Lonzo: Book 2 (Tycoon Series Book 2) (3 page)

“Stop it! I’ll take your word for it. Besides, we can do without it. I’m on the pill, you know. I saw a doctor last week—”

“Well, call it our second line of defense against…consequences. Besides, it’s only a few boxes—”

“A few boxes?! You bought enough supply to last a month!”

“No I didn’t. That’s just a week’s supply.”

“Stop making fun of me, Vitale—”

“Who says I’m joking?” he said before lowering his head to kiss her on the mouth.

One kiss and she immediately felt herself burning up.

When they returned to the harbor, the sun was setting on the horizon.
While his four-man crew loaded his Ducati on board the yacht, Lonzo took her hand and led her to the deck.

She was filled with elation. This was by far, the best day she had ever had. Looking at their linked hands, who would’ve thought that they were at each other’s throat just mere weeks past?

“Hungry?”

His question snatched her from her reverie.

“Hungry enough to eat a cow.”

He grinned back at her. “I’m going to fatten you up.”

“You can try, Vitale.”

At first he seemed pretty surprised at her huge appetite. She would even go for seconds.

“Did your agency make you do it?” he asked while they were having coffee one night.

She turned to him, confused.

“Make me do what?”

“The tapeworm diet,” he deadpanned.

“Ewww! Lonzo Vitale, that’s so gross!” she shrieked while she swatted his arm. “I would never go down that road. Ever! Those parasites can kill you…just look at what happened to Maria Callas. Contrary to what people think of me, I’m not that vain.”

“But you eat like a horse.”

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “So? Is that a crime?”

“No. I enjoy seeing you eat. I’m just surprised you can eat like a truck driver and not gain an ounce of extra weight. Not that I mind you putting on extra pounds.”

Well, he was right. Unlike most models, she never counted calories, downed protein shakes or lived on salads. If there was one thing she could thank her parents for, it was for lacking the ‘fat’ gene or whatever it was that kept her from gaining weight…

“Hey,” he said, holding up her chin. “You alright?”

“Huh? Why wouldn’t I be?”

“That was the second time today you went all quiet on me. Something bothering you?”

Which brought to mind unwanted thoughts again. What would happen to her once they parted ways? Would she be able to walk away from this scot-free? Or…would it hurt her?

So many unanswered questions she could never voice out.

“Nope. Everything’s fine. Just hungry…but the scenery more than made up for that.”

His eyes softened.

“Apologies,
bella
. Didn’t mean to starve you. It won’t be long…we’ll be docking in a few minutes.”

“Where are we staying?”

“I have a house. I have asked the caretakers to prepare something in advance.”

“Oh. What are we having?” she asked, her hand drawing exaggerated circles over her abdomen.

He didn’t reply but he gave her look that spoke he was up to no good.

When the yacht reached the island, Lonzo guided her out to the private marina.

He glanced at her.

“Oysters,” he murmured.

“What?” she asked quizzically.

“We’re having oysters.”

When she finally connected what he meant, she blushed, punching him again in the arm. “You! Can’t you think of anything else other than sex?” she exclaimed, lowering her voice at the last word.

“When I’m with you, cara, the answer’s no,” he remarked before his mouth swooped down for another kiss which blew her mind.

It was already three in the morning, but Lonzo was still wide-awake.
He looked down at the woman sleeping peacefully beside him and once again, his blood heated up with desire in seconds.

He was baffled. Instead of diminishing his interest in her, it continued to snowball and intensify. He craved her like fucking air. No matter how many times they fucked, he couldn’t get enough of her. The fact that she was a quick study and a born sensualist certainly didn’t help things for him.

Your plan’s not working.

Shut the fuck up.

After a bout of marathon sex, he was usually tired. Not with her. He felt recharged, amped every time.

All it took was a look and he’d want her again.

Christ sakes, get a grip…she needs to sleep
, he told himself angrily. He sighed and carefully stood from the bed.

He needed to walk…to clear his head, put things back in perspective.

He went out and walked toward the beach.

She was affecting him in ways he never expected. He never felt more relaxed or carefree around another individual before. She pushed his buttons but he wasn’t repelled by it. In fact, he welcomed it. Now that she had her guard down, she openly laughed and giggled at his sorry attempts at humor. Such a magical sound, that laughter of hers.

Even if sex wasn’t on the table, he was surprised to be having fun with her. He was…happy. Doing things with her made him happy—playing tourists, arguing, doing even mundane activities.

When was the last time he ever felt like this?

A spark of memory lit up.

The last time he felt this light was when he was a five-year old kid. It was so long ago that he had almost forgotten it.

Well, you had more or less ten days to have your fill of happy bubbles.

He had to put things in perspective.

Keep that in mind, Vitale. Things will resume after this island getaway. You’re immune to feelings, immune to flimsy emotions.

This was just RnR.

Yet the thought of time running out on them left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Chapter Two

Jordana was reminded that their time was almost up
when she opened her email. It came knocking on their twenty-seventh day together.

She woke up late. Lonzo was nowhere to be found but she knew he must’ve taken his morning swim. After a quick shower, she put on a summer dress over her swim suit, intending to follow him at the beach. When she took her beach tote from the table, she accidentally knocked off her tablet and it landed with a thud on the floor. She stood there looking at it for a moment. Along with her smartphone, she avoided switching it on for weeks.

