Read Online A Touch of Fae by J.M. Madden - Free Book Online Page B

bite of eggs before pushing his plate away. He cupped the mug in his hands and Violet could tell he was savoring the aroma of the coffee. Rory reached a long arm out, grabbed the carafe and held it out to Sandro for a refill. The Italian took it gratefully.
    Violet was impressed once again by Rory’s solicitude to his lover. It was cute. And heart-warming. And made her a little bit envious. It was obvious that these two loved each other very much.
    Rory turned back around. Violet was not surprised to see that his plate was empty and several of the toasts were gone as well. It probably took a small army to keep this one man fed.
    “Are you open on Sundays?” he asked.
    Violet shook her head in the negative. They were packed every other day, but Sunday was off limits. Grandad had never worked Sundays and he urged her to keep the day off as well.
    “So, do you have anything planned for today?”
    Violet narrowed her eyes, wondering where he was going with this. “No.”
    “Good. Would you consider going for a drive?”
    Violet looked down at her plate without saying anything. Her mouth was positively watering. She had never driven a Ferrari more than about fifty feet. From the lot to the garage bay.
    “Can I drive?” she found herself asking.
    Rory narrowed his own green eyes and pursed his lips. Violet quirked an eyebrow, daring him.
    “Yes, on one condition.”
    Violet didn’t know if she wanted to hear what the condition was. Maybe he didn’t want her to protest when it came to sex later in the day. Although it probably wouldn’t be an issue later if he let her drive the Ferrari. She would have to make sure not to soak the seat.
    “What is it?” she asked warily.
    “I want you to stay open-minded when we talk later.”
    Frowning, she thought it over. It seemed pretty straightforward. And she prided herself on being open to new things anyway. She’d had to be with her granddad. “Ok, I will,” she promised.

Chapter Five
    ‡
    T he car was everything she expected it to be. The buttery soft leather seats cushioned them as Violet’s foot pressed down on the accelerator on a straight stretch outside of town. Nimble and eager, the car responded to every slight cue from her fingers and feet. Violet was impressed. The California had 483 horsepower, or thereabouts, and would get up to 193 miles per hour in seconds. She didn’t dare go that fast though. Alessandro was crammed into the small back seat area, knees under his chin. He said he was comfortable but Violet could tell he wasn’t.
    Ten miles outside of town the guilt got to her. And the pain in her hand. Alessandro was constantly shifting, trying to stretch out. Pulling over to a roadside park, she turned to Rory with a broad smile.
    “Thank you. That was wonderful. It was just as good as I thought it would be, only better.”
    Rory smiled at her then turned to look out the window. They had pulled over at a park Violet came to often. It was several acres square and wild with natural growth. There was a small, cultivated area near the parking area, but Violet found herself always drawn to the back corner, where a rock-bottom stream meandered along one edge of the property. It was usually almost dry in the summertime, but right now it was more than likely full of rain run-off, the water flowing freely.
    Stepping out of the car, Rory slid the passenger seat forward to let Sandro out. The Italian groaned as he stretched the kinks out of his long frame. Violet could not help but admire the line of his back and his flexibility as he leaned forward and swayed from side to side, limbering his muscles.
    Violet was surprised to see that Rory was halfway across the park now, striding purposefully toward the corner where she liked to go. Maybe he had been here before.
    Retrieving the keys, she activated the car alarm before following along behind. A box turtle was hidden in tall grass at the edge of the parking lot and Violet took a moment to walk him across the road