Dad gave me a look that said he suspected either Enzo or I was up to something...and that if we messed things up for our grandparents, there would be serious repercussions.
“Come on, Mom, you're embarrassing her,” I muttered as I put my arm around my mother's shoulders.
I had to lean down to hug her, and the familiar scents of her and home filled my lungs. No matter how much money our family had, Mom always insisted on making her own tomato sauces as well as most of her own pasta, so she was always in the kitchen. The smell of her cooking always sent me right back to my childhood.
I handed Mom off to Enzo and put my hand out for Briana. She took it with a grateful smile, and we headed for the elevators before Mom could come back for seconds. Neither one of us said anything as we rode up to the floor my family had reserved. I wasn't going to apologize for my mom, and I liked the fact that Briana didn't make a big deal out of what happened.
“Your room's across the hall from mine,” I said as we stepped off the elevator.
I'd expected the relief I saw on her face when she realized I wasn't expecting her to have sex with me, but there'd also been a flash of something else. Something that looked a lot like disappointment.
I didn't dwell on it though. She was off-limits, and not only because one night with her would cost me two hundred grand. I stuck with pros for a reason. I didn't want to be responsible for hurting her.
“Go ahead and get settled,” I said as I handed her the key to her room. “I'll come over in a half hour to get you for a late lunch. The rest of the day's going to be packed, so make sure you wear something comfortable.”
She nodded and turned away. As I watched her disappear into her room, I was struck with the desire to follow. Not to seduce her or anything like that, but just so I could keep being around her. From the moment I met her, I'd been intrigued, and it seemed like that only increased the more time I spent with her.
Which was why I quickly turned toward my own door and began running down the mental list of all the things on the schedule for today. Mom might not have been Nonna's daughter, but they did share a love of lists. And right now, that list was going to be my salvation.
Between catching up with my relatives and the list of activities Nonna and Mom had planned for us all, I barely got a chance to talk to Briana beyond a few niceties. I couldn't figure out why it bothered me so much since it wasn't like I was used to having a date at these things. The events I brought dates to were business affairs, and they were basically well-paid, beautiful, and sometimes intelligent decoration.
Besides, I knew that spending more time with her would only lead to complications, and I needed to avoid those at all costs. Yet, I found myself watching her as the day turned into evening, coveting every smile, every laugh. She charmed her way through my family, talking to everyone who came her way. She was perfect, avoiding any subjects that could cause conflict without being rude or condescending. She shared very little about her personal life, skillfully turning conversations back on everyone else. If I hadn't been watching her so closely, I doubted I would have even noticed.
Back in Vegas, it'd been fairly easy to pretend that my focus on her was because of the role she played. Here, I could have used a similar excuse. She was my date, so why shouldn't my eyes follow her pretty much everywhere she went? But if I was being honest with myself, I knew that wasn't the case. I wasn't trying to sell my relationship with her to my family. That was actually the last thing I wanted, them to get the wrong idea and think that Briana might be a part of the family.
I didn't want me to get the wrong idea either...but even that couldn't make me stop watching her.
I often had trouble sleeping when I was in a new place. That was accompanied by another, more troubling kind of restlessness tonight. The kind that kept images repeating in my head. Things that had really happened – the smile she'd given me – as well as things that hadn't – her body beneath mine.
Every inch of me was tense. My cock had been hard for what seemed like years. I'd been running my hands through my hair so much that it was standing up all over the place. I'd already drunk enough of the Corzo from the mini bar to know that if I took any more tequila, I'd regret it in the morning.
Not knowing what else to do, I decided to head outside for a walk, hoping the night air would help me out.
Without any intention on my part, I found myself outside her door, hand already halfway to knocking. I stopped before I made contact. It was past midnight. She was probably sleeping. And besides, what would I do if I did knock? Ask her if she wanted to go for a walk on the beach? Ask if I could come inside for a nightcap? She'd get the wrong impression.
Or maybe she'd get the right impression, though not one I should have been giving.
I headed down to the beach alone. I'd missed the ocean while we were in Vegas even though there was a huge difference from the Atlantic Coast I was used to and the Pacific here. It was even different from LA to Hawaii. But it didn't matter where I was. The ocean soothed me.
Here was no different.
The frothy waves tumbled as they neared the shore, hissing and spitting in an endless cycle of approach and retreat. The sand was still warm, and it felt like absolute heaven against my bare soles. I held my shoes in hand as I walked down the sandy stretch, thinking about everything from the business to what time I had to get up in the morning. All of these mundane thoughts were designed to keep my mind from where it really wanted to go – Briana.
I turned my attention to the sky as I made a loop to stay on the hotel's private beach. The lights from the hotel cast an odd sort of glow over everything, different from anything I'd seen aside from here.
It wasn't until I was halfway back that I realized I wasn't alone. A figure just ahead of me, silhouetted by the distant lights of the resort, stood and looked out over the breaking waves. My heart skipped a beat as I approached, some deep part of me knowing that it was Briana before I could see her.
