Chapter 12 Holt
TWELVE
HOLT
I’m almost certain Selene hasn’t taken a breath until we’ve landed back on solid ground. She hasn’t pulled her hand from on top of mine. I wish I could say I kept my focus on the view the entire ride over to our destination, but I didn’t. I couldn’t look away from her.
She’s too beautiful. Like staring directly at the rays of sunshine peeking between the tree branches and skyscrapers surrounding us.
Hidden in plain sight, full of sass and fire, she’s show, glimpses to another side of her I’ve rarely seen, if only during the past two days. It’s a side I want to see more often.
She kept her maroon-painted bottom lip permanently tucked under her teeth and her hand clutched over mine.
My fingers ached to graze her skin, to pop every single one of those buttons on her tiny vest open and reveal what was hidden underneath.
Her leg was pressed to mine, and my dick twitched at the thought of having her sitting on my lap.
It also leapt, along with my heart, at the idea of me being the one to keep her steady and calm when she was obviously spiraling into an anxiety attack.
Once we land, I take Selene’s shaking hand and escort her toward the waiting, open elevator doors at the opposite end of the landing pad.
She doesn’t ask where we are or where I’m taking her. I’m glad she’s finally taken the advice I gave her back at the car to trust me.
She clutches onto me and glances around at the surrounding buildings in silence. But once we’ve stepped into the elevator to take us straight to ground level, I can’t take her silence a second longer.
“Are you not going to ask where we’re going?”
Her hand falls away from mine as she leans against the wall of the elevator and closes her eyes.
“I’m still trying to catch my breath.” She lifts her hand and presses it to her bare chest. I watch as the swell of her breasts rise and fall with her hand, like watching the tide rolling in gently across the sand.
“Besides…” She licks her lips and pushes off the wall. “You told me to trust you. Are you taking that back?” She tucks her long, blonde hair behind her ear and clasps her hands in front of her. Her breasts push together, and I want to sink between them so fucking badly.
There’s the glimpse of her fiery side again. I fucking love it.
“No.” I rub at my chin. “But for all you know, I could be taking you to some nondescript basement to kidnap you and chain you to a bed.”
“Oh.” She grins, all her anxiety gone. “I don’t think you’d do that. Too risky.”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I like to live on the edge. Clearly, you think so. Don’t tell me that wasn’t a scenario that played out in that wild mind of yours.”
“Kidnapping me or chaining me to a bed?”
Her question practically knocks me off my feet. Fuck, this woman is incredible when she’s out of her shell.
“I’m not down with the kidnapping, but I can’t say I would say the same about chaining you to a bed.”
It appears I’ve knocked her off her feet, too. Her mouth snaps shut, and her eyes drop. Heat blooms in her cheeks, spreading down to her chest.
“Fine, I’ll ask then. Where are we?”
“The West Village,” I tell her, just as the elevator stops. “Casa di Luce.”
“Really?” She pops an eyebrow before she tips her head back in laughter.
“While the helicopter ride felt like forever, when I think back on it, it was pretty short.” Her laughter fades and her smile goes with it as her green eyes shoot white hot heat into my veins.
“Why did you choose this place? Other than it probably has a million eyes that will keep this rumor mill well oiled.”
Her words remind me how much she doesn’t know about me, only what she thinks she knows. “This place has special meaning.”
The doors open directly to the restaurant. Decorated in gold and black tones, it’s wrapped up in a million memories. And now, watching Selene walk in front of me, with her head tipped up in awe, I have a new one to store away.
Her mouth twitches, and I see the thoughts clearly working in her mind. She’s retreating again but not completely. Not like usual. She simply allows me to take her hand and escort her to the front desk.
I tell the host I have a reservation, and she escorts us to the back of the restaurant. I hold Selene’s chair out for her. She glances over her shoulder at me before scooting forward. Something tells me she isn’t used to this.
I know this date is meant to be for show, to continue the rumors I started the other night at the auction. The media is an ugly, starved beast, constantly searching for its next story. If I don’t keep the story of Selene and me alive, the lawsuit with Rome will come back to rear its head.
