Greatest Distraction (Distracted #1) (28 page)

“I don’t blame you, Ryen, and I’m not angry with you. Yes, you scared the shit out of me – especially when I couldn’t find you and the paparazzi hadn’t posted any pictures to tell me where you were.” He closed his eyes for a moment, just breathing, before continuing. “Ryen, I think I could love you.”

Did he just say?
Yes, he did,
the voice in my head affirmed confidently. I wasn’t sure what to say, what to do. I knew that I could see a future with him, but how could he with me? I mean, Jesus, I’d ran out on him, accused him of cheating, and blown the coop, all without letting him say two freaking words to me. That didn’t sound like a very mentally stable partner to me.

“You don’t have to say anything back, really. I’m not asking you to marry me, or to live with me
… yet. I just … I love how you space out when you’re thinking and every thought passes across your face for me to read. I love your tangents, how you rant and rave until you’re breathless. I love how easily you get distracted, regardless of what is going on around you,” he whispered, brushing a soft kiss across my forehead. “I love how into everything you get, whether it’s bowling or just walking in the park.”

“Dane, I
… I think I could love you too,” I told him, meaning it, letting his words soak into my heart. A huge smile lit his face and he kissed me, pulling away after a moment to continue.

“I want to distract you from the world,
Ryen. I want to
be
your distraction, your greatest distraction.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, allowing him to pull me off my seat and into his body. He was warm and comforting as he enfold
ed me against him, pressing my face against his chest. I breathed deep, relishing the feel of him. He caressed my back as he held me, holding me like he never wanted to let me go, like he’d been through hell and back just to get to me.

I guess I was a sucker for the grand gesture after all.

Epilogue
 

It had been a month since Dane came to Atlanta to talk me back into his life. A month of laughing and dating, long drives and overnight stays. He’d finally met Elle, and the twins – who both informed me that he was not, indeed, a troll. They may have also checked for a jewel in his belly button, but I’m totally not responsible for that.

I still worked at the doctor’s office, though now I retained part
-time hours instead of full time. My dad had left me his money so I could live a happy, comfortable life – it didn’t make up for not having him around, but it left me free to
have
a life. I’d recently even landed a little bit of freelance photography work, after a picture I’d taken of the girls had gone viral. It wasn’t something I’d ever planned, or even explored, but I enjoyed it. For me, right now, that was enough.  The boss wasn’t even mad I’d cut back hours – though only with the stipulations I never missed a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.

Dane was living back in Birmingham, which I was pleased to discover was only two hours away; an hour and a half when he was driving in one of his fancy sports cars.
He’d often surprise me after work, showing up with dinner and a movie, or randomly during the week for lunch. It was a good life that we were building. We’d agreed to be exclusive, boyfriend/girlfriend, if you will, but other than that, we had no promises for more just yet. We were both okay with that.

Tonight was April thirtieth, and I was surprised to find a large dress box on my doorstep when I got home from work. Taking it inside, I gingerly unwrapped it, gasping when I found a sapphire
-blue, Dolce and Gabbana gown lying inside tissue paper along with a note:

Be ready, Cinderella, your carriage will arrive at
seven. No one will turn into a pumpkin at midnight, and the gown is yours for keeps – I promise. – Your Prince Charming

Oh, he was charming
alright. I couldn’t help my grin as I pulled the gown up and out, awwing over it. It was beautiful and I knew it would fit like a glove. I hung it up and a box was exposed underneath. Lifting the lid I found a pair of soft gray Louboutins staring up at me, the red bottom visible and everything. Attached was another note:

Don’t think I forgot the glass slippers. Don’t lose one – they’re not from the dollar store. – PC

I squealed in delight as I lifted them, admiring them from every angle. Normally I would’ve felt bad, but this was a gala for him so they didn’t really count as a gift for me. Checking my watch, five forty-five, I high tailed it into the bathroom to get ready.

The drive had been uneventful as I sat in the back of a stretch black limo, praying I wouldn’t wrinkle the gown. It was just after nine when we pulled up alongside the red carpet and my door was opened for me. Taking a deep breath, I grasped the hand extended toward me, steeling myself for the flashing of camera lights. As I was
helped, I gasped to find it was Dane who’d lifted me out of the limo. He smiled his mega-watt smile and looped my arm in his, proudly stopping to smile for pictures as our names were called.

I couldn’t help but think back to my solo entrance at the charity event, how I felt alone in front of the cameras. Tonight
, though, I truly felt like Cinderella, beautiful and on the arm of my prince. I was on cloud nine and, for once, I couldn’t wait for the gossip pages and the pictures they’d publish.

We danced, we drank, we celebrated Dane and his many accomplishes and the opening of the building. It was beautiful, something you’d see in a fancy magazine
, and I couldn’t be prouder that he’d designed it himself. Seemed like Mr. Ranucci is one very,
very
, talented man. As the night drew to a close, much too soon for my liking, Dane escorted me back to the limo, climbing in behind me.

“It’s only Wednesday – don’t you have to work tomorrow?” I asked, watching as he straightened the slight train of my dress so not to step on it.

“Nope. Gave myself, and my staff, the rest of the week off. I’m the boss … I can do that,” he said, turning toward me. He leaned in to kiss me, but stopped abruptly. Confused, I followed his gaze, finding an envelope with his name written on it in a bold blocky print.

“That wasn’t here earlier,” I t
old him, nervous as he reached behind me and lifted it like it was a bomb. I watched in trepidation as he lifted the flap and pulled a piece of paper out, along with a couple photos. One was of my house, another of a bright blonde girl I didn’t recognize, another a Polaroid of us dancing.

“What does the note say?” I wonder
ed aloud, though I didn’t really want to know. Something about the pictures, the way the note was left, made me uneasy. This was supposed to be my Cinderella night, damn it, and I knew something was about to ruin it. Dane didn’t say anything, instead handing me the note and looking out the window.

“Brian – I sent Todd on assignment to find Raven
, the blonde bitch he robbed before she says anything, along with Francesca and Giuseppe. No luck on your half brother just yet, but he did discover your little plaything. You look so sweet together; I’d hate to break such a happy fantasy. You should rethink my offer.”

An ‘or else’ was implied at the end, and it didn’t have to be signed to know who it was from.
Gianpaolo – Dane’s father. Mob boss. Great.

“What was his offer?”

“If I work for him, he’ll leave you be,” Dane answered, not looking at me. Leave me be? What did that mean?

“Let you live,” Dane clarified when I asked. “He’ll let you live.”

Well, shit.

The End
of Book One in the Distracted Series

Book 2, Global Distraction,
coming soon

Acknowledgements
 

There are so many people who have helped me along the journey of this book I know I won’t remember to put them all in here.

Rene Folsom, my amazing cover artist and friend, your help goes above and beyond anything I could ever expect and you have no idea how much I appreciate you.

Megan Galt with Novel Grounds, you’ve supported me from day one and I’m grateful for everything.

Jessica Perez and Tiffany Stevens, thank you for always telling me I could do it, for being excited at every tidbit, and for being my friend.

For everyone else I’ve missed, know it is not because I don’t appreciate your support or help. Each and every one of you know who you are, have been there for me when I needed you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Can’t wait for the next one, ya’ll, and believe me, it’s coming!

About the Author
 

Juli Valenti grew up in a small town in Arkansas, known for Wal-mart, which is no longer small but is still known for the grocery store. Lucky for her, she didn’t retain an accent, despite her overuse of ya’ll when talking.  She currently resides in sunny Florida with her husband and two young boys. If her world wasn’t crazy enough, she also works a full time day job, as well as owns her own editing company (Juli’s Elite Editing).

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