Turn Towards the Sun (12 page)

“Ava,
I don’t even know why, but I feel like I need to be honest with you.
I have… a history.” He looks anxious.

“I’m listening.”

“I’ve never been interested in pursuing a relationship before. The women I meet come and
go
and I don’t get attached. It’s always been sexual and nothing else.”

I wince at the thought of him having sex with someone else.

“My life is very busy. I didn’t get to where I am by letting a woman distract me. Besides none of them ever kept my interest. Usually the women
who
pursue me are chasing my
money,
and I know it. So I keep my guard up.” He runs his fingers through his hair.

I remain silent, remembering his
reaction to the beautiful flight attendant.

“I tried to ignore you on the
plane,
but I couldn’t. I thought you were beautiful. Your smile is
intriguing,
and you’re feisty. You seemed down to earth, natural, and comfortable with yourself, it’s really sexy. You caught my attention. At
first,
I admit I just wanted sex from
you,
and that was my plan.”

I know this but for
some reason,
I am still astonished to hear it.

“But after spending just a few hours with
you,
I quickly realized
there was
something about
you
I was interested in. Something more. I wanted to know you and spend real time with you.
I tend to get
bored with a woman as soon as I’ve had her. I think it’s important for us, for me
,
to take this slowly.”

I pout. He rises from the chair and kneels down in front of me, taking my hands in his.

“You think you’ll get bored with me Enzo?”

“Honestly? No I don’t. But now there’s more between us. It’s not just a physical attraction, at least not for me.” He looks so vulnerable right now.

“I know making love to you is going to be
amazing,
and I want it more than you know. I want you to get to know
me,
and I want to know you. I know it’s hard to wait but trust me my beautiful Ava, the day will come that I am going to make love to you.”

He pulls me closer and kisses me again. I feel better. Happier. I still don’t get it a hundred
percent,
but I can tell he is being sincere and I will respect his choice. I’m still wrapped in his arms as we continue kissing. I break away and hold his face in my hands.

“Enzo. I’m enjoying myself with
you,
and I want to spend more time with you too. But the whole seduction thing is confusing me.”

“This is new for me, entertaining a woman. I’m just doing what I know Ava.”

I don’t like the idea of lots of other
women
going through this with him. I
cross
my arms trying to process everything he is saying to me.

“You look sad. What can I do?”

“I’m not sad. I just…it’s just weird to me that so many women get this
treatment,
and it ends in sex for them but not for me.”

His eyes widen. “No Ava, let me explain. This is not what I do with other women. I pick them up, escort them to an event, then tak
e them back to their house for…
well.” He looks away. “Honestly, I’m ashamed even telling you this. I told you there’s no dating, talking, or romance. It’s different with you. I want to give you the world and I’m doing my best to show you that.”

So I’m being emotionally seduced but not physically.
Well,
if that’s his
plan,
I’d say it’s working just fine then.

“Okay Enzo. I understand.” I kiss him again. He picks up our glasses and hands me one. I take a gulp and regain my composure. I’ve been taking care of my own needs for months, what’s a little
longer?
Besides,
it’s sweet to know he
actually
wants
to
get to know me. I smile inside.

“I should go back to my room Enzo.” I say, not really wanting to leave.

“Please stay. Sleep here with me.” His eyes are convincing.

“But that will just make it harder to
,
you know, to just date.”

He grins. “Let’s try it. We’re not teenagers
that
can’t control ourselves.” Maybe he’s not!

“Come here.” He pulls me from my chair and reaches around me to unbutton the top of my dress. It falls loosely around my shoulders. Oh shit, the sticky bra thing! How am I going to explain this? How do you get them off? Is he going to undress me? Shit. Shit! 

“What’s the matter baby? I just want to see your body.” He whispers in my ear.

“I want you to but I’m wearing something under this dress that I don’t know what to do about.”

“Let me help.”

I release my breath and let my shoulders
fall,
which allows the dress to slide down to my waist. He pauses and studies me closely, then walks
into
the
bathroom.
He comes back holding a small glass
filled with water
and a washcloth.

“I’ll get them off for you.” He tugs at the corner of one of the sticky patches and
thankfully,
it comes off easily. He releases the second one. He stands in front of me gazing at my breasts without touching them. His eyes warm me like the glow of the
sun,
and I feel perfectly comfortable standing half naked in front of him. He dips the washcloth in the glass filled with warm so
apy water and begins to
wash my naked breasts. I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation. He moves the washcloth across my stomach and up
to
my neck. He leans towards me and kisses my neck then my shoulder. My skin tingles as my breasts rub up against his shirt.

“Your skin is so beautiful.”

I want him to touch me with his
hands,
but I know he won’t. He places the washcloth and glass on the table and walks behind me. He pulls my dress down and helps me step out of it. I’m standing in pale pink panties and nothing else. He pulls me to him and brushes his lips against my neck.

