Page 32 of Deception

He shaved, and the result is breathtaking.

“Sorry for what?”

“My brother is a worrywart.” He smiles charmingly, disarming.

“Is he your only family?” I skirt the issue.

“The only family with me. My other brothers are back home.” He waves dismissively. “You'll meet him eventually, if he cools down and stops being a nag.”

So far, it seems that Alessandro has accepted that I’m staying. Or decided that I am.

“Only if he wants to. I feel bad, intruding.”

“Don’t. As of now, you’re our guest.” I notice he doesn’t apologize for locking me up last night. “Come to the kitchen. I'll introduce you to the staff, give you a tour of the house.”

I follow along in his wake, eyeing the wall hangings as we head down the stairs to the landing. “Library is upstairs, and the theater room is down there. Other door is the gym and sauna.” He gestures vaguely.

“And that one?” I point to the only other door off the lower landing.

“My office.” The way he says the words is clipped. Unwavering.

“Ah. Off-limits. Right.”

He lets out a soft sound that might be a laugh. “I’m not used to entertaining guests.”

It’s as close to an admission of anything as he’ll likely give. The man comes across like a stoic, marble statue.

“I understand. And you don’t need to entertain me. I can look after myself.” The last thing I want to do is invite scrutiny. I need them to let me wander freely, let their guards down.

“Noted.” He looks back, those deep, hazel eyes seeing through me. I hate how much I like how it makes me feel. I hate how much I like looking at his face.

The staff is lined up in the kitchen when we enter, like we’re royalty. I feel my face flush with embarrassment at the presentation.

“Too formal?” Alessandro smirks at my expression. “You’ve met Carla. Ava is her niece. Vincenzo is Carla’s husband and our groundskeeper.”

The older man chuckles at the announcement. “When there are grounds to keep! I guess I’ll be a glorified snow shoveler for now.”

The mood is calm, familiar. “They’ve taken care of this place for my family for years.”

“Do you all live here year round?” I find my curiosity getting the better of me.

“No, no,signorina. We live in the village.”

“Oh.” I try desperately not to continue the line of questioning.

Alessandro picks up on my direction, however. “They are on retainer for when we need them.”

Carla winks at me as they go about their business, an unspoken dismissal happening somewhere in the interchange.

“Now that is …”

“A bit ridiculous?” Aless mutters softly.

“I mean, most people don’t have servants waiting for them at their mountain getaway homes.”

“You’re right. I am not most people.”

Something about the way he says it makes my hackles go up. The audacity of this man. Not to mention the arrogance and the smile that make my blood boil in all the right ways.

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