Page 64 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

When the hell did pretending start to feel this real?

Alessio emerges from the bathroom, towel slung over his shoulder, water still glistening in his hair.

To my disappointment, he's wearing a shirt, barely. It clings to his chest like a second skin, damp in places, outlining every hard muscle beneath.

He’s barefoot, cocky, and freshly showered, smelling like soap and trouble.

Without a word, he grabs a spoon, dips it into my yogurt, and licks it like he owns the damn thing.

“You like having me here.” His eyes gleam as he scoops another bite, this time slower.

He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

I arch a brow. “In your dreams.”

He leans against the counter, gaze dragging over my body with zero shame. “I’ve had those dreams,dolcezza. You were a lot less clothed in them.”

I roll my eyes, turning away before he sees the evidence of the heat crawling up my neck and the grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “You’re delusional.”

“Yet, here I am. Shirt on, yogurt stolen, living rent-free in your head.”

I should throw him out. I really should.

Instead, I hand him the granola.

We’re not playing house. Not really. But the way he moves around my kitchen like he’s always belonged here? It’s starting to feel dangerously close.

***

I meet Halie at a café downtown, grateful for a break from my chaotic inbox and the even more chaotic man living in my apartment.

She takes one look at me, all messy bun, flushed cheeks, a cardigan I definitely didn’t mean to pair with stilettos, and smirks.

“Well, well, well. Somebody’s glowing.”

I snort. “You're imagining things. It's probably all the blue light my face soaks up from being in front of the computer all day.”

“Sure, babe. That or you’ve been thoroughly and repeatedly dicked down.”

“Halie!” I hiss, glancing around.

The barista’s trying not to laugh as he pours oat milk into someone’s latte.

She leans back with a satisfied grin. “So…?”

I sigh. “Fine. We had sex. Once.”

She arches a brow.

“It’s not what you think. It’s complicated." I shrug.

"Anyway, all we talk about is me. How's everything been at the club?"

She stirs her espresso. “Work’s the usual. Oh, we’re interviewing a new bouncer who looks like he stepped out of a UFC cage. So, that’ll be fun.”

I laugh. “You always did find danger sexy.”

Halie flashes me a look. “Takes one to know one. You’re living with Alessio freaking Marchetti. Remind me again why you haven’t let me help you tame him?”

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