Page 75 of Unstoppable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY

In Michael's, we sit at a cozy table in the corner.

Candles offer a dim, romantic light as the sun sets.

Aurei orders us both Veal Parmesan and Lambrusco wine.

When the waitress brings the bottle, he waves her away and pours it.

"Now that I know you better and all the contortions your body can perform, I'm looking forward to enjoying the Publix bottle of Merlot with you back in Alabama. "

I grin at him. "I've got real plans for sharing that bottle. I assure you it will be unlike anything you have ever enjoyed before."

He raises his glass to toast, "Here's to Wright."

I clink it, "Here's to Moore."

Our eyes twinkle over the rims at each other, and when he sets his glass down, he slides his open hand across to me.

I lay mine in it, and he strokes it with his thumb.

"Speaking of Alabama, tell me about your house and the plans you have for the farm.

" He fills me in on the physical aspects of the house and the progress of the new construction.

"I have an architect and a designer you can speak to about it when we return.

" He tells me matter-of-factly, making me smile.

He has accepted me into his life without reservation or concern. I shake my head and grin at him as I take another sip of my wine.

"What?" He asks. "I just assumed you would want to be a part of the house too. You seemed so excited about helping with the apartment here. Was I wrong?"

"No. You weren't wrong. I would love to be a part of it. I'm just truly blown away how easily you have melded me into your life."

He smiles. "I can't imagine life without you now."

The waitress approaches with our tray of steaming food.

Leaning back in our seats so she can serve us, our hands pull apart.

As soon as I lose the connection, I miss it.

"Me either. Life is pretty fucking amazing right now.

" When she sets the food down, we begin to eat, enjoying our meal, quietly chitchatting.

I ask questions about the house. He tells me about his original design concepts, including the landscaping, which has a small heliport with a hanger for his chopper.

"Awesome!" My eyes light up. "You did promise to take me for a flight."

He grins. "We are going to do a lot of soaring."

He talks about his plans to buy a new Bell 429WLG Helicopter with all the bells and whistles.

His eyes shine, and his speech is animated while he talks about it.

I'm clueless, so I don't ask a lot of questions other than the obvious.

How fast will it fly? How long on a tank of gas?

How many people will it hold? When I ask what color, he laughs and says.

"The base is black, but the body is Laguna Blue Pearl.

You'll like it." He nods at me, and I know he is thinking of my Black & Blue Baby.

"I'll show you a pic when we finish eating. "

I grin. "Can we name it?"

He chuckles. "Of course. What shall we call it?"

"I don't know yet. Let me get back to you on that."

Aurei looks around the room occasionally, observing the people coming in and out. When we finish eating, he takes his phone out and pulls up a pic of the helicopter. We lean over the table, and he shows it to me.

"It's dope!"

"It's pretty awesome!" He looks up and smiles at someone. I turn to see who it is. Henry is almost to the table.

"Good evening, fellow Americans! I wanted to ask how your Veal Parmesan was and if you enjoyed it?"

"Excellent, and yes," I answer first, then look to Aurei.

"Yes. It was excellent, Henry. It had a slight bite to it. You put your own touch to the sauce?"

"Yes. It's a new twist I've just added. I'm thinking of making it a signature dish."

"It was very good," I assure him.

"Thank you. Have you been enjoying the sights?"

"Yes. We went sightseeing today." I give him a brief overview of what we saw. My eyes twinkle at Aurei's. He grins. We are both thinking about the extra exploring we did.

Henry smiles. "Have you visited the Trevi Fountain yet and thrown in a coin?"

"No. Not yet." Aurei answers.

"I don't think I'm going to need to toss one to make me return to Rome. I think he has that wrapped up." I wink at Henry, and he chuckles, then nods toward Aurei.

"But you will make sure she does, won't you?"

Aurei laughs with him. "Affirmative. I'm taking no chances."

Henry offers. "I wouldn't either, Bro. May I interest you fine folks in some dessert? I make a mean Bananas Foster, and it rarely gets eaten. Help a guy out and let me promote it to the rest of my guests, will you? A Food Critic is sitting across from you."

"Sure thing." I twinkle at him, then give Aurei a sexy, seductive look. "I like bananas almost as much as sausage." I slip off my shoe and place my foot in his lap. His face is priceless.

Henry laughs, shaking his head, and returns to the kitchen. "T.M.I. Girl!"

