Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Luca
I smiled all the way out of the building because she agreed to meet me tonight. Dinner was just the beginning. In a matter of time, I’d have her rolling around in my bed while I fucked her every way possible. She desired it. I could tell by the way she looked at me. But she was cautious, and I wanted to know why. I still knew nothing about her except that she was beautiful and from Boston. Her eyes told me she was hiding something or running from something. It was a feeling, and my feelings were never wrong. No job lined up. No permanent place to live. Impulse move. All the facts pointed to her running from something or someone in Boston.
After court, I headed home to change clothes and then climbed into the Bentley to pick up Ariana. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I was mesmerized. And when she spoke, I felt a connection. It was as if everything around me stood still. Time stopped, and the only person I saw was her. I took the elevator up to her apartment and knocked on the door. When she opened it, I silently gasped at her low-cut, above-the-knee, form-fitting black dress.
“You look lovely.” I smiled.
“Thanks. Come on in. I just have to grab my shoes.”
I stood in the living room and looked around. Olivia had worked for me for three years, and I’d never been to her place before. There was no need to. But now, I had a reason—a beautiful reason.
“I’m ready.” She smiled as she emerged from the bedroom.
“I hope you like Italian,” I spoke as I opened the door, and we both walked out.
“I do. It happens to be one of my favorites.”
“Good. I’ve made reservations at La Masseria over on West 48th Street.”
Jeffery stood beside the Bentley with the door open, and Ariana climbed in.
“Fancy car, Mr. Russo.”
“Thank you. It’s one of many I own. I’ll have to show you my others next time.”
We arrived at the restaurant and immediately sat at a table in the corner for two.
“Good evening, Mr. Russo,” the dark-haired woman spoke as she walked over.
“Good evening, Hilary. We’ll have a bottle of champagne. Champagne is okay with you, right?” My eyes met Ariana’s.
“Champagne is fine,” she replied, placing her napkin in her lap.
After our champagne was served, we placed our dinner order, and Ariana and I reached for the breadbasket at the same time, our fingers lightly brushing against each other. Just enough to send my cock into a spastic fit.
“How was your first day at my firm?” I asked.
“It was good. I enjoyed it.”
“It wasn’t too complicated for you, was it?”
“Not at all. I even handled the phones with ease.” She smiled.
“Good.” I chuckled. “What did your family think about you making an impulsive move here?”
“I don’t have any family. I’m an only child, and my parents died a year ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. I just needed a change of scenery. I lived in Boston my whole life, and after my parents died, I wanted to start somewhere fresh.”
“What did you do back in Boston?” I asked.
My phone rang, and when I pulled it from my pocket, it was Brad calling.
“I need to get this. Brad, what’s up?”
“You’re needed down at the police station. It’s Joey Johnson.”
“I’m having dinner right now. Can’t you handle it?”
“He specifically asked for you.”
I sighed. “I’m on my way.”
I looked at Ariana as a confused look swept over her face.
“We have to go. Someone I know was arrested, and he’s asking me to represent him. Mind taking a little trip down to the police station? Since you are my secretary, you can take some notes for me.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
I held my finger up to Hilary, and she walked over. Pulling out my credit card, I handed it to her.
“I’m sorry, but we have to leave. Work calls.”
“I’ll be right back with this.” She smiled.
We entered the police station and were taken back into a room where Joey sat.
“Mr. Russo.” Detective George glared at me.
“Detective. I hope you weren’t harassing my client. What are you charging him with?”
“Rape,” he spoke. “Your client was brought in as a suspect fitting the description of the man who raped a woman in Central Park a couple of nights ago.”
“It wasn’t me!” Joey exclaimed.
“Don’t say another word, Joey. Do you have DNA proof, detective?”
“Not yet, but he was found lurking around the same area where the incident occurred. He fits the description to the T, and it seemed as if he was looking for something. We’re placing him under arrest for the rape of Carla King. The bond will be set in the morning.”
“I need a moment with my client.”
After talking with Joey and having Ariana take notes on everything he said, we left the police station and climbed into the Bentley.
“Do you believe he’s innocent?” she asked.
“This again?” I arched my brow. “I’m sorry about dinner.”
“It’s okay. This was more fun.” She smiled.
“You’re really getting a taste for the law. I can see the excitement in your eyes.”
“Maybe.”
Jeffery pulled alongside the curb to her apartment building, and I held out my hand and helped her from the car.
