I rush through the kitchen and the mud room without a glance at Leo or Val, but there’s no way I can hide my state of disarray. Leo’s figured out something’s wrong, but I don’t want him to see me this upset. I’d feel terrible if he were to get involved more than he already is.
When I make it inside the guest house, I slide down the front door to sit on the floor. My shoulders slump, and I give myself permission to sob. This is it. When I leave this house, I’m going to die, and my little brother, my poor, innocent, wonderful little man, won’t get a chance at life. He’ll never graduate from high school or college, have a family or grow old.
I’m sobbing on the floor, my shoulders shaking, snot hanging from the edges of my nostrils, when a soft knock comes from behind me. I cover my mouth with my hand, wishing whoever came would just leave me alone.
“Hey, Lake,” Val says from the other side of the door.
I lean the back of my head on the wood, close my eyes, and dump tears down my cheeks, relieved it’s Val and not Leo. I didn’t think it was Alessio. He said what he said, and my departure is a done deal. I heard the conviction in his voice. I heard the finality, and Alessio doesn’t strike me as the type who walks back his decisions.
“Can I come in?” Val asks, still outside.
I get up and wipe my face with tissues before opening the door. I hook a thumb over my shoulder, indicating the bedroom. “I’ll pack quickly.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, blue eyes narrowed. Now I see the similarities between her and Alessio.
“Are you one of those stalker creeps looking to smell my brother’s dirty underwear?”
I side-eye her. “Gross.”
“It’s happened before.”
“Seriously?”
She nods. “Twice. Well, one of them sniffed socks, but yeah, I’ve seen all kinds of fetish and kinky fuckery when it comes to my brother, so…”
“I’m not into that. Or kink, really.” I’m not lying. Before I met Alessio, I had no idea I wanted my legs restrained with a leather belt while a man poked my butthole with his thumb, promising to stretch it so wide, it would fit his fist. He didn’t go that far, but that’s not to say Alessio didn’t do things to me I never knew could be done.
Even the way Alessio ate me out was exceptional. He was gentle while licking between my legs, almost as if he enjoyed making out with me down there. And damn him, he took his sweet time while I begged for more friction. Bastard.
“You didn’t tell me you met my brother before you started working here. Don’t deny it, because he seems to know you and wants you to leave.”
“Remember how I told you I was mugged? Well, the night I got mugged, I had just left the hotel where your brother and I…you know.”
“Then you did stalk him?”
“No, I never thought I’d see him again. But after the mugging, I needed this job. I swear I didn’t know who he was before I slept with him.”
Val rests her hands on her big belly and drums two fingers on it.
One, one-two.
One, one-two.
Since she appears to be thinking, probably wondering if I’m telling her the truth, I walk into the bedroom to grab my suitcase. I throw the suitcase on the bed and unzip it, and Valerina comes into the room.
“Are you saying youalreadyslept with my brother?” she asks.
“We didn’t sleep. Well, he slept while I took a nap before I fled the hotel.”
Val seems shocked. “You left…him?”
“Val, listen, I need this job, and I’m not too proud to beg for it. But for a man’s attention? That’s not me. I flirt, and if it’s not returned, I move on.” I grab my jeans and skirts and pack them, then realize Val’s not saying anything.
She’s looking at me as if seeing me for the first time. “Oh my God, he slept with you in the hotel. Here on the island.” Val sits on my (guest) bed. “You must tell me everything. No, wait, not everything. Just the vanilla bits.”
“There were no vanilla bits.”
She chuckles. “It runs in the family. We are adventurous lovers.” She rubs her belly. “Yes, we are. But back to you and Alessio. Tell me how you met, and leave out all the sex stuff.”
