Page 28 of Highball and Chain

“Please, I’m begging you. Don’t leave me alone with Enzo.” I knew I must sound like a lunatic, but I needed him to stay and act as my human shield.

“Talk to him.” Marco kissed my cheek, turned, and walked away. The traitor.

The Ghoster nodded to his brother on his way to me. “I’m glad I found you. Where are Dahlia and Leo?”

“They went to the stone maze.” I continued to stare at the horizon.

He leaned against a heavy marble column. “Is the Castle of the Woman Who Fled everything you hoped it would be?”

“‘It smells musty. No matter how much work they do, it’s still a shithole. They should level the entire thing to the ground.’” I mocked Nico’s earlier words. I couldn’t help myself.

“I guess I left myself open for that one.” He clasped his hands behind his back.

“Yeah, you did.”

“I ended things with Nicolina, once and for all. She’s returned to Paris.”

“I can’t say I’m sorry to see her go.” I glanced at him. Big mistake. The way he stared caused my heart to skip a beat.

“Can we go to dinner in town? I’d like to spend some time together. Get to know each other better without so many interruptions.”

He asked me out?My racing heart betrayed my better judgment. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I wanted to get to know him. The real him, not the person he pretended to be around his family. It would be so easy to go to dinner and laugh and see where the night led, but we’d made plans once before, and he’d hurt me. “Why?”

“Because the best man and maid of honor should be cordial.” He grinned and offered his arm.

I wasn’t quite ready to let him off the hook—not yet. “You’re not the best man. Leo is, and I am being cordial.”

“Yes, but you’ve been upset since you arrived.”

“I’m tired and jet lagged.”

“You’re angry and hurt, because I am an ass who canceled our date without an explanation. Let’s start again. Truce?” He extended his hand this time.

This is a bad idea—a very bad idea—but how can I refuse those freaking eyes?

“Truce.” I took it, and he tightened his grip. “But don’t push your luck.”

“Call Dahlia and tell her you’re taking a taxi back to the villa.”

Of course, he pushed his luck. “Why am I taking a taxi back to the villa?”

He flashed me the famous Marchionni smile. “You’re going to dinner with me.”

The air left my lungs, and my heart fell to my feet. Was he embarrassed of me? Sure, I was almost a foot shorter and a few pounds heavier than Nicolina, but still. “You’re asking me to lie to Dahlia and sneak around with you in secret?”

He furrowed his brows. “I thought it would be easier to enjoy ourselves without involving my family.”

Easier to dump me again. Is it too much to ask for a man who’ll put me first?“On second thought, I should go find Dahlia. Maggie wanted to go over some wedding plans and Marco is here somewhere waiting for me.”

“I really am rusty at this.” He drew a breath and stared at the ceiling. “Let me try again. Walk with me while you wait. You’ll never find them in the maze.”

What is it about this man that makes me want to break all my rules?I’d ended actual relationships for less, but I wanted to give him another chance. He seemed so cocky one minute and so earnest, almost…lost, the next. “All right.”

I followed him to the ground level. We walked along an unpaved path toward the maze, but I couldn’t enjoy the scenery with the uncomfortable silence hanging between us. “What really happened in Ragusa?”

Marco had confirmed my suspicions, but I wanted to see if Enzo would be honest with me.

“I can’t say for certain where the sound came from.” He offered me a ghost of a smile. “We’re all stressed out between my father’s health, the wedding, and the business, but I trust your judgment. If you believe it was a gunshot, I’m inclined to agree.”

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