Page 13 of Dante
“I’m not sure you could call that swimming.”
Just when she thought the youngest Caruso was nothing like his father … “That would have been funny, if your father hadn’t already made the same joke five minutes ago.”
Both Leo and Amo furrowed their brows together as they looked over at Dante strangely.
She was just about to ask them why they were looking at him like that when Dante addressed the small staff that had just helped pull them out of the water.
“I’m sure one of you can show Nadia to her room and find her something dry?”
“Of course.” A blonde woman in a white Polo stepped forward. “Please, follow me.”
“Thanks,” she muttered, falling in step behind her, but her steps weren’t the only ones she could hear as she turned herhead to see Dante following close behind, holding his dry jacket and shoes that he must’ve taken off before taking his dive.
“I’d like to get dry, too.”
“Right,” Nadia said with a nervous laughter. She tried not to feel guilty for his current state,but she certainly was responsible for him being wet.
Continuing to follow the staff woman, she led them to what appeared to be an outdoor living room with a bar that looked like an oasis in the middle of the ocean. However, it was when they went through the huge sliding glass door that her mouth dropped to the floor.
It was the most beautiful living area you could dream of, and it was on a freaking boat! Whenever Nadia thought of a yacht, she imagined them decorated in white and gold, but this was clearly no ordinary yacht. The walls were matte black, and the furniture was a rich velvet in a navy color. You’d think it would make the yacht appear too small, but it actually made it beautifully intimate, especially with the sliding glass doors open so you could hear the peaceful sound of the ocean. Nadia just wanted to be dry, curl up on the couch, and read one of her favorite books while she watched a movie on the ginormous TV screen. And that was just the living room.
There was also a small indoor bar and gaming section that held a pool table. This yacht was insane, and she couldn’t begin to wrap her mind around not only the cost of something like this but the fact that it was just a “vacation home.” She would be shocked if it was used more than five times a year.
This must’ve been the middle deck, as the woman led them to a staircase in the back. One half went upstairs, and the other half led down.
The woman motioned her hand toward a staircase that went upstairs. “Mr. Caruso.”
Dante simply nodded his head as he started to disappear up the steps.
“Ms. Brooks, you may continue to follow me,” the woman said as she began to descend below.
“Right, sorry.” Nadia quickly fell back in step … after she removed her gaze from the mob boss.
She didn’t know what was upstairs exactly, but down below held extravagant cabins, and as they passed each room, she could see a suitcase sitting beside the foot of each bed.
Nadia’s room came last. It appeared to be one of the more feminine rooms, decorated in a royal purple rather than a beautiful shade of blue. Unfortunately, her room didn’t hold a suitcase that was going to be magically filled with her stuff from home.
“I believe we have plenty of clothes for you here, ma’am. We typically get a lot of late arrivals of the female variety.” She winked before opening the small closet to reveal it jammed full of brightly colored clothing that appeared to be mostly skimpy dresses and cover-ups. “Boss likes us to keep anything that has been left behind.” She tried not to chuckle. Then, getting a hold of herself, she pointed toward the chest. “You will find plenty of bathing suits there, and any other items you might need will be in the head.” She now pointed toward a door. “Bathroom,” she explained the boating term when Nadia seemed confused.
Nadia tried her best to give the woman a friendly smile. “Thank you …”
“Lila.”
“Thanks, Lila,” she repeated the helpful woman’s name. Then Lila finally left her to it with a smile.
Nadia headed to the “head” first, needing a nice, warm shower after today’s events. First, she took off her jacket that had become plastered to her when she suddenly remembered …
The check!
Pulling out the now extremely wet rectangle piece of paper, she carefully placed it on the counter. The ink had bled a little, but it was still legible,right?She would let it air dry and find out later. If it wasn’t, she’d get Dante to write her another one. Hell, he might even add another zero after this disastrous meeting that had turned into a weekend.
She quickly undressed then showered in the small but luxurious bathroom before throwing on a bathrobe. She managed to find a blow dryer and a round brush to give herself her usual sleek blowout. It didn’t take long until her shiny, black hair was placed perfectly in her long bob that barely grazed her shoulders.
Shockingly, there was even makeup, but she decided against her usual cat eyeliner and nude lipstick, only putting on a tinted SPF she found to protect her skin from the harsh Florida sun. She supposed the perfect business look she always displayed could take a break for a few days while she was forced to be here.
Finally leaving the bathroom, she headed toward the dreaded closet. She gingerly looked through the brightly colored clothes to find them all of the skimpy variety. Hell, she was better off wearing her robe than those.
Deciding there was no way in hell, she went to the chest, praying for something that would cover her big ass around the man who had just given her a hundred thousand dollars for her charity, but when she opened the top drawer, then the next, then the next, she practically screamed when she opened the last.
