Page 59 of Sinfully Loved

"Someone should put on some music," Carlotta concluded, grabbing Natale's hand and jumping off the chair.

She was excellent. With not a word or action did she let slip that she was the sister of the three brothers. On the contrary, she was considered more a distant relative or a close friend of the two cousins – Fiero and Natale.

Because of her appearance, it was unmistakable that she belonged to the family, but for that reason alone, no one would guess whose sister she actually was.

After a few seconds, music spilled over the terrace, and a few of the guests started dancing while everyone on our side held back.

Vincenzo, meanwhile, stood behind me, his arms around me, and pulled me close enough to lean comfortably against him. "What do you say we have a little fun?"

"You want to dance?" I asked skeptically, wondering again what had gotten into him.

"I want him to be embarrassed to realize that there was never anything to worry about."

15

Vincenzo

Liquid fire shot through my veins. Dea's body had nestled so perfectly against mine during the dance that I had found it challenging to keep my temper and concentrated on not stepping on her feet.

I was thankful for wherever she had learned the moves she had just used to show off what she was really made of.

Merda.

It had cost me countless hours to persuade myself to put aside my stubborn attitude toward this woman and to accept not only what Rina had said but also Fiero. Several times. Repeating themselves like a broken record.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to smash the record.

When I noticed Taddeo Santoro coming toward me, I grabbed Dea's hand and pulled her in the opposite direction, up the stairs toward the villa. We left the terrace behind.

She was out of breath, which was no wonder after the littleLambadainterlude.I hurried to take her further away from the other guests and not only to avoid her father but also my siblings.

That Emilio's eyes had almost fallen out of his head seemed to be the understatement of the century. Whatever they had expected after Amedea's revelation. Perhaps Emilio still thought it was a joke… by the way, I really had to have a talk with Natale. How could he think of betting on my sex life?

With Dario and Gia, I wasn't surprised; their penchant for gambling and risky ventures was widely known. But Natale? He kept too low a profile for me to have expected what was happening within the family when their backs were turned for a few weeks.

Unlike Amedea, I knew my way around the villa, so I led her straight to the kitchen, where there was a quiet space. Everything was happening outside, and that was just as well.

She lifted herself onto the countertop, faced me with her arms crossed.

I suspected that it wouldn’t be just a quickie, to avoid meeting her father.

"Do you plan to explain what happened there?" she asked, with an amused grin as she gestured her hand in the air in front of my body.

"What are you getting at?"

"Don't tell me you don't have a clue."

"I, at least, prefer that assertion."

"Ah," she murmured. "You'd rather I accept it, too, and not react. Just pretend nothing's changed."

"Indeed. That would suit me best." I knew that we'd not come so far. But one was allowed to dream, I guess.

Dea jutted her chin. One eyebrow raised slightly. "Too bad this isn'tWishful Thinking."

"What do you want to hear?" I asked provocatively and propped my hands on the countertop on either side of her. Now there wasn't quite as much distance between us.

"You ask me that a hell of a lot for a man who otherwise always has an opinion he's happy to share."

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