Page 4 of Fearless to Love

“It can’t hurt,” I shrugged. I hoped that Dante would see me in my underwear sooner rather than later.

“Yes!” Tillie fist pumped. “Let’s get you all sexied up.”

My forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Is that a real word?”

“It is now. Now let’s get moving. You still need to do your hair and makeup.”

* * *

“I didn’t expectyou to buy out all of Victoria’s Secret. Dante is one lucky man.” Tillie cackled beside me.

“Well, hopefully, I’ll be one lucky lady. It’s been too long since I had sex and I have a feeling Dante knows what he’s doing.”

“Unlike Tommy?” she asked with a knowing smirk.

“Don’t remind me.” I reclined back on the couch and looked at my freshly painted toenails; a nice hot pink that made my tan stand out. “I’m so glad Tommy and I are over.”

Tillie stood, pulling her hair up into a ponytail. “Too bad he doesn’t think the same. I’ve got to hit the road. I’ve got my own hot date tonight.”

“Oh really? With whom?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out. Call me tomorrow and let me know how your date goes,” she demanded.

Did she think we were blind? I decided to let it go for now. There was no point in fighting with her about it and I needed to start getting ready.

“I promise to call and then maybe you can tell me aboutyourdate.” I pressed my lips together in an attempt not to laugh.

Her eyes turned to slits as she left, but I knew she wasn’t mad. I didn’t care if she was dating her boss unless it ended, and she decided she needed to quit or worse yet, move.

I hightailed it upstairs to glam myself up for the night. Right as I slipped my dress over my head, I heard a car door slam. Peeking over at my clock, I saw that it was already six-fifty.

Dante was early.

Chapter Three

DANTE

Ispent the day at Flux on autopilot. I interviewed a few new people that had potential and dealt with a couple of shipments, but my mind was on Lily and our date. Even my sister, Franca, could tell there was something different about me.

“Dante, what the hell is up with you? Every time I’ve seen you today you’ve got a stupid smile on your face. Were you abducted and cloned last night?”

“Funny, Franca. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I knew I still had the dopey smile I’d worn all day on my face, but I couldn’t help myself.

With her hands on her hips, she glared at me. “At this point, I’ll believe anything.”

“Okay,” I hesitated because I wasn’t sure how she’d react. “I met the most beautiful woman in the world last night, and we have a date tonight.”

Franca doubled over with laughter. Definitely not what I was expecting. I watched as her body shook and eventually wiped the tears from her eyes. When she finally settled down, Franca realized that I wasn’t joking. She stood tall with a soft smile playing on her lips. “You’re serious? You don’t date. I never thought I’d see the day my brother would be as smitten as a kitten.”

“I wouldn’t call me smitten.”

“Oh, but you most definitely are. When do I get to meet the woman, who’s got you acting like a zombie?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t want you to scare her off. I…like her. She’s different. You’ll understandwhenyou meet her. I won’t be around tonight, so hopefully there won’t be any fires to put out.”

Franca headed to the door with a smirk on her face. “You’ll owe me if there is. I need a night off and soon.” She gave me a pointed look letting me know she meant business. Franca wasn’t used to working more than a day here and a day there, so I knew helping me was taking a toll on her.

“You’ll get it. Just give me tonight. I’m going to head out so I can pick up some flowers before I head home and get ready.”

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