Aurei's eyes pierce me as I start flexing my toes. "Wild Thang, are you going to seduce me with your banana eating?"

"You do know how HOT Bananas Foster is, don't you?"

"Yes. I do." His eyes stare into mine.

Oh, his gorgeous green eyes. I slide my hand across to him, and he takes it, bringing it to his lips.

My foot slides off his hard cock. He kisses and nibbles the edges of the tips of my fingers.

Joyous sparks of electric pleasure shoot to the tips of my tits, my clit, and my toes.

I tingle everywhere. I smile at him, amazed by how strong our physical connection is.

Henry reappears out of the kitchen with his protégé in tow.

We laugh and totally enjoy his flair for the dramatics as he puts on quite a show.

When he lights the dessert, the smell fills the dining area as he lifts it high, then drops it down and sets it between us.

He winks and says. "Thank you very much.

Enjoy!" He turns and begins speaking to each patron as he returns to the kitchen.

Our waitress serves us each a helping from the dish.

"Gawd, this smells delish!" I tell Aurei as I pick my spoon up to take a bite. "I should tell Bart to add this to his menu. Between the banana, the flame, and the vanilla ice cream, I'm sure he could add enough sexual connotation to call it something spectacular."

Aurei offers as he picks up his spoon. "Let's see. How about Donkey Dick Delight?"

I bust out laughing! His eyes crinkle at me as he takes a bite. "I was thinking something more in line of Burn, Baby, Burn, or Flamin' Hot Rod, but I like yours better." I open my mouth and slowly bring the spoon to it.

He grins. "I see ya working it."

I bust out laughing again. "I'm gonna work you over real good in the room."

He laughs. "No, you are not. I've got plans for you first, but I'll def take a raincheck."

"How many is that now?" I ask, giggling.

"I've lost count. I want you indebted to me for a long time, though."

I laugh. "I hear ya."

When we finish, Aurei puts his napkin on his plate and says. "Stay." He stands and comes to my chair as I wipe my mouth and place my napkin on my plate too. He takes my hand as he pulls the chair back. It's happy to be reconnected with him.

As we walk out, an older gentleman calls out to Aurei and waves at us.

"Maximus! Ah...." He leaves his table to join us.

They shake hands and exchange pleasantries, but Aurei doesn't introduce me, and I'm guessing by his lack of enthusiasm that the older man isn't important.

He walks out with us, and in the lobby, he stops before the door, but keeps talking.

Aurei is forced to stop too or appear rude by walking off.

I try to keep going, but Aurei pulls me to him, then puts his arm around me possessively.

The older man's eyebrows raise. He eyes me with new interest, but Aurei doesn't seem to notice and still doesn't introduce us.

As I stand quietly thinking about the surprise upstairs and our date tonight, I start to fidget.

Aurei's fingers pull my hair, and I stop.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Bells sound in my pocket.

Their conversation halts, and they both turn to look at me.

It's my tone for Brutus. His is the only one not associated with a song.

His insistence, not my choice. I would have chosen "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and I think of it anyway whenever he calls, which isn't very often, but always makes me smile.

His irrefutable logic was if he needed to get in touch with me, I needed to know. His calls were too important to miss.

Therefore, bells go off when it's him. I let go of Aurei's hand to pull it out and tell him. "It's Brutus." I step a few steps away, and I feel their eyes locking on me.

Ruth in psychic rehab, temp lockdown. All clear. Going back to Vegas.

Thank you, my friend.

NP. Be safe.

Text your departure.

Yes, sir! Love you!

Yep.

I grin. Brutus keeps it strictly business, but I know he loves me too.

I look up to see Franco waving to me. Glancing over my shoulder, I point to him, so Aurei knows where I'm headed and walk across the lobby.

Knowing Aurei's eyes are glued to me, I can't resist strutting my stuff.

I roll my hips knowing he will not see this black mini-skirt but see my heartbeat from my Black and Blue Baby.

When I arrive, Franco proudly sets a large jar of Skippy peanut butter on the counter.

"Ah! You found it!" I exclaim. "Thank you so much!"

"I did. You are welcome." He beams at me. "Henry told me where to purchase it, and on his recommendation, I bought myself one too. It's quite good!"

"Yes, it is!"

"We Italians eat Nutella, which is also very good. Are you familiar with it?"