Merciful Vows: A Bittersweet Second Chance Romantic Suspense (The Giannotti World Book 1)

by Vanessa Luisa

  I heard Giulio mention his collaboration with Bryce on The Rodney Project before. Situated in Bellevue, the Project is set to be a luxurious ultramodern waterfront home. The Project isn’t set to be completed for another twelve months, but with Giulio in charge of the architecture and assisting Bryce’s interior design direction, it’s set to be one of the most anticipated houses by Notti Designs to date, but it can’t quite live up to its reputation with a lack of design plans. Neither Giulio nor the client would have been happy with the news.

  So I help Bryce out, even though the bar he’s at is only a few streets away and I’m sure he would’ve found the manila folder himself with far more ease.

  Marcus slides into the elevator seconds before the doors close. “Finished for the day?”

  “Almost.” I smile, pressing the button for the ground level. “I need to drop off a design plan to Bryce.”

  “Oh? Are you meeting him someplace?”

  “Yeah, the Red Tavern. It’s just around the corner on Pike Street. Ever been?”

  “Nah, can’t say I have. Giulio there too?”

  “He’s in Bellevue. Apparently they had some argument and Bryce stormed off.”

  “Ah, yes. Now I remember.” His lips twitch to a lopsided smirk. “Typical McCarson move. It probably had to do with Bryce ordering all the tiles before confirming any measurements or the style with the client. Or because he did it all before construction has even begun…and without signing off with Giulio. He went over budget by thousands and forged Giulio’s signature on countless contracts before this current project they’re joined in.”

  My jaw drops. “Are you serious?”

  “Would I lie to you?”

  “Never.”

  “Exactly.” Marcus winks and steps out of the elevator first. “Well, good luck with him!”

  Stepping out of the rain, a warm ambiance illuminates my every step as I enter The Red Tavern. I take the first right at the first archway, scanning the wood oak floorboards and illuminated booth sections. Each has intimate soft lightning. In the distance, a band plays a rhythmic beat.

  Bryce isn’t in the first section.

  My heels against the monochromatic checkered tiles as I take a left. With the manila folder tucked underneath my arm, my mind wanders.

  Could this be a setup?

  I shake my head. No. Why would it be?

  My watch flashes at me and I curse at the time. I walk further on and finally, I hear chattering. Behind an alcohol cabinet stands a middle-aged man with a buffalo plaid shirt and dark jeans.

  “Ya look awfully confused,” he says with a thick Cockney accent and laughs, all the while cleaning the edge of a tumbler. “Looking ta meet someone?”

  “Ah, yes, Bryce McCarson.”

  “Aye. He’s right behind ya.”

  He is?

  I spin and to my surprise, Bryce’s eyes are pinned on me. They drop to my legs as he waves me over with a single hand. He’s sitting quietly in a closed corner nook, in the booth furthest from the entry and it makes me wonder if this is his favorite spot, away from reality.

  He smiles softly as I set the folder in front of him. “Here you go. Have a good night.”

  Turning on my heels, the distant chatter of diners catches my suspicion. Ever since the abduction, I’ve consumed myself sick in the conversations I hear about my tragedy. People who state their own version of the events. I’ve heard almost everything there is to hear and nothing satisfies me.

  “Aye.” Bryce tugs on the left three-quarter sleeve of my white bodycon dress, halting my feet from progressing further. “Where do ya think ya going?”

  I give him a wary look. “I need to pick up my kids.”

  “You’re going to leave me all alone here?”

  “You left Giulio.”

  “And?” The hand is gone yet the grin remains, widening at my raised brow.

  All I can think about is the turmoil between him and Giulio and what could have possibly occurred between the men this afternoon if Marcus’ assumption is correct.

  “I thought you were working.”

  “I am working, but what’s the fun in doing it all alone? Giulio most likely left minutes after me. Can’t he pick them up?”

  “My custody runs midday Sunday to Thursday morning.”

