Sexting His Son's Ex (Forbidden Silver Foxes #21)

1. Jovie

JOVIE

I really need to start listening to my instincts because when I leave anything up to my mind, I always end up making the wrong decisions—like Luca.

Luca Salvati. Italian. Very attractive. Mysterious. Funny-ish. His jokes are subpar, but I laugh at them anyway. On paper, he seems like a real catch.

In reality?

My alarms are going off and telling me to run as far and as fast as I can away from him.

I think it’s my nervous nature. Still, when I blame myself, the sirens in my head only become louder, and I can’t pinpoint why or how.

Luca treats me well. We don’t fight. He’s a gentleman.

He buys me gifts even though I don’t ask for them, and he listens to me.

But…

He’s pushy. And I don’t like that.

I’m twenty-five years old and a virgin. Do I know that’s a little abnormal?

Yes. I mean, how can someone go that long without having sex?

But it isn’t that I haven’t wanted to, I’ve just never felt one hundred percent sure or comfortable to make the final decision to cross that line. Something always stops me.

And with Luca… We’ve only been dating a few months. I’m not sure if it is serious or if he’s serious about us and because I’m not sure, I’m not just going to throw myself in someone’s bed.

In my head, sex isn’t a transaction.

Because of all that, I’m staring at Luca’s message with a flare of anxiety while chewing on my thumbnail.

Luca: I’ll pick you up from the flower shop at eight tonight. We’re going to my favorite sushi restaurant. I’m bringing you something nice to wear.

“Why does he always make all the decision for me?” I mutter to myself. I don’t mind going to sushi. I love sushi, but I wish he’d ask me what I want sometimes. It’s always all about what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants—even when it comes down to how I look.

There are plenty of nice clothes in my closet, they just aren’t up to his expectations. It’s exhausting trying to live up to his standards.

Me: Sounds great. See you then.

Luca: And don’t back out at the last minute. You’re always working. Let me do something nice for you.

Messages like that are what keep me reeled in.

Luca has never judged what I do even though he clearly makes so much more money than me.

I own Morgan’s Flower Shop, a family business that has been in business since 1977.

It’s hard work. This job is early mornings and late nights.

Between so many events like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, or any other type of gathering, I’m working nonstop.

But I’m still open for Luca getting too close to me. It’s just that he doesn’t seem interested in getting to know me past my body. Every time we are together, he touches me. However, Luca never invites me to his place. We always stay at mine and some nights; he doesn’t stay over at all.

Break up with him. He isn’t good for you.

That’s just the insecurity in the back of my head.

I get lost with time, sticking long-stemmed red roses in a beautiful hand-blown stained glass vase when the bell over the door dings.

“Hey, Jovie.” He smiles, his teeth perfect and white. Too perfect. Even his voice is smooth. There isn’t a part of him that isn’t tailored to absolute perfection.

“Hey. I’m just finishing this and I’ll stick them in the fridge to deliver tomorrow morning.” I place the last rose in the vase, then analyze the two dozen stems. “What do you think?” I grin with pride.

His expensive leather shoes click against the tile with every step he takes to the desk I’m working at. Luca’s dark hair is perfectly combed back with one loose strand that hangs to the side, framing his face. His smile turns into a frown which shows in his brown eyes somehow.

“It’s flowers, Jovie. I don’t know. They look good? For being in a vase?” He flicks one of the petals and I drag the vase away from his reach.

“What the hell, Luca? Someone paid for these. You’ve bruised the petal. Now, I need to replace the entire stem.”

He rolls his eyes, setting a beautiful matte black box on the counter.

“I’ll replace it tomorrow. I’m sorry. I didn’t know petals could bruise.

” He walks around the counter, taking my chin between his fingers.

“Forgive me?” He blinks those big brown eyes with long black lashes that I would kill for, and my knees go weak.

I wrap my arms around his neck. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” He grins, inching his lips closer to mine. “Just maybe?”

“I could be swayed.”

“Oh? Really?” A teasing smirk tilts his lips to the left. “What would you have me do?”

“I’ll take a kiss.” My hand drifts up his stomach to his chest, even though an uneasy feeling settles like a heavy weight in my heart.

His lips meet mine and like always, the way his mouth moves against mine is too good. His lips are softer than they look, gentler than what he appears to be with his dark blue suit trimmed to every muscle on his body.

“Come on,” He groans, breaking the kiss. “Put this on for me so I can show you off at the restaurant.” Luca hands me the box and I know whatever is inside is expensive. He hasn’t told me what he does for work, and I haven’t asked. But whatever it is, they must do well for themselves.

My fingers drift over the large silky black bow tied around the box. “Luca, you don’t have to buy me gifts.”

“I know, baby. I wanted to. Come on, let me take you out.”

I nibble on my bottom lip, that voice in the back of my head is stronger, louder, and persistent.

I shove it down, holding the box against my ample chest. “I’ll just be a second.”

He kisses my cheek. “Can’t wait. There are shoes for you in the car. I didn’t forget about those.”

Of course, he didn’t. When the man buys something, he buys everything to create an outfit.

I rush to the bathroom and close the door until it is cracked. I’m afraid to open this box. Peeking out through the crack, his attention is on his phone, smiling. My stomach turns, the pesky voice in the back of my head is louder.

Maybe there’s someone else. I pause, the anxiety knotting up in my stomach, but I shove it away. I’m being ridiculous. Look at how he treats me.

Tugging the bow free, I pry the box open to reveal a beautiful dark teal satin dress that takes my breath away. He even managed to get the right size.

I’m a curvy girl, everywhere. I’m not sure how he knew my size. We’ve never talked about it before, but maybe he peeked in my closet.

