Against All Odds Choices (2ndt in a series of contemporary romance books for Kindle) (2 page)

I blinked. He
did not just ask me that. How could I possibly lie and deny the obvious fact
with him looking at me like that? Like, he could see right through me.

“Okay, fine,”
I gave up, throwing my hands up in an exasperated gesture. “So what if I do?
That doesn't change anything.”

“It changes everything.”

That made me
stare at him for a moment.

“How?” I
inquired curiously.

“Bridget, both
of us know that we want to experience the pleasure we felt the night we had
sex. The way your body squirmed in my arms last night showed how badly we
wanted each other. The only thing stopping you from jumping my bones right now
is my background. But the thing is, you don't have to be involved in all that.”

I considered
it. Although half of what he said made me flush, I still didn't understand
where he was getting at. I placed my elbows on the counter so we were on
eye-level. It made me closer to his face, too.

“Are you
proposing something?” I asked, watching him carefully.

He imitated my
posture, making our faces only inches apart now. I could practically feel his
warm breath on my face. It was strangely comforting.

“No strings
attached,” he answered plainly.

I cocked my
head to the side. “Like, friends with benefits?”

The crooked
smile returned. “In other terms, yes.”

Okay . . .
that made sense since I wanted him – and only him.

“No drama, no
family background, no mob – Just me,” whispered Leo in that husky voice of his.
There was no grin on his face now. His eyes held such solemnity that it seemed
as though he was pleading me with the use of his eyes.

I let that
sink in.

Just him.

I like his
wit, humor, and personality. I like the way he makes me feel, whether in bed or
just by looking at him. I like the gentle way he treats me, as if I'm a prim
and proper lady no matter what I wear and how I look. I like the way he looks
at me, making me feel like I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

For the first
time in what felt like ages, he made me want to open my eyes to endless
possibilities. He made me want to stop and think about what I wanted for once.

He was offering
that I get to have him without the involvement of his other life. Only him, as
a person. And whenever I was with him, I'd get to be free from the
responsibilities – even for a little while.

How could I
refuse an offer like that?

“What do you
say, B?” Leo said in barely a whisper, sending tingles through me.

I raised an
eyebrow. “'B'?”

“I want my own
personal nickname for you.”

“You want a
lot of things,” I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

“Most of all,
you,” he said, with a straight face. Either he had a really good poker face or
he truly did mean what he said.

“Cheesy.”

Although, deep
inside, I was all giddy.

Damn his
charm.

“Truth.”

“Okay,” I
finally said.

I could swear
he looked taken aback for a moment, but it was gone before I could think more
about it. He watched me carefully.

“Okay, you
agree to it?” he made sure, tilting his head slightly.

“Mm-hmm,” I
hummed, leaning my face a little bit closer to his.

A broad grin
made its way to Leo's lips. I saw numerous emotions ran through his face;
excitement, joy, triumph . . . Along those lines. He looked so pleased that I
couldn't help but be happy about it, too.

Krrringgg!

“Shit,” he
grumbled, pulling away from our almost touching lips. He took out his iPhone,
his face turning serious when he looked at the Caller ID.

“Yes, poppa?”
he quickly answered.

I stilled. He
was talking to the Mob Boss. It was weird to think about somehow. I guessed I
didn't fully register in me that he was really connected to the Mafia.

I shook my
head, reminding myself that it wasn't any of my business. That side of him was
off-limits to me. Besides, that wasn't his only life. He also had a legal job,
working in his family's million-dollar company.

So I went on
with taking people's orders while Leo was on the phone. Thankfully, it wasn't
that busy in the bar yet. It wouldn't get chaotic until another hour or so.

“What time do
you get off work?” Leo suddenly inquired, as soon as he put his phone back to
his jacket pocket.

“Around two
o'clock,” I replied.

He glanced at
his watch, making me glance at it, as well. It was currently half past nine in
the evening. Still four and a half hours left before I got to leave.

“Right,” he
nodded, grinning back at me. “I'll be back by then.”

Before I could
respond, he kissed me full on the mouth. It was brief but gentle. He flashed
his lopsided smile at me, and then winked.

“See you
later.”

With that, he
left. I faintly saw Marco standing up and following after Leo.

While I was
left there, with a goofy grin plastered on my face.

This was going
to be a good night.

It was strange
to see Ariana's mouth stretched wide in a grin like that. It was even stranger
that Sarah was wearing the exact same expression.

I decided to
ignore them and continued to pack the last of my essentials in my navy blue gym
bag that I haven't used in a while. I took the remaining pair of shirts on the
bed and put them inside the bag. I stopped to look around my bedroom, thinking
of things I might have forgotten to include.

See, I was
going to The Hamptons for the weekend – specifically in a small town called
Sagaponack. Curious, I researched about the place this morning and found out
that its ZIP Code was listed as the most expensive in the country last 2009.

Wow.

Good thing I
wasn't going alone. I actually shouldn't have been surprised that Leo would
take me to somewhere like that. Other than the fact that he and his family
could afford it, it fitted their lifestyle perfectly.