“What are you doing out here?” I called out when I was close enough.
No point trying to avoid her, not when I'd been secretly hoping for this moment all day. Hell, before that. I'd been waiting to get her alone from the moment I first met her.
Her head came up, surprise on her face for a second before she smiled. “I don't sleep well in new beds.”
I laughed, the sound coming much easier than I expected. “Me neither.”
I stopped when I was close enough to reach out and grab her if I wanted. And I wanted to. Fuck, I wanted to so badly that it hurt. But instead, I turned and stared out at the waves again.
“I suppose this must be a welcome change from dusty Las Vegas.”
“You have no idea.” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
The blissful smile that crossed her lips made me wonder how old she really was. Some moments, she seemed to be around my age. Other times, I wondered if she was even old enough to work in a casino. And how much had she been through in her short life? It couldn’t have been easy, being a single mom, especially at her age.
“I grew up in Tulsa,” she said. “Moved straight to Vegas from there, and I've never been anywhere else. The air tastes different out here.”
I let my gaze trace along her features. “I know exactly what you mean.”
She opened her eyes and caught me staring at her. I forced myself to look away.
“You're enjoying your stay so far, then?”
Fortunately, she let the subject change. “It's been a bit of a whirlwind meeting all your family, but they've been nice.”
“But are you enjoying it?”
“I am.” There was truth in her tone. “I have to admit that I was a bit relieved when Enzo didn't try to put me in the room next to his. I thought for sure it wouldn't matter to him that I was supposed to be your...date. That he'd expect...more.”
Her eyes widened, and I thought she was probably surprised that she'd revealed so much. But I laughed it off.
“I enjoy your cand
id moments,” I admitted. “Especially when they involve my brother.”
A gust of wind picked up her hair and sent the strands skittering over her face. Without thinking, I reached out to smooth a lock behind her ear. My fingertips brushed her cheek. It was soft and cool despite the heat of the day. I couldn't resist running my thumb over it when I was finished.
Her eyes caught mine, blue as dark as the ocean in front of us. I couldn't have mistaken the desire there if I'd been blindfolded. And I couldn't have resisted if my hands were tied behind my back.
I caught her wrist and pulled her to me. She let out a surprised gasp, which I quickly muted by crashing my lips down against hers. For a moment, her body went stiff, and I waited for her to push me away.
Instead, she melted in my arms.
Her lips were cool, with just a hint of sea salt from the mist blowing inland. I teased my tongue against the seam of her mouth until she sighed and granted me entrance. Her arms snaked around my neck, and she pushed up on her toes, straining to get more of me. I moaned as I pulled her lower lip between my teeth. She tasted heavenly, and the way her body pressed against mine made me want to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to my room where I could devour her completely.
But that little voice of common sense in the back of my head wouldn't shut up, and it convinced me to stop. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do, but I knew it was right.
Still, I couldn't look at her as I walked away. I knew if I met her eyes, I wouldn't be strong enough to keep going.
15
Briana
From the moment I'd met them, I thought that if either of the brothers was going to try to kiss me, it would be Enzo. I'd seen the way he looked at me, and I knew what it meant. And sure, Dorian and I shared a great chemistry, but I didn't think he would act on it. And then he did.
He acted on it and then some.
My lips were still tingling, and that should have been a good thing.
Except after giving me the best kiss of my life...he walked off without a word. I couldn't tell whether I was supposed to follow him, or if I was supposed to forget the whole thing ever happened.
Maybe he'd been sleepwalking. Maybe he wouldn't remember a thing in the morning.
I hoped he did. Even if I was confused as hell, I wanted more.
I didn't chase after him though. I wasn't sure I'd be able to walk right away, truth be told, having recently had my kneecaps replaced by pure gelatin. But I got my shit together eventually and made my way back up to the hotel. My mind was whirring at a million miles a minute, but I kept my eyes peeled for Dorian. If he wanted me to follow him, he should be waiting for me, right?
Except I didn't know what he wanted.
Was this just a part of me being Dorian's date? It hadn't even occurred to me during the act that it might have just been that. Expected. It had felt so real, so honest. Maybe it was just because my own feelings in the matter were so real and honest. I liked Dorian, more than I knew I should. And I liked the way he kissed me. So, the idea that the only reason he did so was because I was around or that he considered me to be bought and paid for hurt like hell.
I tried not to dwell on it as I walked. I didn't know one way or the other what his deal was, so if he wasn't waiting for me, the best thing I could do would be to go to bed and start fresh tomorrow. I could take my cue from him.
Someone was waiting for me outside my room, but it wasn't Dorian.
Enzo had a decidedly mischievous glint in his eye and was carrying a bottle of Cristal with two glasses. I didn't like the way it looked, but I decided to play the naive card.
“What are you doing up so late?” I spoke in a hushed voice, hoping it'd remind him that the floor we were on also housed most of his family.
He grinned at me. “Thought you might want to have a drink with me.”
I made a show of yawning, covering my mouth with my hand. “It's way past my bedtime.” I smiled at him to keep him from taking it personally. “I'm sorry.”
