“Fuck,” he growled.
I spread his legs with my body by leaning back and tumbled away from him. I stood up and watched him stumble onto his feet before I charged him again. I wanted him to know I wasn’t helpless. I wanted him to know I wasn’t less capable than him. I wanted him to know I could defend myself, even if I had just a few seconds to see the person coming.
Part of me hoped this would morph into something a bit more personal. “Come on. That all you got, big boy?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Cute. But it won’t save you during something like this.”
He ducked down and charged me, to which I crouched to his level. He swiped his long-ass leg and took me to the ground. He scrambled on top of me, and we began to wrestle, tumbling around the living room. And while he had the upper hand sometimes, I managed to wiggle away and get on top of him.
Before he’d roll me over into something else.
“I have to admit,” he grunted. “You’re pretty good.”
I rolled him over, pinning him down. “You aren’t so bad yourself.”
He kicked me over his head, pinning me on my stomach. “But I’m better. And you’re shit when it comes to surprise scenarios.”
I slammed my head against his nose. “I can outlast you anytime. Anywhere.”
He groaned as he rolled off me.
I scrambled to get on top of him. “Awww, poor boy hurt his nose?”
His eyes flashed with anger. “Now, it’s on.”
I smiled. “Bring it, hot stuff.”
We kept tumbling around and knocking into tables as vases crashed to the ground. Water and glass and flower petals splattered everywhere as I scrambled to my feet. I slid across the floor and whipped around. I saw him charge me before I ducked down. I knocked him off his feet with my shoulder and watched him go tumbling.
He was quick to get up and he scooped me into his arms.
“Israel,” I exclaimed.
“Most men will be big enough to pick you up. What do you do now?”
I really had no idea. Part of me didn’t even want him to let me go. “Put me down.”
He pinned me against the windows. “Now, Bonnie.” His voice was low and husky against my throat. “What do you do?”
With my legs spread around him, and my wrists pinned above my head, I felt the heat of his breath panting against my lips. I locked my legs around his waist as I ran my fingertips against the top of his hands. I gazed into his eyes.
Something shifted in his gaze as he pressed closer to me.
“What now, Israel?” I asked softly.
And just as his lips hovered over my own, I heard a vibration sound out.
“Don’t get it,” I whispered.
“I have to.”
“Just be here with me. That’s all I want.”
“It’s my business phone, Bonnie.”
I shook my head. “I’m begging you. Just show me what comes next.”
And even though I saw the desire in his eyes, he moved away, placing me down onto my feet.
“Of course,” I murmured.
“We’ll continue this lesson tomorrow. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll know how to overpower even me.” He had his phone in his hand as he looked at me. “Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure.”
Then, he answered his phone. “Hey there, Dad. Give me a second.”
10
Israel
“Son?” Dad asked.
I sat down at the kitchen table, trying to get myself under control. That woman wrecked me. “I’m here. Everything all right?”
“You sound out of breath. What’s going on?”
“Just a self-defense lesson.”
He paused. “For who? You don’t need it.”
“For Bonnie. She does.”
“That woman needs a lot of things. But she doesn’t need a way to defend herself.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’ve got a long afternoon ahead of me. What do you need?”
“Did I catch you at a bad time, oh son of mine?”
I bit back my sarcastic response, because if I disrespected my father too much, he’d rip this role away from me in a heartbeat and give it to my brother. Which would surely spell disaster for our entire family.
“You know it’s always a bad time for personal calls. That’s just how it is,” I said.
He chuckled. “Well, get yourself a glass of wine and listen up. Because I’ve got a proposition for you.”
“Oh?” Israel wasn’t sure if he should be worried or excited.
“Get that glass of wine.”
“I’m fine with my water, Dad. What’s going on?”
He paused. “You ready?”
I sighed, pretty sure he wasn’t going to like what was coming next. He might need something stronger than wine. “Yes. I’m ready.”
“I’ve set you up on a lunch date.”
I’d been right to wary. “A what?”
“A lunch date. And you’ll never guess with who.”
I didn’t want to know because the only woman I could think of at that moment was the one who’d managed to get my blood pumping. “Who?”
“A woman who can offer our family better connections, a safer future, and a place for your brother, so he isn’t constantly breathing down your neck.”
“Ah.”
“What?”
“So, this isn’t a business lunch date.”
“Of course, it is. It’s always business.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to set up a married man on a date, Dad.”
He scoffed. “You aren’t married. You and I both know that. The contract was null and void when we figured out—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it.”
“Your lunch date is this Friday at La Frittata. Twelve thirty. Signorina Esposito will be meeting you there.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Esposito.”
“Yes.”
“As in, Carmela Esposito.”
“Yes.”
I slowly stood, rage fueling me. “You’re telling me you’ve dedicated me to a lunch date with the head of the largest cri—”
“Be there, son. She and her daughter can offer us more than Bonnie and her family ever will. You aren’t bound to Bonnie. Not legally, and not emotionally from what I saw. Just go to lunch. It won’t kill you.”
But that’s where my father was wrong. If Carmela Esposito thought she was getting one thing out of the lunch and ended up getting
