Mr. Bentini's Lady: The Beginning (The Bentini Brothers Book 1)

Mr. Bentini's Lady

To help pay the bills, overworked and underappreciated middle school teacher, Tiressa Hawkins, applies for a temp position at Bentini and Sons. By some strange twist of fate, she becomes the personal assistant of Mrs. Bentini, the matriarch of the Bentini family. Tiressa not only loves her new job, she also loves that it pays much more than she ever earned as a teacher. Everything goes well until Tiressa meets Antonio Bentini.

From the first moment that powerful executive Antonio Bentini, meets Tiressa Hawkins, he is captivated by her. So much so, that he insists on breaking Mrs. Bentini’s number one rule and sets out to make himself the most important man in Tiressa’s life.

Tiressa has to decide if she dare take a chance and risk not only her great paying job, but also her heart. Antonio says he wants her love, but is he really telling her the truth. Is what he offering real, or could it turn out to be nothing more than a meaningless affair?

You will not regret immersing yourself in the love story of Antonio & Tiressa.

Mr. Bentini’s Lady is an interracial (black woman, white man) romance. This 64,677 word novella is the first in this series. It contains adult situations, sexual language, and sexual content. Appropriate for mature readers 18+

Note to Reader: If you prefer a spicier version of this book, look for Mr. Bentini’s Lady: An Erotic Romance. It’s the same great story with added erotic sizzle.

Prologue
I enter the building and decide to take the stairs to the third floor instead of the elevator. As I get to the second level, a voice bounces off the walls and stops me dead in my tracks. “You must want Mr. Matthews to get hurt.”
I gasp in shock as I look up to see Antonio walking down the stairs towards me. My first thought is, ‘Shit did he see me with Derrick…and if he did, how much did he actually see?!’ My second thought is, ‘He’s so intimidating when he stabs me with those cold pewter eyes. Now is definitely not the time to talk about money!’ Then bizarrely I think, ‘My Gawd! No man should be that damn fine!’ To see such powerful thighs encased in a pair of very long denim blue jeans. And his chest! His chest and arms are so muscular, he must never miss a workout. There is nothing NOT sexy about Antonio Bentini. He is definitely a triple threat.

“Imagine my surprise… I get back in town, rush here to see my lady… And find her in the arms of another man.” Antonio’s voice is low and dangerous. I want to say something. I open my mouth to say something. My lips move, but no words come out.

“You didn’t answer my question, Ti. Do you want Derrick Matthews to get hurt?”

How in the world would he hurt him? He can‘t be saying that he’ll have a physical confrontation with Derrick? –Is he?

“No…No, of course not.” I start stepping back. Antonio matches me step for step until he backs me up against the wall.

“Whatever is going on between you and Derrick Matthews stops today. This minute. Do you understand what I’m saying, Tiressa?” He grates out in an infuriated voice. He seems more threatening because he isn’t yelling. The more upset he is, the lower his voice—as if it takes him a great deal of control not to lose control. Although we are not touching, I can feel the heat and energy radiating from his body into mine.

I guess I didn’t answer fast enough because Antonio grabs me by the arms and gives me a little shake. I quickly stammer a reply. “Yes. I understand you. But there’s nothing going on between us!”

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Tiressa.” Antonio snarls, squeezing my arms as he hauls me onto the tip of my toes and up against his solid torso.

“I’m not. I don’t have feelings for him..,not like that! He wants to date me, but I told him that I’m seeing someone—”

“You’re doing a hell of a lot more than seeing someone. Did you tell him that you and I are together."