by Box Set
“Wanna know something?”
She traced circles on his nipple. “What?”
“When I had sex with you,” he started, then cleared his throat, “was my first time too.”
Roxie immediately propped on her elbows to stare at him, her brows furrowing. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
He peered up at the ceiling. “Because I was an immature boy, and didn’t want to lose my street cred.”
She pinched his arm, a low-blow move to make him look at her. How could he refuse? “I wouldn’t have told anyone,” she said, flecks of silver shining around her irises.
“I know, but what you thought of me mattered too. I liked you. You were this super cool chick, and I wanted to deliver the goods,” he said, remembering vividly how nervous he’d been before, during and after. Was it possible he’d nurtured more than just a crush for her then?
“You wanted to impress me?”
“Maybe.”
She kissed his forehead. “That’s sweet.”
The sad part was, even though he was no longer seventeen, he still wanted to impress her. To take care of her. Satisfy her in every possible way.
***
Through the glass window, Roxie watched Stefano talk to the man who lay on the bed. He had taken her inside and introduced her to John Stone, which had been sweet, and then she decided to give them some alone time.
Alone should mean she’d sit in the waiting area, not ogling Stefano from a few feet away. He talked to the man as if John could hear him. Maybe he could. But he talked like a good friend he hadn’t seen in a while. Sometimes smiling and looking remote. Others, he came to a silence and pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.
Her heart tightened. This was the Stefano she knew and loved. Love. Why did that word haunt her like a telemarketer on a Monday morning? Because it was true. What would she do with the sentiment though? She couldn’t admit to it and scare him off. Their situation hadn’t changed because they slept together. Well, did some sleeping. Most of the night they’d indulged in each other’s bodies, and she flushed just remembering all the things he’d done to her.
She wouldn’t recover from this heartbreak. Aren’t I lucky? Since the beginning she’d feared time alone with him exactly because of this. Old emotions would resurface, stronger than ever. And how could she run from them when she had time to think?
Stefano nodded at John, and glancing at the floor, slowly left his bedside then exited the room. He walked up to her.
She squeezed his shoulder, and felt the tension in his body. “Hey. How are you doing?”
He pulled her into an embrace, the initiative disarming her. Even though he was bigger, taller than her, she was the one soothing. Stefano dipped his head down, resting his chin on the top of her head, and she caressed him, her fingers running up and down his back. The hug was more inviting than a warm cup of chicken noodle soup on a cold rainy day. “You were right,” he whispered into her hair. “I feel better I came.”
“Good. What’s next?”
“We’re going back tomorrow.”
“Oh really? I thought it was today,” she had just checked on her parents and Adam. Katherine and her dad kept telling her to enjoy herself, so another text asking for more time shouldn’t be the end of the world.
He disengaged from her, and stretched to his full height. “Today I want you all for myself. I asked your mother, and she happily agreed.”
“Oh.” No wonder her mom had seemed way too perky during the phone call.
A thrill of excitement bolted through her. Yes, he planned to take over other companies in other cities. She wasn’t interested in following him around the country, even if he offered it on a personal level. She would be promoted and working in Florida, with her son, her mom and the people she knew and loved. But today none of it mattered. “Where are we going?”
“To one of my favorite places… with my favorite person.”
***
“Wow. This is beautiful.” She glanced at the mirror-smooth lake surrounded by majestic Ponderosa pine trees from both sides—one of them harbored a worn out tire swing, which swayed slightly against the breeze.
She sat next to him on the edge of the wooden deck, her feet dangling down and almost touching the water. She could picture a young Stefano running on the deck, and diving for a swim.
“Nothing is changed. It still looks the same.”
She removed her sunglasses and peered at him. “You’ve changed, Stefano.”
He grinned. “Was I really so bad to begin with?”
“No.”
“This place helped. You know… until this day I don’t know how I got so lucky. How I was able to come here and get to know some of my buddies. Learn from John. And move on. Donny could just have pressed charges, and I would have ended up in juvie. And maybe the outcome would have been different.”
“Best not to think about what could have been, right? You’ve done well for yourself,” she said, in an attempt to change the subject. Why would she tell him she had something to do with him getting off the hook?
He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for coming with me. It really means a lot.”
Did it mean as much to Stefano as it did to her?
Chapter 10
“Roxie seems like a cool girl, man.” His friend Walker said after he’d returned from checking on Savannah, his love interest and the owner of Herb’s. Walker grabbed some more fries from Stefano’s plate. “Don’t let her go this time.”
Stefano scowled at his friend for stealing his fries. Some things never changed. Although if he was being honest… he was damn proud Walker moved on from the ranch and was a successful businessman. And glad even given the circumstances he’d been able to catch up with his buddy one more time. “Wanna know something funny? John has something to do with our reunion.”
“How so?”
Stefano took a swig of strong awesome coffee, which for some reason he had never found similar anywhere in the world. “Remember the rules?”
“Yep.”