But I won’t lie, I have other motives with this date. Once I barged in to Selene’s yoga class yesterday, I haven’t wanted to stay away.
No. Scratch that.
I haven’t wanted to stay away ever since I kissed her up on that fucking stage.
I’ve thought of her every fucking minute and second since.
I’ve showered thinking of her. I’ve sprinted on my treadmill thinking of her.
I’ve sat in my office, staring out at the city thinking of her.
Hell, I’ve even tried to jerk myself off to the thought of her so many fucking times.
But all I’m ever left with is this hollow sensation and an absence on my cock, wishing it were Selene instead.
Apparently, I’m weak when it comes to her.
She’s consumed me without even trying.
So, at this point, I will do whatever I can to keep her closer than I’ve managed in the past several years. Instead of distance, I only want her near.
Standing over her as she pulls herself closer to the table, I look down.
Her blonde hair cascades down her back and shoulders.
As if it has a mind of its own, my hand reaches out and brushes her hair.
She stiffens and inhales a breath as I tuck my fingers under her golden strands.
I pull her hair back, revealing her bare shoulder.
Tiny goosebumps spread across her skin as my fingers graze her delicate flesh.
I glance around as eyes wander in our direction. Even if they weren’t watching, I’d keep going.
Bending forward, I bring my mouth close to Selene’s ear. She smells like vanilla and sunshine.
I don’t miss how she leans her head slightly into me.
“Hungry, Wallflower?” I whisper, my breath causing her goosebumps to rise again.
I can practically feel her body humming.
“St…” she starts, pausing to swallow. “Starving.”
I smirk, then stand, moving around the table to sit across from her.
The table is set with two appetizer plates and cloth napkins folded perfectly in the shape of a heart. Between our plates sits a small votive candle, burning delicately inside a smoked glass jar.
I stare at her from where I’m sitting, taking note of how different she looks.
Her outfit is drastically unlike than the ones I’ve seen her wear to other events and functions.
This one isn’t obvious or loud. It compliments her, and somehow it feels like I’m looking at her for the very first time when really, I’ve been watching her for years.
She’s a vision of creamy golden tones and sunshine, like watching the sun waking up over the Hudson, just when it’s barely peeking over the horizon.
Catching me staring, she levels her gaze on me and arches a brow.
“Have you ever been here before?” I ask, unable to hold back my smile.
Our server walks over, pouring iced water into each of our glasses. I point to the most expensive wine on the list and wait for Selene to answer my question.
She gifts our server a soft, warm smile, then nervously glances around. Straightening her back, she clears her throat and fusses with the silverware laid out beside her plate.
“No, I haven’t.”
“What?” I chuckle, relaxing back into my chair. “You’re telling me Adam never brought you here? Or places like this?” I rest my elbow on the arm of my chair, mostly to keep my hands busy and distracted. All they want to do is touch the woman across the table.
I must have struck a nerve because Selene’s expression has changed. Instead of an air of lightness surrounding her, she almost looks uncomfortable now.
“I’m sorry.” I never apologize. Not to anyone other than Selene, apparently. “I didn’t mean to bring him up.” Guilt sits in my bones. A feeling I’m not accustomed to.
“But you did.”
“I did.”
She shifts her gaze, turning her face so I’m staring at her profile. Her lips are pressed tightly together. Then she surprises me when she says, “Adam was a liar.”
I adjust in my seat as she turns her face back to mine.
Her eyes have softened, and I recognize the look almost immediately.
She isn’t heartbroken. It’s regret in her expression.
I barely knew Adam, and from what I do know their relationship didn’t last long.
I tried to stay out of their relationship, but if I’m honest, I probably know more about Adam than Selene thinks I do.
“He was one of those men that would bring cookies to a dinner party, telling you he spent all day baking them from scratch when all he really did was tear open the package and pour them out onto the plate.”
