Love Me (The Elites of Cheshire shore #2)

36. Florence

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

florence

R ome’s hand fits comfortably on the small of my back as we make our way down the corridor, a thrill passes through my body at the heat of his featherlight touch. He insisted on walking me into work today. It’s his way of making sure I’m safe, which I don’t mind, honestly. Not that I’m one of those women who wants a man who is by her side twenty-four seven, but with everything currently happening at the hospital, it gives me a few extra moments to collect myself before my shift starts. I almost want to slow down so I can commit the sensation of his hand on my lower back to memory, like having a little bit of him with me to help me through the day.

Over the past few weeks, Dr. Dick’s asshole tactics have escalated. He’s progressed from his previous normal subtle comments about my inept abilities to now going out of his way to be downright insulting. And he’s doing it openly, in front of our coworkers and patients. I’ve been trying to avoid the ER entrance so I can limit my face-to-face time with him. It’s like he is going out of his way to be an asshole to me, wondering if I’ll go running to my mom and tattle. Jokes on him, I’m no snitch and I certainly don’t go crying to my mommy just because the hospital bully wants to use it as his chance to get me fired. This place is my parent’s home. My dad put his blood, sweat, and tears into this place; I’ve put in just as much hard work here to make my own name, and I’m not going to let him take that away from me.

“Hey, Dr. Savino.” Archer waves at us as we walk down the sterile laminate floor.

“It’s Dr. Liu-Savino,” Rome corrects, standing protectively behind me, his hand sliding further around my back to settle just above the curve of my hip. I have to fight the urge to lean into him. He’s puffing his chest out, acting like he’s mortally hurt that another doctor referred to me incorrectly.

“Oh shit, sorry.” Archer rubs the back of his neck, his cheeks turning pink.

“No biggie.” Hearing Rome correct Archer on my actual name though…really did things to me.

“Archer, you remember my friend Rome?” I quickly introduce him. I don’t miss the way his jaw tightens at the introduction. Hmm, weird? I have to ask him what the heck that was about later.

“Oh yeah, of course, Rome.” Archer doesn’t shake Rome’s hand, and Rome doesn’t bother to give it. All he does to acknowledge Archer’s presence is take a step closer toward me and grunt something that sounds like hi.

“It’s so nice to see you, hospital schedules can be really crazy.”

I haven’t really spoken to him much since the day Dr. Dick reamed me out. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Archer’s gaze flicks down to where Rome’s hand has settled on my waist.

“I haven’t seen you around much. What rotation are you on?”

“Umm, Dr. Moore loves to change it up. I’ve been on day surgery for the last few weeks.” I’m finding it hard to concentrate with Rome standing over me, and his overwhelming oak and pine scent is making me dizzy. Stupid fucking hormones.

“Oh shit, cool. I can’t wait for you to hit orthopedics, then the fun really will begin. Maybe we can poach you over after you’ve completed your training?” he gives me a dazzling smile that I’m sure would make all the nurses’ hearts flutter. He really is a good-looking guy, but my body has zero reaction to him.

“No thanks, cracking bones isn’t really my thing. I only really like the peanut gallery view in surgery. Or else I would have joined my dad in oncology if I wanted to spend more time on the other side of the table.”

“No shit your dad is in oncology. I’d love to meet him.”

“Well, that’s going to be a bit difficult,” Rome deadpans. I reach behind me and pinch his thigh. Be nice .

Archer’s brows furrow. “Doesn’t he work here?”

“In a manner of speaking. The late Dr. Savino doesn’t work anywhere anymore.”

Archer’s eyes go comically wide and dart around, suddenly realizing he not only placed his foot in it, but swallowed it whole and shat it back out again.

“Anyhoo.” I try to lighten the mood. “I’ll let you know when I’m on ortho rotation.”

“Or you could let me know if you are free for that date you promised me?” A teasing smile pulls at his mouth. His question is posed with all the confidence of a man who knows his worth and what he has to offer the right woman and I must admit, I’m kind of impressed. I guess the giant Italian stallion with his hand on my waist wasn’t enough to deter him if he is still trying to show his shot. Good for him.

Rome’s hand tightens on my waist, my back suddenly flush with his front, a rumble coming from his chest, making the hairs on my arm stand on end with the low timbre of an incoming thunderstorm. My body reacts instantly, my clit pulsing with the possessive sound.

“No, she won’t,” he replies before I even get a chance to say anything.

Archer’s stare remains on me, completely ignoring Rome’s response. I know what I should say: It’s complicated . I’m pretending to be his girlfriend so that his company can acquire its long-standing rival?

Or are the girls right? Is Rome right? Should I break all the walls I’ve surrounded myself with and see where this goes with Rome for real? Or is this just the horny part of me talking because he won’t fuck me again until I crawl into his bed…

All those sound like great excuses, but I instead go for, “I’m sorry, I’m kind of seeing someone at the moment.”

It’s only then that Archer’s eyes flick up to Rome’s. “Pity,” he replies. “Well, when you’re single again let me know,” he says, offering me a warm smile before he leaves.

“Fat chance of that happening.” Rome snorts when Archer is out of earshot.

