Page 93 of Men or Paws

I cranked my head back in his direction. “You risked our lives and the possibility of totaling your two-hundred-thousand-dollar car because—”

Rocco held up a finger to correct me. “Three hundred thousand, actually, if you add taxes and fees, plus a premium to be the first person in the US to own this model.”

“Let me get this straight. You got your hands on the very first Maserati MC20 in the entire country and then proceeded to park it in your garage and not drive it?”

He smirked. “I was afraid of running over rabbits.”

“Listen, Mr. Smarty Pants.” I said. “Rabbit lives are not more important than human lives.”

He pointed to the rabbit at the left of the tree. “I bet he would disagree with you.”

I stared at Rocco, then laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So you keep telling me.”

I continued to laugh. “Thanks. I needed that.” I glanced through the windshield at the tree. “But seriously, thank God I didn’t wreck your new car.”

Rocco’s gaze softened as he brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. “I don’t care about the car. All I care about is you.” Then he leaned in closer, staring at my lips.

Wow, things got serious all of a sudden.

His words made my limbs tingle, then robbed me of my breath.

“The car is just a material thing,” he added as his gaze met mine.

I nodded. “True, but your house is filled with material things. If you didn’t like them, you wouldn’t have them. And I’m not criticizing you, we all have material things, although some people have more than others.”

“True, but the difference is, I’m not attached to them. If they suddenly disappeared, my life wouldn’t change. Now, on the other hand, if you disappeared, well, that’s another story.” He glanced over at me again. “I like you, Beth. A lot.” His eyes narrowed, then his vision dropped once again to my lips.

He wanted to kiss me. And the feeling was definitely mutual. I wanted him to kiss me a thousand times more than I wanted to drive his car.

But this wasn’t the place.

Is there really a bad place to kiss?

My mind always liked to argue with me, but had obviously forgotten about the no-kissing part of the contract, which was now starting to become a pain in my butt.

As long as I didn’t kiss Rocco first, we would be good. Yes, he would be breaking the clause in my addendum, but I would forgive him immediately as long as he kissed me a second time. And then a third.

Truth be told, I wanted that kiss ASAP, but I knew I would have to be patient. It was my own fault since I stopped pretending that I didn’t like Rocco. Now, my feelings for him were growing faster than the speed of light. I could feel them in my bones, in my heart, in my soul.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t a little nervous.

He was Rocco Romano, after all, and he could have any woman in the world.

Luckily, Holly’s advice was still ingrained in my brain.

So what if you have a whirlwind romance with Rocco and then he dumps you? If it happens, you know he’s not for you, you brush yourself off, and get ready for the one who is right.

Was Rocco the one for me?

I’d have to wait and see, but the flutter in my belly told me he very well could be.

No pretending.

I smiled at Rocco. “I like you, too.”

He cocked his head to the side. “A lot?”