Valerie felt a mix of nervousness and excitement churning in her stomach as she finished her breakfast. She followed Antonio outside, where a sleek black car was waiting for them. The drive to the vineyard was surprisingly peaceful, the scenery changing from the bustling city to rolling hills and lush vineyards."I've never been to a Vineyard before," she said to Antonio after a moment.Antonio glanced at her with a small smile, his eyes reflecting the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the passing trees. "Is that right?"Valerie nodded."What places did your man take you then?" he asked.Valerie blinked. "What do you mean?""Julian. He was your boyfriend, wasn't he? Didn't he take you out?" Antonio asked.Valerie looked away, avoiding his gaze. "No," she said, her voice barely audible.Antonio sensed the discomfort in Valerie's response and chose to remain silent, much to her relief. The car glided through the winding roads leading to the vineyard, surrounded by rows of lush gr
Later that night, Valerie tucked Landon in and watched him sleep. He looked peaceful, and Valerie smiled to herself.She felt a need to thank Antonio, to let him know how much his gesture meant to her. He wasn't as bad as she had thought. He didn't have to take her out, but he did.She checked on Landon once more before stepping out, closing the door gently behind her.The hallway was quiet; the plush carpet muffled Valerie's footsteps as she made her way toward where she knew Antonio would be. Her pulse quickened with each step, the excitement of their earlier escapades mingling with an unfamiliar flutter in her stomach.What was this feeling? Nervousness? Anticipation? She shook her head, dismissing the thoughts."Relax, Valerie," she muttered under her breath. "Just say thank you and move on."She paused at the threshold of Antonio's room, her gaze sweeping over the neatly made bed. Empty. No sign of him. She frowned.Maybe he was in the bathroom. He did say he was going to take a
Valerie tentatively reached for the shampoo bottle resting on the tub's edge and poured a small amount into her palm. Valerie began massaging it into Antonio's hair, her fingers moving through the strands with gentle expertise. Antonio kept his eyes closed, a contented sigh escaping his lips at the soothing sensation."You've got gentle hands," he murmured, his voice low and intimate.Valerie's heart skipped a beat at his words, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. "I try," she replied softly.They fell into a companionable silence as Valerie continued to massage his scalp, the warm water creating a tranquil backdrop. Despite the unusual setting, a sense of peace settled over her in that moment.The intimacy of the situation felt almost surreal, as though it belonged in a dream. Antonio's damp hair slid smoothly between Valerie's fingers, and she marveled at the trust he was placing in her.After a few more moments of careful massaging, Valerie dipped her hand into the wa
Antonio emerged from the bath, feeling the cool air brush against his damp skin, causing droplets of water to shiver along his arms. He wrapped himself in a towel, the fabric absorbing the warmth of the bathwater, and a sense of relaxation replaced the tension in his muscles.Reflecting on Valerie's actions, Antonio couldn't deny their significance. Her touch had been more than physical; it was a gesture of surrender, a silent acknowledgment of trust. He could still feel the ghost of her touch, stirring joy and satisfaction deep within him.Drying himself, Antonio paused, contemplating the shift he sensed in Valerie—walls crumbling, defenses yielding."Opening up," he muttered to himself with a faint smile. Determination hardened within him. Valerie's act wasn't merely intimate; it was a declaration, intentional or not. Antonio Leones was not one to shy away from challenges; he intended to claim her heart just as surely as she had claimed his, unwittingly.Pulling on his pajama pants
Antonio's dark gaze drilled into Valerie with an accusatory intensity. "You have the codes," he said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.Valerie couldn't tell whether he was angry or not, as his face remained stoic and unreadable. She didn't want him to misinterpret her actions. It wasn't that she was intentionally keeping the codes from him! Her heart raced as she tried to find the right words to explain herself, the tension between them palpable."I...I can explain," she said hesitantly.Antonio leaned back against the headboard, his eyes never leaving hers. "Then explain.""I found it yesterday. I was telling Lucas a story and he was fiddling with my necklace...""Necklace?" Antonio stopped her."Yeah. This necklace," Valerie said, holding up the pendant to show him. "Julian gave this to me a while back."She had been meaning to get rid of it ever since he died, but for some reason, something held her back. Now she was glad she didn't."I see. Continue," he said."Well, Landon g
The moment Ellie's eyes fluttered open, a surge of excitement pulsed through her. She rolled over, glancing at the empty space beside her where River usually lay.Today was different, special—it was her birthday. She pushed off the sheets and sat up, her heart thrumming with anticipation."Morning," she called out as she stepped into the kitchen. River stood there, his back to her, his hands busy fixing his coffee. No sign of recognition flashed across his face—no 'happy birthday,' no smile. Just the clink of his spoon against the mug."Sleep well?" she asked, leaning against the counter, eyeing the calendar on the fridge where she had circled the date in red."Like a rock," he replied, not turning around. The steam from his mug rose in the air, disappearing without a trace—just like her hopes that he would remember."Big day today," she said, trying not to let the disappointment seep into her voice."Is it?" River finally looked at her, his eyebrows raised, a question in his gaze but
Antonio slid the sleek device across the kitchen counter toward Valerie, a glint of mischief in his eyes.She stared at the brand-new phone, its screen reflecting the dim light, her heart skipping a beat."Is this for me?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper, confusion knotting her brows. Why would Antonio give her such an expensive gift out of the blue?"Of course, it's for you." He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.Valerie picked up the phone, its cool surface foreign in her palm. "Antonio, why are you giving me this?" The words rushed out in a torrent, fueled by a mix of surprise and a nagging sense of unease.He laughed, the sound rich and warm, filling the space between them. "Just because.""Stop trying to buy my affection," she snapped. "And, if I'm not your pet, so maybe stop throwing shiny things at me," she snapped, folding her arms tightly across her chest.A chuckle rumbled from his throat as he pushed off the coun
Antonio stood by the luxurious Rolls Royce, gesturing towards the sleek black car waiting at the curb. The exterior gleamed under the city lights. "You may stay back here," he instructed Sam."Capo?" Sam looked at Antonio questioningly."I will be driving them myself tonight," Antonio announced, opening the door."Va bene. I will follow closely behind," Sam said.Antonio nodded. "That's fine."He helped Valerie secure Landon in the back seat before opening the passenger door for her. "After you, my love," he said, offering his hand. Valerie took it with a smile and climbed into the car, settling into the plush leather seats.Antonio closed the door behind her and walked around to the driver's side, wanting to enjoy their drive without his men watching.Halfway to their destination, Valerie suddenly gasped. Antonio looked at her with concern. "What is it?""I didn't get Ellie a gift!" she exclaimed."It's alright, love," Antonio reassured her, glancing at her worried expression. "We wi