Not wanting to dwell on those thoughts, which only threaten to drag me down, I push myself off the step and swim to Noah. “Want to race?”
We swim a lap and then float on our backs to catch our breaths.
The men must’ve wrapped up their business, because Reino exits the house and walks toward us. He’s dressed in a white T-shirt and black leather jacket paired with dark jeans and metal-tipped boots.
I don’t miss how Jazz’s back goes rigid or how she quickly slides the sunglasses back onto her face.
Mm. Am I sensing animosity or attraction?
“Ladies.” Reino nods at Jazz. “There’s a phone call for you.”
Her tone is catty. “How kind of you to take my calls. Have you been demoted to playing secretary?”
“It’s an agency.” He holds out a hand. “They’re calling about an audition.”
Ignoring his proffered hand, she gets to her feet. “Then it’s a good thing that you’re keeping my phone on.”
As soon as she’s said it, she glances almost guiltily at me. “Excuse me.” She ducks her head. “I better take the call.”
“Of course.” Excitement for her bubbles up inside me. “Maybe it’s a big shot producer who saw your portfolio and recognizes you’re the next big Broadway star.”
“I wish,” she mumbles, grabbing a sarong from a deck chair and tying it around her waist.
“Reino,” Noah exclaims. “Do you want to swim with us? We can play volleyball in the pool. Daddy bought a net.”
“Uh, no.” He shifts his weight. “I have work to do.”
Noah makes a disappointed sound. “Please?”
“We can play soccer later,” Reino says, looking anywhere but at me before he all but runs back to the house.
Frowning, I watch his hasty retreat. He seemed really uncomfortable around me. I hope not all Dante’s men are going to treat me like that.
Ignoring the unwelcome feeling settling inside me, I turn to Noah. “Want to play volleyball?”
He claps his hands. “Yay!”
I get the net from the chest with the inflatable toys in the pool house and play with Noah for a while. Spending time with him has a soothing effect on me, maybe because I’m completely present in the moment when I’m with him. There’s no place for the past when Noah takes up all my attention.
I’m pushing myself out at the deep end to fetch the ball that Noah has knocked into the shrubs, both of us laughing, when a pair of well-worn boots appear in my line of vision. Poised in mid-air with my upper body supported on my arms, I look up into the face of a blond man with a square chin and sharp cheekbones. He’s dressed in ripped jeans and a denim jacket.
His name is Kent. He’s one of the men in Dante’s inner circle, which means Dante trusts him. Yet for some reason, he makes my skin crawl. Maybe it’s the bashful look in his eyes that accompanies his cocky smile. He hasn’t given me a reason to dislike him, but he’s not my favorite person in Dante’s employ.
I push myself out all the way and straighten in front of him. Instead of stepping back to give me room to maneuver, he obnoxiously remains in my personal space. I’m balancing on my toes with my heels hanging over the edge of the pool.
My hackles rise. I don’t give him the satisfaction of backing down by moving sideways around him.
Squaring my back, I stand taller. “Move aside, please.”
“Of course.” He takes one step back. “You’re the boss.”
I narrow my eyes. “Can I help you?”
“You need to use sunblock.” He juts his chin at my chest. “You’re burning.”
“If you’re concerned about the state of my skin, you should take that up with my husband.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I just came to see if I could get you anything.”
