Free The Perfect Someday (A standalone novel ~ Book three in The Mathews Family) by Beverly Preston

squirmed a little, self-consciously adjusting the belt around her waist. JC’s eyes beaded, giving Giovanni a direct hard stare.
    “I don’t fucking think so. You are not staying the night with…with Rico Suave.” Thick insolence coated JC’s tone.
    Every hair on her arms raised in high spikes. The motion on her back stopped. She heard Giovanni take a long sturdy breath of air and he began rubbing again. Tracy stared, eyes wide and full of disbelief. She appreciated JC’s concern, but it wasn’t justified.
    “Don’t talk to him that way. This is my decision.” A thin thread of hysteria lined her voice.
    “Can you give us a minute, Giovanni?” JC requested through a sardonic smile and a piercing gaze.
    A s omber crinkle stretched deep into his forehead. Giovanni’s hand meandered up her back, playing gently through her hair. “Maybe she is right,” he purred reluctantly.
    The girls caught each othe r in a sideways glance. Tracy wasn’t sure who was more surprised, her or JC.
    “No. She’s not right. I’m f—“
    He lowered his mouth over hers, kissing gently.
    Breaking the kiss, she clenched her fingers in to the folds of his jacket. “Giovanni. I want to stay. I don’t how long it will be before I’ll see you again.” She cringed inwardly at her neediness.
    “It won’t be long. We’re only a day away from each other, a couple of flights, a continent or two.” A sexy smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll swim if I have to.”
    Pressure mounted and her nose crumpled from the sting of disappointment threatening to spill.
    JC started toward the cab. Giovanni and Tracy trailed behind, begrudgingly.
    Everything was happening to o fast. They hadn’t discussed tomorrows or dating or anything in the future. There was so much she needed to say to him, starting with her name, but there wasn’t enough time. It would sound ridiculous if she blurted it out now. Her stomach coiled with cold jabbing pains. Waves of hopelessness tore through her, terrified of never seeing him again.
    “But,” her voice croaked and she couldn’t carry on. Tracy’s vision blurred, but she continued in the soft hush, “I wanna take my mask off.”
    The back of Giovanni ’s knuckles coasted along the underneath of her cheek, the ball of his thumb tracing the edge of her mask. Every touch brought a new emotion to the surface of her heart, lust in the rawest of forms. All her feelings muddled together, overwhelming her with panic, dejection, and desire. She trembled from head to toe.
    A small sound of compassion seeped out of his exhale.
    Dropping her forehead to his chest, she said in a taunt whisper, “I’m afraid I’m going to regret this moment if I leave.”
    JC opened the car door. “You’ll regret this night forever if you don’t get in the car, Maggie.”
    Tracy ignored her sister ’s headed advice. She clutched at his jacket, silently probing the easy creases near his eyes for the certainty. His hungry grey stare mimicked hers, attentively absorbing each and every question sifting through her mind.
    “ Save the mask for when we see each other again,” he simmered into her hair. The virile undertone filled with promise.
    JC cleared her thro at. “Give him your number.” She instructed sardonically as if she’d done this a dozen times.
    He reached into his pocket and handed Tracy his phone . Her fingers trembled, fumbling the numbers into his cell phone. Her chest expanded with each breath coming in anxious pants. Giovanni captured her face in the palms of his hands, claiming her attention. “I will come see you. Prometto.”
    Her heart soared. Those were the reassuring words she needed to hear. I promise. She smiled wide and full, and a heated blush prickled her cheeks. She felt the strength of his fingers thread into her hair, gently gripping. Giovanni bent, grazing her lips, teasing slowly enticing her to open. A shaky gust of laughter climbed in her throat and he pulled back to flash a grin