4. Santino #2
Sam slows, pulling into a parking spot that is directly in front of her business.
This area of town is what others would call quaint or cute.
Cobblestone makes the sidewalks. There’s a candy store across the street and a cat café next to Jovie’s flower shop.
Business is booming in this little trip of town and growing rapidly.
I’d be smart to expand here. My presence alone could increase profits for the business owners or if I invest in them. Legally. Of course.
“Wait here. I’ll be back.”
“Sir, I don’t recommend going in alone. Anything can happen.”
“I’m walking into a flower shop, Sam. I will be fine. I’m more than capable of protecting myself. Or have you forgotten?” I raise a brow, hoping he remembers when I saved him from being mugged one evening.
“Of course, sir. I’ll be here.”
Opening the door, I step out on the uneven cobblestone. The longer I look at, the more I see its age. It’s historical and needs some care.
I button my blazer as soon as I step out. The people passing by take one look at me and put more space between us. I frown, I don’t want anyone being afraid of me even if they have an idea of who I am.
Standing in front of her shop, I smile when I see how well-maintained the entrance is. There are plants outside with beautiful blooms of various colors. One window has a vine growing and covering it, adding to the curbside appeal.
Morgan’s Flower Shop is in big bold red letters outline in white.
It’s been here for as long as I can remember.
I think my own mother might have bought flowers here once or twice.
Jovie’s business is a staple and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she always has the ability to achieve all of her dreams.
Opening the door, the bell jingles up above, and I’m hit with the aroma of fresh flowers. I inhale deeply, wanting it all in my lungs.
“I’ll be right there!” Jovie shouts from the back room.
“Take your time!” I announce, slowly walking left to right to see what she does here.
I’m impressed.
To left, the entire wall is flower art. From bright green leaves to big blossoming petals, every detail shows a story.
This art, since it is so bright, reminds me of happiness.
Spinning around to the right, are bouquets in different sizes including a few vase options.
She seems to do everything. From funerals, to birthdays, weddings, or any event.
Jovie is a smart businesswoman.
I like that.
The shuffling of feet has me turn to see Jovie. Her head is down, and long copper hair falls in front of her face. My fingers itch to tuck the strands behind her ear. Touching her is a bad idea. A very bad idea. I know that I would be doomed.
“I am so sorry about that. I got into a fight with a stem, and it pricked me. I was bleeding—” she lifts her head and stops where she stands when she sees me. “Mr. Salvati. I—I wasn’t expecting you. Did you have an order that I missed?” She rushes to her desk and flips through the order receipts.
All I can do is stare at her.
She’s fucking beautiful.
What was my son thinking?
“—I am so sorry. I don’t usually miss orders. I’ll do a discount and?—”
I take a step forward and the only thing standing in the way between us is this damn desk. I stretch my hand across the table and place it on top of hers to stop Jovie from stressing herself out.
Her hand is so soft under mine.
I shouldn’t notice that.
I do something I shouldn’t. I brush my thumb across her knuckles before pulling my hand away. I don’t miss the spark of electricity or the way my heart picks up its pace.
She’s exquisite.
“I didn’t have an order,” I state, tucking my hands in my pockets to stop myself from reaching out.
Her shoulders sag with relief and her smile somehow brightens the freckles dashed across her nose. A slight blush takes over her cheeks and Jovie licks her lips.
“Thank goodness. I’m usually so on top of orders. That would have been unlike me. How can I help you, then?” Her eyes nearly match the color of her hair. They are a very bright reddish golden brown and I’m captivated.
I wonder how beautiful it would be fanned across my pillow.
“I’m only here to see how you’re doing, Jovie.”
She opens her mouth and closes it, her brows pulling together in confusion.
“Let me rephrase. Luca told me everything that happened. I’m here to see how you are. I apologize for my son. He was an idiot. He wasn’t raised that way.”
“You two don’t share the same belief?”
I lock our gazes and deepen my voice. “I am a one-woman kind of man, Jovie. I was faithful to my wife until her dying day.”
Jovie looks away, wringing her hands together. “Luca told me. I am so sorry for your loss. I’m sure that was devastating.”
“It was. It’s been a while now. She’s missed every single day, but I wasn’t there for Luca in my grief like I was supposed to be.”
“Don’t blame yourself. You did the best you could given the horrible circumstances.”
I lean against the desk, needing to be closer to her somehow. Needing to breathe her air, needing to hear her voice better, needing to see if I can smell her perfume. Anything. I need the thought of her to last until I see her again and it’s probably best for both of us if that was never.
