Say Daddy A Mafia Billionaire Romance - Shanna Handel Page 0,29
threat. Our eyes still locked, he raises one brow to me, and so quietly that I’m the only one who can hear him, he says the word turncoat.
And I understand.
Everything.
I release him.
Moving around him, I take his seat at the table. “Have a great night. Sorry you couldn’t stay.”
Straightening his shirt, he gives Victoria a quick nod and makes his exit.
She takes her seat, staring at me with rage flashing in her eyes and I realize it wasn’t Jet I should be worried about—if looks could kill, I’d be dead by now.
“Um... would you like to order, sir?” The waiter hovers by my side, unsure of how to proceed. I wave him away. He scurries off, looking relieved.
Slapping her two palms down on the table, Tori hisses, “What is wrong with you?”
I shrug. “I told you. I had orders from Rockland.”
She snaps, “Orders you had Rockland create out of jealousy, no doubt?”
I offer a smile. “Maybe.”
She sits back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, you had no reason to be jealous.”
How can I not be envious? She’s out with another man. “Why?”
Her eyes lock on mine. “I came here to tell him I wanted you.”
Her words send a jolt of electricity through me. “Is that true?”
“Yes, but you didn’t let me finish. I came here to tell him I wanted you, but now I don’t!” She stands so abruptly, she almost turns her chair over.
She’s making her way out of the restaurant, moving so quickly, I’m surprised at how much effort it takes to keep up with her, though my legs are twice as long.
Catching up with her, I ask, “You told him you were interested in me?”
We burst through the doors of the hotel.
Over her shoulder, she shouts, “Yes. I did. And I was. But not after that asshole move you just pulled. What the hell was that?”
We reach the sidewalk. “Slow down. We’re going to talk this out.”
“I don’t think so.”
I grab her arm. “Yes, we are.”
She shoots me a dark look. “Fine.”
Pulling her into me, I study her face. It’s clouded, resistant to listening. I sense her temper brewing. “I wanted to protect you.”
Her eyes are shooting daggers into my soul. She sneers, “From what?”
“Him. You don’t know anything about that guy. You shouldn’t be meeting up with him.”
As my words settle around her, her eyes soften. Her shoulders round, losing the square tension they held moments before. But her tongue is still sharp. “You staked a claim on me without my permission. Threatened men to keep them from approaching me. Forced me to call you Daddy by withholding sex from me. Then you stalk me when I’m out to dinner with another man, and practically murder him in public. You know what? You’re kind of an asshole!”
I ask, “And?”
She shakes her head in surrender. “And despite all those maddening, ridiculous things you did, I still find myself thinking only of you.”
Her gaze meets mine and the most incredible feelings run through me.
Elation. Joy. Victory.
I run my hand over her cheek. “And I can only think of you.”
She looks down at the ground, her face flushing beneath my gaze. “Despite my better judgment, I followed my heart tonight, and came to tell Jet Bachman, in person, that he should stop coming to see me at the bar.”
She’s told another man to stay away. A man that in her mind could have given her everything she wanted. Tori, though having her heart set on being a Beauty, has given up her goals to be with me.
Happiness fills my chest as I kiss her cheek. “You’re such a good girl.”
Still mad, she takes a step back from me. “Don’t you good girl me. And don’t expect me to call you Daddy.”
I give a chuckle. “We’ll see about that, little girl.”
She gives a little sniff. “I was going to come over to your place after you got off work. Tell you I got the second note on the creamer bottle. Tell you that I want to be with you.”
“And?”
She crosses her arms again, her brow knit with stubbornness. “I haven’t decided. I’m still pissed.”
I ask, “Would it help if I offered to cook for you? It looks like you guys didn’t get a chance to order.”
She gives me a dark look. “Yeah—I’m sure you’re real upset about that. You didn’t even let us get to the part where they bring the bread out. How long were you watching for?”
I shrug. “What can I say? I’m a possessive daddy when