“I’m fine, Lorenzo,” she says. “Matteo is keeping me safe, and I know you’ll be busy at the office. I promise I’m okay here.”
Lorenzo sighs. “Okay, but anytime you want to stay with me, you have a room waiting for you.” He smirks playfully. “When the revolving door of women gets to be too much.”
“Actually,” she says, “I haven’t seen or heard a single woman in here since I arrived.”
Lorenzo’s brows kiss his forehead. “Wow, okay. I guess you’ve been utilizing their place, huh? Or the hotel? That’s nice of you, man. I appreciate you not exposing my sister to that shit.”
I want to correct him and tell him that I haven’t fucked a single woman since his sister came into my life, but I don’t because he’s already suspicious, and that will definitely send up red flags.
“All right,” he says, “I’m going to go.” He gives his sister a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here, Dani. Let’s do brunch this weekend.” Then, he turns his attention to me. “What are you doing tonight for your birthday? We should go out.”
“Can’t,” I tell him. “I’m doing dinner at my brother’s.”
“And afterward?” he presses.
“No plans.”
“Good.” He grins. “Have dinner with your family. Then, we’ll go out, and I can buy you a round for your birthday.” He pulls me into a hug. “It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me.”
Once he’s gone, Dani turns and looks at me, a smirk splayed on her face.
“What?”
“Why can’t you just admit you want me here?” she says, sauntering over to me. “Lorenzo’s condo is as safe as yours, and the guard who’s standing outside the door could’ve easily gone to his place with me. Yet you insisted I stay here.” She sasses. “Admit it, Matteo. You. Want. Me. Here.”
“I do want you here,” I admit. “To keep you safe.”
And then, before she can argue, I run out the door like the little bitch I am.
Because we both know she’s right.
I want her in my home. And it has nothing to do with keeping her safe.
“To Matteo.”Lorenzo hands me a shot and takes one for himself. “The best friend a guy could ask for.”
We clink our glasses and then down our shots.
We’re at Kings Point—a nightclub Dominick and I own downtown—celebrating my birthday. A few of our friends stopped by, but found women to go home with, leaving Lorenzo and me in the VIP lounge, drinking and bullshitting.
“Fuck,” Lorenzo hisses. “I forgot how strong tequila is.”
“You’ve always been a lightweight,” I say with a laugh.
“True,” he agrees. “So, did you have a good birthday?” he asks, setting the shot glass on the table and grabbing a fresh beer.
“Of course.” I shrug, taking a sip of my beer. “Martha made my favorite—beef stroganoff.”
“Did my sister go?”
“Yeah. She made the cake.” I pause, remembering the soft smile on her face when she brought the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting out with the candles lit.
I’d thought the cake was done for after we left everything out when we got lost in each other, but apparently, while I was avoiding her today, she still made it—and it was fucking delicious, just like her.
Afterward, I told everyone I had plans to go out with Lorenzo. I could see the disappointment in Dani’s eyes when I told her not to wait up and had George, one of the men who works for me, bring her home. I knew if I took her home myself, it would lead to spending the rest of my birthday buried deep in her pussy—and that can’t happen again.
“You sure you’re okay with her staying with you?” Lorenzo asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah …” I grab another shot and down it. “She’s where she belongs.”