“How are you?” I change the subject, not wanting to talk about me or Luca. “I know you must be in pain.”
Jovie sighs, walking over to the fridge where she keeps the flowers and pulls out a few beautiful orchids. “I’m fine, really. I’m better than I expected to be. I wasn’t surprised. I knew something was going on. A woman always knows.”
“I know he was devastated after what he did. Would you ever get back together with him?”
She shakes her head. “No, and I already said this to him when he stopped by the other day. He asked and I listened, but the trust isn’t there and if I’m honest with myself, it never was.
Luca is very handsome. He attracts attention everywhere we go.
I still don’t understand how he can get any table at any restaurant with no notice. ”
Ah, so she doesn’t know about us. It’s only a matter of time before she finds out the truth. I’m surprised she hasn’t pieced anything together with whispers on the street. Whispers I can deal with.
It’s if she ever finds out the truth of any of our dealings.
“I’m afraid that runs in the family,” I tease, then clarify so I don’t sound conceited. “The being able to get into any restaurant, not the looks.” I swallow, needing to coat my dry throat. Heat fills my face and I’m trying to remember what I could possibly be feeling.
I’m embarrassed. And I do not ever get embarrassed.
“I don’t know,” she says thoughtfully. “He got his looks from somewhere. I would say it runs in the family.” She rolls her lips together and focuses on her bouquet, pretending to busy herself.
“You’re too kind.”
We lock eyes, the conversation falling into silence.
She inhales a small gasp of air. I can’t seem to stop staring at her.
Her beauty is entrancing. I don’t hide my interest. My attention swoops down her body and back up, taking my time drinking her in.
Her curves need to be appreciated. Her thighs are thick, and I want to lose myself between them.
So much body and all the time in the world to kiss every inch.
If she were mine. But she isn’t.
And she can’t be.
She’s too young and a bigger issue is that she’s my son’s ex-girlfriend. Not only does he care about her, but he seems to be on a mission to get her back.
I hope she doesn’t accept any of his offers. Luca has a lot of work to do on himself. Jovie doesn’t deserve to be part of that. She deserves more not someone to bring her down. And Luca will bring her down again. That’s the path he is on lately.
“I’ll let you get back to work, Jovie. It was nice seeing you. Please, don’t be a stranger. Just because you and my son didn’t work out, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
“Friends? Is that what you want to be, Mr. Salvati?” She blinks those beautiful red lashes at me through a sweet, innocent voice.
“It’s better than nothing,” I admit with a sad smile, knowing I’ll never be able to have her in the ways I want. I turn to leave and pause. “And Jovie, call me Santino, please.”
“Santino.”
I grip the desk with my hand, loving how my name sounds on her lips. I want it breathed into my ear when I fill her for the first time. Turning away, I grit my teeth together, doing my best to push the image of her mouth wrapped around me out of my head.
Without saying another word, I walk away, needing to put space between us. The air is thick with tension, with arousal, with fucking want, and I’m not sure if it’s only coming from me.
“Jovie?” I stop at the door.
“Santino?”
Fuck. There she goes saying my name again.
“By chance, are you sending Luca flowers?”
Her eyes widen for a second before she shakes her head.
“You seem surprised I’m asking.”
“No. I mean, yes. I am but only because no, I’m not sending him any. He wasn’t impressed with my flowers. Another red flag when flowers are my life.” She leans down to smell the orchid.
I’m not sure how she can smell it because the scent in the flower shop alone is a mixture of floral scents.
“You’re very talented at what you do. Don’t ever stop. For anybody, okay?”
She tilts her head, a softness relaxing her features. “I won’t. Promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” The bell rings when I push the door open, taking the first step outside since being in the same room as Jovie and I can finally breathe.
I don’t care what I have to do. I’ll make all of her dreams come true even if it means I never get to see her again.
Sam opens the back door for me, and I climb into the car. I glance out of the tinted windows, staring into the flower shop, my heart urging me to go after the person I want but my head knows better. Being with her would be the biggest stab in the back to Luca.
Luca is my son. I can’t hurt him like that.
“Where to, sir?” Sam asks.
“Home.” I have new appreciation for flowers I need to attend to.
My phone dings with a message from Lorenzo.
“The order has been dropped off.”
We always text in code. He is telling me that the body has been taken care of and they are on their way back. Perfect.
No one betrays me and gets away with it.
Ever.