I glanced at Alex to my right—seated between Enzo and me. She hadn’t looked at Graham since serving dinner, offering only that single acknowledgment of his presence when they arrived. I’d be more impressed by her indifference if I wasn’t so angry on her behalf. She was pushing food around her plate, taking a bite here and there while Graham told Jason about the latest deal he’d closed and tried to recruit him for a sales position at his solar company.
Diana rolled her eyes and glanced up at the sleek outdoorchandelier that heated and illuminated the patio as darkness fell.
“Sasha, is this that new lamp you were telling me about?” she pointed, interrupting Graham’s rambling. Alex quickly swallowed and nodded.
“It went on sale, so I snatched it up,” Alex seemed grateful to be talking about anything else. “I installed it before I flew out to help Enzo and Dom with their party.”
“You always were independent like that,” Graham shoved a forkful of lasagna in his mouth. “Made it hard to do anything for you.” That earned him glares from both Jason and Enzo. I balled my fist around my napkin on my lap as Alex merely shrugged one shoulder. As if he’d ever done anything for her in his life.
Graham glanced between her and Enzo before turning his attention toward me, taking an audible swallow from his glass.
“So, Finn,” he started, “what do you do for a living?” The question caught me off guard. Few people asked me that directly, having been filled in on my situation by Dom, Enzo, or the rest of my family. I took a swallow of water, then another. “You’re Dom’s brother, right?” Graham continued when I didn’t answer right away. “I’m assuming older brother.”
I chuckled, not stopping the half-smirk on my face. “Technically correct.”
“Finn’s just returned from overseas,” Enzo offered, not waiting for me to answer. It had been months by now, but that didn’t seem to matter to Enzo. “He flies fighter jets. In the Navy. LikeTop Gun.”
Both Alex and I snorted at the last comment. I noticed the red stain on her cheeks as she turned toward me and offered her a lopsided grin as I followed Enzo’s lead. It wasn’t exactly a lie—I just wasn’t technically allowed to flyanything anymore. My time growing up with Dom meant I’d learned to put on a character when needed, and right now I needed nothing more than to make Graham feel like shit.
“That’s right,” I kept my gaze trained on Alex, noticing her eyes dilate slightly as she watched me. Finally, I turned towardGraham. “I fly fighter jets. In the Navy. LikeTop Gun.”
“Huh,” Graham’s expression narrowed on me. Diana watched us both now, her eyes bouncing back and forth. “What brings you out here then? If you’re a Navy pilot? Just decided to bum around with Enzo while you’re on leave or something?” He shoved another forkful of pasta in his mouth and spoke around it, “seems super boring to spend any time off just hanging around here. You two aren’t having an affair behind Dom’s back, are ya?” He laughed at his own joke, but Alex tensed next to me.
I regarded the moron sitting across from me with amusement and disgust. If Graham’s jabs were toward me, they weren’t pointed at Alex, and that’s all I really cared about.
“Enzo’s not really my type,” I drawled, sitting back and resting my arm across Alex’s chair. “He sure is a great bonus brother and travelin’ companion, though.” I leaned back and winked at Enzo, who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat, eyes sharp and focused on the bit.
“Thanks, buddy,” Enzo offered me a fist bump behind Alex. “And for the record, you’re not really my type either.” That earned another snort from Alex and I was so pleased I couldn’t help but scratch at her shoulder gently. I might have been mistaken, but I was sure she leaned into it slightly.
“You should let me set you up with someone while you’re out here then,” Graham carried on. “Let Diana and me show you a great time.” I managed to keep myself from rolling my eyes. He hadn’t shut up most of the night and the only time he’d addressed Alex was to give her a backhanded compliment. Now he assumed I wanted to spend any more time with him than I was currently being forced to.
“Actually, Finn’s dating Sasha!” Enzo blurted out before clamping his hands over his mouth, his eyes the size of saucers. Time stood still as all eyes turned toward me and Alex.
I felt a pleasant hum in my belly at the thought of being with Alex. I hazarded a glance in her direction—she hadn’t evenflinched when Enzo made his proclamation. Other than the slight tint to her cheeks, nothing about her showed panic. Instead, she took a sip from her glass as she watched her sister and ex as if she was gauging their reactions to the news. I took that as my cue to run with it.
“Sasha, why didn’t you say anything?” Diana leaned forward. “We all thought for sure you were done with men for good after...” she trailed off, glancing at Graham.
“It’s just so new,” Alex smiled softly now, her gaze turning to me—eyes full of mischief. My mouth felt like cotton as she lowered them to my lips and licked her own, swallowed. Oh, she was good at this game. Maybe even better than Enzo and Dom. “We didn’t want to take the spotlight away from our brothers, so we haven’t told anyone really.” She reached over and settled her hand on my knee, her touch sending an electric shock through my body. “But I already can’t imagine my life without him.”
“Sweetheart,” I murmured, the endearment feeling natural in a way that surprised me. We looked at each other, and I could see the moment she realized what I was thinking. Her lips parted slightly, and something shifted in her eyes—permission, maybe, or a challenge.
I leaned over slowly, giving her every chance to pull away, but instead she tilted her face up to meet me. The kiss was supposed to be for show, but the soft intake of breath she made against my mouth sent heat straight through me. She tasted like lemon and something sweeter, and when she responded—really responded, her hand coming up to rest against my neck—I couldn’t stop the low groan that escaped my throat.
Her eyes were wide and dark as we broke apart, and I had to remind myself this was all an act.
“I think I’m gonna throw up,” Jason interrupted.
I pulled Alex close and soldiered on. “Ya know, Graham,” I leveled a look at the blond idiot across from us, “I almost feel like I should thank you for screwin’ up so bad. I never would have hada shot with such an incredible woman if you hadn’t done her the favor of showing her who you truly are.”
Graham’s face turned four different shades of red, his jaw and fist both clenching before he caught himself.
“Graham, don’t...” Diana put a hand on his arm. He shrugged her off, his lip curling.
“Who am I to judge if you have a thing for crazy old whales?”
“Okay, asshole, time to go,” Enzo stood and practically dragged Graham from the table. Jason jumped around the end and they both hauled him to the front gate. Enzo turned on his sister as Jason pushed Graham out.
“I don’t know why you’re with him, Di,” he spat. “You know how horrible he was to Sasha!”