He glanced around, and leaned in. “When I came in, I told you I got into a fight with someone because I messed with his girl, right? Well it had been her first time, and my first time. It was a bit awkward and I wish I could have done things differently. We were both drunk.” He played with the edge of the coffee cup, and wondered… what would have happened if he had dated Roxie after they slept together? He shook his head. “Anyway. He taught me to become a man and not ever leave a woman unsatisfied.”
Walker shifted in his seat, then lifted the glass of water to his lips. “And you ran into her again after all this time.”
“Yes. Isn’t this a huge coincidence? She’s working for the company I’ve just bought, and she’s the one that got away. The one I couldn’t satisfy. Well, not anymore,” he said, and added inwardly the satisfaction he meant surpassed just sex. But he wasn’t about to have a heart-to-heart with Walker when the depth of his feelings was so new even to him.
Walker’s dark eyes widened, and he cleared his throat. What was he trying to say?
“Really?” Stefano heard her voice behind him. “You slept with me to honor a stupid man code?”
Shit. She heard him. A chill surged down his spine, and he turned to see her behind him. She stood next to Savannah, who seemed confused.
Roxie frowned, her eyes narrowing at him. There was an angry energy about her, in the way she drew back when he stood. She abruptly lifted her hand, in a gesture for him not to step one more inch closer to her. “You suck, Stefano.”
“Roxie, I’m sorry. I can explain what you heard,” he said, his heart pumping a different kind of heat. It was like his entire body scorched, in a completely non-sexual way. Shit. His pulse raced like he was a champion racehorse. Yet, the disappointed look in her face reminded him he was the one losing. Losing her.
“What you could possibly have to add? You used me,” she said.
Savannah shook her head, maybe internally
judging him. But Walker’s companion seemed too reserved to utter her opinion out of the blue, so she just shrugged her shoulder, walked past Stefano and slid next to Walker on the booth.
“I never used you.” How could he even begin to explain the rules had a significant meaning to all delinquent boys who crossed John’s way in the ranch?
She turned on her heels and walked out of the diner, and he followed her. “You mean when you saw me, and you called your buddy over there, you didn’t think of that sick rule?” she said when they reached the sidewalk.
He ran his fingers down his face. “It’s not sick. And yes, I remembered… and specially when you confirmed our sex session was crappy.”
“It was but not because of the reasons you believe. Sure, sex was quick and a tad painful, but what really hurt was you fighting with Donny and leaving me without a word. But now I know you were a virgin, too… it makes sense. You also just wanted to have sex. Once we did it, you bolted,” she said, her words slicing him like a blade.
He shoved his hand in his hair. Shit. “What? No. I wanted you. I had a crush on you the whole time we were friends, but you had a boyfriend.” A boyfriend who turned out to be a douche, but until then he believed she was better off with Donny.
She shook her head, hands perched at her waist. “You used me to have sex when we were in high school, and now you’ve used me as a sick way of honoring some promise.”
“No. It’s not like you were heartbroken. You went back to Donny,” he said, unsure why he was going there. No, he knew it, a voice inside him whispered. He was saying those things because the fact she went back to Donny proved Stefano wasn’t good enough for her in the past.
“Yes. I did. I begged him not to press charges, and he guaranteed he wouldn’t if I took him back.”
Well, he heard her. Too damn well. A thread of anger and disappointment shook him. “Roxie, why didn’t you tell me? You didn’t have to do that for me. I talked about it recently and you didn’t mention anything.”
Tears bordered her eyes. A part of him wanted to hold her, and whisper things in her ear, even though he was mad at her. “I didn’t want you to feel bad,” she said, her voice wavering.
“How altruistic,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “Maybe you didn’t want to look bad because you had leverage over me. When you agreed to stay with Donny with ulterior motives.”
“You mean just like you did? You know what? You make me sick. I don’t wanna spend one more minute with you. I’m going back to the room, and don’t you dare follow me. I’ll find a way back into town and a ride to the airport.”
Wait? She was about to leave? He stepped toward her, and reached for her elbow. How did things get so out of control? She jerked away from him. “You can’t go. It’s not easy.”
“Trust me, anything will be easier than spending one more minute with a hypocritical pig like you,” she said, and rushed out of his sight. What if the past was also the present? And she was still better off without him?
***
“Are you sure about this?” her mother asked when she saw her resume sitting at the table.
Roxie smoothed her ponytail. Her face was still tight from the crying and frowning she’d endured during the last day. It had been hard, but she’d made it back. She found a ride to the airport, and got the first flight she could. During the whole ordeal, she’d felt empty. Betrayed. Sad. “Yes. I’m putting in my notice this week, and start looking for a job elsewhere. I’ll be easier for everyone.”
“But you were up for a promotion. And you love what you do, honey. Don’t jeopardize your career because of a man.” Katherine held up her chin.
Roxie nodded, and managed to move away from her mother. If she’d been able to avoid Stefano’s phone calls, and text messages during the past twenty-four hours, dodging her mother’s inquisition would be easy.
