Page 219 of Valentino

I watch him struggle with words.

“That’s if….” He shrugs. “If you wanted me to.”

Hope blooms.

“I mean, that’s if I don’t get arrested for crimes against humanity for wearing these hideous socks in public.” He lifts his pants and we both look down at the pink pigs dancing around his ankles.

“Well.” I smile. “I think they look fabulous.”

He narrows his eyes. “Do you though?”

“Of course.” That’s a given, how could anything look bad on this man? I run my hands through his hair to straighten it. “Go.”

“Okay.” He kisses me as he walks me backward toward the door. “Wait up for me?”

“Can’t guarantee that, take my key.” I pass him one of my cards and he smirks like the cat that got the cream. “Don’t look at me like that, Valentino,” I warn.

“And don’t tell anyone you saw me,” I tell him. “I don’t want your family to think I’m an elevator-screwing ho.”

“They’re the best kinds of hos,” he scoffs. “What are you talking about?”

I laugh out loud, I forgot how dry his sense of humor is.

Ding….

“Got to go.” With one last kiss he rushes out the door, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. I smile into the silence.

What the hell just happened?

He could be anywhere in the world and so could I for that matter. What are the chances that we would be at the same hotel on exactly the same night?

That we would get into the same elevator.

Fate….

I make my way into the bathroom and look in the mirror, my hair is wild, my face is flushed and nervous excitement screams through my bloodstream. “Don’t think too deeply into this, Anna.” I brush my hair and pull it up into a high ponytail as I try to reconcile tonight’s activities. “Long-overdue sex.”

But in the depths of my soul, it feels like a little more than that, overdue longing…that’s what it was. I smile to myself.

And the sex wasn’t bad either.

VALENTINO

I discreetly glance at my watch.

12:05am

Hurry up already, I’ve got somewhere to be.

“Thank you so much for coming,” the bride gushes.

“You look so beautiful, darling,” the old woman replies. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”

“Don’t, you’re going to make me cry.”

They begin to get all deep and meaningful. For fuck’s sake…give me a break.

Stop raving on, you old hag.