“Wow.” I pick up the very thin straps and lift the light material free.

The dress is long, nearly touching the floor with a high slit on the left side. That must nearly go to my hip. The neckline is cowled and the back laces like a corset. I’m stunned. I undress quickly, folding my jeans and shirt, then place them on the counter.

I slip the dress over my head, tug it down, and manage to tie it in the back.

Luckily, the bathroom I’m in is personal and not open to the public.

I touch up my makeup, placing a shimmering champagne-colored eye shadow across my lids, go a bit heavier on the mascara for a bolder look, then apply gloss.

Then, I use a gold clip to put my hair up in a twist with a few loose pieces hanging down.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Luca looks up from his phone, and his eyes look me up and down, hungrily. “You look fucking beautiful, Jovie. Wow.” He strides forward, takes my hand to spin me around. “Come on. I don’t want us to be late.”

I grab his hand as he tugs me towards the front door. “Wait!” I protest and he stops for a second so I can grab my keys to lock up.

Flipping the sign to close, I barely manage to slide the key in to close for the night. Luca’s arms wrap around me, and he kisses the side of my neck. My hackles raise, the alarm bells going off. I wish I had evidence to prove my instincts are right.

“Maybe later, I can get this dress off you.” His lips find my throat again, soft and eager.

We’ve done everything except the actual act of sex, so that’s why when I say, “Maybe,” I mean it.

With a grin, he takes my hand and drags me to the black sedan, opening the door for me. I slide into the cool leather seat, and he comes in behind me, slamming the door shut. His arm wraps around my shoulders, his fingers sliding up and down my bicep.

I’m just a goal. Another notch for him to add to his post.

The driver doesn’t need to be told where to go apparently as he pulls onto the road.

“I’m thinking dinner and then we go back to your house to give you that massage I’ve been dreaming about. I cannot stop thinking about my hands on your body.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his finger dragging across my jaw.

When I met him, his touch awakened my body, but now, I’m only on high alert.

“My shoulders have been killing me.”

“It’s all that hunching over you do, babe. It can’t be good. I’ll rub them later.” His finger slips under my chin and forces me to turn my face in his direction. “Are you okay? You seem off tonight.”

I am. I have a thousand thoughts running through my head and I don’t know which to trust. “I’m fine. I’m tired. I had to do a few massive orders today.”

“You can talk to me about anything, you know. I’ll listen.”

I give him a quick kiss. “I know.” Except he wouldn’t. He says all the right things, yet his attention is always buried in his phone.

The car comes to a stop and a few moments later, the driver opens the back door. Luca exists first. He offers me his hand to take and I do, forgetting I don’t have shoes on.

“Wait. You said there was heels?” I remind him.

“Oh, right. The box on the seat in front of you.”

I glance around the back of the car, trying not to focus on the mini bar to the right. It takes me a minute to find it. The box blends in with the leather. Snagging it, I toss the lid off and gasp when I see a gorgeous silver pair of luxury high heels.

“Jovie? Come on,” he urges with impatience.

I can’t give the attention to the shoes they deserve with him around. Slipping them on, they fit perfectly.

Taking his hand again, I step out, the heels clicking against the sidewalk. He quickly ushers me to the front of the restaurant. The doors are huge, sleek, and made of glass, with oversized iron handles.

As we enter, my brows raise. I tilt my head all the way back to look up at the high ceilings and ornate chandeliers. The entire room is dark with hues of blue illuminating the entire space.

“Mr. Salvati. It’s good to see you. Right this way, your table is ready.” The hostess greets with a smile. Her long brown hair is pulled up into a tight ponytail, and it sways back and forth as she walks ahead of us.

Conversations quiet when we enter the room, Luca commanding the presence he always does whenever we go somewhere. I’m not sure how he does this. It’s as if people are afraid of him and quiet themselves so he can have the entire space—or maybe not draw attention to themselves.

The walk to our table seems longer because of the attention. Luca places his hand on my lower back, guiding me down the ink-colored floor that looks like it’s about to swallow me whole. I glance away, keeping eyes on the polished black granite to hide my flushed cheeks.

“Here you are.” She spreads her arm out to show up the table, and two waiters pull our chairs out for us.

“Thank you,” Luca says, placing his phone on the table which lights up when his finger presses the side button. He bends down to whisper in my ear, “I have to use the restroom, babe. I’ll be right back.”

“Need me to order you anything?” I ask.

“No. They already know what to bring us. I’ll be right back.” He kisses the top of my head and walks away, stopping to shake hands with a few people nearby.

I stare at his phone, knowing I shouldn’t look, but feeling like all of my answers are right there. Glancing left and right, no one is paying me any mind in the corner booth all by myself.

“Fuck it.” I snatch his phone, opening the lock screen easily since he doesn’t have a password.

Clicking the notification, it brings me to a text message from another woman.

“We need to talk. I’m pregnant.”

I’m not shocked. The breath isn’t knocked out of me. I feel nothing but disappointment that I didn’t listen to myself earlier. It doesn’t take much to see there are endless messages between the two. But even without the surprise, rage begins to simmer in my veins.

I was nothing but a challenge to him. I knew it.

And in this moment… I want revenge.

Fuck you, Luca.

Scrolling through his contacts, I take a picture of his father’s information with my own phone, remembering his dad’s single.

And of course, Luca not only has his father’s phone number, but his email address and physical address.

Which is mine now.

Standing, I leave his device exactly where it is and abandon this restaurant.

The only thing on my mind is Mr. Salvati.

I think I’ll send him flowers. Maybe red carnations and black roses.

The old me is dead. And the new me is seeking revenge.