Bad Moon Rising by Zoe Forward

Author:Zoe Forward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Werewolf; shifter; special ops; alpha male; forbidden love; bodyguard & protector; paranormal suspense; urban fantasy; amnesia
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2021-10-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“What’s your mother like?” Nova speed-walked to keep up with Roman. Milan’s ancient stone architecture intrigued her, not that she remembered if she’d ever seen it before. Mattered not. She didn’t have time for art and buildings.

“Wait a second. Would you please slow down?” She dodged three women consulting a map, which caused her to end up farther behind him. The jaw dropped on the one woman while she stared at Roman. She said something in English about Italian men being hot.

Roman paused to allow Nova to catch up, grabbed her hand in a non-romantic keep-up gesture, and resumed his brutal pace.

“Smaller stores are closed today. Got to be something in the Quadrilatero d’Oro,” he muttered.

She grabbed his arm, tugging him to a halt. “Why are we shopping?”

He waved at the jeans, I-love-Milan T-shirt, and the beaded jacket he’d found for her at a tourist trap near the airport. His once-over was far from disparaging, lingering on her chest before dipping downward. His voice came out hoarse. “There’s nothing wrong with your outfit, but I thought you’d prefer to meet my mother for a formal Sunday dinner in a dress.”

“Shopping sounds smart.” Her hand drifted to her face. “I shouldn’t meet anyone looking like this.”

“I can barely tell. The bruising is almost gone. A bit of makeup…” He scanned her face, slightly wincing, before he took off again. He sucked as a liar.

She struggled once more to keep up. “Can’t you dump me somewhere and pick me up after this dinner?”

He glanced around and said as if he hadn’t heard her, “We’ll go to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. It’s closer.”

Minutes later beneath a high, vaulted glass ceiling, she was surrounded by designer shops—Prada, Versace, Dolce, Valentino. He shuttled her into a coffee shop. The moment the door closed after they entered, her eyes drifted closed as she breathed in the rich smells of coffee and pastry. When she realized he wasn’t yanking her to move and that she’d probably spent a moment too long smelling, she met his gaze, face hot.

He smiled. The upward shift of his lips widened until white teeth showed his genuine amusement. The tips of his sharp canines peeked out.

“What?” She shrugged. No one else in the shop stared at her, and there were a lot of people milling about. “Am I embarrassing you?”

“No. People rarely stop to appreciate the aroma. Of course, it couldn’t be more perfect when one is starving.” He inhaled deeply, obviously enjoying the smell, too. His smile broadened.

She grinned. “Never shop hungry.”

“Cappuccino?”

“Espresso keeps me awake for days. Latte is fine.” She placed a hand on her chest, wide-eyed. “I remembered something. I don’t do espresso.”

His eyes crinkled at the corners with his slight smile.

“I don’t do espresso!” She gave him an impromptu hug.

“Now people are looking,” he whispered.

“Oh.” She fast-perused the bakery display. “A croissant might be nice, too. Thanks.”

He nodded and waved her to a free table. Several women stared at Roman as he moved to the counter to order, not that he noticed.

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