Page 37 of Winter
Inca started to protest, but he held his hand up to stop her. “I won’t take any arguments. Do any of you feel that this isn’t the best arrangement? Do you realize how much security we have access to? No-one would get near Inca.”
No one had any answer to that, and so Inca found herself agreeing. She would move in with the Winter twins until the killer was found. Tommaso left soon after, to arrange things, Olly following him to re-join the investigation across the street.
Inca blinked at Tyler and Nancy, grinning slightly.
“Well, I guess I have roommates. That happened fast.”
Tyler reached out to pat her arm. “If you’re uncomfortable, you can always stay with us.”
Nancy nodded, gesturing towards the door. “Tommaso was eager, wasn’t he? A bit too eager, if you ask me.” She gave Inca a meaningful look, and Inca flushed.
“He’s just being a good friend, Nance, and he’s right; he’s got security out the wazoo. And you two really don’t want me hanging around like a moody teenager, do you?”
Tyler and Nancy laughed, and Nancy tugged gently on Inca’s ponytail. “Kiddo, you know you always have a home with us. Just watch that Tommaso doesn’t get the wrong idea.”
Raffaelo was tiredwhen he arrived back at the mansion, but he listened to what Tommaso told him in silence, then nodded. “You’re right. She should stay here.”
Tommaso was vaguely surprised. “I thought you’d object.”
“That you want to protect the woman you love? Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t want anything to happen to Inca either.”
“Thank you.” Tommaso turned to leave his brother’s room, knowing he was exhausted, but Raffaelo called him back.
“Tommaso … I hope that, by Inca being here, you won’t …” He trailed off, but gave his brother a meaningful look. Tommaso cocked an eyebrow.
“Won’t what?”
Raffaelo sighed. “You know what I mean. Inca is an independent woman. She’s under our protection, yes, but we have no right to dictate what she does, or where she goes.”
Tommaso’s smile faded. “You think I would try to control her.”
“Wouldn’t you?”
Tommaso looked annoyed now. “Inca is different.”
“I know. I’m just saying … don’t get too entrenched with her that you can’t see anything else. She’ll feel suffocated.”
“You think I’m suffocating?”
“You can be. Even with your good heart, you know what has happened in the past. If Inca really means that much to you, give her space.”
Tommaso gave his brother a tight nod and left the room. Raffaelo pulled off his shoes and lay back on the bed. It would be strange having Inca living here. Neither of the twins had ever lived with one of their girlfriends before, but then again, they’d always had each other.
Raffaelo had known this was coming for a couple of years now, and he was glad. It was time. They were thirty-five— too old to be sharing with a sibling. They needed to move on, but he’d been reticent about how to broach the subject with Tommaso. Tommaso had always been the insecure one of the two— again, Raffaelo thought darkly, more fall-out from their father’s shitty parenting. But Raffaelo liked Inca and didn’t want her hurt because Tommaso hadn’t worked out all of his issues.
For himself … he had no intention of getting involved with anyone. The emptiness within him was something he clung to—it stopped him from feeling. It had been an age since he had been attracted to anyone enough to make a move. His looks meant he could have anyone, and yet he found he wanted no one.
Yes. He told himself that he wantedno one.There was no woman who could penetrate his walls.
No one.
Except that when he dreamed at night, he dreamed of café-au-lait skin and a warm, sweet smile.
Inca had packedeverything she owned and Tyler had helped her load her boxes into his garage. She didn’t want to take all of her stuff to Tommaso’s mansion, despite his protests, but Inca felt she needed to have something rooted back in her old life. It was weird enough to be moving in with Tommaso; he’d cleared space in his closet—or rather, his maid had—and now her clothes were hanging next to his expensive, handmade suits. The fact that she would be sharing his bed, his room, hadn’t even been discussed, just assumed.
Tyler saw her face as they tidied the garage up. “You okay, Bubba? You can always change your mind, you know. Our offer will remain open.”
She smiled at him gratefully. “Thank you, Popsicle, but I think this is the right move. I love Tommaso. I really do.”
