CHAPTER NINETEEN – ROSE

I couldn’t believe how wonderful Camillo was being. He showed up at my house with Junior and his nanny in tow and announced he was taking us all to brunch. We all piled in our respective cars and followed him to the Garlic Restaurant and Bar where we had the most delectable food I’d ever tasted. Camillo was feeding our daughter while Kevin and Junior were talking each other’s heads off. I took in the sights around me, while Cassie talked with Junior’s nanny.

The day had been spectacular. The air was chilly, and the snow was falling, which blanketed the town around us in a beautiful, pristine crispness. It reminded me of the outfit I was wearing when I first saw Camillo, the lacy white dress clinging to my body while he stared at me from on high. My mind got lost in the memory of him while his words rang deep in the back of my mind. Words that prickled down my neck when he’d whispered them deep into my ear the night before.

Good girls do as they’re asked.

I could tell Camillo was trying to steal glances at me. Ana kept crying for his attention, a feeling I was all too familiar with. He didn’t blink an eye when he paid the massive check that was delivered to the table and, before I could protest any further, we were all being swept over to the indoor aquarium.

Inside, the boys were in absolute awe of all the fish. The nanny and Cassie were running around with them while I walked alongside Camillo, listening as he held our daughter and pointed out all the fish to her. She planted her hands onto the glass and tried to kiss the fish, pulling a chuckle from Camillo that rushed straight down my back. Every single time he interacted with her, he burrowed deeper and deeper into my heart. The natural love and bond he had with his daughter would’ve made me jealous had it been anyone else.

But as he smiled at his daughter and continued to talk softly in her ear, I could see the way she was grasping his shirt. She didn’t want to let him go.

Like I hadn’t wanted to let him go that night.

“Camillo?” Kevin asked.

“What’s up?”

“Junior and I are hungry.”

“Oh, you guys are, are you?” he asked, grinning. “Well, how about we go get a snack?”

“Can we, sis?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah, can we, Miss Rose?” Junior asked.

“I don’t see why not,” I said, shrugging. “But I’m paying this time.”

“No, you’re not,” Camillo said.

“Yes, I am,” I said.

He shot me a look, just as Cassie walked up behind me.

“I think you’d better listen to the man,” she said. “He seems very serious about treating us to a day out.”

“I just don’t want him feeling like he has to pay for everything,” I said.

“I don’t,” Camillo said. “There’s a place called Trattoria’s. They have wonderful Italian teas and tea cakes. It’ll be a nice way to warm up with the downturn of the weather.”

“Camillo, please let me pay,” I said.

That stern gaze I was growing so familiar with descended upon me, making my legs shake as he held our daughter.

I was entranced by the way only a glance could make me feel and, suddenly, I found myself wishing it was already dinner time.

We followed him over to Trattoria’s and indulged ourselves in wonderful little cakes. Ana was shoving them in her mouth while Camillo smiled at her, and I just couldn’t get enough of their tea. I had three cups by the time we were done at the restaurant and I could tell the boys were starting to wind down, despite the sugar they’d just pumped into their stomachs.

“Want to take one home for later?” Camillo asked Ana.

“More cake, more cake!” Ana chanted.

“All right, why don’t you pick one out?” he asked. “Do you want vanilla?”

“No,” Ana said.

“Do you want chocolate?”

“No!”

“How about… the red one?” he asked.

“Red and blue,” Ana said.

“There isn’t a blue one, princess. Want two red ones?”

“Red and blue!” Ana said.

“Ana,” I said, scolding her. “There isn’t any blue.”

“But… blue.” Ana’s eyes began to water and I could see how much it hurt Camillo for her to be upset. He turned his entire body toward her and focused on her, his massive thumb dwarfing her cheek as he wiped his daughter’s tears away. Ana sniffled and I swore I could see Camillo’s heart shattering right behind his eyes.

“Why don’t we head on back to the house and relax before it’s time to cook dinner?” I asked.

“Hold on,” Camillo said as he stood.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To get my daughter a blue tea cake.”

