Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Savannah laughs. “Well, it is delicious, Ray.”
Yeah, I’m an idiot. Everybody knows how to make garlic bread. It is delicious though. All garlic bread is.
But this garlic bread, crafted by this beautiful woman, takes the cake. My face warms as I grab another piece, hoping Raven doesn’t see how red I’m getting.
What makes me act like a stupid schoolboy around this woman?
Damn, I’ve got it bad.
I don’t say much more as I finish my bread and salad. Then Savannah serves each of us a huge chunk of lasagna.
I take a bite, and it’s delicious. Not quite as good as I remember from my childhood, but every bit as good as anything I ate in Italy.
“Sav, it’s wonderful.”
She beams from across the table. “Glad you like it, Vinnie.”
Raven gushes then, “Oh my God, I think this is the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted. It’s elegant.”
Savannah laughs at that. “Elegant? Now I know you’re pulling my leg, Raven.”
“Well, since the last lasagna I had was hospital food…” She shrugs. “And like I told you. Everything tastes better now. It’s like my tastebuds have exploded or something.”
I smile at her then. She’s so vibrant and full of life. She’s looked her life in the eye and come out on the other end ready to live the hell out of it. I’m filled with the need to get to know this woman. To find out what makes her tick. And my God—those full pink lips.
What might they feel like against my own?
For a moment, I imagine her naked. Her body devoid of all hair. Only her pink pussy visible.
“Vinnie?” Savannah says.
I snap out of my daydream. “Yeah?”
She chuckles lightly. “You’ve been holding that piece of lasagna on your fork halfway to your mouth for like a minute now.”
I quickly bring it to my mouth, chew, and swallow. “Just thinking.”
“I know.” Savannah pats my hand from across the table. “You’re back now, back in a life you never wanted. I’m sorry for that, Vinnie.”
I’ll let her think that’s what I was thinking about. I suppose she isn’t wrong. I have a lot on my plate, and I’m not talking lasagna.
“So Falcon,” Savannah says, “did Raven tell you she has a date Friday?”
That bite of lasagna I swallowed turns into a cannonball in my stomach.
Raven has a date?
“I don’t ever like to think about my sisters having dates,” Falcon says. “But that’s great, Raven. Who are you seeing?”
Raven swallows the bite of lasagna in her mouth. “This lawyer who helped me today. His name is Brick Latham.”
I nearly choke on the sip of wine I just drank. “Brick?”
“Yeah, that’s his name.”
“I suppose he has a brother named Stone and a sister named Marble?” My tone is more pointed than I intend.
“Uh…” Falcon clears his throat. “Our grandfather’s name was Brick. Brick Bellamy.”
I put my fork down, avoiding eye contact with Raven in the process. God damn it. Now I feel like an asshole. I shouldn’t have made fun of the name in the first place. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was taken aback that Raven has a date.
Why shouldn’t she have a date? If I see how beautiful she is, why wouldn’t another man? She doesn’t need hair to be beautiful.
And her hair will grow back. It’s already growing back. She’s got a raven-black buzz cut now, and damn…
“I’m sorry.” I wipe my lips on my napkin. “I don’t know what just got into me. It’s not like Vincent is the greatest name in the world. Or Vinnie.”
“It’s Daddy’s name,” Savannah says. “But I like the name Brick. It sounds strong.”
“The name Vincent is associated with strength and victory,” I say. “It’s derived from Latin, meaning to conquer.”
And why the fuck did I just say that? To my sister of all people?
Raven looks at me, and damn, those eyes… They pierce me.
And as she looks at me, I can’t tell if she’s angry or ready to burst out laughing.
Either reaction would be warranted. I’m being a dick.
I had my fair share of women while I was overseas. I never got serious with anyone, but I had a lot of sex with a lot of hot babes.
Now, for the first time in a long time, I’ve met a woman I actually like. A woman I’d like to get to know. A woman I’m extremely attracted to.
And what do I do?
I make fun of the name of her date. A name that her grandfather shares.
God, I’m back in high school…
What a fuck-up.
Raven takes a sip of her water. “I think Vincent is a lovely name.”
I widen my eyes at Raven. Did she really just say that?
“So is Raven,” I say. “It’s a beautiful name, and it fits you.”
She smiles at me then. Raven Bellamy smiles at me. So I clear my throat. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have made fun of your date’s name. Your grandfather’s name, though I didn’t know he shared it.”