Cleo Miranda Adams is a part-time clerk at a small antique shop and an aspiring guitarist. Music has been part of her life since birth. After a tough loss, she focuses on building a name for herself and doing what she loves.
Billionaire and perfecti...
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"Alright, I'm off ladies," Chris says as he tucks his phone into his pocket. We spare no time in striding up to him to kiss his intoxicating lips. His arms wrap around my waist, and he lifts my tiny frame off the floor. "I'll be back soon, baby," he says, still attached to my lips. He places me on the floor and kisses my forehead. Shortly after, he walks out the door. I start to make my way back to my room when Gia speaks.
"So you tell him yet?" I turn to her with a curious eyebrow.
"Tell him what?"
"That your head over heels in love with him. Duh," she rolls her eyes at me. I choke and look at Gia, and she just blankly stares at me.
I start to think about it, about him. The way his smile gives me butterflies, the way he laughs when I tickle him. Yes, the man has tickles. The way he looks at me when I pinch his cheeks, and how he's such a child at heart. He's gentle as a lamb. The way he feels like home to me; like nothing can hurt me when I'm in his arms. The way he kisses me. His kisses feel like an intoxicating fire.
The way he keeps a level head in a crisis and the way he feels. The way he makes it his duty to appreciate his employees. When he told me about his father's funeral, the way he opened up, I think that did it for me. He made himself vulnerable in front of me. I mean, this man is known for his constant need for perfection and there he was telling me about his mistake. He made himself vulnerable in front of me. I saw him that night. I opened up too, and in so many ways, we are similar. We felt the same pain. Losing a parent.
Someone clearing their throat pulls me from my thoughts. Gia stares at me with a smile on her face. "Just realized it, huh?"
"I love him," is all I can muster up. A smile cracks my face in half. Gia drops her wine, runs over to me, and crushes me in a hug.
"My bestie's in love," she cries. "You're growing up," she holds my face in her hands. Our faces mirror each other with tears and smiles.
"What if he doesn't, you know... love me back?" I let my brain wander as I choke on my words. She gives me a pointed look and walks us over to the sofa. She sits in front of me and holds my shoulders.
I've had old boyfriends who said they loved me, but their actions didn't line up.
Their actions were whispers compared to their sweet words. Actions speak louder than words, right?
"Listen to me very carefully, Cleo," she shakes my shoulders. "That man looks at you like he won the lottery. I only met him tonight, and I could tell you he loves you. That says something. When you hid behind him, his face lit up. He loves your goofy side, just like I do. You are his treasure, Cleo. Don't doubt yourself. You have so much to offer, and he hasn't seen half of it," she tells me with so much confidence.
"But don't you think it's soon? I mean, I just met him," I pick at my nail polish.
"Love doesn't have a schedule, babe. You can't help who you fall for sometimes. From what you told me, you guys sound like best friends. And from what I saw, you are. Don't doubt yourself or him." I stare into her eyes. "Has he ever given you a reason to doubt him?"
"No. Never," I reply without hesitation.
"Good. Now go tell that hunk of man how you feel," I wink through her teary eyes.
This is why I love her. She's not the one in love but tears of joy roll down her cheeks, and I quickly wipe them off with a smile. "I love you, Red," I hug her. "You will find the right guy one day," I say into her shoulder.
"Love you too, Leo," she sniffles but doesn't respond to my second sentence. Hmm. "Now, you just have to tell that to Mr. Perfect," she winks and laughs, but she's right.
—
The sound of the shop door opening makes me look up. Familiar brown eyes meet mine, and my feet move on their own to jump on him.
"Luca!" I barrel across the room to him with a squeal and smuggle him in a hug. My ears are greeted with his laugh.
"Hey bambi," he spins me around. When he finally puts me down, I take a good look at him.
He definitely grew up. His hair was a shade lighter, and his curls came in, just like his father's. He grew out his milk chocolate beard. Growing up, I remember him constantly saying he wants facial hair. He said it was like makeup for men.
"Didn't think I abandoned you, did you?" he cuts me from his thoughts.
"Not like you can anyway," I quirk an eyebrow. He just shakes his head. "Congrats on the wedding, by the way. Look at you all grown up." I playfully push his shoulder. He blushes and puts on his widest smile.
"Speaking of," he reaches in his pocket and pulls out a red envelope. "Bring a date." he gave me a knowing smirk. He definitely knows.
"Your dad told you?" I try to hide my smile, and the smile on his face tells me he definitely did.
"That you're dating Christopher Moretti? Hell yeah, you know the man can't keep a secret," he laughs. "So you better bring him so I can give him 'the talk'," he winks at me, and I roll my eyes. He takes his big brother roles seriously.
"How's Kendra?" I met his fiance when we were all friends in high school. It was no surprise when they started dating seven months later, and their chemistry is unmatched. He's really marrying his best friend.
"She's great. Misses you, though." He tells me about house hunting and wedding planning. One thing about Luca is that he'll stick with his partner. Once he's all in, he's all in. We all need a Luca.
Uncle Fabian left the shop in my hands today so, I close an hour early, and Luca and I go to Luci's. He's been doing that a lot lately. I tell him about Chris and me. As expected, he wasn't too happy about our first encounter. We talked for hours until it was time for him to leave. He hugs me goodbye and drops me home. He's getting married in November. Today is the last day of August, so I have to get my winter clothes ready.
