Page 160 of The Art of Ruin

“See?” Matteo says loudly. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. You’re both disgusting now. You and Nico are all loved up and gross.”

“Jealousy is unattractive,” Adriano says calmly without taking his eyes off me.

“It’s not jealousy. It’s the gratuitous PDA I’m being subjected to,” Matteo replies.

“Believe me, it’s not gratuitous. Adi does this thing with his tongue…”

Matteo clamps his hands over his ears. “No, stop.” Matteo sighs dramatically. “I’m going to need to up my therapy at this point.”

I laugh quietly as Adriano’s thumb brushes once against the bare skin at my waist beneath the hem of the shirt.

This man has somehow made touching me feel addictive.

“You’re smiling again, Adriano,” Elena says accusingly.

“I’m leaving.”

“Coward.”

“Survivor.”

Adriano’s low laugh follows me all the way toward the hallway.

By six o’clock that evening, snow is falling steadily again over Manhattan. This winter has been long and relentless, but it’s allowed life to slow down a little too.

I’m curled sideways on the couch in the annex under a blanket, trying to answer emails when there’s a knock against the frame of the open door. This little annex gets less and less use these days, but when Adi is out, I usually retreat here, still not quite sure of where I fit.

I look up.

Then immediately forget what I was typing.

Adriano stands there in a dark charcoal coat, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other holds two takeaway coffees in a tray.

“Hi,” I say slowly.

His eyes move over me once, warm enough to make my pulse stutter.

“Get your shoes on.”

I blink. “That sounds suspiciously like an order.”

“Will you please put your shoes on and come with me?”

“Are you trying to lure me away with coffee?”

Adi shakes his head in mock exasperation. “Of course not.”

“That’s exactly what kidnappers say.”

A faint smile appears.

God, I’m obsessed with making this man smile now.

It feels like sunlight aimed right at my heart.

“Woman, will you please do as I ask?”

“What are we doing?” I ask, closing my laptop.