Page 53 of Knot Your Business

“Lunch is just about finished. Perfect timing,” she says, hugging Rylan before turning to me and Jasper. Faedra tightens her hold on my hand.

“Bianca.” Jasper’s voice is warm as he drops his arm and steps around me, hugging the woman and letting her kiss his cheek. She’s the same height as Faedra, so he doesn’t have to move far. When she pulls away from him, he holds his hand out to me. “This is Violet and Faedra.”

The woman smiles, and it lights up her entire face. “Wonderful to meet you both. I’ve heard so much from Jasper about you, Violet. Sei bellissima.”

The compliment falls from her between one breath and the next, but it feels genuine. Warmth fills my chest. She closes the distance between us, hugging first me and then Faedra, her movements quick but warm, like she greets everyone with a hug rather than a handshake.

“You are Violet’s friend, yes?” Faedra nods, and she smiles again, even wider than before. “Welcome to the family, both of you. I’m sure my son has done a terrible job of making you feel welcome, so let me do the work for him. Let’s go eat. I brought lasagna.”

When she pulls away, she takes my hand and Jasper’s, leading us both inside. Faedra keeps hold of my other hand, following close behind me.

The foyer opens into a large open concept, the living room larger than my entire dorm and then some. A formal dining room is tucked off the doorway to the right and a study is immediately to the left, its frosted doors open, revealing a bright room with at least half a dozen guitars scattered throughout it—and no actual desk. Everything is done up in white and dark wood tones, the floor nearly the perfect match for the sand of my favorite beach. A literal wall of glass overlooks the backyard.

And it has more than passing ocean views: the entire back wall is filled with the midmorning sun reflecting off the water. Faedra’s breath catches in her throat.

“Holy hell, Vi,” she murmurs, leaning into me.

“Quando arriveranno gli altri?” Bianca asks, crossing the main living room to the kitchen tucked against the back corner. It’s also done in shades of white, though the backsplash is a warm gray that reminds me of sandstone. She flips her hair over her shoulder and rolls her eyes as she looks back at us. “Domenico tells me nothing. But you already know that.”

“Bianca, you know I’m not good enough with my Italian to know what you asked,” Rylan says as he closes the door behind us, his voice warm. Almost… happy? I glance over my shoulder and find him leaning against the door, his hands in his pockets again, a half-smile on his lips. His head is tilted just enough that I can see the double snake tattoo crawling up his neck. He looks like a fucking album cover model for some alternative rock band.

Holy sex appeal. My thighs clench, and I can’t quite manage to keep my breath from catching. Faedra looks between me and Rylan before laughing.

She leans in, covering her mouth with a hand, and whispers, “Violet and Rylan sitting in a tree?—”

I elbow her in the stomach before she can continue, the blush darkening my cheeks despite my best intentions.

Bianca sighs even as she pulls a large dish from the lower wall oven and sets it on the stove. “One day, you will understand. You will not learn if I do not speak it, though, monello.”

Jasper laughs as he follows Bianca across the room, grabbing a set of plates from one of the upper cabinets. The two of them work seamlessly around each other, like they cook together often. Something twists in my stomach, an odd combination of jealousy and excitement.

“The movers should be here in another hour or so,” Jasper says. He holds out a plate for Bianca, and she spoons some of the lasagna onto it. There’s a sharp knock on the door. “And that,” he says dryly, “would be the girls.”

I turn just in time to see Rylan open the door, revealing Liz and Huntley.

“Holy crap, I forgot how long of a drive it is out here,” Liz says, her voice just as loud as the last time I saw her. Two of her matched Alphas follow, their heads close together and their hands in the pockets of their shorts. I recognize both from the bar, but neither of them are Zach. “I hope traffic doesn’t suck going back down later today. It’s only Thursday, so it shouldn’t be completely awful—Oh, hi, Violet!”

Huntley rolls her eyes and steps into the foyer. “These are for you,” she says. She holds out a large bouquet of sunflowers in a simple gray vase.

“Thank you,” I say, trying to keep my surprise off my face.

Had Jasper told them my preferences? We’d only just reconnected a couple days ago.

She turns the moment I have a solid hold on the glass, introducing herself and Liz to Faedra. The three of them settle into an easy conversation, migrating across the room toward the kitchen. Bianca waves them off.

“Go sit, ragazze,” she says, pointing toward the large dining table. It’s large enough to sit at least ten, though there’s only six chairs placed around it.

“The things you ordered are here, by the way,” Rylan says, easing past me, letting his hand run along my waist as he passes. “I’ve put them in the room I thought you’d like most, but we can adjust things after we eat if you’re not in love with the set up.”

He kisses Jasper’s cheek and takes the plate from his hands.

“Oh! Is she getting the purple room? Because holy crap, that one is so pretty, and the views are to die for,” Liz says, giggling. “I love living downtown, but man, the views you guys get up here are stunning, I swear.”

One of the men leans in and kisses her shoulder, and she blushes.

“We’ll figure all that out after food,” Bianca says, carrying a pitcher of something that looks like lemonade.

Huntley smiles. “Bianca, you make the best limoncello.”

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