Page 14 of Undeniable

In an instant though, walls slam down behind his eyes, and he takes a large step away from me before he shakes his head and stalks off back to the living room. I am left standing there more confused than anything, secretly hoping that he will walk back to me any moment now and take the kiss he was about to claim only moments ago. But after 2 minutes of standing like a fool in the foyer, I open the door and turn on my heel, trying to put as much distance as possible between us, just like I should have done in the first place.

It is for the best. I tell myself that at least on the car ride back to Becca’s. It would only be messy if I were to get involved with my employer. I don’t need messy, and I definitely don’t need to be looking for a man. I think I have allowed myself to take on a false sense of comfort which is a really great way to get killed.

I need to be preparing for my next move, my next step. Always moving, never stopping. That is what I need. Not getting hung up on a man who couldn’t be more emotionally unavailable, who lives in the worst city in the world for me and who seems to be far too perceptive to bullshit than I can allow.

Yeah, he has the whole dark and dangerous thing going on, but I have had enough dark and dangerous to last me a lifetime. It’s the reason I am where I am. A relationship of any kind would be a terrible idea for me in my situation, especially with a man like him.

Chapter Six

Giovanni

The week trial period comes and goes, and Tasha is still here. Alessandro has really taken a liking to her, and she has become practically all he talks about now days, which doesn’t help me because she seems to be all that I canthinkabout most days.

I am currently laid back in a pool lounge chair at Luca’s house as I watch Alessandro and Seraphina play with Luca in the pool. My mind keeps re-playing every moment I have had with Tasha in the last week. They all feel big and significant even if they are just a brush here or a touch there or even just a look. Her looks, shit. I swear she can give me one smile and I become instantly hard. I am ashamed to say that my fantasies of her have not stopped, in fact I think they are only getting worse.

This woman is infiltrating my life. I know that I asked her to start watching Alessandro and I could fire her anytime I wanted to, I just don’t want to. That is what is fucking scary. I lean forward and drop my head into my hands and groan when I feel a soft hand drop onto my shoulder.

“What’s up, Gio?” Ashlynn asks.

She slowly lowers herself down onto the lounger beside me and stretches out as much as she can for someone who is due to have a baby any day now.

“Not much,” I say with a forced smile. “How is little man doing in there?”

“He is like a freaking jumping bean. I swear he thinks my bladder is a punching bag or something. I can’t wait for him to get out of me already,” she groans.

I laugh and nod. I remember by this point Isabelle was singing the same tune, the last few weeks tend to be the hardest for the moms. Just another reminder why I am thankful to be a man, if it was up to us, the population would cease to exist. There is no way any of us would ever willingly go through what these women go through.

“He will be here before you know it. Just hang in there.”

She shoots me a look that tells me that was not the right thing to say before she lets it slip into a smile and shoves me playfully. Ashlynn and I have become really close since her and Luca got together, I even gave her away at their wedding. She is like my annoying little sister that thinks she can boss me around. She forgets that I work for her husband and not her. But Luca would offer up the world on a platter to Ashlynn if he could, so I guess I basically do work for her.

“Seriously though, what is going on with you? You have been sulking over here for hours,” Ashlynn asks.

I shrug, trying to play it off. “Not much. Just busy with business, you know how it is,” I say as I gesture to Luca.

“I do. That is how I know when I am being lied to. So, spill.”

She always tends to see right through my shit, pisses me off honestly. I run a hand through my hair and sigh heavily before my hand swipes down my face.

“Just have a lot on my mind. I hired a new nanny.”

Ashlynn eyebrows furrow. “Oh yeah? Did something happen with your last?”

“No, she has just been busy with her catering business, so she recommended her friend. Alessandro and the new nanny have really been hitting it off.”

She nods slowly, still seeming a little confused. “I don’t get it. What is the problem? That is a good thing, right?” She pauses and cocks her head to the side as her eyes narrow. “Unless…Oh my gosh. You like her, don’t you?” She gasps with an excited smile.

Ashlynn has been the biggest advocate for ‘get Gio a woman.’ She has set me up with countless women in hopes that I will settle down. She says she just wants to see me happy. She just doesn’t understand that the loyalty I have to Isabelle makes moving on with anyone else completely impossible. I could never bring another woman into Alessandro’s life. He only has one mom, always will.

I shake my head. “No. I mean she is gorgeous and really funny. She has surprisingly been able to bring Alessandro out of his shell and her eyes kind of light up when…” I stop when I realize that I am smiling as I list my favorite things about Tasha to Ashlynn. The excited gleam in her eyes has not dimmed and only seem to be increasing with every word I say.

I let out a rough sigh and throw myself into the chair. “See. This is the fucking problem,” I grumble.

“You are upset that you are developing feelings for someone?” She asks carefully.

My heart twists at her words and I shake my head as guilt settles into my stomach. “I don’t have feelings for her. I am just really attracted to her.”

Deny. Deny. Deny.

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