I wonder what Sloane would think if she knew how many men I’ve killed.
For some inexplicable reason, the thought troubles me.
Gia shows us to our rooms, which are all situated beside one another, and we deposit our bags before heading out to the playground to meet up with the others.
We spend an hour outside chatting while pushing the kids on the swings and supervising them as they move around the other parts of the playground. Gia and Elisa are engaged in conversation with Sloane while I catch up with my buddies.
“How are things going with Sloane?” Joshua asks.
“It was a bit of a shit show at the start until I told Isa to leave. The girls don’t get on, but all is good now.”
“You mean Isa doesn’t like Sloane,” Joshua surmises.
“Yep.” I lean back against the tree, watching Sloane laugh as she runs over to catch Elio at the bottom of the slide.
“Isa must hate her. Sloane’s the Margot Robbie to her Anna Kendrick,” Caleb says as we all watch my nanny scoop a laughing Elio into her arms.
“Brutal, man.” Giulio shakes his head, fighting a smile. “You shouldn’t insult Anna Kendrick by unfairly grouping her with Isotta Da Rosa. Anna’s a babe.”
Joshua scrubs a hand over his smooth chin. “I’d watch out for Isa if I were you. You know my thoughts on the Da Rosa women, and it’s not that I’m bitter. I put it all behind me when I fell in love with Gia. Isa is an even bigger snake than her sister, and I wouldn’t trust her.”
Joshua might think he’s not biased, but he always will be. “Isa was a great nanny to Elio, and he loves her. She’s his aunt, and I can’t stop him from seeing her. She has no access to Sloane, and that’s how it’ll stay.”
“No one who knows you could ever call you soft, Cristian, but you’ve definitely got a soft spot for Isa. We don’t want to see it coming back to bite you in the ass,” Caleb says.
“He’sdefinitelygot ahardspot for this one though.” Giulio grins, tipping his head in Sloane’s direction. “Don’t try to deny it, man. You haven’t taken your eyes off her once.”
“Don’t pretend like you haven’t been watching her either,” I reply, working hard to keep things light.
“I’m not. She’s a smoke show, and if you weren’t already obsessed with her, I’d ask her out.”
“I’m not obsessed with her,” I blurt.
“Yeah?” Giulio shares a look with Caleb. “So, you won’t mind if I ask her out?”
“Fuck no. She’s my nanny. That means she’s off-limits to me and you.” And every other male in existence.
“Don’t see how my dating her would be an issue.”
“It’s a conflict of interest. If it ends badly, she could quit.”
Caleb snorts. “You’re stretching, buddy. Admit you’re hot for her. It’s just us here.”
“You’re a worse gossip than any woman, Accardi.”
“Not gonna deny it, but I’ve never betrayed your confidence, Cristian. I might tease, but it’s in your best interest. You’re getting in your own way, and I wouldn’t be a friend if I didn’t try to help you out.”
“I can’t get involved with her. She’s Elio’s nanny, and things need to be kept strictly professional.”
“So, I can date her?”
“No. Fuck off, Giulio. Touch her, and I’ll rip every last remaining hair from your head before I slit your throat and gut you from chest to cock.”
“Wow, very creative. I’ve really struck a nerve, huh?” Giulio grins, and I quickly look around before flipping him the bird.
“Stop winding me up. You want to hear the truth? Fine. She’s beautiful, and I’m insanely attracted to her. She’s also super sweet, a lot of fun, and very easy to live with. If the circumstances were different, I’d have asked her out a thousand times already. But they’re not. Stop busting my balls for prioritizing my kid over my needs. Elio comes first. Always. Period.”
“None of us ever doubts that,” Joshua says.
