I kept my eyes on my plate.“I'm good, thanks.”
Everyone at the table quieted, and I was positive it was because of me.
“Francesca,” Giselle called my name.But I still didn't look up.
“We all freaked out the first time we saw Carlo's large—” she paused, “manhood.It's perfectly normal.Don't be embarrassed.”
Eve let out a laugh.“That's putting it lightly.”Then she and Giselle laughed together.“Or was it seeing me with Carlo for the first time?I bet that was a big shock.”
I raised my eyebrows and pushed the fruit around on my plate.“It wasn't the first time.”As soon as I'd said it—I knew what I'd done.Ugh.It had just slipped out by accident.
“What?”almost everyone asked at the same time.
Stefan put his arm around me.“You've seen Eve and Carlo together?Before last night?”
Double ugh.
I lifted my head and my eyes to Stefan.“Yeah, by accident.It wasn't like I was stalking them or anything.”
Stefan chuckled and pulled me closer.“I didn't think you were stalking them.Where did you see them?”His voice was steady and calm—but I could hear how curious he was.
“Umm, I think the last time was in Giselle and Carlo's room?I knocked, but there was no answer.I wanted the spice jar I'd bought from the market.I left it in the bag I had her stuff in.”
Before I could continue, Eve said, “I didn't see you.”
I looked over at her.“The shower was on.I thought you were in there—alone.And then you guys both came out—”
Carlo cleared his throat.“How did you leave without us seeing you?”
I bit my lip and looked him in the eye.“Uh, I kind of didn't leave,” I said choppily.
“Then where did you go?”he asked, obviously wanting me to explain further.
“I panicked.And hid in the closet.”
Carlo's eyebrows rose as he laughed.“You watched us?”
I shrugged.“I didn't exactly have a choice.”
I couldn't describe the way Carlo was looking at me.But there was definitely a hungry expression on his face.“And that's the only time you saw us together?”
Crap.
I closed my eyes and decided to come totally clean.“You and Eve were in Stefan's pool.You know, the night Giselle came into the kitchen screaming?I was on the other side of the kitchen.And Giselle scared me and—”
Carlo nodded and turned his head to his wife.“She scared all of us.”He kissed her tenderly.
I took a really deep breath and continued.“And I saw you guys in Stefan’s office, too.”
“Why didn't you say anything to me?”Stefan asked softly and rubbed my shoulder.
“Because I—”
Eve interrupted, “Because you thought we were cheating on our partners.Right?And you didn't want to create a big stir while Giselle was pregnant.”Eve wasn't mad, though.Not at all.She gave me a sweet, dreamy looking smile.
“But you encouraged me to marry Giselle?And you did most of the work?”Carlo asked with a confused look on his face.“I can understand keeping things under wraps until Giselle has the baby.But why work so hard to help her get married to me—if you thought I was cheating?Wouldn't you think she'd divorce me when she found out?”
I swallowed and took a deep breath.“I was counting on it.And hoping you wouldn't ask her to sign a prenup.Or a postnup.”I wasn't sure if he was going to be angry at me or not.If he was—well, he had reason to be.I had essentially plotted against him.I wouldn’t blame him for holding it against me.
