Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
“Tell me again why we thought this was a good idea?” Rafe asked.
Gio chuckled but didn’t respond. Primarily because Rafe had posed that same question at least a dozen times in the past week. “Just keep sanding.”
“I fucking hate sanding,” Rafe grumbled.
“Hello?” they heard Keeley call out from the front door.
“Back here,” Rafe replied. “The office.”
It had been one week since he and Rafe had taken Keeley on a date rather than just crashing her preexisting ones. Eight days since Gio had asked her to stay here with them, the three of them sharing Rafe’s bed every night.
Well, actually it was the four of them, he thought, as he glanced across the room at Cricket, who was rolling around on her back beside Albert’s old recliner. Keeley had been right when she said it looked like someone was petting the dog’s belly.
Cricket typically started each night in her dog bed, simply because he, Rafe, and Keeley never went to bed with sleep on their minds.
However, sometime after they all drifted away, she made her way up the doggie stairs and nestled in the middle of the bed with Keeley, the two of them even sharing a pillow.
The only time they’d parted during this last week was for work, though Gio wasn’t sure they could count that because they sure as shit hadn’t accomplished much.
Rafe and Keeley hadn’t left the mansion at all, Rafe running the businesses from here, while the two of them had begun to sort through the boxes in yet another room.
So far, they’d cleared out the office and what they’d called Box Room One.
Right now, they were halfway through Box Room Two, with another one to go.
They still hadn’t found the boat or the combination to the safe, and Gio knew Rafe was beginning to give up hope of either.
Since Moretti Brothers Restorations had just recently completed a big on-site project, Gio had decided to treat himself to a few “work from home” days, which meant he’d converted one of the four outbuildings around the mansion into a workshop, where he’d moved a lot of his woodworking tools.
The company’s next job had him creating custom-made cabinets, which was something he was able to do in his shop.
Not that he’d scratched the surface on the job, something that was going to have to give soon. Tony had questioned his progress a couple of times, and he’d fudged the truth on how far he’d gotten. If he didn’t buckle down, his brothers were going to kick his ass for slowing down the project.
The problem was, he’d been too distracted by Keeley, unable to stay away from her.
Oh, hell…from them.
For eight days, the three of them had christened far too many flat surfaces in the mansion, including his workbench, the floor in Box Room One, Rafe’s desk in the office, the couch, the kitchen counter…
the list went on and on. They would come together in a flurry of desire and passion.
It was always hot and sweaty and, God, almost desperate, frantic.
Then, when it was over and their arousal slaked, they’d drift back to work for a few hours before the need grew too great again, and they’d start all over.
It had been the best sex of Gio’s life, and he never wanted it to end.
Today, Keeley had put her foot down, informing them she was working a full day in her office at Eclectic, away from them.
Rafe and Gio had reluctantly agreed with her decision, so after she left this morning, Rafe went to his office and Gio to his shop.
By noon, Gio was chomping at the bit and ready to head to Eclectic.
He’d suggested to Rafe that they surprise Keeley with lunch, but she’d put the kibosh on that when she texted to say she was having lunch with Jess, Penny, Gianna, and Liza to discuss Penny’s wedding.
Apparently, Penny wasn’t interested in Gage’s offer of a long engagement and the two had set a date in February.
Keeley walked into the office, frowning the instant she saw them. “You’re working on the room without me?”
“You’re late,” Gio groused, putting his sander on the floor.
She glanced at her watch. “It’s only quarter to six.”
“You said you’d be home at five thirty.”
“So, I’m fifteen minutes late,” she said nonchalantly. “I didn’t realize I needed gas in my car until I left Eclectic, and the light turned on. Had to stop to fill the tank. Let me change out of my work clothes really quick. Don’t do anything video-worthy until I get back.”
Rafe snorted. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
Keeley had been trying—to no avail—to capture footage of them working on the inn that she could use for the videos she was determined to create.
So far, he and Rafe had been less than entertaining, something they’d warned her about when she’d suggested the idea.
Gio felt like an idiot trying to talk about what he was doing as he worked, and Rafe didn’t like the work to begin with, so all he’d managed to do was bitch and moan.
Regardless, Keeley had remained undeterred, and she’d managed—somehow—to get enough material to make a surprisingly decent first episode, which she was ready to upload.