  “Peachy. Oh, come on, just one drink. It won’t do ya any harm. You’ve got no one waiting for you, and I’m sure those kids would love to spend some time with that father of theirs.”

  For someone who doesn’t know me at all, Bryce guesses correctly.

  You’ve got no one waiting for you.

  I consider the invitation for a split moment, until a flash of Giulio’s face crosses my mind. I know better than to deceive him. I should stay far away from this man. “Thank you for the offer. Perhaps some other time?”

  “Just one drink as a welcome to the team. Plus, nobody can resist the English charm.”

  “I really shouldn’t—”

  Bryce stands abruptly and disregards all rules of personal space, moving until his body is pressed against mine. Nothing changes for me. Nothing.

  I part my lips in protest only to be met with his pointer against my mouth. It’s the second time he’s done it, and I’m not exactly thrilled about it. “You’re not wearing a ring. So, technically if a guy wants to have a few drinks with ya, platonically to welcome you to the team, is that considered wrong?”

  My god.

  The finger slips away and my voice comes out a bare whisper. “Not necessarily.”

  “So, are ya gonna sit with me or not? I’ll give you intel on some of the upcoming project.”

  “That’s against protocol, Mr. McCarson.”

  “You have Giulio’s mouth, you really do. I still want ya to stay a little longer, babe.”

  “On two conditions.”

  “Hit me, babe.”

  “You don’t call me babe, and please don’t silence me with your finger again.”

  Bryce nods with a smirk, gloating at my apprehension. “Deal.”

  I show myself into the red vertical striped booth, shoving my umbrella, coat, and bag to the side. Yeah, this is not a good idea. He throws his head back with laugher at the grunt that escapes me.

  Well, good luck with him—Thanks Marcus, I need it now.

  Bryce finally calms down. “I’m gonna have another drink. What do you want?”

  “A mimosa. Thank you.”

  “Ahh, city girl move.” He gestures towards the bartender, his light wash jean jacket constricting the full movement. “Don’t run away from me now. I do know where you work.”

  I can’t help but snicker. “Yeah, well I know where you work too, so kindly be on your best behavior.”

  “I’m always on my best behavior.” Bryce winks and turns to walk toward the bar as I pull out my phone.

  Valencia: Hey honey, I have a work emergency. Would you be able to pick up my kids from school? I’ll be home shortly. Thank you.

  Helena’s response comes the moment McCarson sets down our beverages.

  Helena: More than happy to. Everything okay?

  Valencia: Yes, thank you! :)

  My phone dies the second I hit send. Great.

  Bryce opens the manila folder and scans the contents inside. Drawing the beer to his lips, some froth dissolves on his short tamed beard. My attention drops to his hands and more specifically to the rose tattoo. I need to work past his thick exterior and unlock what’s truly happening in his mind.

  “What happened between you and Giulio?”

  “A falling out.”

  “Can I ask what about?”

  Bryce sets down his glass soundlessly and looks up at me. “We just had a falling out, alright? There’s nothing more to it. We just don’t see eye to eye.”

  “Did you really forge his signature on today’s file?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “If Gi—”

  “Why did you both separate? Huh?” His eyes darken at my f
rown. “Didn’t you separate cause ya didn’t see eye to eye anymore?”

  “If you want to cut the long story short…yes.”

  McCarson shrugs. “Ya see, same thing happened between Giulio and I. He’s a nutter who can’t take me lightly. So what if I over-budget at times and fuck a few women on my desk like that intern who never got hired. He has enough money to just allow it and fix it…I don’t want to talk about it further. Now, drink up.”

  The sharpness in his voice is lethal.

  Did he just say that he…

  It all makes sense now with the intern. It makes sense why Giulio was so protective of me the first time Bryce and I met. He was worried Bryce would try to…seduce me.

  I down the mimosa.

  “Where ya going?”

  “Home. I won’t tolerate you speaking to me or Giulio as if we’re animals.”

  Bryce scoffs the moment I stand. “He deserves it.”

