Page 52 of Forbidden Vows

Still, a yucky feeling creeps through my chest as my stepmother attempts to hook my stepbrother up with a woman who isn’t… me. The idea of him picking out a paint color with another woman…It’s almost worse than picturing him sleeping with the hottie we bumped into yesterday at breakfast.

Which I most certainly did NOT do, on and off, torturing myself the whole day.

This is over the moment the jet touches American soil. And he’s free to flirt, date, and be with any woman he wants.

I’m mature enough to handle this situationship.

Am I?

Tuning out the matchmaking talk going on behind me, I focus on the beautiful surroundings on our walk. When we arrive at the house, the staff are the first to greet us. Seraphina gestures to the waitress to hand me a flute of champagne from the silver tray she holds.

She’s a true friend.

I take a long sip of the sparkling drink, letting it warm me. I prepare myself for an evening where I will have to listen to a woman matchmake the man I just spent the afternoon having naughty sex with. The man who begged me to trust him. The man who is somehow healing my pain.

I have to sit beside this gorgeous man at that table and pretend there’s nothing real between Blaze and me.

Chapter Fifteen

Blaze

We’re having pre-drinks in the library. Emilia finds any excuse to show off her favorite part of the house. The walls of the green room are lined with books, and oversized windows overlook the blue-green lake. Brown leather seating is arranged throughout the room.

We stand in the center, sipping drinks and chatting while a Miles Davis record plays in the background. Emilia looks at Ma. “Don’t you think Blaze should turn that little outbuilding in his garden into a room like this?”

Ma’s nose wrinkles. “The white one? Behind the giant hole in the ground? I thought that was a shed for tools.”

“My vote is for a pool house,” Haze says.

Emilia’s not convinced. “You can build a new pool house, but the garden one is quaint and original to the property. Imagine reading outside, the big glass doors open, as rosebushes bloom, their soft scent wafting towards you…” Emilia sighed like Belle when the Beast revealed his library.

Ma smiles at me, her eyes sparkling with champagne. “He’s not got much time for wafting. Or reading. His focus is on work and beautiful women. And you Bachmans seem to have plenty of both here.”

“And sometimes our men work when they should spend time with their beautiful women.” Emilia gives Liam a pointed look.

Ma takes the opportunity to chime in. “Tell me about it! This is the first night I’ve seen my Haze’s handsome face. He’s been all tied up with work.”

“Speaking of work.” Liam takes the opportunity to signal Haze and me. “Can we grab a moment?”

“Sure.” I look over to check on Cleo. She’s by the windows, clinging to Seraphina like the other women might try to devour her. I catch her eye, mouthing, ‘Be right back.’ She gives me a brave nod.

We walk down the hallway to the cigar room where Liam holds meetings. I follow him and Haze. He glances back and says, “Emilia said she’d kill me if I turned this dinner into a work thing, but with the threat in New York, it doesn’t feel right not to meet.”

The dark blue walls and black leather create a masculine vibe, enhanced by lingering cigar smoke and whiskey. We sit in a semi-circle. I’m the youngest here, so I listen closely.

We all know we’re here to discuss what happened at the church. Time is limited, so Liam cuts to the meat of theconversation. “It’s who we thought.”

“The Morettis?” Haze asks.

“The very ones. They don’t like the stronghold we have on the city. They want more turf.”

Haze refers to Bronson, the head of the Hamlet, our place in Connecticut, and Rockland, the boss of the Village in the city. “What do the others say?”

“Bronson wants a temporary truce. Draw new territory lines. Keep the peace.”

“No.” Haze shakes his head. “No way.”

Liam nods. “I agree. We can’t afford to show weakness. Not now.”

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