"It's always complicated with the good ones." She pauses to take a sip of her martini. "Have you slept with him yet?"
"Becca!"
"That's a no. But you want to."
I focus very intently on painting a particularly intricate leaf. "It's not that simple."
"It is that simple. You're attracted to him, he's clearly attracted to you, you're living together... What's the holdup?"
Oh, just that he's my bodyguard and I'm being threatened by the Irish mob and my father owes them enough money to buy a small country.
"There are... professional complications," I say instead.
"Ah." Becca nods knowingly. "He's one of Vito's guys."
"Something like that."
"Well, for what it's worth, the way he looks at you is definitely not professional. More like he wants to carry you off to his cave and keep you there forever."
Heat blooms in my chest at her words. "You think?"
"Honey, I've seen a lot of men look at you over the years. This is different. This is the look of a man who's already decided you're his, he's just waiting for you to figure it out too."
I want to ask her what she means, want to dissect every interaction Marco and I have had over the past few weeks. But before I can form the words, I hear his key in the lock.
My heart skips. He's back already?
Marco enters looking even more tense and tired than when he left. His gaze sweeps the room, taking in Becca's presence and our arts and crafts setup. I watch relief flicker across his face—just for a second—before his usual guarded expression slides back into place.
He was worried I'd be gone.
"Ladies," he says with a polite nod.
"Marco!" Becca chirps, raising her martini glass. "Join us! Elena's teaching me the fine art of paint-by-numbers."
"I'll pass." But his eyes linger on me, taking in my relaxed posture and the slight flush the gin has brought to my cheeks.
"Your loss," Becca says. "Though I have to say, Elena's been absolutely glowing lately. Must be all this domestic bliss."
I want to kick her under the coffee table, but Marco's attention is already sharpening on me like a laser.
"Has she now?"
"Oh yes. Very zen, very peaceful. It's like she's a completely different person."
"Becca," I warn.
But she's on a roll, the gin making her chatty. "I was just telling Elena how nice it must be to have such an attentive... roommate. Someone to take care of her, make sure she's safe..."
The look Marco gives me could melt steel. "I do my best."
"I'm sure you do." Becca's grin is absolutely wicked. "Elena's very lucky to have you looking out for her."
"If you'll excuse me," Marco says, his voice carefully controlled, "I have some calls to make."
He disappears down the hallway, and I immediately turn to Becca.
"What the hell was that?"
