Page 50 of Ciao, Amore

“That was your idea,” Nico muttered. “We could’ve come back early and stayed in like I suggested.”

Tori turned to stare at both their faces, then forward again while Angelo raised his eyebrows. Dani knew what they were thinking: it was the obligatory Vacation Day Four couple fight. She’d seen it happen on family trips before but had never been involved in one personally. This trip sure was full of fucking firsts.

“We’re here,” Angelo announced from behind the wheel.

They pulled up in the empty spaces next to the cars driven by Tino and Merelys. Tommy, of course, had already gotten started on the drinking; Brizio and Steffi were in the backseat of his car. Dani exited on her side and Nico on his. She surveyed the beachside, open-air club with a smile when Merelys and Vanessa came over, her tiredness suddenly forgotten.

This was Nico’s favorite club on the beachside strip. It had the usual DJ spinning hip-hop and electronic like most other clubs and bars, the usual string lights under the main tent, and the view of the sea. The difference, he’d said, was the clientele; the patrons here were mellow and out for a good time, not for posing or causing trouble. Nico said he didn’t feel like he had to watch his back for them or for any insecure “you’re looking at my girl,” early man types itching for a fight like back home.

“Like it?” Angelo asked Dani when Nico didn’t say anything but stared at her with resentment.

“I love it,” she answered, clapping her hands with excitement, pretending she didn’t notice Nico’s glare.

Merelys stuck her arm through Dani’s on one side, and Steffi grabbed her by the other. All the ladies looked good tonight in tight, short dresses or skin-baring tops, but all she could focus on was the weight of Nico’s stare on her ass as she walked ahead of him, like he wanted to sink his fangs into a tart, juicy apple.

In a perverse way, she enjoyed his stark lust, feeling she had some power over him for a change. After yesterday, leaving her unfilled, and then tonight. Tonight had been crazy.

What he’d asked of her, what he’d said to her, had flipped her head inside out. Was he really willing to go that far? To create a brand-new life to appease his family like this was still the eighteenth century and they needed a royal heir, or else? Did he truly want her? Or was he fucking with her, toying with her, promising they’d raise a family together and then leave her hanging? She’d seen it happen to other women she’d known, girls from college, women from her job.

First, a no-strings vacation, and now a no-strings baby? No thanks.

Problem was, he’d seen through her protest. Despite convincing herself that her new way forward was the best way, the old part of her that still wanted the fairy tale hadn’t died. Her other self, that needy bitch, was slumbering under the surface, coming to life every time he stroked her skin or smiled at her.

Thank God for whoever manufactured those pills; they’d save her from making the dumbest decision of her life.

The club had a good-sized crowd that night, but they managed to find a few free tables near the edge of the wooden platform that made up the dance floor. They pushed the tables close together and set down sweaters while they decided what to drink.

Nico said, “I want limoncello. First round’s on me.” He disappeared to the bar and came back with several shots.

When Dani took her drink, she said, “Thank you. I’m keeping count. This morning was not fun, and I am not going past three drinks of anything.”

At first, she danced with the ladies in a circle, relaxed in a way she hadn’t been at the formal dinner. Sexy, bass-heavy beats thumped from the speakers, reverberating through her body. Every time she turned her head, Nico was watching her from the edge of the dance floor, staring like a hunter stalking an unsuspecting doe while one brother or another talked to him.

She purposefully turned her head to ignore him, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate not being the center of her attention. Good. Let him sweat it out after the way he’d tried to fuck with her head and dangle a fantasy over it like a carrot.

But when she glanced over again to see if he was still watching, Steffi was saying something in his ear. Realizing she was no longer the center ofhisattention was a little kick to the ego. She’d spent the afternoon watching the two of them interact and hadn’t seen any inclination that there was something between them. If anything, Steffi and Nico seemed more like siblings. They could still be exceptionally great at acting, but there’d be no reason to hide their true feelings from her, a passing acquaintance.

Apparently, Steffi was urging him and the guys to move further away from the platform, gesturing with her phone. Dani moved closer and off to Steffi’s side to see what they were doing while their wives ignored them and kept dancing.

“Yeah. Let’s do it. Motherfuckin’ Donahues in the house. New York, motherfuckers,” Tino shouted over the music, his face red and sweaty under the lighting.

“Oh my God. Is that my husband?” Vanessa groaned, touching her fingers to her forehead as if to hide from the embarrassing display.

“Easy, I think they know where we’re from.” Angelo laughed, squeezing Tino’s shoulders. “Alright, gentlemen, assume the position.”

They drew a bit further from the crowd to where the outlying tables and chairs were set up on the rocky sand. Steffi waited until they were in the right spot, close enough to capture all four of them, then she took the picture. The bright flash nearby blinded them, but their middle fingers were held high and proud.

Time with his brothers. Traditions that they’d created together. Nico’s face was shining, and that expression touched her heart and softened it. He loved his family as much as she loved hers. A sudden, deep pang of homesickness caught her by surprise as she watched them pose for a few more shots. All these moments on the trip, both great and frustrating, were ones she’d texted home about but hadn’t been able to share like this.

When Steffi was done taking the shots, and his brothers crowded around to see the images and shout laughter, Nico came to Dani and locked his fingers with hers. It was the first time he’d touched her in hours.

“What’s so funny?” he asked. He looked hesitant, as though he was feeling out how welcoming she would be.

“I’m thinking about that first pic I saw of you from the app. You and your brothers together just like that.”

He grinned ruefully. “I still have no idea why Tino would choose that for my profile pic. And you still wanted to meet me.”

“I didn’t want to say anything, but…” Dani laughed. His answering smile dazzled her. “I almost…”

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