Page 7 of Don't Lie To Me

Myriah leans in closer, bumping my shoulder with hers. “I still can’t quite understand how Harley dates them all. Four is a lot.” She emphasizes thelot, coming across a little tipsy already.

“It is,” I agree. Wonder how I would juggle it. Then I laugh to myself. Fat chance I will ever have to worry about it.

Sally eyes me curiously. “Could you do it, Sloane? Date more than one guy at a time?”

I stare right back at Sally, looking at her like she might have just lost her mind. “I would give my left tit to date just one dude, but you both know that’s never going to happen.”

I give an indirect tilt of the head toward Onyx, who is not-so-subtly leaning against the bar just out of ear shot, and my brothers making sure they’re having plenty of fun of their own. They just won’t let their little sister partake in anything remotely enjoyable. Well, I have had just about enough of their overprotectiveness. When I was younger, I got it. I didn’t have parents to bring me up, so they stepped in. But enough is enough.

I watch Harley with Ricky and Maddox at her side. Ricky is obsessed with her, his hands permanently attached. Maddox looks at her like she is his entire world, and Geovani is a step ahead like he is scopingout the place to make sure it’s safe to enter. Alex, her husband, walks behind them all with another dude I don’t know.

My eyes get stuck on him. There aren’t many guys in Ravens Hollow I don’t know. A shit ton of them have memberships here, and every new sign-up is personally vetted by me. But this guy’s face is new to me. His eyes lock with mine from across the room, and his lips turn up at the sides in a cheeky greeting. That tells me, I might not know who he is, but he knows me.

“Who the fuck is that with Alex?” Sally’s eyes go wide with worry. “He wasn’t on the guest list. I checked that thing like five times.” She pulls the list from behind the bar and starts scanning over it.

We are extra cautious about security these days. You can’t be too careful when you run an empire like I do. But something tells me this guy isn’t anyone to worry about. “You know Alex, he doesn’t follow the rules.” And for once I’m not pissed about it. The dude by his side is an Italian god. Olive skin, thick dark hair with a little wave to it, worn longer on top, chiseled jawline, expensive suit tailored to fit his body just right. I could go on listing his positive qualities all night long. My head tilts as I take him in, and his eyes come back to me again as he chuckles at something Alex says. I feel a flutter in my heart, and I take hold of the bar for support. Is this what swooning over a guy feels like? Or am I just decently buzzed already, because my head is spinning.

“Geez, Sloane, close your mouth, you’re drooling.” Myriah giggles playfully.

I snap my mouth shut and glare at Myriah. “I am not. I just want to know how the fuck he’s crashing my party.” I push off the spot where I was leaning against the bar and stride across the room toward my newest guests. What kind of a host would I be if I didn’t introduce myself.

Seeing me, Harley wriggles free from Ricky’s hold, her eyes locking on mine as she crosses the dance floor. “Happy birthday,” she calls, her face lighting up. She’s adorable tonight in a little black dress that shows off her tiny baby bump, her long auburn curls flowing over her shoulders.

“Did you bring me a present in the shape of an Italian god?” I smirk, keeping my voice hushed. Harley is the only one who knows my secret. I told her in a moment of weakness, and she’s been a doll and kept her mouth shut about it. But every now and then she gives me this look, like she’s trying to find me the perfect guy to help fix my situation. She’s doing it right now.

“Alex’s cousin, Romeo, he’s hot, right?”

Alex’s cousin, interesting. “Gorgeous,” I gush then catch myself. What the fuck is wrong with me. I don’t carry on like this over men. Well, maybe I do, this week I’m out of control.

“He’s very single. Just like you.” She wiggles her brows for emphasis. “Come on, I’ll introduce you,” she says, hooking her arm with mine.

Suddenly, I’m nervous. Not just because he’s sexy as all hell, but because I know Onyx is watching my every move. And all four of my brothers are also in this room and will be ready to cock block me any chance they get.

“Happy birthday, Sloane!” Ricky chimes in as we approach.

“Thank you,” I murmur with a half-smile, but my attention is drawn toward Romeo. I can’t take my eyes off him. And when he smiles at me like he knows I can’t, my cheeks glow with heat.

“Romeo, this is Sloane.” Harley kind of pushes me toward him, and it’s as if time stands still. I’m lost in his dark mysterious eyes, pulled into his overwhelming vortex.

I suck in a breath, trying to find my normally cool composure. I hold out my hand. “Sloane Stryker. What the fuck do you think you’re doing crashing my birthday party?” I cringe. Way to go, Sloane, it won’t be Onyx or your brothers cock blocking you tonight; you’re going to do a good enough job of that shit yourself, if you can’t get your mouth under control.

Instead of being offended, a low, rumbling chuckle escapes him as he gently takes my hand, bringing it to his lips for a soft, lingering kiss on the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Stryker.” His accent is thick, but his English is decent, and it only makes him sound even more alluring. “I’m Romeo Moretti. I hope you forgive my intrusion on your birthday party. I’m new in town, and Alex thought this might be a good opportunity for me to meet some of the more influential people.”

My hand is still in his, and it feels like the two of us are the only ones in the room as he explains himself. I can’t look away from him or move. I’m mesmerized by everything Romeo.

His eyes meet mine. “I can leave if you want me to,” he says, but as he does, his lips morph into a cheeky smile that tells me he has no intention of leaving.

I pull out of his grip on me as if he’s burned me, realization of how ridiculous I must look swooning over him coming over me. “You can stay. Cause any trouble, though, and I will deal with you myself,” I add more seriously.

“I hope so.” He smirks, all charming. This dude is flirting with me.

I look over to my side for Harley or one of the boys, but I realize they have all moved on and found a table together. It’s just the two of us.

“How about a drink to offer my sincerest apologies,” he offers.

I blink back at him, not sure what to say. My body is screaming at me, hell yes. But my head says be careful, we don’t know this guy and you know we can’t trust anyone. “I should really get back to my friends.” I glance over at the bar, but the girls are gone as well. I find them watching Cruz and Jagger’s game.

His head drops a little closer. “But you would prefer to get to know me.” His voice is low and slides over me like a fine whiskey, all smooth and enticing.

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