Those stories about her mamma and nonno. They must be lies.
So, what about Mickey? Who was this guy?
He swung around, glaring at her. “And Mickey? Why did he suddenly show up now? You’ve never mentioned him. Why is he here? How did he know we’d be here?”
“I don’t know how he found out. But he has ways. He’s a con artist.”
“Of course he is. And you let him put his grimy paws all over you.”
She met his gaze. “What?”
“I saw the way he put his hands on you at the dinner table, the way he stroked you. Not exactly the kind of thing an uncle does with his niece. Is he really your uncle?”
She looked down and said nothing.
He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Answer me. Is he your uncle?”
She shook her head and uttered a “no” that was so quiet he almost wondered if he’d imagined it.
He let go. “I suppose that’s something. It would be even worse if he were. I know exactly what he is to you.”
“He’s nothing to me now.”
“Now? But he was once.”
“Yes. But not anymore.”
“I don’t believe you.”
She looked up at him. “It’s true!”
“Keep your voice down,” he hissed. “I don’t want my family—” His eyes flew open so wide and so suddenly, his head began to pound.
My family. Why come here? She had to have told him. What are they planning?
The whole thing was bizarre. She was an F1 driver. Why would she involve herself in anything like this? But then he thought back to New Year’s Eve. She saw her chance, and she jumped at it. She hated him that much. Even after everything that had happened.
“What is he out there doing with them now?”
“I don’t know,” she muttered. “But I wouldn’t trust him. Your family shouldn’t trust him. I didn’t know he was here until your mother sent you that text. But I did worry he might come, that he might find me.”
“And you left a trail of breadcrumbs to lead him right to my parents’ house.”
She lowered her head, and plump teardrops fell from her lashes. “I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry, Rocco.”
“Spare me the tears. My family!”
“I’m sorry, Rocco. Really, I’m—”
She reached for him, but he pushed her away and turned his back to her.
It was bad enough they were teammates, but this? Why had she gone on to be with him like this? To come to his family home? To make his nieces fall in love with her? To make him fall— No! He would not even think it. Would not convince himself of something that could not be true.
It cannot be true.
What kind of woman … ?
You know what kind of woman. Carolyn is that kind of woman. But this one, standing before you now, is worse. Because being with Carolyn had never been like this.