“Come to bed Ava.” He leads me to his bed, lifting me onto it. Standing in front of me, he unbuttons his shirt keeping his eyes on me the entire time. He unbuttons his pants and lets them fall to the ground, kicking them and his shoes off at the same time. He bends down and strips off his socks. I can’t take my eyes
off of his sculpted body. He’s
toned and lean without being too muscular. A light spattering of dark chest hair creates a seductive trail down his stomach and disappears beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs. I sigh and bite my lip.

He walks towards me and spreads my legs so he can stand between
them.
“I want to wake up with you.”

How am I going to relax enough to sleep with this
half-naked 
god lying next to me? He steps
back,
and I slide beneath the sheets. He climbs in
and pulls
me close
. He buries his face in my hair and
wraps
his arms
around my torso just below my
squeaky-clean 
breasts.

“Thank you for letting me see your body. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful. Buona notte.”

Surprisingl
y, I drift comfortably to sleep.

“Buon giorno bella.” Enzo is staring at me as I wake.

“Bella?” I squeak, trying to clear my scratchy morning voice. Enzo is
bright-eyed and
ready for the day. Oh no
,
a morning person!

I stretch and remember I’m nearly naked under the sheet. He notices my reaction.

“I hope you don’t mind. I went to your room and brought you something to wear. It’s Wednesday you know.”

Wednesday! The movers are supposed to be at my new place between ten and twelve.

“I’ve ordered breakfast so get dressed. You can shower here.” This is the first time I’ve woken up with a man I didn’t have sex
with,
but I have to admit it was a very nice evening. I throw on his shirt from last night and go into the bathroom. My clothes are laid out on the lounger in the bathroom along with my hairbrush and toothbrush. He thinks of everything. I jump in the shower and wash quickly. My hair can air dry. I can’t bear the hairdryer again in this heat. I throw my clothes on and join Enzo
,
who is reading the paper.

“Anything interesting?”

“Not as interesting a
s you.” He puts the paper down. “Come sit and e
at.”

I
gobble
two pancakes and have a hot cup of coffee.

“You have a fantastic appetite Miss Bradshaw.”

“For everything Mr. Milano.”

He grins.
“We should get going soon.”

“I need to go pack my things.”

“I did that for you
this morning while you slept.”

He’s joking right? 

“I hope you don’t mind.”

He’s not.

“No, I don’t mind but you didn’t have to.”

“You will soon realize that I do a lot of things I don’t have to do simply because I want to. I’ll have Grayson drive your things over with your car.”

“How long can I keep the car?” I need to plan this out.

“How long do you want it?”

“Well I’m sure it’s costing—” He cuts me off.

“It doesn’t cost me anything.
We keep a company car
for visitors. For now, consider yourself a visitor until we get you settled.”

I smile. “Oh Francesca called.
It’s really sweet that she’s going to help me.” He’s watching me as I talk.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m remembering your naked body.”

Okay Mr. Sexy.

“And I know you don’t want to accept my help but thank you for letting me. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes I am.” I grab my
handbag,
and we head out the door.

I see Anna walking in our direction. “Mr. Milano.” She addresses him and completely ignores me. “I need to speak with you about the Fall order.”

“What do you need Anna?” Enzo asks.
She glances at me as though this is a private discussion.

“Anna. We have somewhere to be so
tell me what you need.
”
His tone is very impatient
.

She sighs. “The supplier for the Maca dresses is moving their distribution center. As a result, they are raising the prices thirty percent which will require us to increase our budget of course. The dresses are very popular in this
location,
so I think we
should,
but I will need your approval.”

“Are there any additional expenses?”

“No. And I was able to negotiate a discount with one of our other vendors we’ve been working with for a while so the net increase will be about twenty percent.”

“Okay, write up the purchase orders. I will come to the shop later today and sign them before I leave town tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.” She mutters.

I can tell from his demeanor that Enzo is annoyed with our friendly little Anna. We start to walk away when he suddenly stops.

“Oh and Anna?” She turns sullenly to face us.

“It would serve you well to be polite to Miss Bradshaw.”

Surprise spreads across my face while Anna’s registers dismay.
She rushes back towards us, stumbling over her words.

“Sir, I was just caught up in my work. I meant no disrespect.” Her eyes
beg
me not to make it worse. Enzo is glaring at her now.
Wow,
he’s really mad. I realize I have a lot of power I could wield. But I soften. I can’t do it to the poor insecure girl. I say nothing.

“Miss Bradshaw, forgive me.” She says through gritted teeth.

I smile and rub Enzo’s arm. “I’m sure Anna didn’t mean anything by it Enzo.”

Laying it on pretty thick Ava.

Anna looks shocked
. Enzo looks at me and for a
moment,
I think he knows my game. But he simply nods and walks away. I turn back looking at
Anna,
who
watches
us as we walk. I give her my best
‘
watch
yourself’
look and turn around.