Beautiful Life: The Carpino Series by Brynne Asher Read Free Book Online Page A

relief, because really, I didn’t want to see what Paige would have done if he ex-nayed Sex in the City. 
    After we finally settled in with Paige’s non-junk-food-junk-food with Tony torturing my legs and feet, I got lost in the dramas and humor of four amazing characters.  In the middle of the fourth episode, comfort and food took over and I drifted off.  I vaguely hear Paige whispering a goodbye and leaving.  That’s when I feel Tony’s hand gently on my neck and his lips at my ear whispering, “Sweetheart.  Get up and go to bed.”
    I blink my eyes open to see Tony’s face close to mine.  Somehow my bottom is tucked in even tighter to his side and I’m lying in an “S” with my legs still draped over him, but now he’s leaning over me.  He somehow stands up, pulling me with him and before I know it in my semi-consciousness, Tony pulls me into his arms.  With one around my lower back, the other hand goes into my hair and his lips come to my forehead.  My arms are squished between us, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feel how amazing his big strong arms feel wrapped around me. 
    My fingers grip his shirt as he kisses my forehead whispering there, “Go to bed, Leigh.  I’ll let the dog out and lock up the house.”
    I lift my head and look into his almost back eyes.  I need to let him know what today has meant to me.  Smiling and laughing on a day that should have been long and depressing from recent terrible memories is something I hadn’t expected.  He gave me that, even though I can’t let myself think about why he gave me that.  I don’t need another man in my life now, maybe never.  I know I’m being selfish letting Tony torture me in all his wonderful ways but I can’t make him stop.  I’m too weak, just like I was too weak to leave Preston after years of abuse.  I’m one hundred percent sure I would have gone back to Preston had Gabby not personally removed me from my living hell.  I used to think of myself as a strong person, but not anymore.  As much as I know I should push Tony away I can’t.  It feels too good right now when there’s nothing good in my life to feel. 
    I look into his deep dark eyes with his lush hair falling to his forehead where he’s looking back down at me and I say, “Thank you for today, Tony.”  I might be weak but I’m not stupid.  I know I need to get out of his arms, no matter how wonderful they feel and add, “Can you set the alarm when you leave?”
    Tony looks down at me a beat and states, “I’ll set the alarm.  Go to bed.”  He kisses my forehead one more time and letting me go, gives me a nudge toward my room.  I get ready for bed, hear the beeps of the alarm as Mia finds me and jumps up to cuddle in for the night.  I tuck in as tight as I can, thinking of nothing but the caress I feel in my soul when Tony touches me gently in any way.  I’ve never felt a touch like it in my life.  Ever.  So I hang on to the feel of his caress on my soul as I start to drift off again, my body needing sleep but my mind dreading it knowing what it will likely bring.
    *****
    I jerk awake on the sofa, a noise waking me from somewhere in the house.  Grabbing my phone off the coffee table, I see it’s a bit after three in the morning.  I think it’s coming from Leigh’s room so I throw off my blanket to go to her.  With the hall light on, I crack the door to see her curled up, jerking and whimpering, but not quite crying. 
    I go to the side of her bed, lightly put my hand to her arm and whisper her name to try and wake her up, “Leigh?”
    Her whole body wracks with shock at my touch and she pulls away shrieking, “Stop!  No, stop!” 
     
     

Chapter 4 - Drink It In
     
    Shit.  I lean away from her with my palms out to show her I’m not going to touch her. 
    “It’s me,” I whisper.  She’s pressed up against the headboard now, breathing hard trying to get her bearings with Mia jumping around the bed trying to get in her