Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 16556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
“You really think so?” Her hand tightens in mine.
“Yes.”
“Because I have this idea.” The words come out rushed, and her face lights up in a way that makes me want to kiss her. “It would be online styling. They send me photos showing me their shape and taste and I put together a buy list. Like ten to twelve items. Everything that’s in style, custom picked to their body shape, personal style, and budget. I could get high-fashion labels for the movie stars, or fashionistas, and off-brand stuff for those people who don’t have money to waste.”
“And they’d pay you a flat fee?”
“Yes, but also I could work out a commission from the stores, you know? So I get money on both ends. And as I grew the business, I’d add stylists. Train them in my method and have people under me…” She stops speaking and adjusts the straps of her bikini top, like she’s suddenly self-conscious. “I don’t know, it’s just an idea. But it’s something I could do from anywhere, you know? Even here.”
I stop and tug her around to face me. “You’re thinking about staying here?”
She doesn’t quite meet my eyes. Probably because she knows there’s no chance in hell I’m not going to bring her home. Even if she runs again, I will track her down and follow her. The only reason I wasn’t here months ago was because Don Giuseppe had word the Tacones had bankrolled her disappearance, and she was safe.
“I’m not going home, Alex.” Her hazel eyes are wide and serious.
“There’s nothing to run from anymore. Surely you know the marriage contract is off? Nico Tacone married a girl last week. You’re free now, Jenna.”
Something flickers in Jenna’s face. Pain. The deal may be off, but the wound her father inflicted is still there. Well, I don’t blame her for being bitter.
I frown and pick up her hand again, tug her toward the ocean. “Come on, I’ll race you to the water.”
She only hesitates a half-beat before she takes off, her long legs streaking for the waves. I give her a head start, then follow, catching her when she’s ankle deep in the ocean and spinning her around.
Chapter 3
Jenna
Alex deserves a medal. He’s shown endless patience playing fashion model to me all afternoon and into the evening—trying on endless combinations of clothing, shoes, sunglasses until I’m satisfied he’s the best-dressed man on the island.
When we go to pay for it, I pull out the credit card Nico Tacone set me up with, but Alex snatches it out of my hand and folds it in half until it breaks. He tosses his own card on the counter.
I can’t say I’m surprised, but I feel like a naughty coed losing her credit card privileges. Which reminds me of Alex’s little quirk last night. I turn on my best sex kitten voice and wiggle a finger through the buttonhole on his new shirt. “Is Daddy taking away my allowance?”
He grabs my wrist, eyes going dark with lust.
The salesgirl smirks as she rings up the mountain of clothes I picked out for him.
He pulls my fingers to his mouth and bites my knuckle, then kisses it. His lips are impossibly soft for such a manly man. “I’m gonna do more than that to you, piccolina.”
I press my body up against his. “Oh, yeah?” I purr.
“Believe it,” he whispers.
A shiver runs up my spine and a slow pulse starts between my legs.
By the time we pay for the clothing and catch a cab back to the hotel, I’m horny as hell. Alex walks me straight to my suite. I’m thinking he’s just dropping me off, but he comes in.
“Don’t you want to bring those clothes back to your place?”
He shakes his head. “I’m moving in here. Somebody needs to keep an eye on you, and that somebody is me.”
I twirl a lock of hair, playing coquette. “Because I’m so bad?”
His lips twitch. “That’s right.” His voice is deeper than usual. His presence fills the suite, overpowers me.
“Are you going to spank me again?” My heart races at my daring.
He purses his lips like he’s considering, then nods slowly. “I’m going to spank your ass every night until you agree to come home with me.”
My stomach knots just a bit at the home with me part. Because I wish he meant it literally, but he doesn’t. He means home to my father. This is a duty for him. But one he happens to be enjoying at the moment. And I intend to enjoy it with him.
“You think that will change my mind?” I pivot my hips right and left like I’m swishing a skirt.
He gives a nonchalant shrug. “Eventually, I’ll bring you to heel.”
My pussy clenches at the idea of his taking me in hand.
He crooks a finger. “You’re just begging for that spanking right now, aren’t you, cara?”