“You are kind,topolino, but there’s no need to try to flatter my ego.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.” I let my fingers splay open, caressing him, the ridge of the scar under my fingertips—
He seizes my wrist, pulls my hand away. “We should go down. They’ll be here soon.” His grip on my wrist eases, and he even kisses my palm lightly before leaves the room, beckoning me to follow, but I’ve had a lot of experience these last few days.
I know a locked door when I try one.
CHAPTER26
TEDDY
I’mnervous about seeing Jack again, but particularly his boyfriend. Miller Beaumont has always been nice to me, even protective sometimes. So I worry that he might get the wrong idea about Alessandro and me.
I’m not even sure what therightidea would be.
Miller’s cautious smile when he sees me just makes me more nervous. “Hi, Miller!” I greet him, too loudly, my voice echoing off of the marble floors and high ceiling of the entrance hall. “It’s good to see you!”
“Teddy.” He gives me a hug, a backslap, looks into my face. “You doing okay?”
I think Jack must have primed him to ask, because Miller’s hazel eyes are even more intense than usual as he looks into my face.
“I’m doing great!” I give a beaming smile, so he’ll know I’m telling the truth. But all that does is make Miller send an uneasy glance toward Jack.
“This is Alessandro,” I say, stepping to one side so that Miller can greet him. Jack and Alessandro have already exchanged pleasantries in a guarded, polite manner that makes me think of two boxers dancing around in the ring, sizing each other up.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Alessandro says, his accent leaning more Italian than usual.
“Same,” Miller says coolly as he shakes the offered hand. “But we’ve met before, haven’t we? In a dark alley that one time. When you were warning me off of JJ.”
Alessandro chuckles. “Ah, yes. Yes, you have a good memory.” He shrugs it off. “Well. Let’s start with drinks, shall we? Come—” He gestures, and Jack takes Miller by the hand to lead him into the grand salon.
“You never told me you met Miller before,” I say softly.
“Only once.” Alessandro puts his arm around me and pulls me gently toward the salon. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”
I’ve never been good with small talk, or with social occasions generally. So it’s a relief when dinner is announced, and we can leave the salon and go through to the dining room.
The first course is a tomato and basil soup. I just hope I won’t spill it on my neckerchief thingie.
Over the rack of lamb, served with grilled spring vegetables and warm, rosemary-fragrant focaccia, I relax a little more, or maybe it’s the alcohol breaking down my awkwardness. Either way, Miller and I are soon talking freely, chatting about his parties and his art, and his friend and housemate, Nate. I never thought Nate liked me all that much, but Miller assures me that he does. “Nate just gets a little proprietorial around Freddy, you know?”
Even Jack and Alessandro smile at that, but I’m not sure I get the joke. Freddy is one of Jack’s men, as far as I know—a member of his crew. He’s also Nate’s boyfriend.
“Freddy’s nice,” I say, hoping that will be the right thing to say. “Although I don’t think Nate likes me talking to him.”
Miller shakes his head with a grin. “Well, that’s on Nate. But I wouldn’t recommend showing up to my next party looking like you do tonight. Nate’d blow a gasket.”
I smile because everyone else is smiling, but I don’t really get it.
“That’s a nice cravat you have there,” Jack drawls, sitting back in his chair and motioning to his own neck. But his eyes slide sideways to Alessandro as he says it.
“Thank you,” I say, my fingers going to the soft satin around my throat. “Alessandro picked it out for me.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” Jack keeps staring at Alessandro. But Alessandro just keeps eating, eyes on his plate.
“He has incredible taste.”
At last, Alessandro raises his eyes to mine. “It’s not my taste that makes you so lovely,tesoro mio.” He turns to Jack with a smile. “As I said to Teddy just before, perhaps his face can make up for mine. At least when people stare athim, it’s with admiration, rather than horror.”