Well, no way to avoid it now so it seemed. She had to check if it was still working. She picked it up from the floor and pressed the power button. The screen showed no indication of damage. She could’ve just left it at that.

Oh, what the heck!
She said to herself, mentally rolling her eyes. She connected to the internet and in a matter of seconds, the gadget notified her that she had two hundred new email messages in her inbox.

She sifted through her email account. Most of it came from Leandro and Francesca, while three were sent by Mel. She opened Mel’s first, smiling as she viewed her friend’s pictures with her new husband honeymooning in the mountains high up in the Andes.

ff

She closed the messages without replying yet. Maybe later…when she was more composed.

She stared at the screen and took in the number of messages from Leandro and her booker. She was reluctant to open their emails and be reminded that she had to return to work and the world she left behind in a three days’ time.

She bit her lip before deciding to open the most recent one from Francesca while ignoring Leandro’s. She couldn’t handle a scolding one from her friend at the moment.

As expected, Francesca didn’t pussy-foot around.

Hi dearest,

I tried calling you but I can’t reach you because you diverted your calls to your voicemail. I get it. You don’t want to be disturbed. Well, Leandro is pestering me for weeks. Seems you blocked his calls too. And before you accuse me of giving in to his charms, no, I didn’t spill the beans on where you were, or with whom you’re with. I swear on the life of my puppies, it wasn’t me. He knows your dirty secret, darling. The papz got a snapshot of you and your hunky billionaire looking all-too-cozy at the beach. Nice view, by the way. Where in Italy is that? I’m gonna include that in my itinerary next time I’m on vacay.

Anyway…now, I need you in three days’ time. I can’t hold the fort indefinitely. The clients are threatening to sue the agency and that’s not good for business, darling. I’ve got puppy mouths to feed. Time to get your ass back here, sweetie. Just give me a call when you’re in the Big Apple.

Until then, I wish you peace, love and health. Blah, Blah blah... screw that! I wish you lots of sex, booze, orgasms and hope you can wring a proposal out of that hot, lickalicious Italian stud of yours!

XOXO,

Francesca :)

Jordana blinked before expelling a deep sigh.

Three days.

The thought of walking away from him gutted her.

She finally admitted to herself the reason why it was so.

She had fallen in love.

At the onset of their agreement, she had convinced herself she was merely making the best out of a bad situation. She thought she can stick to the plan. She can deal with it.

She told herself she wouldn’t fall or allow him to get close. But he was good at breaking down walls. The fortress she had around her heart never stood a chance. He had her dreaming of them walking into the sunset together. Stupid, reckless heart.

They’d been happy since they got on the island. When not entwined in bed, they did activities that regular ‘couples’ would do—they swam, fished, took long walks along the sandbar or just plain talked about everything under the sun.

When he chose to, Lonzo was the most gifted conversationalist she had ever met. His wit was always on point. He could discuss tough issues or irreverent topics and blast it into outer space. Or maybe she was just plain biased. He could say anything and she’d still love the sound of his voice.

He was also a great listener. He had her pouring her life history in no time. Well, at least the pleasant parts.

Their time together was so magical that she could almost imagine she was on her honeymoon like Mel and Rocco. Well…almost. Until she remembered how head-over-heels in love their individual bestfriends were. She had none of that.

Lonzo would often verbalize his need for her physically but beyond that…nothing.

She tried to mask her disappointment by reminding herself about the very nature of their affair. That she should manage her expectations. But it hurt no matter how hard she tried to convince herself she was content.

She was in love with someone who never believed or would reciprocate her affection.

She finally understood why love was so life defining, how it can be both the most beautiful and potentially the most painful of experiences.

Nothing would come out of this, she would tell herself. She should bolt before it was too late—before she dug a hole she couldn’t climb out of.

But a part of her would hold back and cannot bear to cut ties.

That part of her being that resonated with the little boy in the photograph—the young Lonzo who yearned for his mother’s love.

That hopeful, if naive girl who believed in fairy tales despite the heartaches and life’s losses.

There had been signs which indicated that their liaison had transformed into something deeper than sex.

She had seen the way he looked at her while they made love. He had been extra attentive to her. Almost tender.

It may be emotional crumbs but she loved him enough to hope and not give up. At least not yet.

Surely he would realize that what they had was special and worth considering?

She took a long deep breath. She’d know in three days’ time.

She absently kept staring at the tablet. And then the date on the gadget registered.

She smiled as the idea formed inside her mind, glad to do something that will take her mind off things. She took her phone from the bedside table and dialed a number from her contacts.

“Penelope? Hi there…how are you? It’s Jordana. That’s good to know. I’m fine. Hey, I called because I remembered you collect vintage toys. No, it’s not for me. Do you have vintage locomotive sets? You do?! Perfect—” she went on as she made arrangements.

Celebrating his birthday was never a good time for Lonzo
. It brought all the unpleasantness of his childhood to rise to the surface.

But that wasn’t the entire reason for his dark mood. It was their last day on the island. Tomorrow, they would be picked up by his yacht.

He went for a long walk before he went for a swim. He pushed against the waves, angrily slicing the water to shake off the uneasiness and figure out what to do next. It was no use.