Page 90 of Not Mine to Keep

I spun around, and the three of us hugged, and tears were going to test my waterproof mascara. I swiped the backs of my hands across my cheeks, trying to hide them before my tears ruined my blush, too. “What are you doing here?”

“You told us you were coming in the group chat, but your husband’s assistant reached out on his behalf. Well, on yours, I guess.” Nala swapped a quick look with Imani. “He invited us to the hotel tonight on his dime.”

Before I could digest the news that Alessandro had arranged a surprise visit with my friends, which also meant he’d perused my contacts and messages to determinewhoI’d want to see when visiting, Imaniadded, “His hot-as-sin guard, Javier, picked us up and brought us here. He showed us the suite where the three of us are going to have dinner and get ready for your show. It’s been decorated like we’re having a slumber party and are thirteen, but it’s kind of cute.”

“What?” I shook my head, still in shock.

“Surprise,” Nala said while opening her arms wide. “He’s a keeper. Sorry for giving you a hard time about him. Most guys wouldn’t give up their new bride so she could spend time with her friends.”

And now it clicked. The piece of the puzzle locked securely in place.

Alessandro wanted to avoid sharing a hotel suite with me. He didn’t trust himself, and he’d pretty much admitted that was why he hadn’t come back with me to the penthouse after the wild night at his office. But what did that mean? It wasn’t like he was falling for me; I knew better. But the fact he still wanted to have sex with me when he was apparently supposed to be a one-and-done kind of guy must’ve been messing with his head.

“You’re married, girl. I still can’t believe it.” Nala played with the gold bangles on her wrist. A fidgeter, like me.

“Neither can I.” My stomach protested the sad reality that I couldn’t tell the truth about why I was married, but they’d freak and worry. The less they knew, the better.

But I’d give anything to have someone to talk to about what had happened last night, as well as the moment I’d lost my mind and kissed him in the elevator a few hours ago.

Alessandro had kissed me back, too. Hooked my leg to his side and leaned into me, dragging his fingers over my heated skin as he pinned me to him.

And then the elevator dinged, signaling the doors were about to open, and he’d freed my leg and backed away, panting. He’d also killed me by swiping his hand across his mouth, as if hating himself for allowing his lips to touch mine. He’d said something in Italian, shaken his head, then motioned for me to leave the elevator.

He hadn’t brought up the kiss on the ride to the airport or on the plane. Definitely hadn’t mentioned it when we arrived at the hotel. Nor when he’d shocked me by letting me know he had one of the smaller ballrooms rented out for my use for rehearsal, with my equipment there waiting for me.

“I have to make some calls. Don’t let her out of your sight,”Alessandro had barked out shortly after our arrival to his team of five guys, which also included my DiMaggio “chaperones.” Then he and Javier had left us alone in the rehearsal room.

Braden wasn’t due for another twenty minutes or so, but I had a feeling Alessandro would make an appearance before then, given his weird, jealous-like reactions when it came to him.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Imani waved her hand in front of my face, snapping me back to the bathroom. “You’re in Alessandro la-la land from the looks of it. Thinking about your hunk of a man, huh?”

Yeah, something like that.

“Why were you in here giving yourself a pep talk in the first place?” Nala nudged my side with her hip. “You shouldn’t be nervous about tonight. You’ve been looking forward to this moment for years.”

“That Italian Stallion, Frankie, said you up and walked out of the ballroom like you were going to be sick.” Imani met my eyes in the mirror, and I tried not to visibly cringe at her referring to Frankie in any positive manner.

If you knew the truth ... but you can’t.“To be honest, I’m nervous for when Braden gets here. Alessandro’s not his greatest fan, and I haven’t even told him about the Britt situation.”

I’d already vented to Imani and Nala over our group chat about Braden reaching out to Britt for backup if I didn’t show, and they’d been pissed on my behalf.

“Does your husband not know your ex cheated with your best friend?” Nala asked, frowning.

“She was a fake best friend.” My shoulders fell. “And no, I never told him about that, and why would he want to know? He’s a bit ...growly when it comes to other men in my life.”Even if this is temporary, and I’m his assignment, he still is.When I thought about last night and his dare for me to go off with Hudson, which I never in a million years would’ve done, nor wanted to do, I was still shocked at how beet red his face had been at the idea of another man touching me. Also, he’d threatened murder, something I knew he was capable of, so there was that.

“So what you’re saying is we might get two shows this weekend?” Imani grabbed her purse from where she’d set it on the counter, then motioned for the door. “Onstage and off.”

“I hope not. I don’t need fists thrown on my behalf.”Men have already died because of me.

“I’d like to give Braden a piece of my mind for the shit he pulled with reaching out to Britt.” Nala squeezed my arm, offering her support. “But come on, let’s get you back in the room to rehearse so we have time to eat and get ready before the show. And then we’ll stay up all night celebrating after your performance.”

I gave Nala a hesitant nod, and we left the bathroom. I hadn’t expected my husband to be out there, waiting.

“You okay?” Alessandro had changed into jeans and a gray short-sleeve shirt that had his biceps and triceps looking, well, perfect. He was so focused on me, I wasn’t sure whether he realized we weren’t alone.

Not that we were alone-alone, because when I looked beyond his shoulder, I spotted Javier and the “Italian Stallion” there, too.

Before I could get my mouth to work, Imani introduced herself to Alessandro. Nala next.

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