Page 370 of Under Her Skin
When he had ended the call, Enda went to shower, then got into bed. What he would give to take Ama to meet his friends as his partner.Two years,he said to himself.Two years and she’ll be free, and then I’m going to marry thatgirl.
The thought brought him up short.Marriage? Wow. Marriage had never been something he had aspired to or wanted, but with her …with Ama …well,damn.
His phone bleeped, and it was with delighted pleasure that he recognized the number as Ama’s burnerphone.
Missing you. Thinking only ofyou.
Enda smiled and tapped out areply.
I wish you were with me right now,Bella.
Me too, gorgeous. Sleepwell.
Enda broughtup the subject of the music schools at dinner with his family, careful not to give away that he and Ama had already discussed it earlier that day, when they had spent a blissful afternoon in his apartment, screwing each other senseless and talking. They were learning so much about each other in those precious hours. Enda discovered that, despite her great beauty, Ama hated to be judged on that, and preferred to be complimented on her brain or her humor. That underneath her almost regal presence, she was, at heart, a book nerd, an art lover, and someone who declared she would be unable to live without music. Not just classical, either, but rock, and cheesy pop songs—and JohnnyCash.
Enda found himself opening up to her about his family—or lack of it—until Olivier came to find him. “I never knew they existed,” he admitted, and then grinned at her. “And in the end, I got the best and the worst of brothers. I love Olivier. He gave me a way to know my father, and he’s been nothing but supportive. I even suspect if he had known about us, that he would have been our biggestcheerleader.”
Ama smiled at him. “I was thinking the same thing, actually. Still, I don’t think it’s a good idea to clue him in. I would hate to put him in an awkwardposition.”
“Agreed.”
So,now, as they all sat around Macaulay Gallo’s vast dinner table, Enda made sure he didn’t make eye-contact with Ama when he told them his and Raff’sideas.
Jackson made a scoffing noise. “Really? Where’s the profit inthat?”
Enda looked at him coolly. “I would think, in your position, that you would see that money isn’t everything. How many more billions do you need, Jackson? Isn’t it time you gave somethingback?”
“Didn’t I just broker the deal that saved Amalia’s sister from an abusive marriage?” Jackson grinned at his wife, who stared back indislike.
“I don’t think that’s what Enda meant,” she said softly. She turned to her lover and tried not to show in her face how much she felt for him, “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Schools all over the country are having their funding for the arts cut to almost nothing. They’re forcing the kids to focus on science and math and disregarding the kids who were born to be artists, actors, musicians. It’s justwrong.”
Enda smiled at her. “Maybe you should come along, meet Raffaelo, and be our consultant on theinside.”
“Love to.” Ama hid a grin, obviously realizing what he was up to, but Jackson cleared histhroat.
“I don’t see why that wouldhelp.”
Ama turned cold eyes on him. “I wasn’t asking yourpermission.”
Enda saw the anger in Jackson’s eyes. His father did too, apparently, because Mac changed the subject hurriedly. “Jackson, I was going to ask you. I got a call today from that interior designer you told me about. She was under the impression that you have arranged for some work to bedone.”
Jackson nodded. “I have. All of the bedrooms, except yours, Dad, because I know you’ve just had itremodeled.”
“Excuse me?” Amalia looked bemused. “Allof thebedrooms?”
Jackson nodded, his smile smug. “Yes, darling, all of them. I thought we could take a penthouse at a hotel while the work is beingdone.”
Ama flushed angrily, and Enda narrowed his eyes at his brother. He was trying to force her to share his bed.Asshole.Ama picked up her wine and sipped it casually. “A single room will be okay with me. Or I can stay with afriend.”
There it was. In the open. With those simple words, Ama had outed the sham of her marriage to both Olivier and Macaulay. If she had shouted, ‘I’m not sleeping with Jackson,’ at the top of her voice, it couldn’t be more obvious. Enda watched Jackson’s face turned from red to purple and suddenly felt afraid for Ama. He knew of old what Jackson’s temper waslike.
Penelope…three years ago, she had borne the brunt of Jackson’s temper and what had happened had scarredeveryone…
Three years ago…
Enda took a slug of whiskey and turned back to the party. He hated these things, but his father, Macaulay Gallo, who he couldn’t get used to calling ’dad’ yet, hadinsisted.
“If you want to be part of this family, Enda, you must see how weoperate.”