A couple of
weeks have passed since we made the 'no strings attached' deal, and it had been
undoubtedly the most amazing two weeks of my adult life. We might not see each
other every day, but Leo tried his best to see me almost every other day. When
he could, he would stay at my place for a few hours. He never once stayed all-night,
though. We only stayed overnight together at hotels. Oh, and I've never been to
his place.

This was
probably the first time he would bring me to a place that his family owned. At
first, I didn't want to because I felt like I was getting pretty personal. But
then, he'd reason out that he went to my apartment, met my little sister and
best friend. He said that it was basically the same thing now, but I would only
get to meet their care-taker and gardener there.

I reluctantly
agreed to take the weekend off at
Rusty's
so that I could spend the
entire Saturday and Sunday with Leo out of town. I didn't get to go on trips
with my friends so much when I was in high school. So it was like I was taking
the chance now.

Ariana liked
Leo, by the way. At least, she liked him for me. It was safe to say that she
was a big supporter of 'Team Leo'. I didn't dare tell her about him being the
Mob Prince. She only knew about his very public social status, but nothing
about his secret life.

Sarah, on the
other hand, believed that this thing with Leo was good for me. She thought that
he was my ticket to experience the fun that I deprived myself of having these
past years.

I'd think she
was being melodramatic, but she was her snobby-lecturing-self when she said
that so I knew she really believed that I was 'depriving myself of fun' all
these years.

“I still can't
believe that you're dating Leonardo Russo,” giggled Ariana, hugging my pillow
as she sat on my bed. “It's like a fairy tale turned to reality. You're like
Cinderella, and Leo's like Prince Charming!”

How fitting
, I thought
humorously.
Leo's somewhat a prince and he's charming.

Sarah seemed
to have thought the same thing because I caught her eye, then she burst into a
laughing fit. I smiled despite myself.

“I'm not dating
him,” I clarified to Ariana. “We're just friends.”

“So you say,”
said my little sister, giving me a knowing look.

I shook my
head. “Seriously, it's more like I'm seeing him rather than dating.”

“What's the
difference?”

“Oh, there's a
lot of difference,” piped out Sarah.

Sarah and I
exchanged glances. She raised an eyebrow as if asking permission, I nodded for
her to go on. I jumped on the bed, completing the form of triangle we seemed to
have had.

Ariana wasn't
a kid anymore. Besides, since she turned fourteen, Sarah and I had been open to
her with girl stuff as much as we could.

“You know the
movie with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis?” Sarah asked her.

Ariana frowned
a little. “'Friends With Benefits'?”

We waited,
watching her reaction. She was a smart girl. She would figure it out. Then, her
creased forehead slowly smoothed in understanding. Her mouth opened and formed
a tiny O, while her eyes grew wide as she looked at us.

“Oh,” she
squeaked.

“Bri's a brave
soul to have agreed to this,” Sarah told Ariana.

I faced to
her. “How?” But the answer came to me as soon as I asked.

Sarah looked
at me with a mischievous smile. “Because it'll be a miracle if you wouldn't
fall head over heels in love with Leo by time you both decide to call it
quits.”

Crap. That was
what I feared she would say. I feared it because it was precisely the same
thing I dreaded to happen in the future.

“It goes on
both ways,” blurted out Ariana.

Our heads
turned to her. She shrugged.

“It's true,
isn't it?” she continued. “As far as I've observed since I met him, Leo's
already pretty crazy about my sister – with or without a label. It'll be a
wonder if he wouldn't fall for her eventually.”

My heart
melted at her words. It was really sweet of her to say that. Although I tiny
bit liked what I heard come out from her mouth, it was impossible that Leo and
I would end up together and have a proper relationship. It was just farfetched,
considering our backgrounds.

Nevertheless,
I reached for Ariana's head and ruffled her neat blonde hair.

“You don't
have to say that, kiddo,” I said, smiling a little.

“I love you,
too,” she laughed, pulling her head out of reach from my hand.

“It doesn't
get better than this . . .”

I
automatically glanced at my phone, which was ringing and vibrating at the edge
of the bed. A picture of Leo sleeping glowed on the screen.

We all
exchanged glances. My heartbeat accelerated, I wasn't sure if it was because of
nervousness of excitement. Maybe both. The thought that I would get to have him
all to myself for two days turned my stomach into knots.

I didn't
realize that I frozen until Ariana poked my arm. I shook my head and rapidly
grabbed my phone.

“I'm here,”
said Leo's voice as soon as I pressed the 'accept' button.

“Already?” I
asked in disbelief, glancing at the clock. “You're pretty early.”

“What can I
say? I'm too excited to see you.”

I felt heat
rise to my cheeks at that. “You're such a flirt,” I told him, but I was smiling
despite myself.

“You say that
like it's a bad thing,” he laughed. “Now get your sexy ass down here so I could
smother you.”

I ignored his
innuendo. “Bossy.”

“It comes with
the charm.”

“Says you.”

“Says
everybody.” I was quite sure he wore a smug look on his face as he said that.
“Are you going to come down now, or do I have to get you up there myself? You
do know what will happen if it's the latter, don't you?”

