Page 115 of The Devil Can Be Kind

“I’m gonna go ahead and say a lot,” I said, smirking at the riveted men before me. “Weddings are definitely a no go. On or around her birthday…and valentine’s day, I would say they are all bad choices for a casual fling. You don’t want to give the wrong impression.”

I could see their heads practically exploding with the information and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Suddenly I felt a warm, familiar presence.

Jesse and Enzo nodded in greeting to the man I knew I’d find behind me.

“What’s so funny?” Marco asked, pulling up a seat.

“I’m just filing them in on a secret about women.” I answered, smiling in greeting at him.

“And what is this secret?” He asked.

“If a girl hooks up with you at a wedding it’s because she wants more than just the D,” Jesse answered coolly.

“She wants commitment,” Enzo chimed in, cringing in a way that usually would have had me chuckling if I wasn’t too busy panicking.

I tensed, knowing how that would sound to Marco…after having hooked up with meright aftera wedding.

He’d think that I wanted more from him than sex, and while that was in facttrue, I didn’t exactly want him knowing that piece of information right now. It threatened to damage the fragile understanding that currently existed between us and had the potential to throw everything into total chaos, whether he cared for me or not.

Shit.

“Who the fuck knew that?” Jesse finished.

“I was speaking generally Jesse. It isn’t true of all women,” I said, forcing nonchalance into my voice.

“That’s not what you just said,” Jesse argued irritatingly, and I glared at him.

“Is it true for you?” Marco asked turning toward me.

Yes.“No,” I answered but my tone was slightly off and I internally cringed.

I swiftly turned away, flipping my hair over my shoulder and acting like I hadn’t seen the knowing smile forming on his lips.

“I think it is.” He chuckled darkly, making two pairs of eyes flicker between us quizzically.

“It reallyisn’t,” I answered refusing to meet his gaze. “What are everyone’s plans for today?” I rather unsubtly tried to change the subject.

A tattooed arm came to rest on the back of my chair, and I pretended to ignore the flutters up my spine.

“What kind of commitment do you want from me now then, Ada? A heartfelt poem? Those three important words?” Marco’s tone was jovial. No outward signs of running away and screaming like I had anticipated.

Trouble was, my satisfaction at his reaction was overshadowed entirely by Jesse and Enzo’s faces…which were now lit up with sudden understanding.

Crap.

“HOLY SHIT!” Jesse exclaimed, smacking the table with his palm. “You slept together?” he spluttered, gesturing between us with a zeppole.

I all but died from embarrassment while Marco shot him an arrogant grin.

“Three times.” Marco added, smiling broadly as he broughtmyjuice to his lips and took a swig.

I didn’t bother pointing out that those three times were in fact overtwodays and not just last night as he had implied.Men.

Enzo muttered a ‘wow’ while I sent a silent prayer up to whatever deity could bloody well hear me, before hiding my face in my hands.

“Niceee.” Jesse approved.

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