The Mr. Wrong Series

by Madden, A. M.

  “Ooh, I love this song.” Vanessa popped out of her seat and tugged on Cassie’s hand. “Let’s go dance, ladies.” As if it was choreographed, she dragged Cassie off as the other two followed them to the dance floor with their hands swaying to the beat of the music. Thank God for Vanessa.

  Jude spun around and gave Brae a quick glance before returning his attention to Luca, who looked like he was ready to explode.

  “Sorry about that,” Luca said before taking a swig of his beer.

  Jude and Kyle’s eyes ping-ponged between my brother and me. “What did we miss?” Jude asked.

  “It’s fine. It was bound to come up.” I turned to Kyle and Jude, who looked confused. “When Charlene broke up with me, it wasn’t the best time in my life. So if we could change the subject, that would be great.”

  Kyle nodded. “Sorry, man, I didn’t know. She shall not be mentioned again.”

  “I don’t hate her, I just don’t want to talk about our relationship.”

  “Noted,” Kyle said with a smile. “So you and Cassie didn’t look like you were going to rip each other’s heads off. That’s a good sign. Much better than the last time you two were in a room together.”

  Not really, since the last time I was in a room with her, we talked about her walk of shame out of my apartment after spending the night having fantastic sex.

  “I’m making an effort. I apologized, and we decided to call a truce.”

  Luca nodded with a smile. I knew my brother wanted us to find peace with each other since Cassie was an important person in his life. The last thing he wanted was for his brother and best friend to not get along. That being said, I was also confident he didn’t want us together. Not for any other reason than if it didn’t work, it would be awkward. But if you looked at this group of friends, they were all connected romantically.

  The way I understood their dynamic, Cassie, Vanessa, and Brae were all friends before they hooked up with the guys. I didn’t know the history, but that seemed to work out okay. My reputation wasn’t as outlandish as everyone thought. Yes, I loved having fun and pushing boundaries, but I wasn’t an asshole.

  “She’s a good person,” my brother said poignantly.

  “She is.” Not wanting to put my cards on the table, I added, “That is, when she’s not acting crazy.”

  Luca laughed. “You bring out the best in everyone. So you like her? Because that would make my life much easier.”

  Like? I thought about the time we spent together. How we danced at Alessandro’s. The way she took an interest in my work, which in itself was a complete turn-on. Memories of how her lips felt against mine sent a surge of adrenaline straight to my groin. Along with how sexy she looked with her eyes covered in the makeshift blindfold. But fuck me, images of the way she wrapped her legs around my waist as I buried myself in her wet heat were burned into my memory.

  “Yeah, I like her.”

  The band switched gears and started playing a slower song. Brae, Vanessa, and Sabrina came back to the table to collect their partners. Once the others walked off, I asked Vanessa, the one I knew was on our side, where Cassie was. When she said the ladies’ room, I waited until she and Kyle joined the rest of their friends on the dance floor before heading in Cassie’s direction.

  Cassie

  My reflection didn’t lie; I was a nervous wreck. Anyone who knew me would be able to tell I was about to come out of my skin. Even doing my best to not look at Dante didn’t work. His voice was enough to make my panties wet.

  A couple of women stood at the sinks next to me. I couldn’t help but notice how carefree they were. I used to be that way—pre-Dante. Now I couldn’t look at the man without remembering how he kissed me, the way his body moved as he pushed in and out of me, and how glorious my orgasms were.

  I washed my hands, swiped on some lip gloss, and ran my hand over my hair before pulling the door open to rejoin my friends. As soon as I stepped out of the ladies’ room, deep-brown eyes stared at me. Dante leaned on the wall, his right foot flat against it, his arms crossed in front of his chest. Damn, he was sexy.

  “What are you doing back here?”

  “Waiting for you.” His hand gripped mine and he tugged me through a door in the back. A dim desk light illuminated the small room.

  “Dante, we shouldn’t be in here. Everyone will be looking for us.”

  “They’re all dancing. We have time.”

