Page 52 of Last First Kiss
It was a quiet morning. No sounds of blenders anywhere. Instead, Rocco woke up to hair splayed across his chest, his face, and in his mouth. Annie felt small and warm against his body and he didn’t want to let go. The story she told him last night was heavy and more than he bargained for when he’d originally hoped for a little four-month fling.
He gently moved her arm aside and rolled out of bed. The woman had had a hell of a day yesterday and deserved to sleep. After finishing his morning routine, he decided to go to his home gym and work out to clear his mind.
Sweat dripped down his face an hour later. He’d made a decision. He didn’t give a shit how complicated things would be. He wanted—needed—her. It was so new and fragile, their relationship, if that was even the proper word for it—but it felt important. She made him feel like he’d lost something at some point in his life and now he’d found it. It was an odd feeling and something he couldn’t shake off. Walking away from her just was not an option.
It was ten in the morning by the time he went back up the stairs. He was surprised to see she was still asleep—her body balled up in the middle of the bed, her hands tucked under her cheek, her hair all over his pillows. It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He took a quick shower, and once he was done and dressed, he softly sat on the edge of the bed. “Annabelle?”
She didn’t even stir.
“Wake up, Tiger.” He leaned closer, stirring her gently. With a yawn she lifted her arms over her head and stretched her legs with a loud moan. “What time is it?”
“Almost eleven.”
She sat up abruptly, almost clonking him on the head. “Eleven! What?”
She looked around, confused. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Relax. It’s fine. You slept in. But we have to leave soon for the Boy and Girls Club, unless you want to stay.”
She jumped out of bed frantically, and ran to the bathroom. “No. No. Give me five minutes.” He heard the shower turn on. “I don’t think I’ve slept past six for ten years. I can’t believe I overslept,” she hollered from the shower.
“It’s fine. You needed a rest.”
“No. It’s not fine. What if there had been an emergency? I’m supposed to be protecting you, not sleeping in.”
He walked into the bathroom and leaned against the vanity. “You’re here for more than that, I hope. After the conversation from last night, I hope I’m not alone in that feeling.”
She pushed back the curtain and stuck her head out. “Yes. Fine. But still. I have to do both. Work is still important. You’re still in danger.”
“Multitask,” he said, opening the curtain a little and giving her a loud wet kiss right on the lips causing her to yelp and . . . was that a giggle? “We leave in ten.”
* * *
He downshifted when he got to the traffic light, Annabelle immersed in her phone. “Do you ever not work?” he asked.
“Actually, this isn’t work this time. It’s my mom and brothers. They’re giving me a hard time about missing another Sunday dinner.”
“You guys do Sunday dinners?”
“My mom tries, but it’s hard for us all to be there. My brothers are dispersed all over the place. But it just so happens they’re all actually in town this Sunday.”
“This is only a couple of hours—we can make it to your mom’s if you want to go.”
She looked up from her phone and her eyes shone as if he’d just offered her the sun and moon. “Really? You wouldn’t mind? I can have someone else from ICS stay with you while I’m gone.”
“No, I’ll come with you. I mean, if that’s okay.”
“Yeah, of course. Oh God, my mother will love that. She’s a huge fan.” Annie typed on the phone as she spoke. “I should warn you. We’re a loud and overwhelming bunch.”
“I look forward to meeting everyone.” He parked the car. “I’ve been wondering something since I saw you pull up at my house on Monday.”
“What’s that?”
“What car do you drive? I picture you in a sleek red corvette or something equally sexy but badass.”
She snorted out a laugh. “You couldn’t be more wrong. I think I’m going to let you keep guessing.”
“Seriously? Why?”
“I have a love affair with my vehicle, which is why I never drive it. I don’t want to mess it up.”
