len

t, and I wished I could be on the other side o

y and always had attention from women, yet he focused on me. He worked for my papà and often came to our parties. Since nothing was

on each cheek and lingering a bit too long. He spoke his language

ht blue tie, the sa

ate

t, and for some reason, I resented his b

wer back, drifting to the top of my hip. My stomach tightened with disco

n't. Just enough to make me uncomfortable, but not enough to get him in tro

gnore people's expectations around my sister's fiancé, Salvatore Russo. Salvatore was safe. He was marrying my sister, so there was no chance

e leaned in close to my ear. "I hear you've gotte

ut in a way that was polite, if that even made sens

s very disappointed when I found out, Mi

worst fear-but I refused to believe it. I di

se," I w

step back. My eyes focused on his awful tie. Then I noticed we weren

terness in his eyes. "I'll see you at dinner, Milene." He kissed the top of my han

ds echoing in my mind. Anger

ng up to a black vest, a black tie, a

e keeps talking about then, I'm defi

but Salvatore's was something else-stron

d I couldn't just shake it off. "Excuse me," I mut

e toward the front door. His rough hand burned a

ce, and it sounded breathless,

hand in the middle of the fo

question. "Whe

I was supposed to make on

e driveway, though it was too dark to see them. Salvatore's grip was firm but gentle,

de where Oscar could find me. That choice was easy, even if I was surprised

and leaned against the brick wall. A second later, the orang

s already blowing out a breath of smoke

idden against the wall. But I was right in view for my cousin Dominic to see, and anxiety spiked in me. What w

d up at the sky, scattered with stars, but I doubted he'd brought me out he

Why am I he

push you around, touching you. Fig

ing Oscar, but I wasn't going to put up with this from my future brothe

gry with me? He was rude, confusing, and kept pulling me around, making me feel warm all over. Salvator

old myself it was just to get to know him for my sister's sake-not beca

and I wondered what it would feel like to hold it myself. He noticed and

man-maybe that was why I felt like a schoolgirl

ly coughed, my eyes watering. A hint of amusement passed through

ill coughing. If I was going to

my cheeks heating up. This man barely said anything that wasn't rude or demanding, yet my body

k to me. "Not so

drift out of my mouth. A soft warmth spr

adas steady, as I shared a ciga

I whispered, hearing my cou

out a final breath of smoke, and crushed it

r was no; I never told anyone mu

lancing up at him. I realized he'd been

ce was soft, carryin

at. He had that effect, e

n't move toward him out of habit. I moved like a moth to a

r my chest to brush against his. His grip was firm and warm, sending heat to

ords were smooth