Page 66 of Ruthless Contract
I dreamed of her massaging me after I’d had a particularly bad day. That massage turned sexual when her hands drifted across my abs, moving lower until my fucking phone rang, dragging me out of my sleep and the best wet dream I’d had in years.
Reaching across the nightstand, I grabbed my phone. I answered without opening my eyes, angry that I’d been pulled away from my faceless lover.
“What the fuck?” I growled.
“Damn. Who has pissed you off this early in the morning?” Raz asked.
I squeezed my eyes shut tighter.
“Why are you calling me this early in the morning, brother?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“I waited until I thought you were up. Normally, you’re awake by now.”
“What time is it?”
“It's after nine in the morning. Why are you still sleeping? That’s not like you.”
Fuck. Was it after nine? I rubbed my eyes, then slowly opened them, noting the morning light drifting into my bedroom. I hadn’t slept-in like this in a while.
“What do you want, Orazio?”
“Why are you still in bed?” he asked.
“You told me to rest and not work until I'm completely healed,” I reminded him. “Please don't tell me you want me to come to today's board meeting with you.”
“No.”
Relief washed through me. I had no desire to deal with board members right now. I’d had my fill of them during my time in Italy. Actually, I had no desire to return to the casinos at all. I needed a break. I just hadn’t told my brothers yet.
“I don’t need you at the board meeting this time,” Raz told me. “I have Cas and Leo with me.”
“Then why are you calling me when I should be resting?” I asked, turning onto my side slowly, trying not to aggravate my wound.
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“What is it?”
“I need you to accompany Monique to a florist today, so she won't have to go alone.”
What the hell? Groaning, I closed my eyes. Not wedding stuff. Anything but that. The last thing I wanted to do was spend my day looking at flowers.
“Where are her friends?” I asked.
“They had a special order to deal with at their boutique today. So, Monique planned to go to the florist alone. But I don’t like the idea of her doing this by herself. If I could, I would be there with her. But this damn meeting can’t be canceled or postponed. And Monique wouldn’t change her date. She said the florist shop has been busy and she didn’t want to reschedule.”
“It’s not like there’s only one florist in the city,” I told him. “Why does it have to be this one?”
“I think this one is one Julian’s girlfriend recommended to her.”
“Yeah... but...”
“You’re my brother and my groomsman,” he reminded me. “This is one of your duties. I don’t ask for much. But I need you on this one. I don’t want her handling wedding stuff by herself. It doesn’t sit right with me. Even if she says it’s okay, I don’t like it.”
Damn it.I got where he was coming from. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have understood. But I did now.
“Okay,” I mumbled. “I'll do it.”
“Thank you, Rome. I mean it.”
