Page 2 of Pretty Little Game

But Ellie giggles girlishly. “Don’t I wish? But we’re not related. Just soul sisters.”

Cassio releases a warm, throaty laugh. “I like that. Well, I won’t keep you ladies holding half of Neiman Marcus in your hands while we chat any longer. Can I help you with your bags?”

“Um–sure!” Ellie flashes me an impressed smirk as she allows Cassio to scoop up a handful of her bags as he relieves one of my laden hands.

“Thanks.” I give him an appreciative grin as I adjust the weight of my own load, feeling the blood tingling back into my fingertips.

“Weren’t you going somewhere?” I ask as we walk down the street to the parking garage.

Cassio shrugs. “Just meeting some friends at Top Golf. I’m sure they’ll be just fine until I arrive.”

“Well… thank you,” I repeat.

“Nice,” Cassio says appreciatively as we reach my white Lexus LC on the second floor of the parking garage. “But I think you might need something bigger to haul all these home,” he jokes, lifting our shopping bags, “without having your bumper dragging on the pavement.”

“Oh, please,” I counter, popping the trunk. “Lexi has endured far worse. She’s a hardworking girl who knows how to handle her shopping.”

“Lexi?” Cassio asks, turning an amused grin on me once he’s set the two large handfuls of bags in the trunk.

“A beautiful name for a beautiful girl,” I quip, closing the overly stuffed trunk and patting the back of my car as Ellie’s remaining bags go on the back seat.

“Of course.” But humor still dances in Cassio’s eyes as he looks down at me. “Well, I’ll leave you ladies to it. Elise, it was a pleasure to meet you. Bianka,”–I shiver involuntarily at the sound of my voice on his lips–“I’m sure I’ll see you soon.” He gives me a wink and departs, strolling confidently back toward the garage stairs.

My eyes follow him as I fight the aching disappointment at seeing him walk away. I’m so ridiculous. I can’t manage to get my physical response to his proximity under control. The temperature seems to increase whenever he enters a room, and when we speak, I lose track of my train of thought. I must be anything but appealing.

I’ve spent a few days hanging out with the Marchetti twins over the summer, but I can’t quite get a read on Cassio. Though my body won’t let me forget about my crush on him, it hasn’t turned into anything. He hasn’t made any moves, and I wonder if that’s just because he’s not into me. Biting back a sigh, I turn to head toward the driver’s side of my car and catch Ellie’s sharp gray eyes watching me.

“I think he has a thing for you,” she states point-blank, making my cheeks warm.

“Nah,” I disagree. I wave her off as I slide into the car and buckle up.

“Oh, man. And judging by that blush, I’d say you have a thing for him too. Is he the one you finally want to lose yourvirginityto?” Ellie teases as she gets in the passenger seat and closes her door.

I scoff. “Let’s be honest, with Ilya for a big brother, guys don’t darespeakto me, let alone touch me. I’ll probably be a virgin ’til I’m married–if I can even find a man crazy enough to propose.”

“Bianka,hewas just talking to you,” Ellie points out, gesturing in the direction where Cassio disappeared.

She has a point. In truth, neither of the twins seems to be afraid of my big brother and hasn’t hesitated to speak to me. Probably because their family is one of the most prominent mafia presences in the Windy City, with a territory that covers all of northern and downtown Chicago. A Bratvapakhandoesn’t frighten them–or maybe they just don’t care.

Not to mention, Cassio is one of those rare cases of a drop-dead gorgeous guy who is also smart and funny and doesn’t think he’s god’s gift to humanity.So maybe…

“I don’t plan on sleeping with Cassio,” I say firmly as I pull out of the parking garage and onto North Michigan Avenue. “And I’m sure he doesn’t like me.”

“Well, if you’re sure… then maybe you wouldn’t mind setting him up with your bestie?” she suggests, giving me the side eye.

Neon-green jealousy flares to life inside me, and I clench my teeth as I picture Ellie on a date with Cassio. My hands tighten on the steering wheel as my foot hits the gas, launching my sleek white sports car forward.

“Easy, lady!” Ellie barks as she grips her door for stability. “I was only joking. I can see from a mile away that he’s off limits even if you don’t want to admit that youlikehim.”

I take a deep breath, trying to bring my temper under control. I should know better than to let Ellie get under my skin like that. She’s like my sister in a lot of ways. We’re tight, we do everything together, and we tell each other everything–pretty much. But that also means she knows how to push my buttons.

“All I’m saying is that if Cassio happens to have a brother who’s super hot as well, I wouldn’t say no to a blind date….”

I bark a laugh. “Actually, now that you mention it, Cassio happens to have a twin.”

“Now you’re just pulling my leg to get back at me for teasing you,” Ellie pouts.

“No, seriously. His name’s Lucca. He and Cass took that theater class together last semester, so I know Lucca about as well as his brother.”

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