Page 89 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

She quickly shot the idea down. Her brothers would murder Angelo with their bare hands. Especially Leopold.

It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for,she thought, shivering.

“Would anyone like something to drink?” she asked, suddenly craving a hot chocolate and a muffin to soothe her frazzled nerves.

An awkward silence followed, before Angelo, ever the instigator, replied with a smirk, “I’d take some iced tea, Pinkie.”

Allison cursed him silently for finding the energy to tease her now, of all times, in front of Frederick and Leopold, who were glaring daggers at him.

“Pinkie? What the—”

“Frederick,” Leopold interrupted, his voice calm, yet carrying that dangerous edge that could stop a charging bull. It was that deep, measured tone that so closely resembled their father’s. “Water for me, please.”

Leopold was always the laid-back one, with an easy smile that could turn cold enough to freeze a desert when he was angry. He was the easygoing counterbalance to Frederick’s fiery, explosive temper. But right now, even Allison knew better than to be fooled by his demeanor—Leopold waspissed.

Frederick’s anger deflated instantly, leaving him grumbling, “Just some hot coffee for me, Ali.”

He was still radiating tension, though, seated as far away from her and Angelo as possible on the corner of her couch. His moodprobably had something to do with how closely she was sitting next to Angelo, but in that moment, when everything seemed to be falling apart, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Angelo surprised her by speaking up again. “What do you want, sweet girl?”

Allison blinked, momentarily thrown off. “Huh?”

“Hot chocolate and a muffin?” he suggested, his smile widening as her eyes grew round with surprise.

“Oh, you don’t have to—”

“Come on, Allison. You think I’ll let you lift a finger while I’m here?”

Her cheeks flushed as she looked away, feeling suddenly flustered.

“Exactly. Now, hot chocolate and muffin, yes?” Angelo pressed, his voice soft but insistent.

“How do you—”

“Sweet girl. You don’t really think I haven’t noticed your preferences by now, do you?” His words were gentle, but the implication hit her like a freight train.

She looked at him, eyes wide, a thousand thoughts running through her mind. Here was a man who noticed the little things—things she hadn’t even realized he’d been paying attention to. It was both unsettling and, dare she admit, a little heartwarming.

She finally nodded, unable to fight the small smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, hot chocolate and a muffin would be perfect.”

As Angelo got up to head to the kitchen, Frederick leaned over and muttered, “This better be good, Ali. Because if he messes up, I’m not cleaning up the remains.”

Allison rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the nervous flutter in her chest. Because, deep down, she knew—this was going to be one hell of a morning.

The silence that followed was anything but comfortable. Her brothers stared at her, their gazes like twin spotlights in an interrogation room.

Not awkward at all,she thought, mentally rolling her eyes.

They sat still like statues, their faces pinched with varying degrees of displeasure. It was like being under scrutiny from a jury that had already decided on the verdict.

Angelo, ever the thoughtful one, prioritized Allison’s hot chocolate and banana muffin, placing them in front of her with a gentle smile. He followed up with his own coffee, then Leopold’s water. Frederick’s coffee was placed on the table last, the order clearly not random. If this was Angelo’s way of subtly reminding Fred where he stood in the hierarchy, it didn’t go unnoticed.

Allison took a sip of her hot chocolate, nearly moaning at the rich, creamy taste, and silently thanked every deity she could think of that no angry words had been thrown about.

Yet.

But peace in this household was like a unicorn—pretty in theory, but nonexistent in reality.

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