My instinct told me the something else wasn’t a subject she’d like to hear.
“You’re not going anywhere until I make certain you don’t need a doctor.”
Sighing, she remained embarrassed, her nervous tendency continuing. While she had no fear of me, there was an increased trepidation from when she’d been chiding me in front of the bakery counter.
She kept her hold for a few seconds, finally peeling her fingers away. “Thank you again. My suitcase! My laptop’s inside. Oh, God.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it.” I shifted out the front door, yanking her case and purse into my hand, studying the area once again. Whatever Casimine was planning, he felt the need to keep tabs on some if not all of my family. This wasn’t a single incident, but the attack on the woman differed from their usual method of operation.
Which could also mean she was important to them for an entirely different reason than her stunning good looks.
Sighing, I returned to the restaurant, locking the door behind me and placing her items on the floor. At this point, I didn’t need any additional complications. After a quick glance in her direction, I headed into the kitchen. I could sense her eyes remained on me, watching my every move. The magnetic pull I felt was unusual, and when she smiled, it was like a ray of sunshine pulling me in. However, the beast inside of me longed to feel her plump lips wrapped around my cock.
“You’re one bad man,” I muttered to myself, grabbing a clean towel and a bottle of water, locating the first aid kit.
While she was beautiful, she wasn’t the kind of woman who cared about dressing to impress. Her simple black skirt and heels along with her cobalt blue silk blouse were professional without being sexy. Perhaps she’d flown to New York on business. As I returned to the dining room, just the sight of her brought another round of filthy images dancing in the back of my mind.
She was a temptation I couldn’t afford. I should simply tend to her wounds and call her a cab; ensure she was safe then walk away.
But I was a Vincheti, firstborn of a powerful mafia family and I rarely if ever did anything as prosaic as following the rules I’d established for myself as well as those in my employ. I was used to having everything I wanted without question.
“Drink some water,” I instructed and crouched to my knees, opening the first aid kit. She did as I asked, her eyes never leaving me as I cleaned her pavement burns, inspecting to make certain she didn’t have any glass or other foreign objects imbedded in her skin. Then she noticed the gun I’d carelessly returned to my jacket, her breath hitching.
“A necessary tool in my world.”
“Your world. It sounds like a brutal, terrifying place to be.”
“Then you would be right.”
Suddenly, she was nervous, as if realizing what she’d just witnessed. “Your restaurant must be very popular.”
“A waiting list every night.” What the fuck was I supposed to do with her?
“Do you always come to the rescue of damsels in distress?” she asked, although the question was more of a whisper.
“I usually don’t need to.”
“Hmmm… Mr. Asshole acted as if he knew you.” Now her voice was stronger, more like the way she’d been minutes before.
I gave her a slight glance then closed the box. “I’m well known in the area. Valentin Vincheti.”
She blinked several times then offered a slight smile. Her expression wasn’t exactly about recognizing my name, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was suspicious of who I was. “Cassidy Rochester.” She held out her hand, her jaw clenching as she waited for me to accept the handshake. The lovely woman was lying to me.
While I accepted the gesture, my filthy thoughts continued. “Cassidy Rochester. The name suits you.” Just as she was planning a retort of some kind, her stomach growled loudly enough we both heard. Completely embarrassed, she pressed the back of her hand across her mouth, unable to keep from laughing.
But I could tell she’d become uncertain of my intentions. Hell, I didn’t know what they were.
But I did note that my desire for her continued to increase, making it impossible to let her go until I was finished with her. Yeah, I was one bad man. As I stood, I took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds. “Have you eaten recently, Cassidy?”
“I hate to admit it but no. I had work to do before I grabbed a flight. The bag of goldfish didn’t satiate my hunger.”
The same thought of driving my shaft deep into her throat occurred, my balls aching from the intensity of the longing roaring through me.
“From?” I asked, putting the box on one of the tables.
“Chicago.”
“Chi town. One of my favorite cities. Business or pleasure?”