Page 138 of His Two Hidden Masks

“You are in a spare bedroom next door, but come hug me,” I said, jumping to my feet. “I am sure you’re exhausted. I made coffee.”

“If you give me coffee in a paper cup, I may just die,” Leo said.

“We would not dream of it. Let me make you a proper drink.” Dylan kissed the top of my head as he passed by on his way into my tiny kitchen.

“Lissa has messaged me three times,” said Leo. “She wants me to show you the latest samples. She says it’s important that you see them before you go to the buying season in New York.” Leo scrolled through his phone.

“We leave tomorrow,” I said. “So, good timing.”

“Ahhh look.” Leo, cocked his head to the side and held up his phone. It was a picture of Ari blowing a kiss. When Leo touched it a series of big, colored hearts moved across the screen. “Ari made me a kiss video,” he said. “I love that big snuggle bear.”

“And he loves you,” I said. Leo had not stopped glowing since the night he started officially dating Ari at the Eros Crossing Ball.

Leo opened his bag. He took out three jewel toned boxes and set them on the table. “The new boxes,” he said.

“I love them.”

“Shhhh,” he said, “Wait for it.”

He opened the lid, revealing a Murano glass ornament hanging from a thin gold string inside the top of the box. The glass was solid, but small and thin enough to lay flat. It was a circle of color, and inside you could see the faint gold lines of a mask.

“Limited edition,” Leo said. “For the holidays.”

“Are these necklaces yours?” I asked, touching the glass charm.

“Well, yes.” He grinned. “I did the prototypes, and I have an army of people ready to make more. If you approve, by the end of the month we should be able to match normal production numbers, box for box.”

“These are extraordinary,” I said. “We need to call these, the Bella Baci ‘Hidden Mask.’ It’s perfect.”

Dylan stood behind us in the kitchen sipping coffee from one of the small espresso cups that he’d insisted we pack from Venice. “It’s bloody gorgeous,” he said. Catching my eye, he mouthed the words “like you.”

He handed Leo a cup.

“So, you like them?” Leo said. “Because this is your company.”

“It’s our company,” I said. “I approve.”

“Oh, thank God because I greenlit production yesterday.” Leo laughed and exhaled, taking a sip of his espresso. “We already have three big orders from the Christmas markets in Milano.”

Dylan handed me an espresso and raised his cup so we could toast. “To Bella Baci,” he said.

Someone knocked on the door. “Answer it,” I said to Leo. “It’s your American girlfriend.” I had immediately recognized the vibrancy of Odessa’s knock.

Leo opened the door and Odessa jumped into his arms, kissing both of his cheeks. “My gay Italian boyfriend is here,” she said. “Oh, I’ve missed you.”

“And I you.” Leo glanced over his shoulder. “I need to go spend some time with my best most fashionable girlfriend.”

“Of course.” I laughed.

“Where is Shea?” He asked.

“She and Troy are in Eastern Washington doing some sort of extreme run. She is running, and Troy is checking in on the Salishan winery.”

Dylan raised his eyebrows and nudged me at the mention of the winery.

“It is a lovely place,” I said, sipping my espresso.

“Wouldn’t you all say it’s perfect for a wedding?” Dylan said.

---