“Again, I’m sorry about dinner. We’ll reschedule. Okay?”
“Sure.” A small smile crossed her lips.
“Have a good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Luca.”
Placing my hands in my pocket, I returned to the car and climbed inside. What I wouldn’t have given to kiss those beautifully plump lips of hers. I didn’t want to cross the line, not yet anyway. My plan to find out more about her tonight was interrupted, and I wasn’t happy. Once I knew, it would be easier to get her into bed. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was more to her than she let on.
Ariana was already sitting at her desk the next morning when I arrived at the office. After looking at my watch, I glanced at her.
“Good morning. You’re ten minutes early.” I smiled.
“Good morning. It’s better to be ten minutes early than five minutes late.” She grinned.
“I agree. Lisa was always late, so I’m not used to seeing anyone sitting here for at least another twenty minutes. Can you grab me a cup of coffee?”
“Sure. Cream and sugar?” She got up from her chair.
“Just black, and make sure it’s a fresh pot.”
Walking into my office, I set my briefcase down and took a seat behind my desk. A few moments later, Ariana stepped in and set my coffee down in front of me.
“Thank you.” I picked it up and took a sip.
“You’re welcome.”
I grabbed a pile of files from my desk and handed them to her.
“I need you to go through these and get court dates set up. If you need any help, ask Olivia. I’m leaving for Joey’s bail hearing in about an hour.”
“Okay.” She smiled. “Is that all?”
I wanted to tell her no, that wasn’t all because I wanted her in my lap, feeling her sweet, beautiful ass resting comfortably on me. I wanted her lips on mine and my hand up her skirt.
“What are your plans for tonight?” I asked.
“I’m going apartment hunting after work,” she replied.
“So, no dinner?”
“Sorry, but I have to find a place. I hate imposing on Olivia and Harry.”
“How is seeing Harry working out for you?” I asked as I leaned back in my chair.
“What do you mean?”
“Olivia told me what happened. Actually, she didn’t voluntarily tell me. I sort of dragged it out of her, so you can’t be mad. It must be hard seeing the two of them together.”
I needed to get her thoughts on the situation to see if she was still hung up on Harry. Maybe that was her plan and why she’d moved to New York. Perhaps she wanted him back.
“Oh. It’s working out fine. I put what happened four years ago in the past, and we’re moving forward.”
“So, you have no interest in him?”
She narrowed her eyes as she stood there clutching the file folders.
“Absolutely not. The two of them were meant to be together. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have lasted this long. They’re happy, and I’m happy for them.”
I got my answer.
“That’s good. Okay, get working on those court dates.”
She turned around and began to walk out of my office, then stopped and looked at me.
“Why would you ask me that?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I was just curious.”
“And why were you curious?”
“I just wondered if it was awkward. That’s all.”
“There’s more to your story, Mr. Russo. You wouldn’t have asked unless you were trying to find out something. Perhaps you were trying to find out for yourself.”
“Why would I do that?” I asked with a furrowed brow.
“Because you’re interested in me, and you wanted to make sure that I wasn’t here to get my ex-boyfriend back because that would pose a problem for you.”
“What kind of problem would it pose?”
“If I were interested in someone else, you wouldn’t stand a chance.” Her brow arched, making her even sexier than she already was.
“I would always stand a chance, Miss Williams. Women can’t resist my charm. In fact, they have trouble keeping their panties up in my presence.”
My cock was on the rise.
“I don’t succumb to charm, and I can guarantee you that my panties will stay intact in your presence.” She turned and walked out of my office.
I sat there with a smile on my face as I looked down at my hard and throbbing cock.
“Don’t worry, big guy. You’ll have a taste of her. I promise.”
Joey got out on bail, and now it was time to put his case together. When I arrived back at my office, I called my investigator, Sheila, into my office and handed her Joey’s file.
“I want the victim interviewed and you to go to Central Park and look around. Joey said he was there that night because he was running in the area that day, and when he got home, he noticed his wallet was missing. See what you can find.”
“I’ll go now. Anything else?”
“No. Just see what you can find to discredit her.”
After Sheila left, I started looking through some paperwork that was sitting on my desk. One thing that grabbed my attention was Ariana’s final paperwork for me to sign. What the fuck? I turned to my computer and searched for her name in the database.
“Ariana!” I shouted from my desk. “Get in my office now!”