Chapter Twelve
Elena glanced down at the glass of red wine in her hands. She had held it for twenty minutes now, but with her stomach in knots, she had forgotten to sip her drink. She watched Devon interact with her brothers and her father. God, her nerves were a tangled mess just thinking about what could go wrong.
What the hell was she thinking? She almost blurted out that she cared for him in his room. Bad, bad move. Seeing good things in Devon was the ticket to Heartbreak Land. The type of relationship he could offer was the one she would never agree to. Not permanently.
She had stayed in a troubled marriage because of that old-fashioned, deep-seated rationale that marriages were supposed to last. She had been wrong. And now, she was too smart to make another mistake of that magnitude.
“You’re okay, honey?” her mother asked behind her.
She almost jumped. “Yes. Just tired.” Elena inhaled the heavenly scent of the bread, a hint of spices tantalizing her sense. Her mother was fixing a beautifully decorated plate, filled with mini bruschetta and mozzarella broiled tomato slices.
“Take these to the guys,” her mother said, giving her the tray.
“The guys,” she repeated, holding both sides of the tray. “You realize this takes us back to pre-war stages whereas dynamics of men and women are concerned, don’t you, Mama?”
Her mother gave her a sweet smile. “Honey, back in the day, everything was simpler.”
Elena sighed. Anything sounded less complicated than wanting a man whose idea of relationship was to bang several women without repercussions. “That I can agree with.”
She walked toward the living room—which she always considered large, especially by New York standards. Yet, as the five men stood next to the mantle and talked, with drinks of choice in hand, the room seemed to shrink in size. And she wanted to shrink with it.
She tucked her hair behind her ear. Why did she bring Devon along? Seemed like a good idea at the time, because she imagined he’d make her feel comfortable. Not to mention prevent any talk about her and Timothy reuniting. Yet, especially after the awkward moment in his room, there was no way she’d ever feel that way. Not when she realized she didn’t have a hold on her emotions. How to stop a flower from blooming?
“Are you guys done drilling my guest?” she asked. The five minutes she had taken to grab a drink in the kitchen shouldn’t have put Devon in hot water, but knowing her family…
“We haven’t even started,” Salvatore, the most playful one, said, with a wink. “Dad hijacked the conversation and started talking about watches.”
Devon gave her a confident smile. Besides the combo of denim, crisp white shirt, and grey suit jacket, he had on a chunky, no doubt expensive watch. Good thing her dad had a thing for watches like women had for shoes.
“So how did you two meet?” Rocco asked, and good thing Devon was the same height as he, otherwise her brother would tower over him. Rocco raised an eyebrow, and even though he held a glass of aged scotch in his hands, all his attention was on Devon.
“I work for him.” She stepped forward. There was no point lying about it, when they’d learn the truth sooner or later. Lifting her chin, she stood next to Devon, and even though an acidy sensation spilled in her stomach, she decided to ignore it.
“You mean you’re the Devon Wilder?” Rocco asked, narrowing his eyes.
“The one from the sex scandal,” Raffaello said, arms folded.
Devon didn’t even blink. “Yup. The one.”
Her blood froze. Well, she could kiss her convenient Catholic Girl image good-bye.
“What scandal?” Her father asked, scratching his head in a typical Antonio Moretti fashion.
“I know how you are all dying to dissect this subject, but we’re not going to. This weekend is about Emilio and Tiffany,” she said, and felt like she was tapping at a microphone that hadn’t been turned on.
Too late. Raffaello’s nostrils flared. “Listen, if you think you can treat my sister like some—”
Devon didn’t flinch at the finger pointed at him. He sighed. “My relationship with Elena doesn’t concern you. I understand you must be worried because of what has been said about me. But I guarantee you that my dating your sister is nothing like my previous relationship.”
Of course not. She and Devon didn’t even have a relationship. Well, not for long anyway. Once the truth about who was stealing from the company was revealed, and either he or Matthew got the CEO job, she would be out of his life.
Her stomach clenched. Why was the naked truth about their fling so nauseating?
She was about to part her lips and speak, when her mother materialized in front of them, her hand gestures keeping up with her mouth. “Enough. This man is our guest and I’m sure Elena has good reason to have brought him.”
Yes. He’s easing me back to the dating pool before he leaves me as per agreed upon. “Thanks, Mom.” And protecting me from my well-meaning family of busybodies who’d love to hook me up with my abusive ex-husband again—she didn’t dare reveal that tidbit.
She yearned to massage her temples, but if she showed any sign of stress the whole day would go down the toilet. According to her mother, Tiffany, Emilio’s fiancée, and a few friends were supposed to come over for drinks and appetizers.
