Page 22 of Ignacio

“You were smoking earlier. Is this relationship already stressing you out? Can you handle being around your ex?” Ethan asked.

“Of course. Delta and I broke up eleven years ago. I was younger and… foolish. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Bruno and Ethan exchanged glances.

“Don’t do that. I can handle Delta.”

“How long are the two of you supposed to fake being in love?” Thiago asked, slicing into his steak.

“We anticipate no more than six months,” Ignacio replied.

“Six months?” Ethan exclaimed.

“That’s a long goddamn time,” Thiago said.

Bruno shook his head.

“What’s the next step?” Thiago asked.

Ignacio hesitated. “We move in together.”

A series of dismayed groans filled the yard.

“Thank you for believing in me,” Ignacio said dryly.

“Let me guess—while you’re living together, you can’t see anyone else, right?” Ethan asked.

“Right.”

“This should be interesting.” Thiago chuckled heartily, something he rarely did.

“Maybe we should place bets on how long he lasts before he’s sleeping with the woman he swore he’d never have anything to do with again,” Bruno suggested.

“I bet ten grand he doesn’t last more than two months. By Thanksgiving, she’ll have a ring through his nose,” Thiago said.

Ethan chuckled. “I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and suggest twelve weeks. Bruno?”

“I was going to say twelve weeks too, so I’ll say thirteen weeks.”

“Again, thank you for the vote of confidence, my dear brothers,” Ignacio grated. “I might as well join in. I bet ten grand that she and I will spend the entire six months in a platonic relationship, and nothing—” He broke off when all three of his brothers started laughing. “Really?”

“I don’t want to take your money, but please, keep us updated on how your relationship is going,” Thiago said.

“The only reason you’re so cynical is because the closest you’ve come to a relationship is your job.” Thiago scowled at Ignacio. “As for the two of you, you’re both married and have forgotten that not everyone wants to be tied down in a relationship. Some of us prefer to be free.”

“We’ll see how free you’ll be in twelve weeks, maybe less.” Ethan lifted his glass to his lips.

Ignacio ignored him, and as his brothers turned to other subjects, he doubled down on his determination. He would not give in to Delta James. She had betrayed him once. He’d be a fool to let her back into his life—in any real way—again.

The kiss on Saturday was a fluke. A moment of weakness. He was stronger than they thought, and she held absolutely no power over him.

Chapter Nine

“We’re here.” Ignacio slowed to a stop behind the real estate agent’s black Mercedes.

Thank goodness, Delta thought. As far as she was concerned, the other houses had been a bust.

The agent’s vehicle had come to a standstill beside a guard’s gate at the entrance to Briarwood Heights, an affluent neighborhood that attracted celebrities and business moguls. The other houses they had visited had also been in gated communities, a very important feature for Ignacio. He had mentioned that ever since an incident with an obsessed fan entering his home, he had been more cautious about having security around him and living in a secure location.

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