Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
How fitting, I thought with a twinge to my upper lip. There was no way that was a coincidence.
“So,” I started with a pointed look at her. “You ghosted me.”
She swallowed uncomfortably, then looked me straight in the eyes with a steely determination. “You should have gotten the hint.”
Damn. That was cold.
“You could’ve at least had the decency to tell me what I did wrong,” I shot back, dropping the humor from my voice. I was a bit ashamed as I heard the hurt that slipped in, the note of accusation.
This wasn’t how I wanted this to go. I was supposed to charm her, to make her rethink cutting me out of her life, to convince her to give me a chance.
But things were just going horribly wrong right out of the gate.
“Look, I’m sorry about ghosting you.” Natalia sighed, looking a bit repentant. “But I meant what I said. I really can’t do this anymore.”
I stared at her for a few minutes, surveying every inch of her blankly and she shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable.
Finally, I grinned and said, “Nope.”
“What?” She burst out, giving me an incredulous look. “What do you mean, nope?”
“I mean,” I said casually, “that I can tell you’re not telling the truth and just making excuses. So, until you tell me a good reason for not giving me a chance, then I will sit here and drink my expertly prepared latte.”
To prove my point, I leaned back in my chair, placing the latte to my lips and taking a sip. Just as I’d thought, the latte was pretty good. Natalia just stared at me open-mouthed, looking like I was crazy.
She was probably right about that.
But I had a feeling she was a little crazy too.
“Fine. You want a good reason?” she huffed, crossing her arms. “Then I’m just not that into you.”
“Try again,” I countered easily. “We both know you are.”
She gaped at my shamelessness, her cheeks burning red, and I knew I had caught her red-handed. I smirked at her, tilting my head and waiting for whatever she would come up with next.
“I’m an exchange student. I won’t be here forever. I don’t want to start a relationship just for it to end when I go back home.”
“Then it won’t. I’ll come to visit you and pay for your plane tickets to visit me. Plus, there’s the internet.” I shrugged. “There are a million ways to stay connected when you leave. Besides, who knows when that will be?”
“You’re too old for me.”
“Please, you’re what, twenty-three? Ten years isn’t that big of a difference,” I quirked an eyebrow at her. “We’re both adults.”
“I don’t have to take this! I said no, so leave me alone!” She slammed her palms on the table, avoiding my eyes as she got to her feet, and for a moment, I panicked.
I was going to lose her again.
Before she could lose her shoe and run away from the ball, I reached out to gently place my hand over hers.
“Natalia.” I called her name softly and she flinched, finally looking me in the eyes. I could see the fear, the shame in her eyes, and though I didn’t know what she was so afraid of, I knew that she was terrified.
“I like you,” I told her bluntly, smiling softly as she blushed, her lips twitching into a smile before she tried to forcefully pull them down.
She looked away, completely unsure and anxious, but I got to my feet, circling the table and gently placing my palm on her cheek, guiding her gaze to my eyes.
“I like you, so I spend days thinking about nothing but you. You’ve driven me absolutely nuts, and I tracked you down just to beg you to give me a chance. So please, Natalia, don’t run away again.” I searched her eyes, finding that little hint of hope in them and praying she didn’t push me away.
I leaned forward, keeping an eye on her reaction as I got closer and closer until our lips were just millimeters from brushing. I could feel the heat of her breath, and I waited there for her permission, letting her make the next move.
Her bottom lip wobbled, her blue eyes swimming with anxiety before finally, she shut her eyes, sighing.
“Okay,” she murmured but then, just when she leaned forward, her lips brushing against mine just the tiniest bit, she was gone again.
Not even realizing I’d closed my eyes, I opened them, shocked to find there was no one in front of me.
Panicked, I turned around, intending to chase after her, but I spotted her standing there with her back to the windows, the sunlight pouring in and illuminating her like an angel’s halo.
She gave me a mischievous smile, hands tucked behind her back, looking more like a temptress than an angel as she stole my breath from my lungs once more.
*Natalia*
I don’t know why I had challenged him.
I’ve always been impulsive, but challenging the Don of the Italian mafia to woo me wasn’t just taking the cake, but the whole damn bakery with it.
Maybe I just wanted to see how far he would go for me, how deep the feelings he claimed he had for me truly were. Or maybe I wanted to test him, to see if I could really capture his heart for my family, just to break it in the worst way possible.
Or maybe I wanted to see if he felt it too, this deep connection I’d never experienced before with anyone, this intense longing to be by his side, to talk to him and be near him.
I didn’t know.
Whatever my expectations had been, Tallon had certainly surpassed them.
“And voila! The best gelato in the world!” Tallon grinned like a kid, handing me the sugary dessert in a cup.
I giggled, feeling like I was on the edge of a cliff, one puff of wind from blowing me over the edge as I gladly took the cup of dessert.
“Why thank you, sir,” I pretended to curtsey, grinning as he bowed like a gentleman, even pretending to take off his imaginary top hat in respect.
“Why, my lady, I would comb the heavens for whatever you asked. For you are the moon and I am the sky under your domain.” He sent me a flirty wink, his own cup of gelato clutched in his hand.
I laughed. “That was incredibly cheesy,” I teased.
“Did it work?” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
I didn’t answer, but we both knew the answer was yes. I’d always been good at faking my emotions, hiding the true ones inside. But for some reason, I couldn’t do that with Tallon. He read me like an open book, and I longed to know how he did it.
Not even my own mother could read me as well as he could.
“Don’t get a big head,” I told him, turning to walk down the street. I could hear him quickly running to catch up, falling to my side and matching my pace easily. I scooped up a bite of the gelato, admiring the deep chocolate color.
I wondered how he knew that chocolate was my favorite.
I took a bite, the cold hitting me first and then the sheer explosion of chocolate goodness. I moaned over the gelato, the smooth iciness melting away in my mouth, and I felt like I could cry.
