Page 96 of Valentino

“Nothing for you to be concerned about, but we do need to be more careful than usual.”

“Fine.” She passes me a carry bag. “But we have to come back here for an hour after work tonight.”

“Why?”

“I have a piano lesson.”

“What?” I screw up my face. “Since when do you take piano lessons?”

“Since six months ago. Have you got a problem with that?”

“Be careful, Anna. If you’re looking for an argument, you’re just about to fucking find one.”

“What did you say?” She narrows her eyes.

Wait…did I say that out loud?

“Nothing.”

“I’m using your gym and sauna tonight.”

“Fine.” I act uninterested, you can use my gym and sauna anytime you want, preferably on my….

Lock it up.

“Let’s go.” I wheel her two large suitcases and my small one and carry her overnight bag while she walks along with only her purse. “Don’t worry, I’ll carry everything,” I tell her.

“I’m not worrying.” She keeps walking unfazed.

“I wouldn’t want you to break a nail or anything,” I mutter dryly.

“Same.” She turns her fingers over to look at her fingernails. “I’m growing them.”

Deep breaths.

We get down to the parking lot, and I load the car while she gets into the front seat, I get in behind the wheel and look over to her.

“What?” She raises an eyebrow. “As if you’d let me drive.”

I start the engine, she’s fucking killing me.

Twenty minutes later.

“Just up here,” she instructs. “This restaurant here on the left.”

I glance up at the cars behind me waiting to take over watching her. “I’ll walk you in.”

“You don’t need to walk me in.”

I double-park the car and put my hazard lights on, they flash red. We walk into the restaurant. “Where is she?” I ask as I look around.

“She’s already here, she just text me.” She smiles and waves, all happy to see Francesca, it’s the first smile I’ve seen today and it’s infuriating that it’s not at me.

“Don’t tell her that we kissed,” I tell her.

“As if I’d ever admit that to anyone,” she whispers angrily. “I’m not that stupid.”

Adrenaline rushes over me, don’t fight back.