“Sorry.I was busy.”
I hear snickering from behind me and ignore it.
“Would you like to eat something?”Dani asks.
I hold up my hand.“I’m fine, thank you.”
“Maybe turn up on time next time,” Jett says.I make a face, wondering why this guy is always so uptight.
“Jett.”Cari puts her hand on his arm, as if to curb his mood.She gives me an apologetic look.“He hasn’t slept much.”
“I was working on a business proposal, before your mind falls into the gutter,” Jett clarifies.
Dex rubs his hands together.“Let’s hear it all, then.Which heiress are you taking out for dinner next?”
“Stop picking on the guy, Dexter,” Dani admonishes.
“I wasn’t picking on him.I’m curious!”
She gives him a stern look, which quiets him in an instant.
“Don’t worry about it.My brothers are a pain in the ass, too.”Enzo stands up, hands in the pockets of his tailored suit.I don’t think I’ve ever seen this guy look anything short of debonair.
“Seriously, dude, there’s food if you want.Want me to plate something up for you?”It amuses me how quickly Dex deflects and tries to get on Dani’s good side.
“No thanks, man.I don’t want to eat.I was just passing by.Thought I’d stick my head in.”
“Where did you go again?”Rio asks, brows pushed together.
“He was at the Stella VIP event at the Plaza ballroom,” Dex announces.
“Ooooh!”Raquel and Dani exclaim in unison.
“Who was there?”Dani asks excitedly.Raquel isn’t interested in celebrities or the rich and famous.
“Maya,” I say, then pause, thinking of her.A warm glow settles through me again.It’s not lust; more like the quiet, steady comfort of having her in my life again.I like that we have suddenly and unexpectedly reconnected.I choose to ignore that she doesn’t seem to like it as much as I do.
“Who?”Rio squawks.Enzo looks puzzled.
Jett and Cari are still at the door about to leave.Jett turns around.“Maya?” And in that instant, I know that he knows exactly who I’m referring to.I’m surprised he remembers so quickly, because she was my friend, not his.
I nod.
“The housekeeper’s daughter?”Jett asks.
“What?”Dex cries.“You mether?”
“Yes, her,” I reply, calmly, quietly, even though my insides flip every time I think of her.I remember seeing her hovering just inside the doorway of the library, hesitating.She knew she shouldn’t be there.The house staff didn’t wander into rooms except to clean them, but she wasn’t one of the house staff.She was the housekeepers daughter.I needed to get a history book.I can’t remember what it was now.I walked towards her and she looked ready to bolt.I saw the yearning in her eyes.Knew she wanted to step inside.So I told her she could.And, just like that, she did.
“She was at the VIP event?”Dex asks.
“Who the hell is this Maya?”Rio looks at my brothers for an explanation.The Italian Knights never met her.
“Dude, you won’t know,” Dex answers.“You never met her.”
Rio, Matteo and Enzo, the Italian Knights, didn’t live with us.They were in Italy living with their mom before we even knew of their existence, and then Dad had them all move to the U.S.soon after Mom passed away.They didn’t live at the estate with us in Westchester, even though they could have so easily.Dad put them up in a house nearby, I later learned.By then we knew of their existence, but we never met.
At times, I’ve wondered why he would do that.I’m not sure I want to think about that too much.
