Chapter 46
Giorgio
Iwoke when the bedroom blinds began to glow dimly with the early morning sun.
Emilia lay on her back between me and the window. She looked like a sleeping angel with her golden hair wreathed around her face.
Then there was her sinfully delicious body. It was only partially hidden by the comforter, her bare breasts rising and falling slowly with every breath.
And glinting across the top of her chest was the golden necklace I’d bought her.
I smiled as I watched her, my heart swelling with the memories of everything we’d done – and said – last night.
And it’d be just you and me, right? No seeing anybody else?
I don’t want anybody else.
Neither do I.
I’d gone to bed with a lover and woken up with a girlfriend – and couldn’t have been happier about it.
I wanted to lean over and kiss her, but I didn’t want to wake her. Instead, I gingerly sat up on the edge of the bed.
I needed my phone, which was still in my crumpled jacket on the floor where I’d ripped it off the night before.
As soon as I found it, I saw the time.
7:26 AM.
Shit.
I made sure the phone was in silent mode, then opened it up and texted Adriano.
Hey boss – can I come in late this morning?
I didn’t expect a fast reply –
But three dots immediately appeared underneath my text, followed by –
I’m guessing it went well with the barista.
Very well, I texted back. Can I come in late?
NO. You getting laid does NOT get you out of doing your job.
Shit.
I generally really liked Adriano –
But at that moment, I hated the son of a bitch.
I’ll work till midnight, I pleaded.
The three dots appeared –
Then disappeared.
I frowned and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Just as I was starting to get worried, a text came in.
This is Bianca – I had to steal Adriano’s phone. He was just fucking with you. OF COURSE you can come in late! How about noon?
I grinned.
I owed her for getting me together with Emilia –
And now I owed her even more.
THANK YOU! I typed. I might not need that long, though. If Emilia has to work, I’ll be in earlier.
You’re welcome! Bianca messaged back. Take your time!
There was a pause, then another text appeared.
This is Adriano again. You owe me, fucker.
I wasn’t sure if that was a joke or not –
But even if he was serious, I was fully prepared to pay the price just to spend a couple more hours with Emilia.
Thank you, boss.
Yeah, yeah, he texted back.
Suddenly, a beautiful voice startled me. “Already texting other girls, I see.”
I turned around quickly. “What?! No!”
Emilia was smiling as she lay there looking up at me.
“Relax, I’m just kidding,” she said playfully. “But who are you texting, exactly?”
“My boss,” I said as I held out my phone to show her the proof. She squinted as she looked at the screen, like her eyes were blurry with sleep. “I was asking for the morning off. He started busting my balls, but then Bianca jumped on and…”
I trailed off as I peered past her.
When I’d first woken up, I’d been lying down, and her body had been in my line of sight.
But now I could see the window without anything blocking my view.
I got up and walked around the foot of the bed in a daze, then knelt down to look at the windowsill.
On it was every single thing I’d given her those first few weeks I’d tried to change her mind.
Well – everything but the necklace, which she was wearing.
The silver swan, the red rose, the little bronze bear origami.
The troll doll.
The David keychain.
The tiny gemstone rings.
And half a dozen other tiny gifts.
I turned back to look at her.
She was blushing bright red, but she was smiling.
“You’re not the only one who wanted someone desperately,” she said softly.
My heart swelled with love.
I sure as hell wouldn’t have said that out loud, because I didn’t want to scare her off –
But yeah.
I was totally in love with her.
I got up, strode quickly over to the bed like a man possessed, took her face in my hands, and kissed her passionately.
“Oh Giorgio,” she moaned –
And I threw back the comforter and crawled into bed on top of her.