Scott popped up from the floor, his hands full of notebooks. “What’d we say about name-calling, Red?”
“What’d I say about calling me Red, airhead?” I nudged Scott’s shoulder,causing him to drop a couple of notebooks.
Blowing a loose lock of hair from his forehead, he bent over to pick up his notes. Scott was tall and lean, bordering on lanky, but he had one phenomenal ass. I figured it was from his bike-only lifestyle.
“I’ve never met someone who both loves their red hair but also wants no mention made of it.” He peeked up at me while wiggling his ass in the air. “And stop staring at my ass before I get the wrong idea.”
He brushed past me with a wink and headed over to his desk.
Shaking my head, I gathered up my folders and notes. When I looked up, Scott’s eyes rested on my chest. “Ahem. Weren’t you just saying something about staring?”
Scott’s tan cheeks blushed as he boldly looked me in the eye. It was moments like this that reminded me he was only twenty-four. “Sorry,Red.”
I righted my body and gave him a soft smile. “Remember, Nicki’s calling tomorrow.”
Flopping down onto one of the chairs he was working on, Scott let out the groan of the century. He was not Nicki’s biggest fan.
“Sorry, man. Luca’s in Chicago again, which means she’s in charge of wrangling the final signatures from Axel. I’m sure by now she knows you aren’t my intern.”
A deep frown etched into his youthful face. “How can someone so beautiful be so . . . so—I don’t even have the words.” His eyes met mine, the plea for compassion there before he uttered a single word. “Can’t you talk to her? I mean, it’s your fault we have to deal with her.”
I arched an eyebrow in his direction.
“Fine! I’ll talk to the plankton, but if she makes one snide comment about my age or professionalism, I’ll find out where she lives and graffiti all over her car.”
Grabbing my purse, I nodded.“Veryprofessional of you,Scott. I’m out of here. See you next week when you get those proofs done.”
“Drive safe Red.”
* * *
A black sedan sat outside our duplex when I got home. Pete rolled down the driver’s window and gave me a small wave.
“Hey, Pete.”
“Ms. Sasha.” It was a compromise, I guess. At least I was no longer “Ms. Mitchell.”
“You know you don’t have to wait for me to get home, right?”
Pete shook his head. “And you know when Mr. Moretti is out of town, I have strict orders to make sure you make it in every night.”
Leaning my hand against the body of the car, I lowered my face down to Pete’s. “With Luca’s new project in Chicago, this sentinel act is getting a little ridiculous. He’s already been gone twice this month. I know Maria can’t appreciate you being out this late at night.”
The twinkle in Pete’s eye at the mention of his wife made me smile. “Maria understands my loyalty, Ms. Sasha.” A slight smile pulled at his lips. “If you want to help me out, come home earlier.”
Backing away from the car, I gave Pete a salute. “10-4, buddy. No more late nights at the office.”
Once I opened the door, I threw a wave to Pete and hurried inside. It might’ve been April, but the nights were still a bit chilly.
Ryan sat perched on his cat tree right inside the living room, fast asleep. “Thanks for waiting up for me, Bub.”Coming home to an empty house was hard, and I found myself talking to Ryan more and more. I wasn’t sure if Ryan appreciated it.
Getting ready for bed, I checked my phone for Luca's usual ‘goodnight’ text.
Nothing. He hadn’t texted me all day. I scrubbed my front teeth with renewed vigor as I stared at the crease between my eyebrows.
The day before, Luca hadn’t reached out to me until I texted him. The more I thought about it, the more agitated I got. Since he went on that first trip to Chicago a few weeks ago with his dad and Marco, I’d been doing a lot of the work in our relationship. Hell, I’d even been relegated to initiating sex.
Anger and dissatisfaction twisted my gut. I was frustrated sexually and emotionally. It didn’t help that my stomach hurt from eating too much gyro.