Free Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) by Judy Angelo Page B

grin and the way he kept
looking at her like she was some kind of trophy he’d brought home to show his
family.
    She should be flattered, she knew, and she was touched
by his pride in her. She really was. She just wished he would take off his
rose-colored spectacles and see that he was the only one going crazy over her. Maybe
then he would wrap up the visit real fast so they could beat a hasty retreat
back to New Orleans.
    “Your father is waiting for you,” his mother said. “He’s
in the library.”
    “Great. Let’s go, honey.” He took Arie’s hand and they
were off again, barely giving her enough time to take proper leave of his
mother and sisters.
    “Slow down, will you?” she whispered fiercely as she
tried to pull her hands from Rome’s grasp. “What’s your hurry?”
    “Oh, sorry. I forgot how tiny you are. Your little legs
can’t keep up, can they?”
    “Hey, you. Take that back. My legs are long enough,
thank you very much.”
    “Then what’s the problem?”
    “You’re just moving too fast. We’ll get to see your
father soon enough. Just slow down a bit. Let me see the house.”
    Rome kept on walking but he slowed down and shook his
head. “All of a sudden you’re interested in this old house.”
    Glad for the slower pace, she began to breath just a
little bit easier. “I love old houses,” she said with a shrug. “Sue me.”
    That got her an equally smart response from Rome. “You
keep it up, Missy. You’ll get your spanking soon enough.”
    Perverse creature that she was, Arie could hardly wait
for ‘soon enough’. Except that the ‘soon enough’ that came first was their
arrival at the library.
    “Come in.” The voice that answered Rome’s knock was big
and booming, not at all the voice of a man who’d recently had a stroke. The man
sounded as sturdy as a bull.
    When Rome opened the French doors he stepped aside so
Arie could precede him, which was the polite thing to do. Pity it made her feel
like he was sending her on to be the sacrifice.
    “So this is Aristotle Angelis.” Vittorio Milano was an
imposing figure, stout and tall, with a shock of jet-black hair streaked with
gray. He came forward to meet her and, like his wife, his words were pleasant
enough but somehow the greeting didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Rome told me you
were named after the wise Greek himself.  Interesting.  It's part of why I've
been waiting so eagerly to meet you. What took you so long to pay us a visit?”
    “The time was…not right until now.” What kind of a
question was that, anyway? She couldn’t just drop in like an old friend. She’d
had to wait until Rome was ready. Not that she’d been in any hurry.
    “Well, I’m glad to finally lay eyes on you. Rome has
been talking about you nonstop.” Vittorio took Arie’s hand in a grip that
almost made her snatch it away. Didn’t the man know his own strength?
    “You’re looking good, Pa.” As soon as his father had
released Arie Rome stepped forward to embrace him in a hearty hug. "All is
good?”
    “All’s good and things are even better now that this
little lady is here.”
    “Oh?” Rome cocked an eyebrow but then he gave his father
a knowing smile. “You like her already, don’t you? I told you she was
irresistible.”
    “Yes, yes,” Vittorio said, sounding almost impatient. “Now
leave us alone for a while. I want Miss Angelis all to myself.”
    Rome shook his head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not
getting a chance to fill her in on all my dirty little habits.”
    “No such thing, my boy, no such thing. I just want to
get a chance to know her, that’s all.” As he spoke he was turning Rome toward
the door then he gave him a little shove. “Now go spend some time with your
mother so Aristotle and I can talk.”
    And, as easy as that, the wily man got rid of Rome,
closing the door firmly behind him. Then he turned back to face Arie and that
was when she knew she was in deep doo.
    “Now, little lady,” Vittorio