For Angelo(55)

She reddened even more. “Sadist!”

“I try my best to be one for you, my Lane.”

She bit back a sigh. Oh, why did she even bother verbally sparring with him? Picking her purse up from the floor, she said, “I have to go.”

He nodded, murmuring, “If you need anything, you know where to find Fico and Umberto.”

“T-thanks.” Even though it had been almost a month since she had become his girlfriend, Lane still hadn’t gotten completely used to the idea of having people at her beck and call.

“No panicking today?” His knuckles grazed her cheek as he spoke.

“No panicking,” she promised, her heart tripping over itself at the tenderness in his gaze.

She stepped out of the car, and when she looked back at Angelo, every trace of her sweetly possessive lover was gone. In place was the coolly composed billionaire, and she fought back a smile at the way Angelo nodded at her oh so politely before driving away.

No one would have thought that this was the same Angelo who woke up with the cutest bed hair and liked to eat her * in the shower.

No one.

She hugged the knowledge to herself.

Then she turned around and found practically the entire university staring at her, most of them women, throwing daggers at Lane with their envious gazes.

Oh gosh, she had forgotten about those tint-less windows.

“Hey, you,” a laughing voice called out to her from the sidewalk. Lane turned to it in relief, recognizing her friend’s voice.

She waved hi at her friend, watching in amusement as the guys around them literally stopped walking to stare as Farica sailed past them, looking every inch the fun-loving heiress she was. Her outfit was glittery and short once more, but somehow Farica managed to make the dress appear more elegant than trashy.

“I saw everything!” As was her habit, Farica had her arm curled comfortably around Lane’s upon reaching her friend. “And I’m still gobsmacked. I never pegged you to be the exhibitionist.”

Lane was about to protest when she saw Josh across the street. She started to wave, but as soon as their eyes met, Josh lifted his chin and deliberately turned away. He had snubbed her, again.

Farica saw the entire thing, too. “Still mad at you for quitting?” she remarked sympathetically.

“I guess.” Lane had told Josh early on that she had come back to work out her notice, but he had only laughed it off. You’re a smart girl, Lane, he had told her. You know it’s foolish to give up reality for fantasy.

“He’ll get over it sooner or later.” As they started walking, she added, “His ego just needs time. You know how men are.”

Lane nodded, but privately she didn’t think it would be that easy. Yesterday, she had told Josh her three-week notice had ended, and Josh had cried. Not only that, but he had tried to kiss her, and she had been so shocked that he might have been able to get away with it—

She mentally winced, remembering how Angelo had swiftly put her behind his back, out of her friend’s reach, before planting a fist in Josh’s face.

Biting her lip, she said, “I just wish I was able to think of a way to make Josh feel less hurt—”

Farica shook her head. “Don’t go there. Trust me on this, because I’ve tried it for years. You can’t make people feel what you want them to feel.”

“Right.” Lane forced herself to smile, not wanting her friend to realize that she had unintentionally struck a chord. But worry gnawed at her, and she wondered if she was unconsciously doing the same thing with Angelo.

“Anyway, let’s talk about happier things,” Farica was saying. “How are the preparations going?”

“So far, everything’s gone as planned.” Lane’s smile dimmed. “Are you sure you can’t come tonight?”

“Aww, look at you giving me that puppy look because I’m not going,” Farica teased. “And to think you couldn’t even look at me straight the first day in class.”

Lane turned red, and when Farica giggled, she confessed awkwardly, “It’s a-all Angelo.” And it was true. She had improved by leaps and bounds under Angelo’s tutelage, although she had a feeling it was more because he had threatened to date another woman every time he wanted her to try a new coping technique.

And of course there are the rewards, a sly voice inside her mind intruded. If you did good, he promised to eat you good, too—

“Oh dear, you’re blushing.”

“Am n-not!” Then she glared at Farica. “Now, see what you m-made me do! You’ve made me s-stammer again!”

Farica laughed and impulsively gave her friend a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Lane,” she said feelingly. “Dylan Charbonneau was right. You guys are a perfect match.” When she pulled away, she saw Lane gave her a doubtful look, and she asked in surprise, “You don’t believe it’s true?”

“I’d l-like to, but…I’m n-nervous. We’re going to s-spend even m-more time together now. W-what if he starts getting bored?”

Farica rolled her eyes. It still amazed her that Lane was totally clueless about what a babe she was. But then again, her friend always had her head down. It could be why she wasn’t aware of how men looked at her – or even how ugly her clothes were for that matter.