Page 109 of The Sweet Spot

“You’ll see.” Smirking, he slides his hand into mine, he nods his head toward the back of the house. “Come on.”

“I think your mom wanted me to help out,” I protest, slowing as we pass the kitchen.

“You’ll have plenty of time to help her later.” He looks back as he pulls me along, his gaze running the length of me, pausing at all of his favorite places. “For now, I want you with me.”

Luca

Wren laughs as I spin her, her long hair flying behind her like a flag fluttering in the wind. She’s beautiful like this, barefoot in the grass, cheeks flushed with alcohol and happiness. She doesn’t realize that half of my family is watching. They’ve never seen me like this with a girl before.

Mãe pauses at the corner of the group, chatting with Phoebe. She’s looking at us, though, her eyes sparkling with joy. I can’t deal with all that, so I tuck Wren close and dance her over to another spot, close to where the wildflowers start. The sun’s setting over them now, casting the sky a ruddy gold.

The music changes, shifting from the rowdy samba Uncle Otavio was blasting to a lo-fi, low-key hip-hop track. Different vibe altogether, in a good way. I pull Wren closer, draping her arms over my shoulders as I wrap mine around her body. My cousin Bento winks at me as he joins the rest of our cousins and brothers, raising his bottle of beer to me in a salute. I return the gesture with my own bottle, giving him a warning glare when his eyes start to drift south to Wren’s ass.

“I’m having so much fun,” she says suddenly, her mouth at my ear. The sensation of her soft lips and warm breath goes straight to my dick. We’ve been dancing and hanging out with my family for hours, long enough for that little dress she’s wearing to have inspired a couple of fantasies. “I love your family.”

“I think they love you, too.” I hug her tight, chuckling. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”

She sighs, leaning on me as we relax into a lazy sway. How the fuck am I supposed to ask her for a break when things between us feel like this? I don’t even know how I’m going to leave for Brazil at this rate. Thankfully she’ll be leaving, too. Otherwise I’d be having second thoughts about all of it.

My father knows this—he doesn’t miss a thing. Wren was outside earlier, letting Mãe show her off to all my nosy aunts and cousins, when he ambushed me in the kitchen.

“Ela é bonita, Luca. Really beautiful,” he said, leaning against the counter.

Cracking my beer open, I followed his gaze, out the big windows to the yard, to where my great aunt Linda was patting Wren’s cheek. “You must think so, because you keep saying that.”

“Beautiful women have a way of complicating things, you know?”

“That why you single?” I snarked, taking a long sip.

“Watch it, you little fucker.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m just reminding you not to lose sight of what’s important. Set yourself up first, then focus on relationships. She’ll be around if she’s the right one.”

Someone bumps into me and Wren, pulling me back. I blink, looking around. Bento’s music switch didn’t last long; we’re deep into the bossa nova now, and the yard is full of dancing couples.

“You wanna take a break?” I ask Wren, mood dampened by thoughts of Pai’s words.

She nods, pushing her hair back. “I could use some water.”

We weave through the crowd, stopped every few minutes by increasingly drunk well-wishers, and into the house, which isn’t much quieter. Grabbing bottles of water from the fridge, I lead Wren to my old bedroom. It’s a guest room these days.

I lock the door and sit on the edge of the bed, watching Wren wander around, looking at the paintings on the walls. The house is filled with art; Mãe’s been collecting it for years. Some she bought at art galleries, others she found discarded on curbsides.

But Wren’s ass in that dress is the real work of art. I pull her to stand between my thighs as she passes by, kissing the soft skin between her breasts. “Finally.”

She laughs quietly, setting her bottle of water down so she can bury her hands in my hair. “It’s been a long day, right?”

“It has been, but there are a few things left on my to-do list.” I slide my hands up her thighs and under her dress, squeezing. She releases a shaky breath, her nails scratching lazily at my scalp, and I know she wants this as much as I do.

“I might have to head out soon, you know,” she says quietly. “I don’t want to be out on the road too late.”

“Too late? What are you, eighty?” I tease, pressing another kiss to her chest.

She snorts, flicking my ear. “You’re in a feisty mood.”

“Stay here with me. We’ll head back down in the morning…I’ll follow you.”

“I don’t know how I feel about staying in your mother’s house with you, Luca.” She pauses. “Don’t you have family staying here?”

“They’re all staying in hotels. Mãe couldn’t let some stay and not others—you know that would cause drama.” I can feel Wren’s eyes on me, so I look up into them. The soft, yellow lamplight glows behind her head, giving her a halo. WrenAngelos, indeed. “Just stay. Don’t worry about my mom; she’ll understand. She knows we only have a couple days left before I go.”

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