  “See? This is exactly what I am talking about. I shouldn’t have stayed.”

  “Continue to put me down, why don’t ya.”

  “Bryce, this is not a game. This is my family we’re talking about.”

  “I don’t get it. You’re separated, why are ya still so defensive whenever I say his name?”

  My breaths quicken. “Because we were in love once and Giulio was nothing but good to me. He doesn’t deserve to be dragged down for having to tolerate your behavior. So if corrupting or seducing me are your intentions tonight, I’ll save you the time and leave right now.”

  I have never in my life spoken to somebody I barely know like this. Perhaps it’s all the bottled up rage about the turbulence in my life or the fact he criticized Giulio, but it just feels right to stand up for him.

  What I’ve come to learn about Bryce McCarson is that he doesn’t back down…ever.

  “Wait. Those are not my intentions at all.” Bryce’s expression softens as he reaches for my coat before I can and sighs. “Look, I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m…I snap quickly and say things I don’t mean sometimes. Please, stay a little longer.”

  “I want to see my kids. Please get out of my way.”

  “You know Giulio better than anyone. I need you to tell me if he likes the designs.”

  “I don’t know much about him nowadays.”

  “But you did once; that still counts. Drinks are on me.”

  I let out a sigh. This is such a bad idea.

  The bartender appears, setting down a tray of alcohol and sliders. “Happy hour begins early here! So stick around, I promise you’ll love it here!”

  We have been going through the designs for hours. Bryce redeemed himself and so far has listened to all the suggestions I’ve made. Although I don’t have an interior design degree, I know Giulio’s expectations and what he expects to maintain his company’s reputation.

  Bryce makes notes while I recall Giulio’s most luxurious style. I recommend stores I remember he often visited for inspiration and assist in creating mood-boards for every room. For every piece of furniture that hits the brief, we raise a glass.

  The one thing McCarson doesn’t need any assistance with is drinking. All evening he has continuously filled my glass, ordered round after round, and somehow convinced me that we should be celebrating our unlikely friendship and that I deserve the new job. As much as it feels nice to come out of my element and help out Notti Designs, I also miss Oscar and Slonne.

  I don’t notice how tipsy I am until he pours me another glass of wine and I misjudge my mouth, spilling the red liquid all over my white dress.

  “I think you’ve lost it!”

  “Oh, shut up!” I laugh and reach for the napkins.

  Not that they’ll help.

  Bryce’s chuckle rumbles loud inside my head. I grip the table and launch for the napkins a second time. But every time I do, either it’s in my head or I swear they really do move further away.

  “Need help?”

  “Nope!”

  “You sure?”

  My head shake ends up a circle. God, I feel so drunk.

  Bryce can’t stop laughing at me as he yanks a few napkins and rounds the table to my side. My adrenaline is high. I haven’t been this far gone in a long while. I attempt to decide if the beat in my head is my own or if it’s coming from the blues band that has been playing non-stop. I don’t know the time, but it feels late.

  Very late.

  Bryce’s eyes move over my body as he slides into the booth next to me. “Let’s clean you up.”

  “What are you looking at?”

  He grins. “You.”

  “Why?”

  “I…don’t have a lot of people around me. You staying around tonight and having some drinks with you really does mean a lot to me. I’m happy to be here with you.”

  “Same here.” The drum in my heart beats wildly. Bryce is drunk. We both are. My entire body is on fire. It’s all I can think about as he wipes the napkins against my dress. It’s ruined though and no amount of cleaning up can fix that.

  At some point, Bryce lets go of the napkins and replaces the sensation with his touch. There’s an allure in his green eyes when his foreign hand fans out across my hip and slowly rises higher to the dip of my waist.

  He’s staring straight through me, asking for permission that I’m yet to give. “Valencia…”

  “Yes?”

  Bryce tosses the crumpled napkins on the table and turns so we’re face to face. A sea of warmth dances across his face from flickering pendant lighting. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing.”

  “It’s more than nothing, Buddy.”

