When my alarm goes off, I throw the covers aside and fall out of bed. I pick up my phone, my finger sliding across the screen to swipe the alarm off, and then I’m stumbling my way into the kitchen to turn on the coffee machine. I’m going to need a really big cupor twelvetoday.
Just as I pull a mug down, there’s a knock at the door. I curse under my breath. If this is my brother again, I’m going to kill him. I swing the door open and my jaw drops. Standing there, in a black-on-black three-piece suit, is Emilio, holding a bunch of pink roses.
“Uh… Hi?”
“Hey, these are for you.” He hands me the flowers.
“Thank you.” I take them and stand here, staring at him like an idiot.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.” I shrug and step aside, closing the door when he passes me.
“I’m taking you out for breakfast. Put some shoes on.”
“What?”
“You said you wanted to be wined and dined. This is me wining and dining you, babe.”
“You’re taking me to breakfast?” I ask.
“Yes. You need shoes.”
“I need a lot more than shoes, Emilio. I just crawled out of bed,” I groan.
“You look perfect to me.” He smiles sheepishly.
Looking down at the old band shirt I wore to sleep, I shake my head. “Okay, give me a few minutes,” I tell him as I run back into my room.
I put the flowers down on my bed, and a stupid smile spreads across my face.
Then I take the world’s quickest shower, brush my hair, and throw on a sundress and sandals. I don’t bother with much makeup. I don’t have time. A little mascara and lip gloss are all I can do.
When I walk back into my living room, Emilio holds out a cup to me. “I poured your coffee to go.”
“I think I love you,” I blurt out, taking the cup of black liquid gold.
“You think?” Emilio raises a brow.
“I was talking to the cup.” I wasn’t, but he doesn’t need to know that yet.
“Sure. You look fucking great.” Emilio’s eyes roam over the full length of my body.
“You ready to go?”
“Yeah, come on.” He takes hold of my hand, stopping when we get to the door. “I forgot something,” he says and then presses his lips to mine. “I don’t like sleeping without you.”
“I didn’t sleep great,” I admit.
“You should have called me.”
“I don’t want to be needy.”
“I want to be needed by you, Frankie.”
Chapter Twenty-One
By the time I got home last night, it was just past three am. When I checked in on Frankie, she was asleep. Which is why I made myself go to my own apartment and stay there. I wanted her to sleep without having me wake her up.Now, seeing how tired she looks, I wish I would have climbed into her bed.