Less than five minutes later, the door opened without a knock and Katalina swept in. Zeus immediately rose to his feet as he observed the intrusion.
Katalina’s smile froze when Tia stepped out of my bathroom at that exact moment, her frame swaddled in my navy silk robe, the monogrammed ‘CC’ visible on the breast pocket. Her gaze darted between us, then her gasp echoed to the coffered ceiling, bouncing off the paneling.
5
I froze in the doorway, acutely aware of three things. I was wearing Santo’s robe and nothing else. Kat looked like she was about to go full Real Housewives on me, and Zeus had positioned himself protectively at my side.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” I said automatically, clutching the silk robe tighter around my body.
Right. Because that line has never made anything sound more suspicious.
Santo remained lounging on his bed, watching the scene unfold with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher. Was that amusement playing at the corners of his mouth?
“Really? Because it looks like my friend is in my boyfriend’s bedroom wearing nothing but his robe,” Kat spat, her accent slipping as her voice rose. “After I specifically told you I was getting back together with him.”
My cheeks burned. “It was just—there was an accident with my dress. The maid is cleaning it—”
“Oh, that’s rich,” Kat laughed bitterly. “Did it accidentally fall off? Did you accidentally find yourself in Santo’s private rooms?”
I glanced desperately at Santo, hoping he would intervene, explain that nothing inappropriate had happened. Instead, he rose from the bed, his eyes never leaving Kat’s face.
“Is there a problem, Katalina?” he asked in a way that made the hair on my arms stand up. Something was happening here beyond my understanding.
Zeus pressed his warm body against my leg, as if sensing my distress. I placed my hand on his broad head, drawing comfort from the simple contact.
“Is this some kind of joke?” she demanded, her voice brittle. “Did you two plan this?”
“Plan what exactly?” Santo asked, moving casuallytoward me.
“I had an accident,” I repeated, trying to sound confident despite standing there in borrowed silk. “A period accident,” I clarified, figuring the truth might defuse the situation.
Kat’s perfect features contorted. “How convenient.”
“Actually, we were in the kitchen,” Santo interjected. “Tia was admiring the architecture, and I offered her a tour. We sampled some food, had some wine—”
“I don’t need the itinerary of your seduction,” Kat snapped.
“Seduction?” I sputtered. “Kat, I would never—”
A soft knock interrupted me. The door opened to reveal Maria, the maid who had helped me earlier, holding my freshly cleaned dress.
“Your dress, miss,” she said, seemingly oblivious to the tension as she handed me the garment.
“Thank you,” I murmured, grateful for the interruption.
Maria nodded and retreated, closing the door behind her. The momentary reprieve ended as Kat’s attention snapped back to me.
“Get dressed,” she ordered. “We’re leaving.”
“Don’t speak to her like that,” Santo said, his voice deceptively soft. He moved closer to me, his hand coming to rest at the small of my back.
I stepped away from his touch. “I need to change,” I said quietly, clutching my dress and retreating toward the bathroom.
As I closed the door, I heard Kat say something in Greek. I took a moment to breathe and pull myself together.
The dress slid on easily, warm from the maid’s careful press. The stain was thankfully gone.
When I stepped back into the bedroom, it was empty. No Santo. No Kat. Not even Zeus.
