Page 86 of Captivated

“Mmm,” she huffs. “That’s a better answer. Thank you.”

Shaking my head, I smile and take a large sip of wine to occupy my mouth so I don’t say anymore bullshit.

“Will the women your cousins are will be there too?”

“Yes. Everyone. Aunts, uncles, cousins, significant others. Even my cousins who are in Miami will fly back for it if they can. You’ll be able to meet them before Sean goes down there. I’m glad he agreed to it.”

Sean is staying in one of the empty apartments in our building in the city right now while he finishes healing up before he goes down to Miami.

We have a doctor on call if he needs it, and with how secure our building is, he won’t be able to sneak out and no one can sneak in. That’s what sold Cassie on him staying there for a couple weeks.

“Me too,” she says. “Where do they live? Where will Sean be living?”

“They live in lofts above the club we own. Dance club,” I quickly clarify when I see her eyes narrow. “It’s a massive place, and we converted the upper part of the building into lofts.Sean will start off being their assistant, and then we’ll see what happens.”

“I’ll want to check on him at some point. I’ll want to see with my own eyes that he’s doing well and going to meetings.”

“So he agreed to go to Gambler’s Anonymous?”

“He did. He doesn’t want to be in that situation ever again. He knows how lucky he is that I was able to help him. And you, of course. You’re the one who actually helped him.”

“You’re his sister, Cassie.Youhelped him.”

“Thank you,” she says softly, and pushes a meatball around her pasta.

“A trip to Miami means I get to see you in a bikini while the sun kisses your perfect skin. I’ll have to religiously apply sunscreen all over you to make sure you don’t burn. I hope you know that.”

I wanted to lighten the mood again, and it worked. Her smile is instant, and she’s rolling her pretty blue eyes at me.

“I’m lucky to have such a vigilant boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend, huh?”

“Should I call you something else?”

“Not yet.” I wink, and her cheeks heat. I fully plan on her calling me her husband within the year. I’d ask her to marry me now if I thought she’d say yes. “I’ve just never been someone’s boyfriend before, so it’s interesting to hear. And calling me a boy is a little insulting, no?”

“Do you want me to say manfriend instead?”

“That just sounds made up.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Boyfriend will have to do for now.”

“Yes, it will.” Cassie pushes her hair over her shoulder in a haughty way that has me wanting to spank her perfect ass for being so sassy. But I fucking love it, and she knows it.

“These meatballs are amazing,” she says, moaning around a bite. “Now that I’m in the family, do I get to know the recipe? I’d love to be able to make these for you next time.”

I don’t think she realizes what she just said and how much it means to me. She’s admitting so casually that she’s a part of the family now, and my heart fucking swells in my chest with pride and love. I want her to have the kind of family she’s been denied her entire life. The kind of family she deserves. It’s been just her brother and her against the world for too long, and I want her to always feel safe, welcome, and loved.

“It’s in my head, so I’ll have to write it down for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Or we could make them together, and you can see how it’s done. A recipe only gives so much information.”

“I’d like that.” She smiles. “I didn’t know you like cooking. I won’t lie…I liked walking in here and seeing you in the kitchen. It was sexy as hell.”

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