Page 28 of The Prices We Pay
Aesthetically, they couldn’t look more different.
But one quick look at their matching sharp jawlines moving up and down as they bicker at one another, their raven-colored hair, and the shape of their blue eyes—albeit different shades—leads me to believe they’re related. I’d even put money on the fact that they're brothers.
The one with the nose ring has his hand wrapped around the woman’s thigh, and the one in the suit has his hand stretched out behind his brother, the tips of his fingers drawing soft circles on her shoulder. While they’re not blatant signs of affection, their soft caresses make it clear that each of them has a romantic relationship with her.
You go, girl.
However, no matter how much I want to sit here and observe what is probably a lot of women’s dream come true, my eyes stray back to the men who have their glares locked on me and Kassidy.
Actually, let me rephrase that. Luca and Dante are wholly glaring, while Enzo’s eyes are narrowed in the most mischievous way, and Sebastian… just looks intrigued. The way he’s so clearly studying me, trying to learn everything he can just by watching, isunnerving.
“Josephine?” Kassidy bites out more urgently this time.
I turn from the guys to face her, but I can still feel each of their stares on my back. “Yes,” I sigh. “I know them. That’s where I work. Vittori Enterprises.”
Kassidy’s jaw practically hits the high-top table. “Shut. Up. Let’s go over there! Introduce me.”
Absolutely not. No fucking way am I taking her over there. One word out of her mouth, and Luca might literally fire me just for associating with someone so shallow. I can’t say that to her, though. No matter how much I want to. “Ummm. It lookslike they’re here with some friends. I don’t want to bother them outside of work.”
She scoffs and downs the rest of her Cosmopolitan. “Don’t be ridiculous.” She grabs at the front of her dress and readjusts her breasts. Once she’s finally pleased with her cleavage, she raises her hands and wiggles her fingers at them in a wave. The way her eyes lock onto them lets me know I’ve officially been placed on the back burner, which, in any other situation, I would welcome the demotion, but knowing who she’s refocused her attention on puts me on edge.
They’re not mine, but… I don’t want her to want them.
“One of them is coming over here!” she exclaims in a hushed tone as she sits up a little straighter and puffs out her chest.
Before I have a chance to ask which one, I already know the answer. I sense him before I feel him. There’s electricity in the air, just like there was that day in the lobby. And when the rich smell of nutmeg and amber hits my nose, I know my assumptions are right.
Lorenzo.
He comes to a stop behind me, his palm gently wrapping around my arm just above my elbow. Softly, he slides his grip up my arm and over my shoulder, stopping at the slope of my neck. I briefly register Kassidy’s eyes widening, but I’m too lost in the way my body responds to his touch.
Again.
“Hey, Sweetheart.” His soft Italian accent washes over me like a cool rain on a summer’s day, instantly relaxing me.
Garnering the courage, I tilt my head to look up at him, his sage green eyes signaling me to go along with whatever plan he has cooking up. “Hey, Enz,” I answer softly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here tonight? I would have picked you up.”
Unsure where he’s going with this or how to respond, I mumble, “Ummm…”
He sighs dramatically. “I know we had a bit of an argument this morning, but showing up to our friend’s club with some hussy isn’t going to solve anything.”
His friend’s club? A fight? Hussy?
Kassidy scoffs indigently, her flirtatious and available facade rapidly disappearing. “Excuse me? Just who do you think you’re calling a hussy?”
Enzo merely looks her up and down as if to say, “Isn’t it obvious?” before looking back at me. “Come back to the table with me?”
“I—I’m here with Kassidy.” I don’t want to stay here with her. Not even a little bit. But the way he’s taking control of his situation—the way it feels like he’s looking through my eyes and directly into my soul—is throwing me off kilter. Not to mention that the table he speaks of is currently seating the three other men who seem to have the same effect on me.
I’m not a woman who is easily thrown off balance, but something about each of them constantly makes me feel like I’m teetering on the edge. Ready to freefall at any moment.
“Sweetheart.” He points his thumb in Kassidy’s direction, not sparing her another glance. “We both know that Kassandra here—”
“Ugh. It’s Kassidy,” sheblanches.
“Whatever. We both know she isn’t worth your time.” Enzo slides his hand up the nape of my neck until he’s cupping my jaw. In what feels like slow motion, he bends down and places a featherlight kiss against my parted lips, his eyes never once leaving mine.