Keeley narrowed her eyes at Rafe. “You two need to figure out something to talk about before I get back because I’m not giving up on this. My goal is to put up a new video every three or four days, so get on board. This is happening.”
Satisfied that she’d laid down the law, she started to walk out, but Gio stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
She turned and looked at him. “I just told you. I’m changing my clothes.”
He shook his head and crossed his arms, looking at Rafe with exaggerated incredulity. “You believe this shit? We’ve been knocking ourselves out, giving this gorgeous girl the greatest good-night kisses she’s ever had. And now? We can’t even get one lousy hello kiss from her.”
“Ridiculous,” Rafe agreed.
Keeley laughed and crossed the room, acting like she was put out by the request. “Well, okay,” she sighed. “But make it quick.”
Gio grabbed her as soon as she was within arm’s reach. “Nothing worth doing happens quickly. You gotta take your time with the important things.”
He looked down at her but made no move to kiss her. This was her hello kiss after all. Keeley stared at him for a second before she realized what he was waiting for.
She lifted onto her tiptoes, but Gio leaned away. “By the way, little one, this is one of those important things.”
Keeley gave him a mock salute. “So noted.”
There were several attributes that Gio had always considered commonalities amongst the Morettis, like the fact they were all loud, that they talked with their hands, that they were honest. And now, as he looked into Keeley’s dark brown eyes, he decided the Morettis also had a knack for knowing when they’d met “the one.”
Tony had known Jess was the woman for him and Rhys.
Layla had fallen for Finn and Miguel pretty much at the exact same time.
And now that Gio had opened his eyes, had allowed himself to see Keeley for who she was instead of as Kayden’s younger sister, he knew all the way to his bones, she was his future. His forever.
Their future, that annoying voice in the back of his head whispered. For his own sanity, Gio had tried to look ahead to his life as a couple with Keeley, though those attempts had been a complete bust. Because Rafe was a vital part of the equation, even if the stubborn fool wouldn’t admit it.
Keeley’s lips brushed against Gio’s playfully. She still wasn’t finished teasing him. Ordinarily, Gio would go along with the joke and give it right back to her. But she’d been gone for too long today, and any patience he’d had disappeared around ten o’clock this morning.
Gripping her hips, he dragged her closer, letting her feel for herself exactly how much he’d missed her. She hummed her assent, wrapped her hands tighter around his shoulders, and deepened the kiss.
Her lips parted and Gio took advantage, loving the way she tasted of cinnamon. She’d become addicted to the candy after finding Albert’s seemingly endless bags of Red Hots stashed all over the mansion.
Keeley had paid attention to his demand that she take her time and do it right. The kiss lingered, neither of them willing to be the first to break the union of their lips. Now, as always, Gio felt Rafe’s gaze on them, watching, waiting for his turn.
Finally, he released her, making her laugh as he placed one last quick kiss to the tip of her nose. “Rafe’s been patient enough,” he said, his voice huskier than before, aware that this interlude most likely wasn’t going to end with mere kisses.
Keeley stepped over to Rafe, who lifted her up and placed her ass on the edge of his desk. He pushed her knees apart, stepped between them, then took over the hellos.
Keeley pulled back after a few seconds. “I thought I was the one giving the kisses.”
Rafe smirked. “I think you should know me better than that by now.” He lowered his head, his kiss rougher, hungrier than before, reiterating his point not only with words but actions. Keeley’s fingers clenched the cotton of Rafe’s T-shirt.
Rafe’s tongue slid along her lower lip, then he pulled away. Not to end the kiss but to advance it to the next level.
He drew Keeley’s shirt over her head, unfastening her bra with one hand—a skill they’d both mastered in the past few days, as neither he nor Rafe liked it when she covered her gorgeous tits.
Lowering his head, Rafe sucked one of her tight nipples into his mouth.
Gio stepped next to the desk, closing the distance between them.
As Rafe used his tongue and teeth to tease one breast, Gio claimed the other with his hand, pinching the turgid nipple, pulling on it, watching the impact their rough touches were having on her.
Keeley reached back, holding herself up, her palms flat against the surface of the desk. Her eyes had drifted shut.