Love…
I dash the thought away. I can’t think this way. I can’t! This is fake; it’s all fake. The sooner I accept that, the better it’ll be for me.
“Is everything okay?” Mateo asks me. He’s still looking at me strangely.
“I’m fine,” I say with a smile. “Though you look a little tense. Is this too much? This party turned out bigger than I expected.”
“No, it’s not that,” he says. He raises his hand and brushes his knuckles along my cheek.
“Then what? Is there something you want to tell me?” I frown at him. He opens his mouth as if to say something, then shuts it again. He shakes his head.
“No,” he says softly. “Just that you’re beautiful.” He dips his head and brushes his lips against my forehead. And my heart flutters wildly.
Chapter 14
Andy Carter
“Andy!” Nikki squeals the minute we make our way into the glittering ballroom. The place looks like something out of a film set, with chandeliers and crisply dressed servers carrying trays of cocktails and canapes. I feel like a movie star. Though not as much as my best friend seems to be. As she sweeps across the room, weaving through beautifully set tables, she’s a vision in black velvet that offsets her golden hair and even more golden skin. She’s closely followed by four huge men. Five if you count Dario Caraldi, who’s pretty much glued to her side.
“Girl, you look amaaazing!” I say, sliding my arms around her waist and pulling her close. She gives a little squeak, and I sense Dario shifting closer protectively. I let her go quickly. The man looks like he’d happily remove someone’s throat if they harmed her in any way.
“And you? All radiant!” she beams. “Meanwhile, I feel like a blimp.” She runs a hand down her belly beneath the snug fit of her dress. There’s still barely a bulge there, but Nikki’s always been self-conscious of her lush curves. Somehow, I get the feeling Dario approves of them.
“’Teo,” he says to the man at my side, moving in for a quick bro hug.
“Place is looking good,” says Mateo, running his eyes around the room.
“It should,” says Dario. “You oversaw every step of the renovation, remember?”
Mateo gives a nod. “It was a good project,” he agrees.
“We could have more like it if you’d just get your fucking head straight and come back to work for me,” Dario says. I feel Mateo tighten his hold around my waist as he shakes his head firmly.
“Sorry. Got my hands full right now,” he says. Dario glances at me, then gives Mateo an appraising look.
“Well, I guess if anyone could keep you busy, it would be a woman like Dr. Andy.” He winks at me. I know that he’s aware of our ruse – it’s the reason we made such a huge announcement about it all. Yet when Mateo strokes his hand down my arm gently, I feel something warm swirl in my chest.
“Let’s get our seats,” Nikki interrupts us. Behind her, a young woman is hovering nearby, and I recognize the sweet features of Nikki’s younger sister, Sophie.
“Hey, Sophe!” I say, stepping forward to hug her too. She gives me a warm smile, looking a little out of her element. But I know Nikki feels uncomfortable being away from her for long. After their father tried to sell them both off to human traffickers, my friend has been hyper-protective of her sibling. Sophie seems to be holding up well, though, thankfully.
The group of us head toward a table near a podium at the front of the room and take our seats while Mateo heads off to greet someone who’d snared his attention. I sit down gingerly and find myself staring after him hungrily as he becomes engrossed in the conversation.
“You can’t keep your eyes off that man,” Nikki murmurs into my ear as she takes a seat beside me.
“Hmm?” I say, jerked out of my silent reverie. “What are you talking about?”
“Mateo,” she says, nudging me with her elbow. “You’re obviously crazy about him. Everyone can see it from a mile away.”
“Oh, pfft!” I wave a hand abruptly. “He’s helping me out, that’s all.”
“Helping you out, huh?” Nikki raises her eyebrow. “Helping you out in more ways than one, I imagine.”
“So, he’s sexy, sure…what of it? I’d be crazy not to get a piece of that while he’s making it available.” I reach for my wineglass and take a deep gulp.
“I’m guessing you’ve retired the rubber fuckies, wangdoodles, and robococks?” she asks.
“Nikki!” I almost choke on my wine and sneak a quick look around.
