Page 56 of Vicious Kingdom

“I want to know if you’d ever help me with some projects?” Mancini continued.

My teeth sank into my tongue as I forced back an automatic response and gave my brain the much-needed time to process the information.

Mancini nabbed another cookie. “I can put someone like you to use.”

Here I was, sitting in the kitchen of a known criminal, watching him eat cookies, while his wife filled another frozen glass with the pitcher of icy milk. Surreal? Something I couldn’t have written if I tried to compose a more ludicrous situation? Precisely.

“What can I do for you?” I finally managed to ask.

“I have some ideas, but nothing concrete. The notion just came to me as we sat here,” he mused, dunking the cookie in the frothy white liquid. “I’ll let you know when I think of it, yes?”

I gulped. “Yes.”

He nodded and made to move for the door but paused on the threshold. “For what it’s worth, Leo hasn’t dated anyone these past five years. I wouldn’t read into it; he’s not a Casanova. But it’s the truth.”

My heart fluttered. Possibilities I had no business hoping for sprouted, and the damn joyful butterflies flew about, pollinating the mess.

I’m going to win him back!It didn’t make sense why this revelation gave me more hope of success than the small gestures compiled by the object of my obsession over the past few days. The intimate relationship between brothers was a deeper insight.

To hide my reaction, I scrolled through my phone.

Only to see an official email from Baldwin Acquisitions. My heartfainted.Fingers shaking so badly that it took three tries to tap the notification, I scanned the contents. The formal tone and signature at the bottom swiped a touch of glee from my veins.

“What’s up?” Penelope’s voice made me start.

“Oh, just a survey from Leonardo’s secretary,” I lamented, the don’s words ringing in my ears. Leo was pragmatic. He’d clearly instructed the secretary to do his dirty work, seeking out my likes and dislikes instead of contacting me himself.

At least he bothered to find out in the first place.

That optimistic part of my brain was going to be the death of me.

While Penelope continued to bake an obscene number of cookies, I filled out the survey. We laughed at the questions, debated funny answers to see what the businessman with billions to his name would make of them. But in the end, I was more confused about my position with Leo than ever.

Chapter 20 – Annaliese

His mouth said one thing, but his body betrayed him, telling me a different story. Armed with that knowledge, I stopped my car in the secluded park along the banks of Lake Michigan. It was Saturday evening, date night. The sun was lingering on the western horizon, bathing the area in a beautiful, cheerful glow.

Per the terms of the event, Baldwin was required to spend the evening with me. The fact that he hadn’t refused, that he was playing along with the farce, gave me the smallest bit of hope that there was an inkling of desire flickering in his chest to spend time with me.

I would capitalize on that.

As I exited my vehicle, I caught sight of him down on the sand.Don’t get cocky.

Damn, he looked good. What would it be like to fly across the distance and leap into his waiting arms? Memories of the past tickled my senses, and if I closed my eyes, I could feel those strong arms wrapped around me yet again.

But the timing wasn’t right.

We needed to heal, to build trust.

I had to make him believe what I already knew. Show him we were destined for one another. That we wouldn’t be happy until we were together.

I have to fix what I broke.

That was what this elaborate scheme was. A simple solution to a complicated problem that was left too long to fester.

Wandering to the sandy beach, hiding my limp with careful steps, I slipped off my shoes, keenly aware of the force of nature watching me at the edge of the picnic blanket.

My skin prickled with heat from his gaze.