Chapter 83

Latisha bit her lip and quietly retreated from the room. She made her way to the downstairs bathroom, only to find Santino inside washing his hands.

When he saw her, he pulled a couple of paper towels from the dispenser. "You can come in,” he said, drying his hands. “I'm done.”

She managed a faint smile and stepped inside.

"The floor's a bit slippery, be care-"

Before he could finish the word, Latisha's feet went out from under her. She flailed, trying to grab onto something, and in the chaos, her hand found his arm. Santino moved with lightning speed, catching her around the waist. They ended up in a startlingly intimate embrace, her body pressed against his.

Latisha clung to his arm, her glistening eyes wide as she looked up at him.

Santino froze, the hand on her waist suddenly feeling like it was on fire. Renata was right; Latisha had captivating eyes. They were clean and clear, yet they held a depth that felt like an endless well of emotion. There was nothing overtly seductive about her, but it made one want to stir those clear waters until they were murky. It was like the strange impulse some people get to squeeze a cute animal, an urge to disrupt something pure.