Busying myself, I turn on the kettle and sigh as I watch the bubbles jump around the glass jug. It reminds me of how my stomach tumbled each time he smiled. How my body reacted every time his fingers would find my bare skin. And I slowly take all those emotions, the happiness, the excitement, and I bury it where I can no longer feel it. I can’t feel it.
A loud click alerts me that the water is boiled, and I fill my mug. Watching the steam rise from the rim, I feel tears threaten, but as always, I blink them back. Well-practiced. I pad over to the sofa and settle on it with thoughts of my one perfect night.
And my mind drifts to the man who gave it to me.
Rome Donovan.
Only, I can never have it again.
Chapter 11
Rome
Two fucking days. She sent a lawyer here to finalize the paperwork. She’s ignored my calls, messages, and when I went to her hotel, she didn’t answer the door. One perfect woman strolls into my life, and for the first time, I want more.
It was meant to be one night. Una notte. That’s what she asked for, and that’s what I promised her, and that’s what she gave me. But the secrets that danced in her eyes changed all that. I need more. I need to delve into the darkest parts of her mind and uncover what she keeps hidden.
Picking up the phone, I hit dial on her number once more. Four rings, and I’m about to give up when she finally answers.
“You need to stop, Rome.”
“I sold you a fucking building, Elisabet. I’m checking up on my property,” I hiss angrily. Feeling frustrated at her brush-off. “You can’t just ignore me.”
She sighs, and I wait for it, for her to tell me to go to hell. “It was one night, Rome. This was always meant to be a business arrangement.” She sounds so fucking sure.
“Like fuck it is!” My fist slams down on the desk with a loud thud. I’m losing all control over a woman I know nothing about. “I need to see you.” I don’t know why I’m begging her. Clearly, she doesn’t want this, but it was the way she left that left me stung. Perhaps it’s me getting a taste of my own medicine that angers me, but I can’t just let her go without an explanation.
“I can’t do this, Rome. I told you the night we had dinner.” She’s confident in her words, but I know that there was chemistry between us. One night doesn’t mean shit when she feels what I do.
“Don’t walk away from something you feel, darling,” I implore her, but the sigh on the other end of the line tells me all I need to know. No amount of pleading will change her mind. But what she doesn’t know is that Rome Donovan doesn’t give up easily.
“Goodbye, Rome,” she says, hanging up before I have time to think of a response. Anger sizzles in my veins like a volcano just waiting to erupt. She’s done something to me, made me feel emotions I long since buried, and now she’s walking away.
Karma, you’re a fucking bitch.
I chuckle at myself. I never once believed in anything other than the human touch. Seeing is believing, but right now, it feels like everything I turned my back on is kicking me right in the gut.
I can’t allow her to walk away from me without trying. I’m not a man who falls into a relationship quickly, but with Elisabet, I want nothing more than to be her knight in shining fucking armor.
Granted, I can’t ever imagine loving her, because it’s not who I am, but my god, I care for her. And her push makes my dick hard because all I want to do is pull. We shared something more than just our bodies. She has to admit that at least. And she’s not going to do it on the phone. I need to see her face-to-face.
Picking up my phone, I tap out Hailee’s number. “Hold calls, cancel meetings,” I tell my assistant. Pushing up from my chair, I grab my keys and head straight for the door. I move with purpose, stalking toward the elevator.
Once inside, I push the button for the garage. My mind is racing with possibilities as I exit on the ground level and slip into my driver’s seat.
I speed out onto the road with the asshole behind me honking, but I don’t care. The only thing I can think about is getting to her and forcing her to tell me what the fuck she’s hiding.
It doesn’t take me long to arrive at her hotel, and when I see her car parked outside the building, I smile. “No getting away from me this time, darling.” Exiting my vehicle, I rush toward the building without stopping to greet the doorman, who looks surprised at my haste.