Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
But Dr. Michaels is trying to impress me again.
I wish it were working.
“And thank you very much, sir.” the bartender says with bright eyes.
Dr. Michaels looks back at me with a cheeky smile. Yeah. The fifty-dollar tip was a flex.
Then again, Dr. Michaels is a successful oncologist. Perhaps he’s a legitimately generous man, wanting to pay it forward to someone who likely makes a tenth of what he does.
But I’m not buying it. Maybe it’s because my gut is right about Dr. Michaels, or maybe I’m just comparing him to the version of Vinnie I thought existed until a few weeks ago.
He leads me to one of the bar tables and sets our drinks down. He takes a seat.
I’m not comfortable spending any more time with him when I have an entire gala of people I need to talk to.
I pop down in the seat across from him and paste a smile on. “Thank you so much for the dance and for the drink, Dr. Michaels. If you’ll excuse me, I need to mingle.”
“Oh?” He lays his hand over mine. “I was hoping we could spend more time together.”
“You can call my office anytime.” I slide my hand out from under his and stand.
“Better than that.” He gets to his feet. “How about dinner next weekend?”
Way to be put on the spot. I grab my handbag and fidget with it to give me a second to come up with some sort of gentle rejection.
But then I reconsider. Vinnie has moved on. Why the hell shouldn’t I?
“Sure.” I give Dr. Michaels another smile. “That sounds lovely. Give me a call and we’ll set it up.”
“Wonderful. There’s a new Spanish-Asian fusion restaurant I’ve been dying to try.”
I smile and whisk away, only to be stopped again soon by another attendee.
“Wonderful job, Ms. Bellamy. I wish you the best of luck.” The speaker is a man I don’t recognize.
“Thank you so much, sir, and thank you for coming.”
Next, two women stop me. “Lovely time. Please accept this donation.”
I know better than to look at the amount. I simply take the check. “Thank you so much for your generosity. Thank you for being here and for your support.”
Onto the next, as I glance across the room to see Jared with his eyes on me.
And then, a hand clamps on my shoulder.
I turn to see Vinnie.
“Vinnie,” I gasp.
“I need you to come with me, Raven,” he says.
“I’m in the middle of my gala.”
“Please. It’s urgent.”
“The silent auction will be ending soon. I have to announce that—”
He pulls me away toward the nearest exit.
Across the room I see Jared running after us.
A moment later, we’re inside a small conference room, no lights on.
Vinnie clicks the door shut.
“I couldn’t stay away from you,” he says.
And then his mouth comes down on mine.
20
VINNIE
Ipush my tongue between Raven’s lips. God, she tastes so sweet. A bit of smoke from tequila, sweetness from the tres leches cake.
And just her.
Yes, the sweetest lips I’ve ever tasted.
They’re even sweeter now after a month away from her.
Her bodyguard will come soon.
All I can do is kiss her.
But a moment later, she pushes at my shoulders, breaking the kiss with a loud smack.
“Vinnie…”
I caress her cheek. “My God, I’ve missed you.”
She wraps her hand around my wrist. “You have a date. I have—”
“A bodyguard. I know.”
“He’s been watching me with eagle eyes all night.” She cranes her neck over her left shoulder. “He’ll know you dragged me in here.”
“I know.” I narrow my eyes at her. “I’ve locked the door, Raven.”
She raises her eyebrows—she has eyebrows now, and she’s so damned beautiful. “He’ll consider you a threat.”
I bore my gaze into her. “And you, Raven? Do you consider me a threat?”
I crush my lips to hers once more.
Her eyes flicker with a mixture of fear, surprise, and desire as she pushes me away again. “Vinnie…” she whispers against my mouth, but this time her voice trails off into silence, uncertainty clouding her usually fiery eyes.
“Do you?” I press again, my voice husky, but I don’t give her the chance to respond. Instead, I seize her in my arms once more and press my lips against hers.
This time, she doesn’t pull away.
My heart pounds as she clutches at the sleeves of my jacket. I’m lost in her, drowning in the taste of tequila on her tongue and the feeling of her body pressed against mine.
But then reality intrudes. The sound of heavy footsteps outside the door brings us back to earth.
“He’s coming,” Raven breathes against my mouth.
“Let him,” I growl. I have her in my arms, and I’ll be damned if anyone takes her from me now.
She shakes her head, pulling away from me with visible regret. “Vinnie, we can’t. Not here, and not now.”
I drop my hands to her waist, anchoring her to me as the footsteps draw closer. “Then when, Raven? I need you.”