  Not wanting to waste any of that time arguing, I acquiesced. “What do you want?”

  “You.” His eyes twinkled, but that didn’t hide the devilishness of his thoughts. “Just a taste.” He leaned forward and brought his lips to mine in an urgent, possessive kiss. “Cassandra, it was killing me sitting across from you and not being able to touch you. Rest assured last night wasn’t just a fluke.” He kissed me again but all too soon broke our connection and said, “Luca’s happy we like each other.”

  “Like each other? What did you say to him?”

  “Nothing.” A sly, crooked grin appeared on his gorgeous face. “Since we weren’t at each other’s throats, he asked me if I liked you.” His look was one of faint amusement. He reached out and tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear, and then let his touch linger on the curve of my neck, sending tingles from the roots of my hair down to my toes. “Want to know what I told him?”

  My gut instinct was to say “No.” But the memory of Vanessa’s voice sounded in my head… inner vixen. “Yes.”

  His penetrating eyes made it difficult not to sway on my unsteady feet. “Yes. I do like you.”

  Thrill and anxiousness filled my head and the one-word question—“Really?”—spilled out of my mouth.

  His expression went from amused to lustful and hungry. “Yes, really. I find you fucking sexy. When I think of you, I no longer picture that annoying woman who hit my ride.” He winked and the corners of my lips curved up. “Instead, I picture the gorgeous woman sprawled out on my bed. I can’t help but get hard at the memory.” My eyes fluttered to the bulge in his jeans before meeting his again. “Feel free to check for yourself.”

  I didn’t for fear it would lead to fucking him in a closet… although the thought of doing so was extremely tempting. So instead I took his word for it. That grin appeared again and he continued. “Last night was a surprise, and I’m all for surprises…” He slowly dragged his finger from my cheek to my jaw, then my neck, until he grazed the skin above my cleavage. “I think you’re smart, gorgeous, and feisty as hell. I’ve never wanted to shoot anyone more.”

  “You want to shoot me?”

  That damn smile was back. “You bet your sweet ass I do.”

  His soft lips found that tender spot on my neck, the one that sent a chill down my spine and liquid fire to gather between my legs. “Dante,” I breathed out in a rasp.

  Soft kisses trailed to my jaw before his mouth was a whisper away from mine. “Yes, beautiful… do you want me to stop?”

  I gently shook my head while my hands fisted the soft cotton of his T-shirt. It needed to come off. I wanted to feel his body… his bare skin and every ripple of muscle. What was going on with me? “No, but… we can’t do this… here.”

  “You’re right. We’ll be here all night. Let’s go dance.” Placing his hand on my back, he led me out of the small room and toward the dance floor. No one noticed where we came from. Our friends were still in each other’s arms, swaying to the music.

  Taking a position on the edge opposite the others, he stepped closer until there was no space between us. There was nowhere to hide, not from his gaze, not from feeling his excitement pressing into me. There was also no way to pretend he didn’t affect me. Not when my entire body ignited to the point of discomfort. And I wasn’t sure if it was my lack of transparency, or how my body responded on its own accord, that made me feel sexy and frustrated all at the same time.

  “I do really like you, Cassandra.”

  “I really like you too.”

  “When can I see you again?”<
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  I stared into his eyes with a snarky expression. “You’re seeing me now.”

  “Not good enough. You know what I mean.”

  I lusted for him more than I understood. It was difficult separating being friends and detaching the emotions that came with being intimate. I had never engaged in casual sex. Aside from Dante, there wasn’t another man I’d been intimate with who I didn’t feel love for. Love and sex were one and the same for me; one led to the other. And it was clear it wasn’t for him.

  Every sign down the path we’d taken pointed at this being only about sex. That wasn’t what I was looking for, nor was it something I was familiar with. Everything that we shared the other night threw me off balance.

  “What’s going on in that pretty little head?” he asked, staring with purpose.

