Why do I get the impression that he’s needling me, that this is some kind of test?
I know perfectly well what he means, but my question makes it clear that his offer is unwelcome. “Such as?”
The way he inconspicuously leers at my body makes me uncomfortable. I resist the urge to cross my arms over my chest. I won’t let him know he has any effect on me.
His smile stretches. “Something to drink. I thought Noah might be thirsty.”
I open my mouth to say if Noah is thirsty, I can fetch him a drink myself when I spot movement from the corner of my eye.
Before I can process the visual, Dante is next to us. He grabs Kent by the lapels of his jacket and not-so-gently shoves him away from me.
Dante’s tone is murderous. “I advise you to take your eyes off my wife before I remove them from your skull.”
I glance at Noah over my shoulder, worried about him witnessing the violence, but Dante’s words didn’t carry farther than necessary.
Kent raises his hands. “My apology. I was only trying to help.”
Noah, who has stopped testing how long he can hold his breath under the water, has spotted Dante and is already climbing out at the shallow end. “Daddy!”
“No running, Noah,” Dante says, not taking his eyes off of Kent. “The paving is slippery when it’s wet.”
“I know.” Noah walks to us with careful steps. “Mommy said if I run around the pool, I’m not allowed to swim anymore.”
“Your mom is always wise.” Dante lets Kent go with another shove and says under his breath, “Wait for me in my study.”
Kent makes a point of not looking at me. “Good day, Mrs. Morici.”
Dante glares after Kent until he’s disappeared into the house.
Noah hugs Dante’s legs, getting his jeans wet. “Are you going to play volleyball with us?”
Dante puts a hand on Noah’s head even as his attention remains fixed on me. “Sorry, buddy. Not today. Something important came up. Maybe tomorrow. Give your mom and me a moment. We have to talk.”
Noah squints at us. “About grownup stuff?”
Dante pats his shoulder. “That’s right.”
Recognizing the dark look that’s come over Dante’s face, I swallow. “Noah, please go fetch the ball. Just be careful of the thorns.”
“Okay.”
He runs over the lawn, pumping his little elbows. Since I’m back, he’s eager to obey and please me.
Dante takes my cover-up from the chair and hands it to me with a tight jaw. He watches me with heat burning in his eyes as I pull the sheer fabric over my head.
He waits until I’ve tied the string in the front before he says, “Don’t prance around in front of my men like that.”
My agitation mounts. “Is this our house, or isn’t it?”
His jaw bunches. “Of course it is.”
“Then it’s for your men to respect my privacy.”
He narrows his eyes. “Did he bother you?”
If I say yes, Dante will punish Kent. Knowing my husband, there’s a good chance that Kent won’t live to see another day. I don’t want to lie or defend Kent, so I only say, “I didn’t appreciate his attitude.”
Dante tilts his head, coldness washing into his tone. “Did he put his hands on you?”