I watched him walk off and signal for the baker. He was talking to her, motioning to his daughter while I watched with wild eyes. I saw the baker smile and nod her head, smiling at him while she batted her eyelashes. She was flirting with him, I could tell and my toes curled with jealousy in my shoes just as Cassie leaned into my ear.

“Be careful, your green-eyed monster is showing,” she said jokingly.

“Shut up,” I said.

“All right,” Camillo said. “A red one and a blue one.”

“Red and blue! Red and blue! Red and blue!”

Ana continued to chant while a broad smile grew upon his cheeks. I shook my head and giggled, astounded at the fact that he’d somehow swayed the baker to give him exactly what his daughter wanted. On the one hand, she needed to be taught that sometimes she couldn’t get what she wanted. On the other hand, I was enthralled with the fact that Camillo was so determined to give his daughter whatever he could.

“Maybe we could put on a movie, hunker down in the living room, and get away from all the snow,” Cassie said.

“You don’t like the snow?” Camillo asked.

“Oh, I love it,” Cassie said. “Just not being out in it. Snowing is a spectator sport, as far as I’m concerned.”

Camillo laughed, his face lighting up, and I realized just how much I liked to see him smile.

“Miss Rose?” Junior asked.

“Yes, honey?”

“Do you have any popcorn at the house?” Junior asked.

“Of course, I do,” I said. “Would you like some when we get there?”

“I just really like eating popcorn when I watch a movie.”

“Well, I don’t just have popcorn,” I said. “I’ve got flavors, too. There’s caramel, white cheddar, and kettle corn flavors. Would you like one?”

“You have flavors?” Junior asked, his excitement showing.

“I do,” I said, giggling. “How about this? I’ll pop you a bag and split it up. That way, you can have all three flavors.”

“Thanks, Miss Rose!”

Junior threw his arms around me before I could even react and I looked over at Camillo. His eyes were wide and bright with shock, watching our every move as my arms embraced the little boy. I could feel his body shaking with excitement, ecstatic at the fact that I was going to let him have all three flavors of popcorn.

My heat broke as I thought about what this boy must’ve been through to be so excited about flavored popcorn.

“You can have whatever you want when you’re at my house,” I said as I hugged him tightly. “Whatever you need.”

The baker delivered the tea cakes Camillo ordered, much to Ana’s delight. He scooped his daughter up into his arms before he paid, eyeing me with a smirk. I rolled my eyes and smiled. He was rubbing it in my face now, the command he had over me. One look was all it took to do me in and, even though I still didn’t understand why, I was loving every second of it.

Until we got outside and I saw Camillo stiffen.

His eyes settled onto a car idling on the other side of the road. He handed Ana to me absentmindedly an,d immediately, Junior froze at my side. Camillo’s face hardened, like a threat had just found us, and he stalked toward the car before it peeled off into the falling snow.

My eyes were heavy with worry as Camillo strode back across the road.

I couldn’t read his expression, but I knew something had just taken place. Something that rattled his insides and caused him to switch back to the strong, protective man I remembered from that night three years ago.

I tried to choke down the fear I was feeling, so as not to taint this perfect day.

“What was that about?” I asked as he took Ana from my arms.

“Nothing,” he said. “I thought I knew the driver of that car. He owes me some money.”

“Guess it wasn’t him?” I asked.

“Nope. Wasn’t him,” he said, plastering a smile back on his face.

He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze and I tried to forget the look I had seen on his face just moments before. He had told me that we were safe and I wanted to believe him.

By the time we got home, it was time to start preparing dinner. Camillo started pulling bags out of a cooler in the back of his truck, and all I could do was shake my head. I popped Junior’s popcorn and made it up for him while everyone hunkered down onto the couch. Then I headed into the kitchen and shut the door behind me.

“Aren’t you going to go watch the movie?” Camillo asked.

“Nope,” I said as I grabbed a knife for him.

He expertly chopped up the vegetables, his hands flying between slices as if he was a professional. I was preparing the filet mignons he’d purchased for us to eat, sprinkling them in salt and pepper before laying them out to come to room temperature.

“Where’d you learn to cook?” I asked.

“What makes you think I cook?” he asked.

