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“This micro-basil really kicks ass,” Jenny joked as she devoured the last bite of pasta. She dipped the bread—thepano caldo—into the infused olive oilandslathered butter on it. I watched, impressed, as she polished off the final crumbs and then licked her fingers. Jenny raised her glass. “This was so good. Long live Alfonso!”
I tapped my glass to hers. “Salut!Long live Alfonso!”
The server appeared at our table. “Can I interest you in dessert?”
“Absofuckinglutely,” Jenny said. “Do you have anything with micro basil?”
JENNY
We shared someBombolonis—gourmetItalian donut holes—for dessert. They were delish. I never ate anyplace as fancy as Alfonso’s before, and I was sure that Cole could tell. But he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to be genuinely having a good time hanging out with me. The billionaire had his hands on me the whole time, rubbing my back and my thigh, throwing his arm around my shoulder. He was pleasantly possessive, making sure that everyone in the restaurant knew I was his.
I liked that. I wondered what type of women he usually dated, and then I recalled the Victoria’s Secret model.Sheprobably knew how to read a menu in Italian.
But she’s not here,I reminded myself,and you are.
We left the restaurant holding hands, and I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny afternoon in Boston, the type of day I dreamed of during our long, crappy winters. Cole was dazzling in the sunlight, impossibly tall and handsome in his expensive suit. It almost hurt to look at him.
That didn’t stop me.
We waited on the sidewalk while Luca retrieved the Porsche. Cole wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest.He grinned down at me. “I like you, Jenny. I’m glad you’re my date.”
I blushed in pleasure and also, in a little bit of…lust? He was so damn handsome. “I like you, too. I’m glad I’m your date.” My head was buzzing from the wine and having his hands on me. They roamed lower, skimming my ass, and Cole pulled me in for a kiss.
Woah.I mean,WOAH.His lips were firm, his grip on my ass was strong. He darted his tongue into my mouth, and when it connected to mine, electricity zipped straight to my core. Cole deepened the kiss, and I started to feel all charged and squirmy in between my legs.
I pulled back, fanning myself. “Woo! Is it getting hot out here, or what?”
The line of customers waiting to get into Alfonso’s watched us with thinly veiled interest.
“Yeah. Ha.” Cole took a step back and straightened his jacket. “It’s getting hot, all right.”
He grinned at me. I grinned at him. But a warning bell was going off in the back of my head. This was all happening too fast.You are not faking that smile, Jenny.True, but so what? I was just having fun with my client. What was wrong with a little fun?
Just then, Luca arrived with the car. Perfect timing! I couldn’t be dry-humping my billionaire client on the sidewalk in the North End in broad daylight! I mean, Icould, but…
We chatted and laughed as Cole maneuvered the Porsche around the Financial District. He managed to hold my hand as he headed to the Seaport, the neighborhood where he lived. It was a relatively new area in Boston, built out with fancy high-rises and a convention center. The upscale neighborhood was a far cry from my rat-trap apartment in Roxbury. As we pulled down the immaculate streets and the pristine buildings rose uparound us, I couldn’t have been happier that I’d be staying with Cole for the next two weeks.
“Here we are.” He pulled up in front of an enormous building that fronted the Boston Harbor. The fancy sign read,
Fifty Liberty.
I stared up at the skyscraper’s edifice, which was all white and sparkling glass. “This looks brand-new.”
“That’s because it is.” Cole grinned. “I was one of the first people to buy here. Come on. You’ll love it.”
In typical Cole fashion, he parked the car right in front of the building. A moment later, a large young man with a thick neck and massive shoulders hustled outside. “Good afternoon, Mr. Bryson. Can I park this for you?”
“You know you’re my favorite, Amari. Of course, I want you to park it.” He handed him some cash, then patted him on the shoulder. “By the way, this is Jenny. She’ll be staying with me for the next two weeks.”
Amari grinned at me. “Nice to see you, Jenny. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thanks.” Everybody we met was so nice. Granted, Cole was a big tipper. But people seemed genuinely happy to see him.
We headed inside the Liberty’s lobby, and I sucked in a deep breath.Holy cow.Everything was pristine white, with soaring ceilings, a massive fireplace, and immaculate couches dotting the grand space. There were floor-to-ceiling windows facing the harbor. “Wow. This place is gorgeous.”
The sun was high in the sky, its golden rays glinting off the dazzling whiteness of the lobby. “It’s so luxurious,” I said. I felt out of place—sweaty, my hair probably wild from the humidity, and red wine on my breath.
“It’s nice, right?” Cole said. “Wait till you see the penthouse.”