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My God.

For a gesture to be made was one thing. But the necklace was insanely over the top. I glanced at my father, who was beaming from the presentation.

My stomach was ready to revolt.

It was all I could do to keep from grabbing Amber’s hand and taking her home with me. To my younger sister’s credit, she maintained more diplomacy than I’d had at her age.

“Thank you so much, Don Santorelli. It’s exquisite. I hope you won’t take offense, but my sister just gave me this incredible dolphin necklace and I’d prefer to keep it on for now. Is that alright with you?”

She had a way about her that had already made her a heart-throb.

The Don laughed and was also beaming. “Of course it is. I’m glad you like your present. I didn’t mean to intrude on family time, but I wanted to pay my respects to such a joyful event.”

Pay his respects. I shuddered from the thought. I remembered seeing him at my mother’s funeral all those years ago. There’d been other mafia Dons as well, men who couldn’t care less about our loss, but seemed required to attend.

I’d resented my father even more.

“Why don’t you go enjoy your party with your friends?” I asked her to give her an excuse to escape.

“Yes, I should see to my guests. Thank you again.” I took the package from her hands, trying to offer an admiring glance.

“If it would be alright, Matheas, I’d like to take just five minutes of your time. No more.” I had a feeling the meeting had been arranged ahead of time.

I nodded to Amber and she moved off after giving me a look. She was a smart girl. She knew when not to ask questions. Ordinarily, I would grill my father, but I gritted my teeth instead, throwing back most of the champagne.

Time for more.

I turned away, ignoring whatever they were saying. As I headed for the food and beverage tent, I had the distinct impression I was being followed. I didn’t bother looking, waiting until a glass was in my hand before shaking my head.

“Do you always creep around, Dion?”

He laughed and flanked my side. “I wasn’t creeping. I was waiting politely until you obtained your drink.”

“You can go now.”

I moved away from him and I’ll be damned if he didn’t step in front of me. “We can still be friends.”

“That ship sailed a long time ago. You have a life. I have an entirely different kind of life and one I enjoy tremendously.”

“So much your father’s daughter. Bold. Daring. You don’t take any shit from anyone.”

“I’d keep that in mind if I were you.”

He was grinning like we were actively flirting. I didn’t hate the man. I just hated all he stood for. “How about going out for coffee sometime. I’ll come to you, even to your clinic in White Plains.”

Hiding where I lived from these kinds of people was not possible. That didn’t mean I wasn’t irritated as hell. I bit back another nasty retort and smiled once again. “You’ll spill it on yourself and I certainly wouldn’t want that to happen.”

“You’re a doctor. You can fix me right up.”

“Not my specialty.” I managed to sidestep him with a wider arc, avoiding him altogether. I was far too frustrated, heading out of the tent as fast as I could. I knew Dion would follow me.

The moment I tipped my head over my shoulder to see if that was happening, I ran into a hard body. “Oh, shit.”

A hand grabbed my elbow to keep me from falling. When I lifted my head, I was staring into the eyes of Alejandro, only this time I could tell they were the most hypnotic shade of green I’d ever seen. He remained expressionless although he allowed his gaze to wander down my neck to my chest.

A shot of electricity tore through me. How strange considering he wasn’t uttering a word.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” I finally said to try to break the spell.

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