“Besides you offering to cook? You’re pretty good at wielding that knife over there.”

I watched his face slowly sink as he tossed the vegetables into a pan. His eyes glazed over with a faraway stare and I swallowed thickly.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“I learned to cook from my mother before she died.”

He tossed me a haphazard smile but I could see the pain behind his eyes. I was familiar with that type of pain. The ache of a child who had been orphaned far too early. The pain of losing the one person you clung to for support. I saw that ache in my brother’s eyes every time our parents’ birthdays rolled around.

We danced around each other in relative silence, preparing dinner and setting the table so everyone could come eat.

I sat there silently while I watched everyone else dig in. Camillo was entertaining Ana, and the boys were talking about the movie. Cassie and the nanny were talking about previous employment they both had and, then, there was me.

Trying to figure out what my place was in all this.

Usually, I was running around, trying to bend to everyone’s whims. Usually, I was feeding Ana while getting Kevin drinks and trying to keep Cassie entertained with conversation after her days at the bookstore. Usually, I was ranting to her about my day over a glass of wine while Ana laid down in her room and Kevin played Minecraft in his.

But, now, I was just a spectator at my own kitchen table.

“Cassie, I was wondering if I could ask you something,” Camillo said.

“Speak to the oracle of life and I shall consider your request,” Cassie said, grinning.

“Would it be possible for you to watch the kids with Mrs. Barker while Rose and I spent some time together?”

I whipped my head up at my name, my plate of food untouched for the third night in a row as my eyes shot over to him. I knew exactly what he meant. I knew exactly where he meant to take me. And suddenly, I had found my place again. My eyes descended upon his while the boys begged to have more time together and Ana was already falling asleep in her high chair with one of her tea cakes crunched up in her hand.

“I suppose that wouldn’t be a problem, if Rose wants to go with you,” Cassie said.

“The boys will be just fine with us and it looks as if Miss Ana won’t be an issue,” Mrs. Barker said.

“Rose?” Camillo asked.

He’d been the perfect father all day and he deserved a reward. He’d treated all of us and I couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling up within me. His words from last night echoed off the corners of my mind and a smile spread across my face.

“Let me get my purse and phone and we can head out,” I said.

Fifteen minutes later, with Ana in bed and the boys playing video games, Camillo and I were off. His hand immediately wrapped around mine before he brought my hand to his lips. He kissed it and his eyes darkened three different shades and settled onto the stormy blue eyes I’d lost myself in that night.

But the words that came from his mouth caused my entire body to shake.

“You have a punishment coming, my little songbird,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“You kept a secret from me. A precious secret meant only for my ears. You were naughty and you know it.”

I squirmed in my seat while he held my hand tightly and we wound around town. I was looking forward to whatever punishment he had in mind, especially since I could feel my core heating up just with his breathy promises. My nipples were puckering against my bra as we slowly pulled up into his driveway and I took in the beautiful log cabin in front of us as he slid out of his seat and came to open my door.

He pulled me from the car and dragged me to his room, wasting no time in pressing his demanding lips against mine.

I arched into him, clasping onto his shirt as I pulled him deeper into me. His hands roamed my body roughly, commanding my curves while our tongues battled for dominance. Then he spun me around and pressed me into a cold wooden desk in the corner, his hand flipping up my skirt to expose my soaking wet satin panties.

I heard the rush of wind just before his hand cracked down onto my ass. I moaned, my legs pulling taut as he smacked his hand against my other ass cheek. My hands pressed into the cold wood, my body instinctively trying to get away, even as my silken fluids dribbled down the inside of my thighs. Again and again, his hand connected with my skin, burning it to a point where I thought my legs would give out from underneath me.

Then, he ripped my whisper-thin panties from my body, the tattered satin falling to the floor while I heaved into the desk.

My skin burned with pleasure. I was so turned on, I had no idea what to do with myself, but before I could make a move, Camillo stood me up and slammed his lips back onto mine.

I moaned into his luscious pout as I threw my arms around his neck and, as his massive hands descended around the throbbing globe of my ass, my legs gave out from underneath me.