“Uh, okay. When?”
“Tonight?” He asks.
I nod in agreement and he gives me a small smile before he spreads his arms out.
“Come here, baby.”
It only takes me a second of hesitation before I am stepping into his embrace and burying my head into his chest. His arms wrap around me as he rests his head into the crook of my neck. It’s weird but it feels almost like we are making up after a fight, which couldn’t be farther from the truth because we would have had to of fought in order to make up.
“I am sorry I have been distant,” he says as he pulls back. “I needed to think.”
“About?” I question, half hoping he doesn’t answer. I am not sure I want to know.
“Us. We can talk more tonight, but I think that it is about time that I take you for a proper date.”
I give him a more genuine smile as I nod my head. “I would like that.”
Gio gives me a full smile before winking at me. “Wear something extra sexy.”
My eyebrows raise in amusement before I laugh and nod. He chuckles before turning on his heel and heading towards Luca’s office. I turn around to see Ashlynn standing in the hallway with a satisfied smile on her face.
“I was wondering how long it was going to take him to man up. So, does this mean you need to raid my sample rack?”
I laugh and nod. “So bad.”
Ashlynn tosses her head back before nodding towards her studio. I follow after her and can’t help but smile. It feels so good to have a friend, not that Becca isn’t an amazing friend, but Ashlynn is her own kind of person and someone who I never realized I really needed in my life.
We spend the day primping and polishing until I look like a runway model. I have no idea where we are going or what we are doing but Gio’s request at me looking extra sexy has definitely been met.
Ashlynn squeezed me into a gorgeous dusty blue wrap dress that accentuates the flare of my hips as well as exposes a generous amount of cleavage. My makeup is minimalist but with hints of shimmer everywhere that will probably make me look like a damn glitter ball in the right lighting, but Ashlynn insisted that it worked so I went with it. My hair is in big loose curls, and I have a pair of sky-high silver heels on that I borrowed from Ashlynn.
At 7 o’clock, I am standing in the foyer when Gio comes out in one of his nice black suits with a dark crimson dress shirt on underneath. He isn’t wearing a tie tonight, so it feels less like a business meeting and more like a night out. He stops for a moment when he sees me. His heat filled gaze raking up and down my body before settling on my face. A cheshire grin spreads across his face as he swaggers over to me.
“Who is the lucky guy, sweetheart?” He asks as he comes within a few inches of me.
I shrug nonchalantly. “Just this guy, well my boss, technically.”
“Ah. Shooting for that promotion?”
I shrug again. “I mean, I will take a raise, but I am a little more interested in what he has to offer,” I say seductively as my eyes slowly roam over his muscles, stretching across the expensive fabric on his arms and chest.
He gives me a devilish grin before leaning in and capturing my lips with his. Even though there are several men in the room just to either side of us, he doesn’t hold back. As if to make up for the last few days, he is worshiping my mouth like he vows to never stop. His tongue flicks against mine playfully as I meet him move for move.
When we break apart, I am suddenly so thankful that Ashlynn talked me into the smudge proof lipstick. Gio’s hand comes up to cup my face before he brings me back towards him for another short, sweet kiss.
“We should probably go before I call take out,” he murmurs just over my lips.
“I love Chinese,” I whisper, which earns me a rough laugh in return.
Gio takes a step back before opening the door and ushering us out to the car. I notice that as usual, a few men file into a car behind us before we take off. Not exactly romantic for date night, but now that I knowheis hot on my trail, a little extra protection never hurt anyone.
We end up at a posh little Italian restaurant downtown, which shouldn’t surprise me since I don’t think I have really ever seen him eat something that wasn’t Italian. It’s a good thing that I can never get sick of bread or noodles, though I am sure my figure will have something to say about it if this continues.
Throughout dinner, we make idle chit chat and throw out silly jokes that have us both cracking up, drawing attention from the surrounding guests, but Gio doesn’t seem to mind. After our plates are cleared, he reaches his hand out to grab mine.
“I am really glad you agreed to come out with me.”
“Of course,” I smile. “Thank you for asking.”