really fast. Not that I have a ton, really. Four bags hold everything I own. I try to keep it light, but I like holding real books when I read. Two of the bags are filled with paperbacks I can’t let go of.

“Where is Gio’s room?” I ask before I can stop myself.

A smile lights up her face. “I’m not sure. Maybe the next room over?”

A giddy unwanted excitement lights up in my stomach. What is wrong with me?

“It’s late. I’ll let you get settled,” she tells me. “Thank you,” she adds, surprising me by pulling me into a tight hug before turning and leaving the room.

It’s not until she shuts the door behind her that I register what’s happened. I should have said something back to her, but I guess there’s time for that later. This is a lot to take in at once.