  “Look, the other night was a fluke. I know you said it wasn’t, but how could it have been anything more? We went from fighting to sex in a matter of days.” Remembering where we were, I glanced at my friends. Brae was lost in Jude, but Luca and Vanessa noticed us. Bringing my attention back to Dante, I said, “This isn’t the place for this conversation. I’m not even sure if we need to have it.”

  “We do need to have it. And I’ll prove to you we aren’t a fluke.”

  Maybe fluke wasn’t the right word choice, but nothing about this made sense. It didn’t matter what Vanessa said to me. Overthinking was my norm, sensibility was my middle name, and throwing caution to the wind was not in my DNA.

  Which meant three strikes against a man like Dante.

  Chapter 12

  Dante

  Labor Day weekend meant the city was quiet. While my brother and his friends frolicked in the Hamptons, I scoured the thousand or so pictures I took during my last shoot. Jude and Brae had a house out there and being part of their group meant I received an invite as well. Unfortunately, deadlines in my profession didn’t adhere to holiday schedules. When one of the biggest fashion magazines demanded the photos be edited by Labor Day, it meant no fun for Dante.

  Having been at it for hours, I stretched before reading my emails. Most of them were regarding upcoming shoots, but then I saw one that brought a smile to my face. It was from my mentor and good friend, Matteo Romano. When I was just starting out, I did an apprenticeship at his studio in Milan. Thanks to him, I became the photographer I am today.

  Matteo was an older man, closer to my father’s age than mine. He had won several awards, had been published in various magazines and books, and was featured in several prominent galleries. The numerous accolades he acquired made him a world-renowned photographer. Clients would put shoots on hold to have him behind the lens. The man told a story with his camera like no one else could. In other words, he was everything I strived to be.

  My eyes scanned his message. Matteo was inching toward retirement and slowly cutting back. The best thing about photography or any creative art was that even after the creator was gone, the work still lived on… a legacy of sorts. Matteo didn’t have a wife or children. He had devoted his life to creating beautiful images, and one day I hoped he’d pass the torch to me.

  Being featured in a gallery was a dream of mine. My work hanging on display in an art museum would surpass anything I could have imagined. I loved my job, but I couldn’t see myself doing it forever. At some point, all the gorgeous faces started to look the same. After years and years in the business, the thought of doing what I did for the sake of art and not a paycheck would be the ultimate reward.

  Thinking of Matteo always had me remembering home. It’d been too long since my last visit. I opened up my calendar, even though I knew I didn’t have time for a few weeks in Italy. Maybe over the holidays I’d surprise my parents and just show up.

  That was another downside to my profession… time to relax. There was always a shoot or a model needing new headshots. Fuck, at times it all seemed so ridiculous. The fashion industry and their arrogance—it wasn’t like they were curing cancer. The older I got, the more I realized my entire adult life revolved around my career.

  Procrastination wasn’t my thing, so I powered through until the last image was perfect and slammed closed my laptop.

  While my face was plastered to the screen, daylight turned to dusk. Exhausted from doing nothing but sitting, I got myself a beer and headed out to my balcony. The humidity smacked my face the moment I stepped outside, making me envious of Luca and the gang hanging at the beach and not in a concrete jungle. I felt antsy, restless. Grabbing dinner alone held no appeal, and neither did taking a walk only to sweat my ass off because of the stagnant air.

  I had maybe a few hours left before I was done. A quick glance at my watch had the wheels in my head turning. After a few internet searches, I checked the train schedule and packed a bag. Thirty minutes later, my ass was in a cab heading to Penn Station.

  By the time I got to Brae and Jude’s house it’d be past midnight, but I didn’t care. I deserved a day at the beach… swimming in the ocean… having a cocktail… with a sexy blonde at my fingertips. Since seeing her at Dispatch, we had unresolved business to discuss… the topic of us.

  Tires crunching on the gravel drive slashed through the silence. “Nice house,” my driver said, ogling it from his window. Nice? The place was a beachside fortress. I could definitely get into hanging out here for the rest of my life. Faint waves could be heard in the distance as I exited the car with my bag and approached the front porch.

