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Looking down, she sighed and picked at her fingernails. “I really didn’t want to tell you. The whole thing was so stupid.”
“I will speak to her. It won’t happen again.”
Maggie grabbed my arm. “Promise me you won’t do that. I can fight my own battles.” I said nothing, only stared at her, and she squeezed me harder. “Promise me. She’s your family and you should stick together. Besides, you and I will be through in a couple of weeks, or whenever you go back home, so just leave it. I’m not worth starting a beef with your family over.”
“Beef?”
She released me and sat back. “An argument. A wedge. Just let it go.”
I made no such promises as I picked up my glass of champagne and drained it. I would not be letting this go. No one was rude to this woman without answering to me for it. Even my own family.
twenty
. . .
Maggie
Not going to lie,the landing scared the shit out of me.
I held onto Vito’s hand like the world was ending, which seemed entirely possible as the wheels bounced along the runway. Then we jerked to a halt and I let out the breath I’d been holding the whole time.
Vito was his usual calm and steady self, rock-solid and confident. Once again, his presence leveled me out when I thought I might spiral. It was a disturbing habit, but I wasn’t about to question it now.
He looked so fucking good tonight. With his black trousers and black sweater, along with a fancy belt and expensive shoes, he dripped with sophisticated elegance. The tight fabric of his sweater clung to his shoulders like moss on a tree, and I was very much anticipating peeling it off him. I could smell the Italian body wash on him, a scent I now associated with his naked body. Sitting next to him for almost forty-five minutes was pure torture.
“What city is this?” I asked him as we unbuckled our seat belts. I knew it was a city—the skyscrapers had been a dead giveaway as the plane approached the airport.
“Toronto.”
“Oh, nice.” He brought me to his home. Because he’d wanted to show it off? Or because he had work to do here? I shook off those thoughts. Who cared why we were here? I was on a date with a handsome man in another country. Who knew when this would ever happen again?
“I think you’ll like it.” He offered his hand and helped me to stand. Whew, all this chivalry. It was seriously addicting. And hot.
“Thanks, baby,” I whispered as he let me slide past him into the aisle.
One of his arms suddenly snaked around my front and he pulled me into his chest. I heard him growl softly before he inhaled in the vicinity of my neck. “I can’t wait to get you naked tonight,” he rasped in a low seductive tone.
My body, weak and single-minded, softened against him. “I thought you wanted to show me your city.”
“I do. Get moving.”
Guards surrounded three SUVs waiting on the tarmac. There were so many of them, and I thought back to what Vito had said about the motorcycle gang. Was he worried there might be trouble?
Quickly, he loaded me into one of the SUVs and we drove away from the airport. “Is this normally how many men you travel with here? Because it seems like a lot more than what you had in Paesano. Should I be worried?”
“You are safe with me, bella,” he murmured. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
A non-answer. “Does this have anything to do with motorcycle club you were?—”
“Maggie.” He squeezed my hand. “Relax. There’s no threat. But I am taking no chances with your safety, capisce?”
Oh, that was sweet. I shifted as close as the seat belt allowed, resting my legs against his. “So, where are we going?” I watched the scenery and wished I could see it in the daylight. Although I had to admit there was something nice about all the lights twinkling around us.
“To dinner. I thought you might like to try one of my favorite spots.”
“Vito, I’m not dressed for a fancy restaurant.”
He didn’t reply, just held my hand in his, and I decided to let it go. If we were denied our dinner reservation, then it was on him—not me. As we drove, he explained Toronto, the different areas and sights we were passing. I liked seeing it through his eyes. I could tell he was fond of the city.