Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

Poker Face

**ROMANY**

"I see," I say calmly, packing that information away for when I go back in the house. Right now, Alex's deceitful heart is not what concerns me. It's not the reason for the sudden trembling in my bones. It didn't put this new ache in my chest. An ache that chased me down two flights of stairs and is telling me that I may have just lost an important piece of what makes my heart beat...and that it may be lost forever. No, that was Mickey. Even now as we sit here and I scoot a couple of inches closer, it doesn't register. Not for him. He simply continues to stare straight ahead and bounce his goddamned leg as if he cannot wait until his driver is back in the car, or else he can kick me in the chin. "Mickey," I whisper, fidgeting with the hem of my robe. "Do you remember when you took me to your restaurant?"

He chuckles for a moment, shaking his head only once before looking at me with a half smirk and a pair of chilling green eyes. "Yes."

"You never finished telling me that story," I begin carefully, letting my gaze fall away to observe the rest of him. The suit he's wearing compliments his frame so well that I know it was tailor made just for him. The bulges of his arms push against the sleeves of his jacket, creating an outline of muscle that has me wishing he'd use them to pull me in close. I want to reach for him, but I don't. Not yet. "You know the one...about the owner and that girl."

His eyes are just as green and vibrant as they ever were when he laughs and his smile actually widens. What he says though, puts a hole right through my heart. "It was just a story, doll. Make believe. Just a romantic way to get you into my bed."

The sting is enough to make me flinch and I reel back a bit, pushing toward the door. Searching his gaze for some sign of emotion, *any* emotion, quickly becomes pointless. When he sighs in frustration and then looks away to resume staring straight ahead, I've finally had enough. The anger I thought I saw upstairs must have been more about his ego than it was anything else, and I'm suddenly feeling more lost than I ever have. "My mistake," I say softly, turning away to face the door.

have a contract too. I'm supposed to be getting engaged to Paul Romano's daughter. It's probably best if I don't come back for a while."

have even told me if he hadn't walked in

*Probably not.*

can't see the tears brimming in my eyes, I place my hand on the door handle so that I can start to get out. Suddenly, I pause, my mind traveling back with the

his award winning

this way

*Just to hurt me?*

*If he only knew...*

I release the door handle to wipe them away, then with a slight glance over my shoulder I say, "Thank you for the story. It really was beautiful." With a sad smile, I recall that first lunch Mickey and I spent alone together, when he offered me my revenge, and I let another

in the car's rear view mirror as I turn back toward the door and I see him watching me. Both of his feet are on the floorboard now and his leg has stopped bouncing. One arm lay stretched over the middle of the bench seat, as if he