Chapter 7: Chapter 7

PRESLEY

Presley was asleep when the sound of the doorbell ringing woke her. She cracked open her eyes and noticed the sun wasn’t quite up yet. She groaned. Who was at her door this early?

She couldn’t make out the time on her phone and stumbled out of bed, rubbing her eyes as she headed into the living room. She shuffled to the door, stubbing her toe on the leg of a chair as she went to open it.

“Damn it! Just a second!”

She hopped on one foot over to her alarm, disengaged it, and swung the door open. She squinted at the man on her doorstep, still hopping and holding her foot in her hand.

“Santino?” she croaked.

He stood in her doorway, looking far too polished for it to be this early and holding a couple of coffees in one hand and a heavenly smelling box in the other. He smiled.

“What’s happening? What time is it? Am I late?” She put her foot down and ran a hand over her face.

“It’s just after six.”

She stared at him, confused. “I’m not awake yet. Am I missing something? Did we set a time for our coffee date?”

“No, I was just anxious to see you.”

She smoothed her shirt, suddenly realizing she barely had anything on. “Oh god! Let me put something decent on. Please, come in.”

She left him standing in the middle of the entryway as she hobbled back to her room. It hit her when she sat down on the bed that the devastatingly handsome Italian man was in her home.

She pulled on a sweatshirt and a pair of cropped leggings, throwing her messy hair in a bun on top of her head. She walked out and found him in the kitchen sipping his coffee and looking outside of her back door.

She cleared her throat from the frog that had settled itself there overnight. “Good morning.”

He turned, smile deepening as he looked at her. “Good morning.”

The sound of his deep voice ran up her legs, so rich and smooth it gave her goosebumps.

“I brought coffee.” He gestured to the large steaming cup on her small kitchen island. She grabbed it, adding a splash of her favorite flavored creamer and taking a seat at the table.

“Thank you. I sort of anticipated going out somewhere for coffee.”

“Oh… Well, you didn’t message me back,” he grumbled.

“I was asleep!”

“I realized that when you opened the door,” he said sheepishly.

“I assume Elio told you where I lived?” She narrowed her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Santino, I’m not sure what to do here.”

“Enjoy your coffee with me.”

“You left last night.”

“I did.”

“Abruptly.”

“Yes.”

“And then you show up on my doorstep, at God only knows what time, with coffee because I didn’t text you back while I was sleeping.”

“Yes.”

“You sure know how to keep a girl on her toes,” she huffed.

He gave her a slow, sexy smile that lit her pants on fire.

“I’m sorry about last night. Something came up that I had to deal with immediately. I don’t normally do this kind of shit, but things are a little unpredictable right now. Which is why I wanted to get over here as soon as possible so I could apologize properly.”

She sipped her coffee, letting her brain wake up. She didn’t know what to think of this man. He sat down across from her and pulled the pink cardboard box toward him.

“I brought pastries. Bombolini. They’re Italian-style donuts,” he said as he flipped open the lid.

Presley’s mouth started watering as the delicious aroma filled the room. “They look amazing.”

“Well, enjoy them. I’ll never be able to set foot in that café again. The owner seemed very intent on introducing me to her granddaughter.”

“Oh, does that happen often?” Presley asked as she grabbed one of the little bundles.

He barked out a laugh. “You would be surprised.”

Santino took one and popped it in his mouth, nodding his head in appreciation. Presley rolled her eyes as she took a bite, letting out a moan of delight.

“This is good. Really good. I’m going to be peeling myself off the ceiling later from all the sugar, but yum,” Presley said as she snagged another.

“I’m sorry I ambushed you this morning,” Santino said. “I didn’t like the way I had to leave you, and then not hearing from you made me worry that I ruined my chance. It wasn’t the impression I wanted to give you.”

She held her hand up. “Trust me, I wasn’t exactly the best version of myself last night either.”

“Let’s call it even. What are your plans for the rest of the day?” he asked.

“A nap.”

“A nap?” A slow grin crossed his face as he leaned closer. “I can’t tell you the last time I had a nap.”

Presley didn’t miss the heavy hint and blushed, looking down at her hands.

“I don’t normally do this, but I feel like nothing with us is normal and I’m exhausted. So, would you like to take a nap with me?” she asked, meeting his eyes again. “No sex.”

“A no-sex nap sounds completely normal for us.”

She laughed and stretched. “Do you need to let them know?”

She pointed to the car parked outside the house.

“No. They’re fine. They get paid to wait for me.”

“Babysitters?” She snickered at her own joke, rising from the table.

“Something like that.”

“Bedroom’s this way.”

He followed her, smiling as he stepped through the doorway. This room was unlike the rest of the house. It was dramatic, dark, and sexy.

“It’s awesome, isn’t it?” She grinned as he took the room in.

“It’s fantastic.”

She pulled her sweatshirt off, turning to catch Santino watching her. He let out a nervous sigh and kicked off his shoes, reaching up to slip his shirt over his head. Her eyes widened at his inked and muscular torso.

He tossed his shirt to the side and undid his jeans, slipping them off. She tried not to look, but Presley felt her eyes slide down his chest to his extended boxer briefs. Her face warmed as she quickly climbed into bed.

He coughed, smiling when she met his eyes. She blushed even harder that he caught her checking him out and watched as he slipped under the covers next to her.

She started giggling and pulled a pillow over her face. He rolled onto his side to look at her.

“I’m sorry. I’m really tired, but I’m also really nervous,” she yawned.

“Honestly, so am I,” he admitted.

He stretched out, various parts of his body popping and cracking as he settled in. He gave her a lazy smile and pulled her toward him.

“Come here. Let’s see how well we fit.”

She rolled her eyes and snorted but scooted into him as his heavy arm wrapped around her middle. She nestled against him, instantly comfortable. They fit perfectly.

Soon Presley found it difficult to keep her eyes open as Santino’s steady breathing slowly lulled her to sleep.