Page 18 of Undeniable

Something else I notice in the picture that doesn’t exactly surprise me but does raise more questions than answers. I see wedding rings on both of them. This must be Alessandro’s mother. If not for the close proximity and the obvious rings, but those big green eyes. She has Alessandro’s eyes, or should I say he has his mother’s eyes.

Carefully, I pull the picture out of the frame and put it in a new one that I find in one of the spare bedrooms. Once it is safely tucked away, I place it on the coffee table in front of Giovanni. Maybe he broke it for a reason, maybe he wanted it to be thrown away. But I am definitely not going to be the one to make that judgment call.

I quickly wash the dishes and pick up a little, doing my best to be as quiet as possible so that Giovanni can sleep. Once I am finished, I glance over to see his head lulled back against the couch cushion. It can’t be the most comfortable position in the world, but I don’t have it in me to wake him. So, I walk to the other side of the room and grab a throw blanket, gently draping it over him before taking one more moment to look at him.

When I glance at the clock, I notice that Becca was expecting me back almost an hour ago to help her prep for her next event tomorrow night. Gathering my things, I can’t help but steal one more glance at Giovanni, hoping that whatever pain he is going through, I helped, at least a bit. I don’t know why I even care. I recognize the familiar feeling of becoming attached as it seeps into my veins. This is when I should bolt, disappear into the night while my heart is still fully intact. Maybe I should, for some reason though, I don’t think I will.

Chapter Eight

Tasha

I have been working for Giovanni for a little over a month now. Alessandro and I have become extremely close, and we spend every day laughing and playing together. Giovanni has been extremely distant and cold with me every time I see him, which is usually no longer than a few minutes at most.

We never spoke about that day that I came over unannounced. The only reason I know it wasn’t just a dream was because of the megawatt grin and huge hug I got from Alessandro the next morning as he thanked me for his present. Giovanni didn’t say a word to me as he focused all of his attention on his morning coffee. That has been the consistent theme every day since then. He makes sure to keep his distance, never looking at me for too long and absolutely never touching me, usually settling for staying back a few feet at least and looking over my head. It is like he thinks that I can’t tell, but I can.

I don’t know if I imagined some of the simmering chemistry that was going on between us in the beginning, but whatever spark was starting between us has been officially doused in ice water. I can’t deny that I am a little disappointed. I mean, I know that I am in no position for a functional long-term relationship or anything, but the pull I feel to him is undeniable and I was more than a little interested to see where it might go, at least for the time being. Oh well, it is probably for the best.

It is Saturday night and Becca and her boyfriend, Todd, have drug me out on a blind date with one of his co-workers. Todd is a graphic designer for a huge PR firm in the city, his friend Daniel is too, I guess. I told Becca that I definitely didnotwant to go out, especially with some stranger but she insisted.

I am a little anxious about going out into public like this, but I do my best to talk myself down. I have become a lot more relaxed over the last few weeks. It is no doubt a false sense of security, but I was going insane before. No doubt there are still people out there looking for me, ready to hurt me. Not tonight though. At least that is what I tell myself.

Becca, Todd and I pile out of our ride and stand in front of a club called Vibrance. The neon sign is glowing brightly in the dark night sky and the long line tells me that it is probably a very hot club. We walk up to a tall lean man that is standing to the side of the bouncer. He has short light brown hair and soft brown eyes to match. I am assuming that this is Daniel based on the way Becca and Todd are greeting him. I was honestly expecting someone a little dorkier, so this is a pleasant surprise, he is actually kind of cute.

His eyes flick over to me and a shy smile spreads across his face as he takes a step towards me and offers me his hand. I chuckle to myself at the formality but take his hand and give him a quick shake.

“I’m Daniel. I am guessing you are Tasha?” He asks.

“You would be correct,” I smile politely.

It doesn’t escape my notice how his eyes skate down the length of my body before they come back up to my eyes. I don’t really blame him. Becca forced me into a skintight lace black cocktail dress that leaves very little to the imagination. I take the opportunity to look at him. He is wearing a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top two buttons undone paired with a dark wash pair of jeans. He looks good. Not drool worthy by any means but he is a good looking man.

“Aww, look at them,” Becca coo’s loudly as she leans on Todd.

I flash her an irritated look and I catch Daniel doing the same. He looks back to me and smiles before he gestures for us to head inside. I dip my head in thanks and he follows closely behind me, his hand resting on my lower back. I wait for the heat of his touch to tingle or for my chest to burst with butterflies, but I honestly feel nothing. Not too much of a surprise. I have never really been a person to have wild chemistry with just anyone. Only a certain someone apparently. Damnit.

We get a booth in the back, and we all order some drinks before we hit the dance floor. Daniel and I dance together most of the night and I actually end up having a really good time. He isn’t sleazy enough to dry hump me on the dancefloor like most other guys would, but he isn’t so far away that it makes things awkward.

Towards the end of the night, he gets a little bolder and backs me up against him so that we are flush. His hands rest on my hips as his lips come down to rest at the shell of my ear.

“Is this okay?”

I nod, since it is damn near impossible to hear people talking in here anyways. I try to enjoy the feel of his hands on me, and it isn’t like I don’t, but there is just no…spark. Regardless, he is a nice guy and I have had a good time with him, maybe he can be a good friend to hang out with when Becca and Todd suck each other’s faces off during nights out.

After a few moments, I have this creeping feeling like someone is watching me. My paranoia kicks in and my head starts whipping around frantically, looking for the source when I land on a familiar pair of eyes.

Giovanni is sitting in the VIP section that overlooks the dancefloor. He is sitting casually with one foot resting on his knee though his posture looks almost rigid from here as I notice his fists balled at his sides. He is wearing his signature black suit and so are a few of the men that are sitting around him. Maybe they are his co-workers.

He is staring at me with an angry scowl that confuses the hell out of me. I give him a little wave which only causes his frown to deepen. What the hell is his problem?

Daniel brushes my hair off of one side of my neck before his head dips down to speak to me again. Before I can hear him, I glance up to see that Giovanni is gone. Weird.

“Did you want to get out of here?” Daniel asks.

I am honestly a little surprised. It didn’t occur to me that he might have been thinking that this night was going to end in him getting lucky.Sorry buddy.

I am about to respond when a large shadow hovers over us. I look to the side and see Giovanni standing there, glaring daggers at Daniel.

“Hey,” I shout over the beat.

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