Adam ate cereal at the table, and she didn’t want her son to hear any of this. It had been bad enough he had asked her—twice—about her friend Stefano. “I agree. But I also love my peace of mind, and I can’t work for a company that belongs to him, and take the chance of running into him whenever he’s in town. Hearing his name from coworkers.”
Katherine folded her arms. “You love him.”
Her chest tightened. Why deny it now? She did, but he hadn’t been honest. And what kind of relationship could they build on lies and deception? “Yes and I will get over it, Mom. He misled me. I thought he was different.”
“You know… Maybe he has feelings for you too. He seemed to care for you and even for Adam. A man who wants just sex doesn’t behave that way; he could get it from anyone else.”
Whenever the word sex came out of her mother’s mouth, she cringed and wanted to go to her mental happy place. “At times. I had that same impression. But turns out I was wrong.”
“Or do you want to be wrong?” Her mother shook her head then waved her off, as if saying I know you’re a stubborn one. “Don’t be too hard on him, dear. Everyone makes mistakes.”
Those two words rang in her ears while she drove to the company, and checked in. She was supposed to take a group to Everglades for the day, but when she saw Carrie take her place, she frowned.
“There’s been some changes. You’ll do a four-hour city tour and the bus is about to leave,” Carrie said. “Hurry.”
Crap. Roxie usually preferred to have time to double check everything and meet her crew beforehand, but with the short notice she was doing the best she could. By the time she made her way to the bus, she was almost out of breath.
She waved at Hank and got on the bus, starting to cross some names and grabbing her mic. A few passengers joined them as she started to ask a lively and chatty group to sit, but she didn’t even dare to look behind her shoulder yet. For some reason, everyone seemed to have questions and need her help even before she started her spiel. Phew.
It was only when the route changed right before her eyes, she realized instead of her regular route, they were headed somewhere else.
“Hey Hank, how does traffic look today?” she asked.
“We’re taking a shortcut,” said a male voice she knew too well.
Her stomach dropped to the floor, and she looked behind her shoulder to see the face her body was already responded too. Stefano was the one driving the bus. “What?” she blinked, and wondered if she should pinch herself. “What happened to Hank?”
Hank waved from the front row, and just then she realized he must have changed seats with Stefano because she’d been late and in a hurry. “He offered me a sandwich. Couldn’t resist.”
She sat her hand at her waist. What could possibly be happening? “Where are we going?”
Stefano smiled through the rear-view mirror. “We’re taking a shortcut. You avoided all my phone calls, and you didn’t open the door when I went to your house. I figured this would be the only way you’d see me. At work.”
“That’s crazy.” Why would he jeopardize the company he wanted to use as a model to the others he’d buy? Didn’t he know some of the passengers probably wouldn’t appreciate a detour? Not that they seemed bored. They watched the scenery, some of them engaged in a lively conversation about the latest episode of Games of Thrones.
Should she come up with some bullshit just to distract the tourists? She wanted to. But a nauseating sensation that had nothing to do with food brew in her belly. Sweat slicked her forehead, and she took a couple deep breaths to regain control. Stefano, the man she was trying to overcome, was driving the bus. Maybe it was some kind of test—maybe he was trying so hard to be hands on that he had created a different itinerary and wanted to surprise her.
No. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. Nothing made sense, and she was failing miserable at her test of seeing him again. God. Even a two-week notice would be hard. She cared for him too much to be able to stand him so close.
When he drove the orange bus into an exclusive residential gated community, things started to make even less sense. Sh
e frowned. They passed a number of amazing mansions with lush landscape and outrageously expensive cars parked in the driveway. Finally, he halted in front of a huge house with a Spanish villa décor.
With the engine still on, he opened the electric doors and told her, “Go.” She followed his cue, curious to know where this all would lead. He turned to the passengers, who were now quiet and scratching their heads, and said, “It’s a quick detour, I promise. Hang on and I’ll give you vouchers.”
She stepped down from the bus and onto the stoned sidewalk. “What is this?”
He smiled at her. “This is my new home.”
Congratulations? What was she supposed to say? She heard he owned a bachelor pad in South Beach. This house seemed big for just one person. “It’s nice, but since when is this a relevant sightseeing? You’re rich, but not famous.”
He kept his chestnut eyes on her, and it was like they carried a secret. “No. I just bought it. Like, hours ago. I got this because it has tons of space, wonderful schools and it could fit a growing family.”
It really could fit several families but she kept the snarky comment to herself.
“You made me think a lot about stuff, Roxie. I always run. I bolt. Well, this time I’m not running. I’m staying here, in Miami.”
He was staying? Did she have anything to do with it? The nausea from earlier dissolved into a warm bubble of hope—And it floated all the way up her throat. She had to swallow twice to get a word out. “Nice.”
He took both her hands into his trembling ones. Aww. He was nervous too. “I know it’s too soon to expect this. But one day, you will make the happiest man in the world if you marry me. And if Adam accepts me in his life.”
She cleared her throat. Her heart raced madly. Each beat threatened to burst into a bubble of joy. “What?”