Page 167 of Power
She sauntered over. “This looks great.” She slipped a raspberry into her mouth.
“Are you staying for dinner?” he asked.
“No, I’m just working here this afternoon.”
He acknowledged her with a nod before leaving.
She poured herself tea, added a little honey before sipping the hot beverage. With the mug in hand, she returned to her desk and paused to feast on her delicious-looking office mate. He was on a video chat, doing more listening than talking.
“What’s the bottom line?” he asked. After listening, he said, “Tell them they’re price gouging and shop that around.”
He ended the call, answered another. “Santini.”
As he listened to the caller, his gaze found hers. Even from across the room, she could feel the magnitude of his strength. It permeated everything around him, her included.
The call ended and he rose. She stayed focused on him as he stalked toward her.
The power he exuded stole her breath. Everything from his walk, to the sophisticated way he carried himself, to the intensity in his bright eyes. Even the air crackled with an invisible fire that held her complete attention.
“What’s Newburg up to?” he asked.
“He might be headed out of town.”
“Running from the devil, but I’ll still find him.” He eyed the food on the conference table.
“We need to put a tracker on his car.”
A devilish smile filled his face. “I like the way you think.”
Unable to stay away, she sauntered close. He picked up a blackberry, slipped it into his mouth. Her attention jumped to his perfect lips, his chiseled jaw.
“Try one.” He held out a blackberry.
With a tender touch, he placed the bulbous fruit in her mouth. She bit down and a burst of tartness tickled her tongue. He brushed his lips against hers, the jolt of energy careening through her.
His phone started ringing. One more kiss before he answered. “Santini.”
“Hey, brother,” said a man Simone recognized as Liv’s husband, Jericho Savage. “I gotta switch up our meeting from tomorrow to tonight. You good with that?”
“I’ll be there,” Luciano replied, his attention still on Simone.
“Come hungry.”
After he hung up, he said to Simone, “I can take you to Carole Jean’s. I have a meeting in Jericho’s wine cellar.”
“When you’re finished, join us for dessert,” she said. “You can meet Jerod and his girlfriend.”
“Youare dessert.”
She dropped a light kiss on his lips. “Mmm… I can’t wait.”
He stole one more kiss before walking over to his safe room. There, he punched in a code, stood in front of the scanner, and vanished inside. Curious, she stood in the doorway.
Instead of finding cases of bottled water and non-perishable foods, stacks of cash lined the shelves.
What the hell?
He opened a black container, pulled out a small device. When he turned, he chuffed out a laugh. “You look surprised.”
