“Christ!” He lets go and bounces back, then his face turns beet red. “Sorry, ma’am. Didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Her hands fly up to her throat, and while she gasps for air, her huge eyes flit between Little Ricky and me.
That’s when I recognize her. The breathtaking work of art from the other night.
The first time our eyes met, she looked at me like I was just another guy she couldn’t be bothered with. The second time, her cheeks flushed pink and she flitted away. I couldn’t stop thinking about her the whole fucking night.
I take in her blonde hair that looks like spun gold and the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
Fuck, she’s exquisite.
Dumbstruck by being so close to her, I remain glued to the spot when she darts away, flitting into the road without checking to make sure it’s safe.
A horn blares and my heart stutters in my chest as a car slams on its brakes. Luckily, the driver stops in time, but then he leans out the window and shouts, “Watch where you’re going, crazy fucking bitch!”
Anger shoots through me, and while I glare at the asshole, the woman glances over her shoulder. Her terror-filled eyes lock on my face, then she runs even faster down the sidewalk before darting into an office.
Mitchell’s Construction.
“Fuck.” Little Ricky’s tone sounds as stunned as I feel. “The car almost hit her.”
Before I realize what I’m doing, I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Rosie’s number. The Cosa Nostra’s hacker will be able to find out who the butterfly is that flitted into my life.
“Master of the universe speaking,” Rosie answers.
“There was a blonde woman outside my club a minute ago. I want to know who she is.”
“Give me a sec. Let me pull up the footage.” A heartbeat later, Rosie says, “Jesus, Little Ricky wasn’t playing around. Oooh, look at you being all stunned. She’s so pretty! Was it love at first sight? Has the great Adriano Rizzo bitten the bullet? Are…”
“Rosie,” I growl.
“Pfft…you’re no fun. Give me two minutes. I’m running facial recognition.”
“Text me everything you find on her,” I say, then add, “Thanks, Rosie.”
“You’re welcome, grumpy,” she chirps.
As I end the call, Little Ricky opens the back door, and I get in. I set his food down beside me, then glance at the construction company again.
She probably works there.
The SUV dips when Little Ricky climbs in behind the steering wheel. “I think it was a simple accident that she ran into us. Why are you doing a check on the woman?”
When I don’t answer for several seconds, Little Ricky starts the engine and pulls away from the curb. “Adriano? You okay?”
“Yeah.” I keep staring at the company, and when we drive past, I suck in a deep breath. “I just want to know who she is.”
He gives me a curious look in the rearview mirror. “But why?”
I finally regain my bearings and admit, “Because she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
A wide smile instantly splits across his face.
“Stop fucking grinning like that,” I grumble, then my phone beeps, and I reach for the device so fast, it has Little Ricky chuckling.
I open the app with my thumbprint before devouring the information.
Rosie: She’s Laurie Barnes. Aged 25. She’s from Findlay, Ohio. She’s worked at Mitchell’s Constructionfor the past six years. But bad news for you because she lives with a man who I’d guess is her boyfriend. Austin Doyle.