“Who knows,” I shrug, “when all this crap with Brian blows over there isn’t really a need for us to pretend to be in a relationship anymore. Is there? I will be single instead of in a fake relationship and I’ll be free to take the good doctor up on his offer. I’m sure he won’t deny me if I ask him to come to my bed.” The air around us crackles from all the pent-up frustration.

The corner of Rome’s eyes twitches. I don’t know where the fuck that came from, but I guess it’s been stewing for a long time and I just boiled over.

Before I can even register his movements, Rome’s hand circles the back of my neck and he yanks me to him, his lips land on mine, completely stealing the air. I moan into his mouth as his other hand comes up to palm the side of my jaw. He tilts my head back, my tongue sneaks out, meeting his already waiting one, and we deepen the kiss.

I break the connection, chest rising and falling, completely breathless. Rome rests his forehead against mine, his lips touching mine in a featherlight touch. “Nothing between you and me is fake. It’s always been real, baby. And now I’ve got you, I don’t think I will ever be able to let you go.”

“Well, with a goodbye like that, how is a girl supposed to go to work?” I blink away the misty sheen in my eyes.

“By saving the lives she was meant to,” he replies, placing a lasting kiss on my lips and leaving. “I’ll be here to pick you up when you finish. With your brown sugar bubble tea.” He takes a few steps backward, his eyes staying glued to mine.

“ Sei pazzo , you know that.” I shake my head, a small smile playing on my lips.

“I’ve been called worse.”

“I thought we discussed this cringe level too.” I break our eye contact and walk into the locker room, placing my bag down on the shelf. I go through my usual pre-shift ritual, taking my dad’s necklace off and tucking it into my bra before preparing myself for the shift ahead. Rome is just the little bit of wild, that compliments me too well.

It’s official, I am ruined for men. Rome Venuccio has ensured that. I light my cannoli-scented candle as I prepare my bubble bath. No amount of trying to compartmentalize my thoughts is changing that, and I’m officially pissed. Rome consumes every waking moment of mine. The moment I start my shift I start counting down the hours until I’m back in his presence. I hate it so much. I think I’m starting to fall for him. The thing I promised myself I’d never allow to happen, the thick walls I’ve built around myself, are slowly crumbling. Somehow Rome Venuccio has shown me, I may’ve been wrong.

I took an Uber home from the hospital today; Rome is caught up in a meeting, and I didn’t want him to leave just to pick me up, so I told him I was catching a ride home with Mom. Dr. Dick proved today that you can in fact move up the asshole ladder—he actually undermined me in front of a patient and encouraged them to report back to him if they felt my bedside manner was subpar. Who even tells patients that? The only thing that made the situation less awkward was when the patient smiled at Dr. Dick and informed him that the only problem, they had was another physician sticking their nose in when they already had a physician who was perfectly capable of taking care of him. I think I could’ve kissed the guy right then and there.

My tired muscles ache, I can just feel a hot bath calling my name. Another day done and dusted. If I were another person, I would probably be looking for a different hospital to finish my residency, but I’m not going to let some sad little man scare me away. “Alexa, play smooth jazz,” I call, and a smooth tune starts playing through the small device on the bathroom counter. With my hair tied up in a high bun to avoid getting wet, I pick up the face mask sample Livvy gave me and lather it on my face. I’m definitely in need of a little self-care today. My Kindle safely in my hand, I drop my bathrobe and slide my foot into the warm water, eliciting a moan from deep within my chest. This is just what my aching muscles needed. This is living. My phone ringing interrupts my peace.

“I just want you to know, I totally need some relationship gossip to get me through the next few days,” Lottie’s husky voice fills the bathroom.

“Having a bad day, huh?”

“You have no idea, they put Grange in the hotel room next to mine.”

“Wait what? Why weren’t you next to Duke?”

“I don’t know, ask my stupid brother, there was some mix-up with the schedule.”

“Huh,” I grunt.

“And to make it worse, I had to listen to the guy banging a frickin’ street cat, from the way this woman was howling. AND it was on the night before our big race, I mean, hello , has anyone ever heard of focusing? Discipline?”

“Sounds like someone is almost …jealous? Maybe she was his lucky charm, from what I saw, Grange won that race.”

“Yeah, because he sabotaged me by keeping me up so late, I swear we should put in a complaint. My stupid brother keeps waving me off.” Lottie keeps talking. I miss hearing her voice so much, it’s the perfect way to end my day. I lie back, resting my head against the cool porcelain, and continue to chat with her. I think I’m falling in love with Rome Venuccio . I want to tell her but I just can’t; the words sit in the back of my throat. Saying them out loud means they’re real, and I don’t know if I’m ready to admit it to anyone but myself.

My skin has pruned by the time Lottie finally hangs up and I get out of the tub. I grab my towel and quickly dry off before wrapping the robe around my semidry body. I blow out the candle. “Alexa, off.” I exit the bathroom, half asleep. Closing the short distance, I flop down on the couch and grab my Kindle. I need to read a little to calm my mind.

I don’t get very far. After a few pages, my eyelids become heavy. After the third straight yawn, I decide it’s probably time for bed. I stumble down the hallway and land on the bed, pulling the covers down. My Kindle thuds as it lands on the ground beside me. As I tuck myself into bed, it smells just like him. I lift the covers and inhale deeply. He truly is everywhere. I’m starting to not be mad about it. My dreams are filled with Rome.