Page 128 of Arturo's Temptation

“You’re too good to me, Arturo Ramos.”

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” I lifted her onto the sofa, her body instantly snuggling into the cushions. “I’ll be back.”

I stood there for a moment as she flicked through the TV channels, watching her brows furrow the moment she realised they were all British.

“Arturo, what’s this?” She paused on a programme, the arguing couple capturing her attention.

“Coronation Street, also known as a soap.” I chuckled, watching her face twist in confusion.

“A soap?! That’s what you use in the bathroom, not a word for a tv show. ” I couldn’t contain my laughter which seemed to confuse her all the more.

“Yeah, well in England, a programme that comes on pretty much daily is called a soap.” I stroked my thumb across the frown lines marring her beautiful face. “Give it a whirl. You never know, you might enjoy it.” She craned her neck to look past me, the argument between the two actors pulling her in with each passing second. “I’ll finish up breakfast then.”

“Okay, I’ll be here watching Street Coronation.”

“Coronation Street,” I laughed as she waved me off to the kitchen.

Night had fallen just as quicklyas the sun had risen, and knowing we would have to return back to the house soon irritated the shit out of me. I hated we’d have to go back to acting like we weren’t together, but I knew Bella was scared of what her family would think, especially Lorenzo. Her father had been calling the shots all her life, and I think it scared her to start making her own.

“What do you want for dinner?” she asked, leaning against the fridge.

“How about you go and have a shower, and I’ll pick us somethin’ up?” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “I thought we could watch a film, eat greasy food and popcorn and make the most of our time together before heading back to normal.”

“I like the sound of that,” she gently pecked the tip of my nose and I wasn’t ashamed to say my fucking heart flip flopped. “You choose the food and I’ll make a movie list. All I ask is that you pick up the sweet popcorn. I’m no good with salty.” I chuckled and she knew exactly what had tickled me. “Arturo, cut it out!”

“Alright, alright, I’m goin’,” I kissed her forehead and began making my way towards the front door. As I reached it I paused and called out to her. “Bella, come and lock the door behind me, and do not open it to anyone who knocks. I’ll let myself back in.”

“Calm down, dude, don’t get your panties in a twist. I won’t open the door to anyone. Stop worrying.” Despite her teasing, her eyes tensed. We both knew the power of information. And fuckers today can get their hands on anything so long as the price was right.

“I will always worry about you,mi princesa.” I closed the door just as she rolled her damn eyes.

Oh, Bella… I plan on getting you for that later.

“Extra pepperoni, please, mate,”I asked Charlie, who responded with a lopsided smile.

“You never come for take out.” You could hear the underlying question from a mile away.

“Fancied a change.”

“This is about that girl you were in here with before, am I right?” he asked as he tossed pizza dough around in the air without so much as glancing up.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” I winked, handing his son a wad of cash.

“Hey hey, whoa! Arturo, buddy, we talked about this. It’s 18.50. What, do I look like I need the charity?”

“And you never make me wait. You’ll take the tip and shut your trap.” And that is why I had no qualms paying triple for Charlie’s. He was as real and honest as they come, and the guy’s pizzas were renowned in these streets. But bigger chains charging stupidly low prices had sucked his business dry. I felt for him. I really did.

One of these days I should just give him an anonymous donation.

“For the record, she seemed like a real nice kid. Can I give you a piece of advice?”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“Treat her better than you think anyone deserves. Because a good woman who will put up with your shit is worth a million pizzas. You look after her, you hear me?” Charlie was a sucker for relationships, he’d had many in the years I’d been living here anyway.

“With my life.” He had no idea how true that statement really was.

“Now, how much extra pepperoni we talking?”

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