Page 15 of Vows of a Mobster

I was so wrong.

I stopped and got myself a cappuccino on the way to work. I told Marcus I’d be in the office at eight so I could leave by three. I had to swing by the doctor’s office and pick up prescriptions so Emma could start her medication. One week!

In exactly one week, treatments would start. I had been researching Kyle’s family but kept running into dead ends. I didn’t want to alarm Marissa or Daphne so I kept it to myself. I specifically remember Kyle mentioning his family was in this area. If I could find them, I wanted to do a background check on them, and before I’d approach them, I wanted to study them. I wouldn’t go in blind… never again.

I was rushing through the lobby and took the side hallway, hoping to take the stairs. I was almost running when I slammed into a hard body.

“Shit,” I muttered, watching the coffee spill all over a strong man’s chest and his expensive suit. “I am so sorry.” I stumbled back from the broad chest.

I needed to get better at paying attention and being aware of my surroundings. Now, I was sure to be late as I stared at the coffee stain I caused. I placed my palm against his chest, trying to wipe it off.

Whoa, muscular chest.

Neither my thoughts nor my actions were helping at all. The only thing I accomplished was to make the coffee stain worse and now my hands were a mess too.

“Hold on; I might have something.” I went shuffling into my purse, overpacked with everything and anything.

“It’s ok,” his deep voice sounded nice, but I ignored it. I was on the mission.

“Voilà,” I exclaimed victoriously. “This should help.”

I quickly opened the wipes and took a few out. I dabbed them onto the stain off his vest and, in the back of my mind, noted again how hard his abs were. They felt quite nice and made me want to see how they looked under that vest and crispy white shirt underneath it. I bet he had ripped abs.

Weird, men’s abs never fascinated me before.Well, except in my books.

“Baby wipes?” he asked in an incredulous voice. He had a pleasant voice, deep and soothing. I liked it a lot.

“Yes, you’d be amazed how useful baby wipes are,” I said smilingly and raised my eyes to meet the unfortunate soul.

I took a sharp inhale as heat climbed my neck. The most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on stood in front of me. He was broad and tall, wearing a dark blue three-piece suit. The sight of his muscles through his suit told me he was strong. The hard planes of his face exuded power, the kind of man used to getting his way. His tanned olive skin reminded me of sunbathing in Italy, the warmth on my skin a welcome sensation. His dark hair shimmered with silvery greys and his chiseled jaw was covered in the subtle shadow of a beard, the sexiest five o’clock shadow.

I frowned.But it’s only morning. Right?My brain seemed to slow down, drowning in his gaze.

His eyes were green, but weary. Was he tired too? His brilliant gaze was pulling me in, mesmerizing me. I had the strangest desire to let myself go and ask him to… I didn’t know what. Something that only he could give me. My body hummed in the strangest way and I liked it.

Towering over me, he observed me curiously and the strangest thought lurked in my head. This man saw everything.

My hands continued dabbing his chest in repetitive movements against the coffee stain on his suit while I watched him fascinated. My body gave way to sparks that burned like embers, this chemistry an unfamiliar feeling. And I loved the sensation.

God, he was beautiful, I had no other word for him. So much better than any book boyfriend. He took my breath away.

His lips quirked into a half smile and my heart sped up.Did he see my attraction?

What the hell,I thought to myself.Was I drooling?

There were many years between us. How old was he? If I had to guess, probably in his forties, although he could pass as thirty something. I was never into older men. But shit, my body heated under his gaze and I felt the need to start fanning myself. That would probably be awkward right now.

I lowered my eyes back to his chest where my coffee spilled and noted I dabbed him so much, his vest was wet as well as his crisp white shirt and I could see a hint of his bronze skin.

“Crap,” I apologized immediately and stopped wiping his vest with wet baby wipes. “I guess my wiping went too far.” I gave him a sheepish smile. “But at least the coffee stain is gone.”

He followed my eyes to his chest. “It sure is. Thank you.”

“Please, it’s the least I can do,” I told him, feeling frazzled. It was odd; I had never felt this kind of impact around any man before. “I have a fan in my purse if you want me to dry you off.”

The moment words left me, I could have let the earth swallow me. That sounded so weird.

“You must have some interesting stuff in your purse,” he chuckled.