The threat in
his voice made me have second thoughts. If he did come up, we would no doubt
stay in my room for quite a while – and by that time, the traffic would be
awful.

“Yes, I do,” I
sighed. “I'll be down in a sec. See you.”

“All right.” I
could practically heard his smile.

As soon as I
hung up, I ran to the nearest mirror to examine my face.

“He's here,” I
told them, still looking at how I looked.

“Don't worry,”
Sarah said. “You look hot enough that he won't think to look at another girl
while he's with you.”

“She's right,
Bri,” agreed Ariana with an amused tone, before I could snap a witty comeback.
“Remember that you'll have a very good-looking guy with you, there will be
jealous girls whether you like it or not. Now go be drop dead gorgeous.”

I wasn't sure
if I should be grateful for their compliments or if I should be insecure
because they made it seem like I was going out of town with a Greek god or
something. Then again, Leo could easily pass that off.

When I was
confident enough at how I looked with my floral dress that went just below my
knees (which I rarely wore), I flashed Ariana and Sarah a weak smile. I hugged
them both at the same time.

“Wish me
luck,” I whispered when I pulled away.

“Good luck!”

“Best of
luck.”

I picked up my
bag and headed for the front door. I looked at them before I fully left.

“Love you
both,” I added sincerely. “Take care, you two.” I bit my lip and pulled up my
shoulders in a gesture of mixed excitement and nervousness.

Leo met me
right outside the apartment building. He was leaning on one of the trees in
front. The sight of him almost took my breath away. This was the first time
that I saw him wearing casual clothes; blue long-sleeves pulled up by his elbow
and well-fitted jeans. My eyes went up to his hair and saw in delight that it
was slightly tousled – like after sex bed hair.

My God, he
looked so good.

“Good morning,
beautiful,” he grinned.

“'Morning,” I
greeted back.

He kissed me
on the cheek as soon as I was near enough. As he pulled away, he took my bag
from me. His free hand grabbed my right hand, pulling me toward . . . a shiny
classic black convertible. My eyes widened in surprise.

When he
noticed the look on my face, he chuckled.

“It's a Jaguar
Roadster,” he informed me, glancing at it appreciatively. “My favorite car
among others that I own.”

After getting
over my little shock, I noticed another thing that was different.

“Where's
Marco?” I asked, watching him put my things in the trunk.

He didn't
answer me right away. He waited until he was opening the passenger seat's door
for me before he spoke.

“Just us,” he
smiled, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“'Just us'?” I
repeated slowly, absentmindedly sliding in onto the seat. I stared off into space
as I let that information sink in me.

“Yeah,” he
nodded cheerfully. “Only you and me this weekend, B.”

I looked at
him. And I could see his anticipation through his eyes. His lips were stretched
to a crooked grin I've grown to adore.

As the fact
finally sunk in, thrill came over me.

“Are you sure,
though?” I asked, but I couldn't keep the delighted tone in my voice even if I
tried.

“Why wouldn't
I be?” he chuckled.

He walked in
long strides to his side of the car, making me think that he wanted to get away
in the City as quick as possible. If it wasn't for the fact that he had on a
blissful look on his face, I'd think there was trouble in his 'secret life' and
his life was in danger.

When he was
settled in his seat, turned on the ignition, and put on his seat-belt, he
looked at me.

“Are you ready
for the weekend getaway?”

I just noticed
then that the smile never left his face. He was wearing it the entire time,
from the moment I laid eyes on him today.

“As I'll ever
be,” I beamed at him.

He nodded with
an entertained look on his face. Seeming satisfied with my answer, he put the
car on gear and we were on the road.

It was weird,
though. This feeling was weird.

It was as
though I was a teenager going on a road trip with my teenage boyfriend. It was
as if we were kids who were having their first taste in love. It was like we
were newly weds on our way to our honeymoon.

The weirdest
part?

I liked the
feeling.

I liked it a
lot.

One to
describe what I was seeing: WOW.

The houses
were ten times bigger than what I was accustomed to, the trees looked ten times
greener, and the atmosphere of the town was ten times cozier. Everything here
seemed so vast and luxurious – yet so peaceful.

I'd never been
to somewhere like this. I'd never even seen this kind of neighborhood from the
movies I had watched. Actually, scratch that – Gossip Girl's Season 2 (when
they featured The Hamptons) came pretty close to what I was seeing now.

Truthfully, I
felt a little overwhelmed by what my eyes were registering.

“This is
something,” I whispered under my breath.

“Welcome to my
world,” said a deep voice.

I glanced at
Leo, and saw that he was smirking.

This is his
world. I'm not quite sure if I belonged.

I didn't get
to respond because I got distracted when he made a right turn. We drove into a
tree-lined avenue. From afar, I could make out a house. I could practically
smell the salty ocean from here, so I guessed we were near the beach.

My jaw dropped
when we pulled into the driveway, right in front of the most beautiful house I
had ever seen in my entire life. I might be exaggerating a little, but what the
hell? It was what I was feeling in the moment.