Page 88 of Hostile Secret
My cheeks burn under his intense stare. “It’s really juicy isn’t it? Great for an early morning snack and provides a lot of rehydration.” I add, teasing him in return.
His eyes drill into my face. “And best enjoyed as a refreshing appetizer. Gets all over my fingers, though.” He purposefully thumbs his lower lip, hypnotizing me. A slight smirk tilts his lips when I sway a little. “Can be a bit messy.”
“Agreed.” My core clenches. “Although it does stain your clothes if it happens to drip everywhere.”
The air around us smolders with something wickedly carnal. His eyes flash and the pulse in my neck thrums. Before he takes the opportunity to speak again, Leo breaks our electric innuendo game, thankfully cooling the trance I’m trapped in.
“What’s your dog's favorite food?” Leo asks as Giovanni sits back and scrubs the coarse hair on his chin in contemplation.
This isn’t forever. These people aren’t my family.
I shrug lightly, drag out a stool and sit, tucking my hair behind my ears. “Well… it’s not good for her, but she adores cheese.”
Giovanni shifts in his seat. When I look back at him, his eyes have turned vacant and his expression glacial.
“I blame André, he started it. He used to feed her treats every time he walked past the fridge.”
My brows pinch together, briefly lost in a memory of him sprinkling grated cheese on the floor and Reno standing on it by accident. Daenis chased my brother until she’d extracted all the cheese from the grooves of his new kicks.
“You look sad.” Leo reaches across the table.
He rubs his little hand over the top of mine, snapping my mind back to the present and pinning me with earnest eyes.
For some reason, the caring gesture spreads into the chambers of my lonely heart and fills it. This kid is special.
“I’m fine.” I lie, painting on a false smile. “I miss my family, that’s all.” A plate of watermelon lands in front of me. “At least I have this.” I waggle my brows at Leo and pop a chunk into my mouth, humming around it as I chew. “Sooo good.”
The thick grunt coming from Giovanni startles all of us. My gaze cuts to his, finding it flaming hot and hard to escape.
“What’s wrong, Yanni?” Leo stuffs his spoon into a milky bowl of cereal.
“You’re going to be late for school. This morning took longer than I thought it would. Put your shoes on, buddy.”
“Okay.” He takes another mouthful of cereal and drops off the stool.
While he munches, he sits on the couch in the glass room behind Giovanni, and one by one, shoves his feet into a pair of black leather shoes.
“Come on, Lola.” He grabs his satchel. “I’ll race you to the helicopter.” Looking back over his shoulder, he says, “Te amo, Yanni.”
“Te amo, buddy.”
My insides vibrate when Giovanni gives him a sincere, heart-slaying smile. It’s rare to catch a glimpse of the real Giovanni beneath his cutthroat persona. He shares a genuine, loving connection with his son, and it makes me crave him even more.
I stupidly want to hear him say those words to me one day. I’m truly captivated by this man, and that’s the dumbest thing I could ever admit.
Wake the fuck up, India!
“Can I see you and your dog after school, India?” Leo calls over to me.
I swallow hard. “That’s up to Giovanni.”
“Can I, Yanni?”
“She’s going to her friend's house after school, buddy.”
I’d totally forgotten about my sleepover at Ana’s house. “Maybe another time. Daenis likes the beach. You could come for a walk with us over the weekend if you like?”
“Can she surf?” he asks, full of genuine wonder.
