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Corrado frowns. “Maybe, but you’ll tell me anyway.”
“Botanical design. Interior, mainly, but I’d love to do lavish gardens and holiday décor someday.”
He pauses for a beat. “As soon as I get upstairs, I’ll google botanical design.”
I’m the one who laughs. “I think blowing up places puts you in the mood for jokes.”
Corrado narrows his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I sober and clear my throat. “Sorry. Bad joke. I don’t know what I’m talking about either.”
An awkward silence descends, and I shuffle my feet. “Well, I’ll be going, then.” I start walking, hoping he’ll ask his driver to take me home. I cross my fingers and look toward the sky, where I wonder if anyone is listening.
“Michela,” Corrado calls after me, and I turn because the Force is listening. Thank you!
Corrado tosses me the car key. I scramble to catch it as he walks away. “Pick me up at seven.”
“Corrado, wait. I can’t drive this car in my neighborhood.”
Corrado is almost inside the building, so I rush after him.
“Corrado, wait.”
He turns around, and when I run into him, he traps me, strong hands locking around my body. I can’t move. I can’t even wiggle away as he holds me so I’m looking up at him while his jaw works, his gaze on my mouth.
“Drive the car, Michela,” he says, an edge to his voice.
His hard body softens mine even more. I can feel his erection and can barely remember my name. “If…” I swallow, my mouth suddenly parched. “If I take this car to my neighborhood, it’ll get stolen. Or vandalized.”
“That’s too bad,” Corrado says.
I nod.
“Then you have to stay with me at the apartment.”
“I can’t today.”
Corrado stares again. While he says he does this because looking at me pleases him, I think he uses the time to make decisions. He’s fast about it, and firm. That’s attractive. I take eighty-four years to make a decision, only to change my mind the next day. My thinking process is vicious.
“Then leave the car here,” he says. “Hank will drive you home today, but Michela…” He dips his head low. Lower yet. I inhale his cologne. Spice and sandalwood.
He will kiss me.
I close my eyes and feel my body turn into goo. When he doesn’t kiss me, I blink up at him.
He’s still there, just watching, and now I feel stupid. Blushing, I swallow.
He has the audacity to smirk. “I’ll pick you up at seven.” He releases me and leaves.
“What should I wear? Where are we going?”
He disappears into the stairwell, but I’m pretty sure he said to wear nothing.
14
THE LITTLE GOLDEN BOX
CORRADO