I hum and lean forward, intrigued, because Adam sounds like a fucking prick. I cross my arms over the edge of the table, hoping I’ll be able to smell her scent again. There’s too much distance between us for my liking.
Selene mimics me, leaning closer and resting her arms on the table. The tiny candle illuminates her face, and her cheeks and eyes sparkle with tiny flecks of gold from her makeup.
“I recognize that look, Holt Capuleti.”
“What look?” I shift to rest my chin on my fingertips.
“The look of judgment.”
“I’m not judging. I’m just wondering why you were with him at all when it was clear from the start you hated the idea of spending even another minute with him. I mean, that feeling is what led us here, isn’t it?”
She sits back, placing her hands in her lap under the table. “I have a question.” Her eyes dance around the room. “Why this restaurant?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you choose this restaurant to bring me to? You could have taken me anywhere.”
“Julianna redecorated it a few years ago.” I point to the painting hanging on the far wall. “Our mother painted that.”
Selene twists in her seat before turning back around. “It’s stunning. I didn’t know your mother was a painter.”
“She was for many years.” I nod, the memory of my mother barreling into my thoughts. I think about her every single day, but talking about her gives me a different feeling than usual. “She donated that painting to the restaurant weeks before she died.”
“Random shooting at the subway station, right?” Selene tips her head, full of sympathy. “Jules told me.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, my voice cracking. I open my mouth to tell her more about my mother and all the memories I have of her, but our server abruptly returns, setting two empty wine glasses on the table.
Selene and I watch him open the bottle in silence.
He pours a little into my glass before waiting for me to take a sip.
I eye Selene over the rim as I give it a taste, then hum in approval, welcoming the warmth it brings to my throat.
I didn’t realize how thirsty I’d become in the past several minutes.
The server continues by filling Selene’s glass, then mine before setting the bottle back down on the table.
From the corner of my eye, I see other guests leaning over their tables and whispering.
I swear, a few of them even pull out their phones to snap pictures.
Perhaps it’s paranoia, maybe it isn’t. It’s true, the story of Rome’s lawsuit is floating around, but being here with Selene is definitely bringing up a fresh story for the media to cover.
I’ve tried to push aside the stress I’ve been feeling over this lawsuit, but all my efforts have been unsuccessful.
I’ve prided myself on making a name for myself outside of my father’s political achievements.
When you’re the son of the mayor in the largest city in the country, it’s almost impossible to separate yourself from that legacy. And I’ve done that.
Until now.
Now all the media sees is the Capuleti name tied to corruption and manipulation, all to get ahead.
I’ve felt like shit ever since Rome’s slimy little attorney slapped me with the lawsuit outside of West’s bar. The stress of my castle crumbling has taken over every aspect of my life since then. My only relief, the only medicine to this bleeding wound, has been Selene.
I watch her with intensity as she lifts her glass and drinks nearly half her wine in one gulp.
Her perfect lips press to the delicate glass, and her head tips back, exposing her soft, smooth flesh.
The gold chain wrapped around her neck glints under the gold lighting of the restaurant, the pale blue stone shimmering as she lowers her glass and sets it down on the table.
For as long as I’ve known her, Selene has been comfortable living in the shadows.
She’s quiet and reserved. She keeps her heart well-guarded.
But I can’t stop this nagging feeling inside of me from growing as I watch her.
Ever since our kiss on that stage, she’s opened up to me… whether she realizes it or not.
She’s fiery and opinionated, unafraid to speak her mind. I want to know her more. I want to see this side of her again and again and again.
Fuck, seeing her like this feels like taking a hit of heroine.
At this point, I’ll do whatever it takes to cling to this feeling.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it. It’s been nonstop ever since we sat down.
Selene picks up her menu and studies it. She lifts her hand and tucks her hair behind her ear, but all I want is to feel her. I want to keep her close.
I guess my plan truly will kill two birds with one stone.
Falling for my sister’s best friend isn’t something new for me, either. I thought I had fallen for Rebecca, but it wasn’t like this. This is fucking new.
Here goes nothing.