Page 108 of Highball and Chain

“Yeah, I do.” Admitting my feelings for him cost me a piece of my soul because I knew they weren’t enough.

“Have you told him?”

“Once, but it didn’t count.”

Maggie laughed. “It slipped out after a mind-blowing orgasm?”

“How did you know?” I grinned at the memory and wiped the tears from my eyes. “He didn’t say it back. He played dead until I let him off the hook.”

“I’m sorry, Shanna. He’s a good man, but he keeps to himself. I’d give him time to come around.”

“Don’t be sorry. This was all leading-up to the part where I ask your advice.”

“Okay, now I’m totally confused. You weren’t asking me if you should dump Enzo before he dumps you?”

That she knew me so well made the conversation so much harder. “Yes and no.”

“I’m going to need more to go on than that.”

I drew every ounce of courage I had left in me and prayed I could lie convincingly enough to pull off what needed to be done. “Jack told me he was in love with me.”

“What?” She spoke loud enough to wake mainland Italy. “Jackson Landry? Your strictly platonic friend, big-brother figure, never crossed a line, Jack?”

“That’s the one, and he laid a hell of a kiss on me.”

“I’m stunned.” She went quiet again. “Tell me about this kiss.”

“It rocked my world, Maggie.” I forced myself to laugh. “Butterflies with bullet wings, tingles in all the right places. I was as stunned as you are. He told me there were men in this world who would never hurt me like he meant it.”

“But you just told me you were in love with Enzo.”

“I think I love them both.” Not a complete lie. “With Jack, it’s so easy. No family drama, no arranged marriages, no—”

“Passion?”

Didn’t I just tell her about the freaking kiss?“There’s passion.”

“Is there, really?”

Damn it. I needed her to back me up, not question me. “No offense, but I don’t think I can handle the Marchionni family long term. They’re a lot to deal with, and Evelyn…”

“I understand they’re a handful, but why do I get the feeling you’re choosing Jack over Enzo has more to do with the circumstances than how you really feel about them?”

Because it does.“I can see myself happy with Jack, but I can’t with Enzo. He’s allergic to commitment, moody, and comes with more baggage than a cruise ship.”

“You know I like Jack. He’s a good catch, but I’m worried about you.”

I’m worried about me, too. “I know it’s weird, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him after that kiss.”

“I’ll support you no matter what.” Maggie groaned. “Actually, no I won’t. I have to say something, and I hope I’m right, because if I’m not you’re going to be angry. Heck, you’ll probably be angry, anyway.”

“Just spit it out.” I braced myself for an argument.

“I know you, Shoshanna Ruth Isaac. You’re feeding me a bunch of bull right now, and I’m not sure why. Are you trying to convince yourself you’ll be happy with Jack, or are you lying to me so I’ll play my part in this scheme of yours?”

My mouth hung open. In Sicily, she and Dahlia told me I couldn’t lie for shit, but I’d thought I could pull it off over the phone. “So you’ll play your part.”

“Lead with that next time.” She laughed. “I about peed my pants when you said Jack kissed you.”

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