He chuckled. “Well, if you'd like, we can just go straight to bed.”
There was a note of teasing to his voice, but I didn't think for a moment that his proposition wasn't serious. Which meant it was time for me to decide how far I was willing to go for my job. While I didn't think that either of the brothers would complain to Earl, and I believed they would honor their promise to come back to Rock Bay, I knew that once I drew this line, I would know what I wouldn't do...and so would they.
And I couldn't sleep with Enzo.
“I think I'll just go to bed alone, but, uh, I'm flattered.”
He shrugged, making the movement look graceful. “Your loss.” The words were said simply, without any malice, for which I was grateful. And I supposed he really did see it that way.
I turned to unlock my door, glanced over when movement at the other end of the hall caught my eye. But it wasn't Dorian. Charisma and Kendall, two of the cousins I met earlier, stood only a few feet away. They'd seemed friendly enough, if a little snobby. They gave me a brief wave before they linked arms and went on their way to wherever it was they were going.
I let myself into my room and collapsed onto the fluffy white duvet.
Dorian had kissed me.
Dorian kissed me.
I could still almost taste him on my tongue, feel the ghostly press of his lips against mine.
The memory kept me awake longer than being in the new bed did.
16
Briana
Eloisa and Emilio Gianelli had been together for over sixty years, and as they repeated the vows they'd given all those years ago, every single person watching the ceremony could see that they meant the words as much today as they had then. At eighty years old, Emilio had only wisps of his dark hair left, and he was probably a bit stouter than he was when they'd first met, but as he held Eloisa's hand, I couldn't help but picture how he must've looked on their wedding day.
Dorian and Enzo's father, Bartolo, had been their only child, but Emilio had numerous nieces and nephews, which meant the majority of the people there were nieces, nephews, and their families, and it was clear that Nonna and Nonno – as they'd insisted I call them – were much loved.
A lump formed in my throat as I thought about my own grandmother, the only member of my family who'd ever loved me unconditionally. It'd been seven years since she passed, but it didn't make the hurt any less. Every time Mikala did something that I wished I could share with Gran, I missed her all over again.
For nearly seven years, I'd gone back and forth when it came to regretting my decision to leave Tulsa, but it had always been because of my relationship with Elroy. Because of Mikala, I couldn't completely regret him, but I did wish I'd left him as soon as I found out I was pregnant. The one thing that'd never factored in had been family.
I didn't dislike religion, and I'd met plenty of good religious people in my life, but my family – with the exception of Gran – had been the sort of people who gave all those good people a bad name. Gran had believed in unconditional love, even when expressing disapproval. My parents and siblings believed that love was something earned, and if someone didn't measure up, they didn't deserve it and was tossed aside.
I wanted to keep Mikala as far away from them as possible, but there were times I wished my daughter could have an extended family. This was one of those times.
The Gianellis weren't perfect. I didn't have any illusions about that, and I didn't doubt that there were some bad apples in the bunch, but as a whole, I could see that they loved each other.
As I dabbed at my eyes, I pushed back those thoughts. The past was gone, and nothing I could do would give me a do-over. I needed to stay focused on the future, and that meant remembering the real reason I was here. It wasn't to indulge in my attraction to Dorian or even to enjoy myself. I was here to make sure the Gianellis would consider Rock Bay their location of choice every time they were in Las Vegas.
And that meant letting Dorian take the lead o
n things.
Neither of us had mentioned what happened, and I wondered if we ever would. A few days and countless opportune moments had passed between us since the kiss, and we'd spent time together, shared inane conversations. He'd been polite, never once making me feel like that intimate moment made him think less of me. He pulled out my chair, brought me drinks, sat close enough to let anyone around us know that I was with him.
But he wouldn't look me in the eye. A brief glance before quickly sliding away was the extent of it. I just didn't know if that was because he was embarrassed or because he didn't want me to read more into it than a moment of impulsive physical contact.
It was harder to push those thoughts aside as the two of us moved with everyone else into the hotel’s main restaurant after the ceremony. No one had treated me poorly, but the more Dorian distanced himself from me, the more I felt like I shouldn't be here. Seeing Enzo with his wife didn't help matters any. Granted, I wasn't attracted to him, and I hadn't accepted his invitation to bed, but knowing that he'd made the offer while his wife slept right down the hall made me feel bad for her. It also made me annoyed at Dorian that he seemed to accept his brother's behavior, and the irritation didn't do anything to calm my nerves.
Just as everything started twisting up my stomach to the point where I nearly felt compelled to leave, Dorian wound his arm around my waist to guide me to the right table.
It was a simple touch, but it was still enough to send my heart pounding. I leaned into him as much as I dared, the heat from his touch burning my skin. He smelled like honey and sage, and the scent made me want to bury my face against his chest and just breathe deep.
“That was a beautiful ceremony,” I said.
“It was.” He looked down at me, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. “I don't know if I've mentioned this yet today, but you look stunning.”