Page 14 of Fearless to Love

“If I didn’t think they’d like you, you wouldn’t be here. I have no doubt in my mind that they’ll love you once they get to know you. They might be a little standoffish at first because of who they are, but if you give them time, they’ll see you’re here for the right reasons.”

Still seeing the worry that was probably etched all over my face, Lily rose up on her tiptoes and kissed first my chin and then brushed her lips to mine. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her flush against me deepening the kiss.

“I was going to ask who the Range Rover belongs to, but I guess I know. Now I want to know who you’re sucking face with,” a feminine voice said from the doorway.

Laughter filled the room causing Lily to step back from our embrace, blushing.

“Hey guys.” She waved, ducking her head.

Standing at the mouth of the kitchen was a woman who needed no introduction. I’d know Gabi Santina anywhere with her long brown hair, deep brown eyes, and tattoos gracing her arms. To her right, stood a man with a few days of facial hair growth and a scar that traveled from one eyebrow and curved around his cheekbone. He looked intense, almost angry until he pulled the well-known rock star to his side and smiled down at her.

“Baby, don’t give her a hard time. You’ve been going on and on about how you wish Lily would start dating again.” He looked over at us with a devilish smile. “It looks like she’s back in the saddle.”

“Not you too, Jax.” Lily laughed from beside me. Walking over she gave them each a friendly hug and then turned back to me. “Gabi, Jax, this is my boyfriend, Dante. Dante these are two of my good friends, Gabi and Jax.”

We said our nice to meet you’s and then stood around the kitchen awkwardly until another couple walked in talking amongst themselves. Both blond haired with blue eyes, their height difference could be comical, but somehow, they worked together perfectly even from a glance. Even though I’d never seen him, I knew the man walking toward us was a movie star. As a man who was confident in himself and his sexuality, I could freely admit when a man was good looking and Luke definitely was. He was a modern-day Viking with his short blond hair.

Putting down a few dishes on the island, he smiled over at us. “Alex couldn’t stick to bringing just one dish. We’re definitely having a fiesta tonight.” Turning to the other couple, he clapped Jax on the back. “You brought the beer, right?”

Jax looked insulted as he tapped Luke’s back a little too hard. “Who do you think I am? You can’t have Mexican night without cervezas.”

“Good man.” Luke laughed.

“Lily,” the small woman called softly, “are you going to introduce us to your friend?”

“Maybe I should wait until everyone is here,” Lily bit her bottom lip. “Where’s Mason?”

“Oh,” she looked out the wall of windows and tilted her head to the side. “He’s out there with Ben. Taylor and Jack should be in any minute.”

More people? I was going to be lucky if I could keep them all straight if any more showed up. I wondered if they could see my head spinning.

“Poor thing,” the small woman cooed in my direction. “We’re overwhelming him. Let’s give him a break, okay guys.” She looked around the room with a look that brokered no argument. It was a look I knew too well growing up. It was the mom face. “I’m Alex and this guy here,” she held her arm out, and the Viking went straight to her side, “this is my husband, Luke. I know there’s a lot of us, but I promise we’re all nice.”

“Nice to meet you,” I shook both their hands. “I’m Dante.”

The second my hand dropped, in walked two more couples. I hated that Lily had to endure having these dinners alone, but now she didn’t have to. I’d do everything in my power to be by her side at each one.

“We need to get outside before the kids get into trouble,” one of the women said as she set down a covered dish. “I’m surprised they haven’t jumped into the pool yet.”

“Oh no,” Lily rushed to the window to look out. “The pools not heated. I really need to rectify that, I guess. Earlier Dante wanted to get in.”

All the guys in the room looked at each other as if they knew exactly what I had planned to do to Lily in the pool. I was pretty sure they had a good idea.

“Why isn’t it heated?” Alex asked, her brows drawn down. “We keep ours heated almost year-round.”

“Some of us aren’t married to millionaires,” Lily sassed back with her hands on her hips.

I noticed one of the new women, short with long brown hair and light green eyes flush.How many people in the room were millionaires?

“Oh please,” Alex shook her finger at Lily, “don’t play that game with us. You’re well on your way with your books.”

I really needed to find out what books Lily wrote. I knew she did it under a pen name because I tried looking her up after meeting her. Not that it mattered to me what name she wrote under.

“Now that everyone’s in here except the kids, I’d like to introduce you all to Dante Ricci, my boyfriend.”

It didn’t escape my notice all the women looked at each other with looks of delight on their faces.

“I expect details,” Gabi said as she reached around the wall and came back with a beer. “I’ll be outside making sure the kids don’t kill themselves.”

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