Page 16 of Vows of a Mobster

I laughed uncomfortably. “I’m not sure I’d call it interesting,” I joked. “Maybe practical. Actually, scratch that. More like junk. From Barbie shoes to Tide sticks and Vaseline.” He raised his eyebrow. “Don’t ask about the Vaseline. Long story.”

His deep chuckle had me smiling. “Okay, I won’t ask about the Vaseline.”

Glancing at my watch, I realized the time. “Shit, I have to go,” I muttered. “I’m super late. Sorry about spilling coffee on you.”

“No worries. You remedied it,” he replied.

“Really, I should offer to buy you a new shirt,” I told him, glancing at the wet spot. His shirt looked expensive. His suit looked very expensive. Actually, everything about this man looked expensive. From his tie to his watch and right down to his shoes. “On the other hand, maybe you should buy the shirt. I’ll just buy you a coffee that you won’t be forced to wear.”

My gaze traveled back up his body. I had never seen a man with such an attractive, strong body. I almost regretted tearing my eyes away from it. Or maybe it was the fact I hadn’t been with a man in over five years. Was this the result of going without sex for so long? And that last time, it wasn’t even worth mentioning.

“Yes, better stick to coffee,” I uttered low, and my eyes met his. I really liked his eyes, stunning and hooded like he was imagining you naked and doing naughty things to you. God, he was the hottest man I had ever seen, read, or written about. I missed my stories, because right now I wanted to run home and start one about this gorgeous man in front of me.

A deep sigh left me. I missed writing. I missed dancing every day too. Since the performance night a few weeks ago, I missed ballet even more. Teaching ballet was rewarding but it wasn’t the same.

Instead, now I was running into people with my coffee and trying to do this responsible thing. But it would be all worth it, when Emma was cancer free forever. We’d get on the plane and go somewhere warm.

“Anyhow,” I muttered, pushing my hand through my hair, probably making it a mess. “No sense dwelling on that now.”

“Dwelling on what?” he asked, interest in his tone and those stunning eyes.

Crap! Maybe Daphne and Marissa were right. I spent too much time alone. Now I answered my own conversations.

I shook my head. “Nothing. I have to go. Sorry again.” I gave him a smile and rushed back out of the building. I would need another cup of coffee if I was to survive another day.

Seven

Mateo

Iwatched her walk away from me with interest. I hadn’t seen her before. I made a point of knowing everyone that worked at my company. I was sure she didn’t work here. Who was she?

She was very beautiful, although not the type I usually went for. Her petite frame gave her an air of vulnerability. She wore a simple light blue dress combined with a white cardigan, nothing extravagant or aimed to reveal anything. Maybe it was exactly that which made her look sexy. She wore small heels and I got the impression she didn’t like to wear them. The whole time we talked, she shifted lifting her foot, as if trying to give her feet relief. It was kind of cute, although I had to laugh at that notion. I certainly didn’t go for cute.

Intriguing, she was intriguing. She looked more like an elementary school teacher than a business associate.

Her dark brown hair fell down her back in soft curls and framed her heart shaped face perfectly. It was a rich warm brown with mahogany sun-kissed highlights. I wanted to wrap my fingers through her curls to see if they were as soft as they looked. And those warm whiskey brown eyes. You could drown in them.

I was sure she didn’t know who I was. There was no recognition in her eyes when she looked at me although there was something else. I was usually good at reading women. But I couldn’t quite read her. There was surprise in her eyes but it almost seemed directed at herself. Whatever thoughts she had, they made her blush very attractively.

How would she feel underneath me, I wondered.

I shook my head. I was too old for her. She barely appeared to be in her early twenties. She looked very young, but I struggled to pinpoint her age. It was her eyes that threw me off. They were the eyes of an old soul and spoke of wisdom, hurt, and growing up too quickly. I wanted to know what caused those shadows in her eyes.

I sighed. Even I had my limits. At forty-nine, she was certainly too young for me. I didn’t need drama surrounding young infatuations. But there was something about her that kept my gaze on her as she took each step away from me, till she disappeared from sight. She never glanced backwards, although I hoped she would.

I debated whether she was a clingy lover, demanding or passionate. Was she one of those women that wanted all and gave all?

It didn’t matter,I mused. She must be half my age, at least.

No sense entertaining thoughts of this woman. She wasn’t mistress material. Dismissing her, and the notion of her small body underneath me, I walked away. I had no time for the complications of women right now.

I had a meeting to attend, which I was late for. No matter though, they wouldn’t start without me.

* * *

“You ready, boss?” Antonio, my right-hand man, had me raising my eyes from my laptop. “You did say three o’clock sharp, Mateo.”

“I certainly did,” I confirmed.