  There’s his infamous smirk again. “Who’s this Buddy and what happened to Bryce?”

  “Hmmm, wouldn’t you like to know…” I take another gulp of wine and laugh at Bryce’s amused face. Sweeping my tongue across my lower lip has those green orbs tracking the movement. I have no idea what I’m doing, but this…right now…it feels exciting. My mouth twitches up into a smile. “Glad to know I’m funny. Why aren’t you speaking? Dog got your tongue?”

  “I don’t think that’s the saying…”

  “Boo hoo. You were going to ask me something before. Ask it.”

  My chest is burning as I scoot closer to him; the whiff of alcohol crossed with his bergamot cologne takes me back to Giulio. It shouldn’t. This isn’t even his scent, but under these lights, Bryce reminds me of my husband. Perhaps it’s the drinking or just the fact that he’s here with me tonight, making me feel something other than the same torment. Perhaps it’s the way his hand trails up inches from my breasts. Perhaps it’s the warm, sensual lips by my ear as he brazenly asks, “Have you been with another man since Giulio?”

  Shaking my head causes his beard to scratch against my cheek and I’m transported back to all the times it used to happen with Giulio. Whenever he kissed my cheek, or I rolled into him in the middle of the night or while we wildly made love…Hmm, yes I miss that.

  “Ever thought about it?”

  I come to, my eyes heavy at the uptick of McCarson’s brow. “Huh?”

  “Have you ever thought about being with another man?”

  “I…don’t know.”

  “Ever fantasized?”

  No. The word gets stuck in my throat and just as I manage to back away into the booth, I lose my balance and lie down instead. Bryce finds a way to instantly appear, holding out his hand to pull me back up with a wolfish smile. “Now, that was a rather dramatic way to avoid a conversation.”

  “Thanks, McCarson, but I do it without your help.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He chuckles, challenging my tendency to get back up. “Now this I’d like to see.”

  Although he’s willing to help me, a part of my brain blurs as my fingers fan out against the leather booth. I don’t have the strength to pull myself back up and so I shrug and continue lying here. “Don’t mind me. I’m just living my best life here.”

  “I don’t believe that, but sure. Whatever floats your boat, babe.” Bryce reac
hes over the table and I watch as he draws the glass of beer to his mouth. My eyes linger on the way his tongue runs over his lips after the second gulp. He must sense me looking because the moment the glass is set back on the table, those green eyes are on me and his brows are arched in amusement. “You’re staring…that must mean I did something wrong. What did I do, babe?”

  Now I’m the one smirking. “I told you not to call me babe.”

  “And did I call you babe, babe?”

  “You did now.”

  “Oh. Right now, babe?”

  “You’re so annoying!” I laugh.

  “I think ya secretly like it.”

  “I think ya a bit delusional, babe.”

  “Oh, wow. Did you just mock my accent?” Bryce teases with the brightest grin I’ve seen all night. Leaning forward, he slowly props his body over mine. His forearms rest on the leather by my head to separate our bodies. He looks back and forth between my eyes. “Because it’s kind of hot the way you said that before.”

  “Maybe…” I bite my lip at my growing drunken smile. “Maybe I like your accent.”

  “You really are a hell of a lot beautiful. So fucking beautiful, Valencia.” He cups my cheeks and breathes out a sigh, his thumb brushing over my lower lip. “Don’t be like my mother who never got over my father. Don’t ruin yourself for a man who can’t see it like you do. Don’t let Giulio hold you back from loving somebody else again. I see so much potential in you.”

  “Bryce…”

  “It makes me want to kiss you and do whatever you want me to.”

  “You’re not…him.”

  “I can be whoever you want if you let me, babe. I’m not saying forever ‘cause I’ve never done love…but I can ease your pain, even if that’s just for one night only.”

  “You want me?”

  A moment passes between us. All the sound around me fades, all but my throbbing head. Bryce swallows, dead serious for the first time tonight.

  “Yes. I want you,” he whispers, arousal evident in his voice. “Do you want me?”