Page 84 of Fractured Frets

My stomach cinched, yanking my belly button toward my backbone. Shit. She was right. I’d just assumed we’d evolve into doing those things. I hadn’t expected those elements to be key factors in determining whether or not we’d stay together. But I guessed they were. I just jumped into things headfirst and worried about the consequences later. Maddy wanted to slide into them steadily.

“It absolutely is.” I leaned over and kissed her shoulder. “I’m sorry we haven’t had those conversations yet, but we will. I look forward to learning more about you and loving you more each day, Mads. You can ask me anything at any time. I’ll always be honest and open.” Those things she’d listed were easy subjects to discuss. But other truths? What if she pushed me to tell her how many pain-killers I was really popping? Or asked if I was taking anything else?

Shit. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. Wiped my clammy palms on my shorts. I’d hated lying. But I didn’t want her to stress or worry. I just needed to get through the next couple of months, and everything would be fine.

“Thank you. I will too.” She patted and rubbed my thigh. “I do love you, Slip. We just jumped into this blind with no foundation underneath us. No net to catch us.”

“I’ve got you, Mads. Always.”

“Same.”

Just after three, everyone pulled into a gravel driveway lined with tall pencil pines. Lush green vineyards covered the rolling hills before us, and blue sky stretched for as far as the eye could see. We drew to a halt outside a huge two-story stone villa covered in green vines. Several other stone buildings and work sheds stood nearby. Everything looked newly renovated and restored compared to the other old homes we’d passed in the area.

“Wow. This place is gorgeous.” Maddy scanned the main villa as we hopped out of the car and walked around to stand in front of it. I snaked my arm around her waist and stretched my sore hip. Better.

The others ambled over from their vehicles and gathered beside us outside the villa.

Maddy leaned forward, peering around Cole. “Thank you, Ava.”

“You’re welcome.” Ava bobbed her head and tucked her hands into her short pockets. “This part of working for the guys, booking travel and places to stay, has been fun.”

“I’ll make sure I thank her later.” Cole smothered Ava in sloppy cheek kisses until she laughed, until he went too far, and she put him in a headlock. Her ex-bodyguard skills outplayed Cole’s moves every time.

Chuckling, I shook my head. I was convinced Cole liked a bit of rough and tumble, and Ava liked to give it to him.

“Daddy, can we go swimming?” Charlotte, clinging onto Harper’s hand, pointed toward the huge pool shimmering in the sunlight toward the rear of the villa.

“Soon, sweetie.” Cole tickled Ava’s side and broke free of Ava’s clutches. “Once we check into our rooms.”

The front door opened and a tall man with a dark gray beard, bushy eyebrows, and a warm smile scuttled down the stairs toward us. He held his arms wide. “Ciao, benvenuti a tutti. Hello, welcome everyone to Villa Chianti. I am Leonardo, your host.”

“Hey. I’m Flint.” Flint stepped forward and shook Leonardo’s hand. “And this is my girlfriend, Sutton.”

“Ciao, Bella signora.” He kissed her hand.

After Flint introduced everyone—the band, our partners, our security, Harper and the kids—Leonardo clapped his hands. “It is wonderful to meet you. Please. Come in out of the heat. Refreshments await you inside.”

“Thank you.” Tia dragged Lewis by the hand, and everyone followed Leonardo up the three stone steps into the immaculate villa.

The temperature dropped ten degrees the moment we entered the stone structure. The aroma of baked bread filled the air, making my stomach rumble.

“Please. Gather ’round,” Leonardo handed everyone a homemade lemonade. “I look forward to having you stay with us. Our villa was built in the late 1700s. This farmland has been in my family for more than two hundred years, and we produce some of Italy’s finest chianti. There are nine bedrooms in this building and four in the guesthouse across the courtyard, which I understand your security team are staying in. Correct?”

“Yes.” Beckett nodded. “I’d be happy to sleep on a sofa as long as it’s not a bus.”

I had to agree.

“No sofas required. We have plenty of rooms.” Leonardo bowed. “For your stay, Chef Bene will prepare your meals and tend to any requests you may have. Tomorrow, I will take you on a tour of the vineyard and cellars, and be honored for you to sample some of our produce on the terrace by the pool at sunset. I understand you have a party to go to this evening. Is that correct?”

“Yes.” I swiped my hand over my stubble. I really needed to shave. “It’s at a vineyard near here.”

“Oh.” Leonardo’s eyebrows shot skyward. “Which one?”

“At Villa Agosti. My Uncle Rocco owns it.”

“Oh my goodness,” Leonardo bellowed as he threw up his hands. “Rocco and Maria are good friends of mine. I didn’t know you were related. We caught up with them yesterday in preparation for the gathering tonight. I’m now extra honored to have you stay.” He bowed again. “Please understand we fully respect your group’s privacy. We’ve had other high-profile people grace our home before. We have two security guards on duty for the duration of your stay, so your team can enjoy their break. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Now, let me show you to your rooms.”

Leonardo waved toward the wooden staircase, and we followed him up the steps. Ava had already allocated us our beds based off the photos online. Easy. I wasn’t one to complain or kick up a fuss.

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