Page 39 of Sold to the Silver Foxes

Dante gives my knee a reassuring squeeze. “Worst-case, we’ll send you home with a lifetime handbag supply and a brother or two for moral support.”

A watery laugh bursts from me. The tension in my shoulders finally unclenches.

“Now,” Nico says, businesslike, “about that cover story. How did you come up with that?”

“I studied dance, so I figured she’d buy it.”

Sal raises a brow. “You did? What kind?”

“Modern and ballet. I took some other styles throughout my schooling, but modern was my calling. Ballet too, because it builds a strong foundation, keeps me limber.”

“That explains a lot,” Dante mumbles to himself.

Nico nods along. “It does. We’ll figure out a solution that feels less…suspect when discussing things with your grandmother. In the meantime, perhaps a long soak in your tub would alleviate some of the physical tension you’re carrying. I haven’t seen your posture quite this hunched before, and you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Another weird laugh escapes me. “Grandma Judy said something similar…”

“Common occurrence?” Sal asks.

The words almost come out, but I can’t tell them about Erin. If I do, they’ll think I’m hitting them up for money, and that would ruin things. I like these guys. More than I should, really. I don’t want to leave here with them thinking the worst of me.

I swallow. “More than I’d like to admit.”

Again, Sal nods. “It’s not an easy thing to bear that kind of burden for your family.”

If only he knew.

But then I think about it. Maybe he does know what it’s like. Sal’s the oldest, the CEO. He’s had the weight of a multi-billion-dollar brand on his shoulders for years. All those people he employs, including his own brothers, depend on him to keep things afloat.

That would explain his chest pain. He tried to hide it the other night, but I remember that same face on Grandma Judy before her heart attack a few years ago. Sal needs someone to ride his ass about that?—

I’m getting sidetracked. “No, it’s not easy. But someone has to, right?”

“Every family needs a leader,” he agrees solemnly.

“Well, I think I’m going to have that bath,” I say as I stand. “That sounds like a good idea.”

They bid me farewell, and I hurry to my tub. Nico’s right—I need to relax my muscles. Our first night together, I was too tense in the tub with him to really relax until we…

I sigh at the memory.

I have a feeling I’m going to be sighing at a lot of memories in the years to come.

I have no idea how my heart survives a month of this. But Erin will, thanks to them—and maybe that’s enough to keep me upright, even if I crash afterward. Crashing is tolerable. Losing her is not.

I sink into the hot water, and I’m so tense that my body fights relaxing. Not that I’ve ever been good at it in the first place, but it’s harder every day. The only time my brain shuts off is when I’m naked with the guys. What the hell am I going to do when they’re not around?

Doesn’t matter. One problem at a time.For now, breathe.

I try some breathing exercises from my teachers, box breathing and the like, and they barely crack the tension in my core, but at least there’s a crack. I’ll take it. I lean back, letting my hair drape in all directions.

The tub is big—not as big as the one at Pietro’s, but big enough for at least two people. I wonder if Dante and Sal like bathtub fun the way Nico does. That was fun, but I was sore after. I think the water washed away my natural lubricant. But it also might have been the fact that I’d just had sex for the first time?—

Sidetracked again. Why is it so easy to be sidetracked by them? I don’t know. Another deep breath, a six-count. Grandma Judy is trusting me not to screw this up. I will not screw this up. I will be the perfectly poised party guest, the girlfriend du jour for three brothers, the ultimate dance consultant as I dance from truth to lie to truth again.

I can do this. I will do this. Erin is counting on me.

18

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