I was sure a million years could pass, and no matter how many times my husband passed my vision, I would stop and stare. He was…breathtaking. Part lion, part stallion, in a man’s form. He nodded to me, giving me a look I knew meant—stay on the path with my mamma. Men surrounded the place, although at times, they were brilliant at keeping in the shadows.
Scarlett and I seemed to come back to ourselves at the same time. She was living proof that being close with a Fausti for years did not make a woman immune to their charms. She looked at her husband as if it was the first time—time and time again. He returned this look, initiated it before she did, time and time again.
She shook her head and cleared her throat. “Horses, you were saying.”
“This was what we were discussing?”
We stared at each other, then we both grinned in tandem.
“My relationship with horses is complicated.” I showed her my teeth. “Therein lies the problem.”
“You’ve been bitten.”
“Knocked off before the bite.”
She did not seem to want to, but she grinned. “You smell like apples.”
“So I have been told.” I waved a hand. “I have braved them because I love them, even if I do keep my distance now.”
“You are brave.”
We stopped walking and faced each other. One of the dogs came up and nuzzled her hand. She petted the animal’s head before she flung the ball past me.
“I have had to be.” I sighed. “My life…my life has been so much like yours.”
“Yes,” she whispered, taking my hand, squeezing. “I noticed during the meeting with your family. I wanted to throttle your sister.”
I laughed. “So many people do. However, they are afraid of getting rabies.”
Scarlett paused for a second, then exploded with laughter. She pulled me in, kissing my cheek as a mamma would do.
“I wanted to throttle yours,” I said, “after I knocked the table over—right on top of her. I have always heard to have a sister is to have a lifelong friend, but I have always thought about the saying of enemies. How does it go?”
“Who needs friends with enemies like these?”
“That is it!” I pointed at her. “My sister is still my number one enemy, or two, as my cousin calls her. Two, as in,theshit.” I slapped a hand over my mouth.
Even if Mariano’s mamma heard vulgar language regularly, she seemed so…prim and proper, her being a world-famous ballerina and all. She even smelled of roses. It lingered in the air around us as if she had just been rained on, and her perfume permeated the air.
She exploded with laughter again. “Have I ever told you how much I love you for my son?”
“Not today,” I said.
“Well.” She seemed to sober. “I do. I love you so much for him.”
“I am so happy about this,” I whispered.
The dogs were back. They had run to the men, then made a loop and were walking side by side with us. One on Scarlett’s side. One on mine.
She sighed. “I couldn’t leave them with my mother.”
As if I could not keep track of simple math, or the conversation, I asked, “The dogs?”
Scarlett nodded. “My dad loved them. Always had them around after the evil sister and I left the house. His dogs were always more than welcome in our home when he came to visit.”
“Your sister did not welcome them?”
“She allowed them in, but I wouldn’t say welcomed them. She’s not a big animal person. Neither is my mother. Dogs sense that about people, and even when they sense they’re not truly wanted, they keep trying anyway.”
