Soulless Devil (Sons of Valentino #3)(8)

As I reach for the menu, a bottle of champagne and an ice bucket is placed in front of us. “Ma’am, this is from a gentleman who wishes to remain anonymous. Enjoy.” The waiter fills two glasses before tucking the bottle back into the ice bucket.

“Who would send you champagne?” I ask Sandra, pushing my glass towards her. I have no intention of drinking it. Instead, I pick up my water and take a sip.

“Not me, I believe this was sent for you.” She smiles.

I scoff. “Highly unlikely.” I grab the menu and read through it. There are no prices. I don’t even know how to order the cheapest item.

“I’m going to do the crab cakes. What are you feeling?” Sandra asks me.

“Um, I’m not that hungry. I’ll just have the Greek salad.”

“That’s a side dish.” Sandra scowls at me. “I know what you’re doing. And I’m telling you if you don’t order properly, I’m going to order for you and you might not like my choice.”

“Fine, I’ll have the crab cakes too.” I drop my menu on the table. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. You know I’d do anything for you, right? If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask.”

“I know, and I appreciate that.”

“So, tell me all about your session with the infamous Romeo Valentino. How stupid is he?” Her eyes twinkle with mischief.

“First of all, he’s not stupid. I actually think he’s way more intelligent than he was letting on. Second, it was fine. No different from any other tutoring session.”

“Really? No different, even though the man is hot as Hades?”

“What? I didn’t notice,” I lie. Of course I noticed how good looking he was. I basically objectified him to his face. Tall. Like really tall. Well over six foot. With broad shoulders that were tightly wrapped by a black short-sleeve t-shirt. And that ass… I may have stared a little longer than is appropriate when he walked away.

“You’re blushing.” Sandra points at my face.

“Nope, not at all.”

“Yes, you are. It’s okay to think he’s hot. The whole female population on campus talks about him. The guy’s like the Loch Ness Monster. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse, get him for themselves, but no one can ever seem to lock him down.”

“You do know he’s a person, right? Not an object,” I defend him. “Besides, who wants to be locked down at our age?”

“To a Valentino? Everyone, apart from you it seems.”

“What does that mean? A Valentino?”

“Nothing. The family’s just filthy rich. That’s all.”

“A majority of our classmates come from money, including you,” I point out.

“I guess.” Sandra picks up my champagne flute and drinks the contents in one go before refilling both glasses.

“I’m just going to go to the bathroom. Which way are they?” I ask, looking around the packed dining room.

“Down that way, to your left.”

“Won’t be long.” I stand and walk in the direction Sandra pointed. Just as I turn the corner, taking the left she indicated, I run smack-bang into a wide chest.

My hands come up, gripping on to the person’s shirt in an attempt to stop myself from falling, while a pair of arms wraps around my waist, holding me still. Looking up, I stare into the same face I sat across from today. Except it’s not the same. My eyebrows draw down in confusion. I don’t know who this man is, but he’s not Romeo. Although he looks a lot like him. The same, in fact.

“That’s not the expression girls usually have when they’re in my arms,” the guy says.

The voice, the accent, it’s uncannily similar. I’m so confused. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going. And you, you just look like someone I know. Well, not know, but kind of met.”

His arms are still around me. I push back on his chest to create space between us. He lets his hands fall from my waist and takes a step to the side. “And who is it that I remind you of? That you know but don’t really know?”

Is he laughing at me? I can’t tell. This is why I hate social situations. I can never read people right. Maybe he is the same guy, Romeo, but now he’s not acting. Maybe this is the real him. “Ah, Romeo, just someone I’m tutoring. Excuse me. Again, I’m really sorry for running into you.” I go to step around him and he steps in front of me, blocking my way down the hall. The hairs on the back of my neck rise. But when I look up at his face, he’s not angry. I don’t feel threatened by him, more… annoyed.

“I’m sorry. Did you say you’re tutoring Romeo? And also, how do you know I’m not him?”

“I don’t know how I know. I just do,” I tell him. I keep the part about how he didn’t come off like a conceited jerk to myself.

“But you’re tutoring Romeo? A guy who’s the mirror image of this?” He circles his own face.

“Well, he’s a little more good looking, but, yeah.” I shrug, shocking myself with my current ability to talk back.

“You’re funny… and cute.” His eyes travel up and down the length of me, and I suddenly feel more vulnerable.

“Luca, what the fuck is taking you so long?” Another voice comes from behind us, a voice that somehow relaxes me while it also lights up my every damn nerve ending.