Four Week Fiance (Four Week Fiance #1)(64)

“I know.” He grinned as he stared down at me. “I was just watching you in your natural habitat.”

“Um, okay.”

“Are they peppermint or minty green?”

“What’s that?” I asked, embarrassed.

“The mints you put in your purse.”

“None of your business, TJ Walker.” I pushed him back, my fingers enjoying the feel of his hard chest. “Let’s go.”

“Okay, we’re going.” He stepped back. “I like it when you get bossy.”

“Really now? You never seemed to like it before.”

“There was nothing you could boss me around to do before that I would like.”

“And there is now?”

“There sure is.” He flicked his tongue at me and then laughed as I blushed. “Come on, my innocent little flower. Let’s go and eat.”

“I hope you tidied up.” I laughed. “I wouldn’t want to tell your dad that your place was a mess.”

“Tell my dad?” He looked down at me with hooded eyes. “You’ve been in contact with my dad?”

“Of course not.” I wasn’t sure why he looked so annoyed, but I figured that he was fed up of women trying to come on to him to get to his dad. “I was just joking.”

“I knew that.” He laughed again, but it seemed to me as if his laugh were forced. And I wondered why. He couldn’t really think I cared about the Walker millions, could he? “Let’s go, Mila. No more small talk.”

“You want the big talk instead?”

“I don’t think you really want to know what I want, Mila.” He winked and then tapped me on the ass as I walked down the hallway in front of him.

***

“Nonno’s calling me, do you mind if I take it?” I asked TJ as I pulled out my ringing phone.

“Of course not.” He shook his head. “We’ll be at my place in about ten minutes.”

“I know,” I said and smiled, and then answered the phone. “Hello, Nonno.”

“Mila.” He sounded happy. “I haven’t heard from you.”

“It’s only been a few days, Nonno.” I said, exasperated.

“Well, the last call had you and Sally in tears. I want to know what happened.”

“We weren’t in tears.” I laughed. “And Sally will be fine. I think she realizes now that Cody is an * and not worth her time.”

“And you?”

“I’m actually in a car with TJ right now, Nonno. He’s taking me to dinner.” I didn’t bother mentioning that dinner was at TJ’s house. I was pretty sure Nonno would not approve of that tidbit or of the fact that I’d almost lost my virginity to TJ at the lake house.

“With TJ?” Nonno sounded suspicious. “Cody’s friend.”

“Yes, the one and only.”

“You’re going to dinner with him?”


“Yes, Nonno.” I sighed. He wasn’t sounding as delighted for me as I’d hoped he would.

“How did this happen?”

“How did what happen?” I could see TJ looking at me from the driver’s seat and I gave him a small smile.

“How did you go from being upset that he had another girl at the lake house, to you going to dinner with him?”

“Nonno, can I call you later?”

“Fine.” He sighed. “I was calling to tell you about your parents. Things aren’t going so well.”

“What do you mean? Are they getting a divorce?” My voice sounded shrill, even to my own ears.

“No, no,” Nonno said quickly. “I mean the business. It’s not doing well. I’m worried for them.”

“Oh, no.” I bit my lower lip. “I’m sorry, Nonno.”

“It’s fine,” he said, but I knew it wasn’t. The business was Nonno’s life. In fact, he still owned the majority share. I knew he would be crushed if it failed. “I just need you to make more of an effort to help out at work, okay?”

“Yes, Nonno. Of course.”

“Don’t let yourself be sidetracked.”

“I won’t.”

“I don’t know about that TJ.” His voice was low. “Be careful.”

“Nonno.” I moaned. “You’ve never had a problem with him before.”

“Mila, do you have to be so loud?” Nonno sounded exasperated now. “Call me when you get home from your dinner.”

“It might be late.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll be waiting up.”

“Okay, I love you.”

“I love you too, Mi Cara. I love you too,” he said and hung up. I put my phone back in my bag and looked over at TJ, who was grinning. “What’s so funny?” I said as I looked at him.

“Nonno doesn’t want me dating you, does he?”

“He didn’t say that.” I shook my head and clasped my hands. “Though I’m sure if he knew what happened last night and the night before, he wouldn’t want me dating you.”

“What happened last night?” he asked with a small smile.

“I’m not going to bring up the contract or anything like that. Tonight is meant to be a causal date.”