Page 32 of Gio

Dammit, why was he so thoughtful and sweet? “Oh. That’s nice of you.”

“Right?” Peyton’s full lips stretched into a teasing grin. “Come on, we’re going out for food and girl talk. We have a child-free afternoon and we’re gonna make the best of it with cocktails and gossip.”

It was something I hadn’t done in too long and suddenly it sounded like just what I needed. “Okay. One second.” I organized my work materials, shut down my laptop before I changed into casual wide-legged pants and a loose tank top. “Ready.”

Thirty minutes later we were seated inside a cozy booth with whiskey cocktails in front of us while the ladies each told me how they came to be linked to the Steel Demons. “I used to date Nolan,” Peyton admitted. “I only came to Rocky because I’d heard how badass he was, which was true. But he was and is a lot more than that.”

I laughed at each of them as our barbecue platter arrived, loaded up with succent meat, three types of potatoes and more coleslaw than four women could possibly eat. “So they each came to your rescue, and you fell for them.”

“That about sums it up,” Laura added with a smile. “Hawk and I were pretending and somewhere along the way it became real.”

“Wow.” I shook my head. “That’s incredible. Good for you ladies.”

“Right?” Ellie waved a dismissive hand in the air. “What we really want to know is what’s going on with you and Gio.”

“He’s just an old friend,” I answered diplomatically. “We practically grew up together. He and Cole are closer than blood brothers.” This was girl talk and I needed a sounding board, so I took another sip and said what I was thinking. “It’s just sex,” I said, more to myself than the girls.

Peyton laughed first, probably because she had the most insight into Gio as his sister-in-law. “Oh please. Has it been more than three nights?”

My brows tugged into a frown. “It has. Why?”

All three women gave each other knowing glances before Peyton leaned forward as if she had a big secret. “Gio doesn’t do more than three nights with the same woman. Ever.”

I sat back against the plush booth seat with a shocked sigh. “That can’t be right.” Gio was a gorgeous single man so I didn’t think he’d been living the life of a monk before I came to town but that sounded so… callous.

“It is,” they all replied in unison.

“I’m telling you, Harper, this isn’t just sex for Gio. It can’t be. He wouldn’t go after a brother’s sister unless he meant it.”

I shook my head against those words even though they made me feel good and warm inside. “I don’t live here,” I tried weakly.

“Maybe not,” Ellie began, “but that’s easy enough to change for love.”

Love.That word hit me with the force of a Mack truck. This wasn’t love. It couldn’t be. It was too soon. Right? Sure I feltthingsfor Gio, warm and fuzzy things, sexy things, affectionate things. But not love.

“I think we’ve shocked her enough,” Laura said with amusement in her voice. “Let’s talk about something else.”

Conversation moved on but the sentiment and the conversation stayed with me throughout the night and into the next day.

Chapter 19

Harper

Love. That word pinged around in my head as I flitted around the ballroom in preparation for the political fundraiser in four days’ time. It was unusual to have so much time to set up. Back in California we were constantly working insanely long hours because the venues were in such high demand that we had to set up the night before or even the morning of an event.

This was a nice change. I didn’t have to rush around, which increased the chances of making a mistake or missing something significant. Having everything set up early meant I could add flourishes that would make the event better, which meant a satisfied client and more work. So rather than running around like the Energizer Bunny, I had a leisurely few hours to prepare the room.

It was just after three in the afternoon, and I was close to going home for the day, when the side door to the ballroom smacked open, startling me once again. I put a hand to my chest and told myself I really needed to stop being so damn jumpy. Still on alert, I jump-turned and found Carl approaching in long strides, a completely terrified expression on his face.

“Carl. What’s going on?”

He didn’t stop until less than an inch separated us. His brown eyes were jet black and he kept looking over his shoulder as if he expected some boogeyman to jump out at any time. “Harper, look, something’s going on. I don’t know what exactly,but something big has happened. Viper is beyond pissed off and stressed, and worse? He was asking questions about you. And the Steel Demons.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Carl simply shook his head and held up a hand.

“I don’t want to know because I don’t give a shit. I’m already in this too deep and I don’t want to know more than I already do just… be careful.” He looked around again with wide eyes, his whole body strung tight with fear and then he took off and left me alone in the ballroom.

I didn’t realize my hands were shaking until I felt around for my phone. “Calm down,” I muttered to myself. I inhaled and exhaled the way I did on those rare occasions I was done with work early enough to go to a yoga class. I needed to calm down because freaking out wouldn’t accomplish anything. “Calm. Down.”

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