  I tracked the sound of voices and followed the paver-stone path to the backyard. When I reached my destination, I was greeted by an impressive deck complete with a bubbling hot tub in one corner of a large rectangular pool, enough furniture to furnish my apartment, and an outdoor kitchen that would impress most professional chefs—yes, I was definitely glad I decided to leave the city.

  The group of friends sat around a patio table, laughing and chatting, and the only thing missing was Cassie. At my approach, Jude looked over with a frown until he realized who it was. “Hey, man. You decided to join us after all.”

  “I did. It’s hot as balls in the city.” As soon as the words were out, I shrugged an apology. “Sorry, ladies.”

  “It’s much cooler out here. Come sit, and I’ll get you a nice cold beer,” Brae said as I climbed the steps toward them. She left her husband’s lap, his eyes following her the entire way. That dude had it bad.

  “I’m glad you’re all still up,” I said as I made my rounds, shaking hands and kissing cheeks. “I had visions of sleeping out on the porch until morning.”

  “You finished all your edits?” Luca asked as Brae returned with my beer.

  “I have a few more hours, but most of them are done.” I took a long swig and tried for nonchalance when I asked, “Where’s Cassie?” My first thought was I schlepped all the way out there and she decided to stay behind. That would suck.

  “Cassie hit the sack a while ago,” Vanessa offered, and then studied my reaction. But when I remained quiet, she felt the need to add, “Our girl desperately needs excitement in her life.”

  “I’m sure it’s not easy on her being the only one here unpaired,” Sabrina said lovingly, playing the good cop.

  “No, Cassie doesn’t care about that. Give her a quiet corner and a book, and the girl is in heaven,” Brae said matter-of-factly.

  Jude leaned toward his wife and nuzzled her neck. “That sounds like your Saturday nights before I came into your life.”

  “You’re a funny man,” she said before sticking her tongue out.

  “We’re outta here,” he said, grabbing his wife and dragging her away without apology. Brae giggled in protest, but then quickly changed her complaints to a good night to the rest of us. “Dante, your room is next to Luca’s,” she called right as Jude threw her over his shoulder and sprinted into the house.

  “What just happened?” Sabrina asked Luca, but Kyle responded, “He’s rude as hell. We only hang out with him for his nice beach house.”

  Rude or not, it took minutes before
Kyle and Vanessa took off as well, leaving me with my brother and his girl. Either they felt bad ditching me or had more self-control than the rest of them. They ended up hanging out with me until I finished my beer, then left me alone in the sultry night air, jealous they all were doing things to their girls that I ached to do to Cassie.

  Left to my own devices, and not ready to head to bed yet, I reached down and grabbed my camera out of its bag. Most of my life was spent staring through the viewfinder. For me, it changed the perception of things; it made me more cognizant of the world I lived in. It afforded me with an appreciation that all things held beauty.

  Scanning the dark night, my finger started clicking the shutter button, capturing the way the moonlight danced on the dark ripples of the ocean, the way the stars dotted the sky, and the way the tips of the waves rolled onto the shore. Each of those things happened every day, yet each time they were different. That was the beauty we were all surrounded by, and what we failed to stop and appreciate.

  Hearing a giggle from inside the house made me smile. It could have been any one of the ladies. Except Cassie. Thank God she didn’t bring someone here. That thought never crossed my mind until Sabrina mentioned her being the only one not paired off. I thought, She is paired off, she just doesn’t know it yet. I took one more glance at the ocean before whispering, “Until tomorrow, Cassandra.”

  Cassie

  I woke to the smell of bacon and six noisy people chatting and laughing downstairs. Last night, the crew decided to head into town today to explore and shop. I easily passed, not needing to be the seventh wheel. Since I knew I’d have all day to myself, I turned over and went back to sleep. School started next week, which meant days like this would be few and far between, if at all.

  My entire body felt rested as I stretched out on the luxurious bedding. The house had been quiet for the past few hours, and my stomach rumbling was what had me finally ready to leave the heaven of my bed.