Page 31 of Bellini Bound
“This will only take a minute,” I promised.
“Fine.” Soft footsteps drew nearer, and then the door swung open. “What do you want?”
For a minute, all I could do was stare at her. There was a rosy tint to her rounded cheeks, a glazed sheen to her eyes. When my gaze dipped lower, I nearly groaned when I saw she wasn’t wearing a bra beneath the thin cotton of her T-shirt, her peaked nipples straining against the fabric.
Forcing my eyes back to her face, I cleared my throat. “I wanted to let you know I’m leaving.”
Her eyebrows rose high on her forehead. “Leaving?”
“Yeah.” I shoved both hands in my pockets. “I’ve got a place in the city. I’m gonna stay there.”
Confusion flickered across her features. “Um, for how long?”
“Indefinitely. The house is yours.”
“Oh.” Her plush lips formed a perfect circle around that word, and my dirty mind immediately pictured sliding my dick past them.
“I’m leaving a couple of men behind.” Allison stiffened immediately, so I explained, “They’re merely for your protection and aren’t allowed inside. You’ll be free to leave the premises and do as you please. This is the best deal I can offer you, given the circumstances.”
She ducked her head. “I understand.”
“Good.” I tugged on the back of my neck. “So, uh, I guess this is goodbye, then.”
Her lips twisted to the side. “Looks like it.”
“Well, have a nice life, Allison.”
I rapped my knuckles on the edge of her doorframe and walked away, the whole time trying to convince myself that this was for the best.
Chapter 9
Allie
“AuntAllie’shere!”Biancacried, barreling into my legs so forcefully that I stumbled back a step.
Serafina lifted her head from where she was seated on the floor playing and gave me a cheesy grin. “Hi!”
Damn, these two were cute. “Hello, my little loves.”
“Can I paint your nails today?” Bianca batted her impossibly long eyelashes at me.
Putting on a show of being surprised, I gasped. “No one told me the Bellini Salon would be open today, or I would have called ahead to make an appointment. Are you sure you can fit me in?”
The little girl giggled, the pure sound setting my soul aglow. “You’re so silly, Aunt Allie. I bet that’s why Uncle Enzo loves you so much. He’s silly too.”
And just like that, the smile slipped from my face.
Summer clocked my reaction and quickly steered her daughter in a different direction. “You take nails, B. I’m on hair and makeup.”
Bianca bounced on her toes, clapping her hands. “Ooh! You’re gonna look so pretty!” She raced from the room, presumably to gather supplies for my manicure.
Patting the couch cushion beside her in silent invitation, Summer gave me a sympathetic smile. “Sorry about that.”
I waved her off, plopping down onto the leather seat. “It’s fine. She doesn’t know any better, and I’m not gonna be the one to tell her that every marriage isn’t a fairytale romance when her parents are very much in love.”
Their cat, Cookie, leapt into my lap, almost like she knew I needed the release that came from petting her soft fur.
Initially, I’d viewed Enzo’s departure as a gift, almost a blessing. Until I ventured forth from my suite and came to realize just how isolated I felt inside that giant house. It didn’t take long before I was asking Summer if she didn’t mind if I came over to her place instead of her coming to mine.
