“Okay, let the sleepover begin.” With a grand gesture, Luca opened the door to his dark apartment, except for twinkle lights he strung from wall to wall across the ceiling. Mikey and I gasped at the exact same time. His Ninja Turtle rolling bag landed on its side with a thump.
“Stars!” The coffee table that usually sat in his living was moved to a corner, and in its place was a royal blue nylon tent complete with a fake campfire made out of orange and red construction paper rising from a pile of logs. “Wow!” Mikey’s eyes were as wide as saucers, and all I could think to myself was how much this man enjoyed spoiling my son. I couldn’t even be upset about that because it was the most endearing thing I’d ever experienced.
“Miss Brooks helped me make the campfire. But later I’ll light the fireplace and we’ll make S’mores.”
“I love S’mores!” My son hadn’t used his inside voice yet. The balcony caught his attention, and he pointed toward a telescope with his mouth agape.
“Cool right?” Luca asked. “A little birdie told me you always try to spot the Big Dipper. Tonight we’ll search for all the stars.”
“Mommy said friends are like stars in the sky.”
“Your mom is very smart.”
Mikey nodded. “This is the best sleepover ever!” My son charged toward the tent, hurtling his body through the opening and landing on the air mattress that was set up inside. As he jabbered on and on, Luca pulled me into his arms with a smile.
“You’re unreal, you do know that, right?”
“Yup.”
Mikey extended his arms to the side and ran in a circle around the tent making the sound of an airplane motor. Luca and I stared at him. My son wasn’t used to running room in an apartment. When he almost crashed into a table with a ceramic vase on it, I needed to put a stop to it. “Michael Dillon, this is not a playground. Inside voice and actions, please.”
Luca chuckled every time I used Mikey’s full name. He was almost as bad as my son—I now had two boys to deal with.
Mikey’s lips quirked to the side “Sorry.”
Luca changed the topic. It was apparent he didn’t like to see Mikey get scolded. “How about I show you the rest of the apartment?”
Without haste, Mikey headed toward the hallway leading to the bedrooms. Luca pointed out the bathroom which didn’t interest Mikey, the master bedroom, again, not much interest, but when he opened the last door, Mikey said, “Wow!”
The room was a little boy’s dream; a twin bed, covered in a red comforter with navy blue accent pillows, and one in the shape of a soccer ball, a poster of a couple of soccer players, a carpet that doubled as a racetrack for the box of Matchbox cars waiting for my son, and some of the same toys as he had at home.
“What’s that?” Mikey pointed to a netlike container. “The opening is on the top. How do I kick the ball in there?” His little eyes narrowed. “I suppose I could head it.”
Luca shook his head. “That’s a hamper for your dirty clothes. If you’d like to kick those in there, that would be fine, but that’s it, okay?”
“Yup!” He rubbed his tummy. “Are we going to eat soon?”
Back in the kitchen, three balls of dough sat resting on the counter. Also laid out was a container of homemade sauce, pepperoni, sausage, a variety of vegetables, and mozzarella cheese.
We had both decided it’d be fun to make our own individual pizzas even though I knew Mikey would want whatever Luca had. The three of us stood in the kitchen. Luca and Mikey wore their Kiss the Cook aprons, and I wore one Luca had bought for me that said, Caution: Hot Stuff. And we made the best pizzas we ever had.
When the sun went down, we put our pajamas on, flattened out our sleeping bags, and sat around the faux fire, eating S’mores.
“We need a campfire story!” Mikey exclaimed. “Luca, will you tell it?”
Luca’s brows furrowed. Then a smile spread across his face. Leaning in, he said in a soft voice, “Once upon a time, a man got hit in the head with a soccer ball…”
Mikey laughed. “Yay! I love this story!”
“Me too, buddy. Me too.”
Epilogue
Luca
Tonight we were headed to Vanessa’s thirtieth birthday party. Sabrina must have tried on three different outfits until she settled on a little black dress paired with a killer pair of come fuck me heels that she promised to keep on later when we were home alone.
“Babe, you look beautiful.”
She ran her hand down her sleek hair. “I hope so. Have you talked to Dante?”
“Last I knew his flight was on time. He’ll meet us at the party.” My brother, much to my mother’s pleasure, was moving to the city. I think she felt that maybe us being together in the same place was one step closer to us coming home. Of course, that was wishful thinking on her part.
“I feel so bad he’s coming straight from the airport.”
When Kyle planned this party, I told him Dante would be in town and didn’t hesitate to invite him. Anytime my brother would come and visit me, Dante fell right in line with my friends as if he had known them for years. And the ladies… many times we’d go to a party and I wouldn’t see Dante until the next morning.
“Nah, he’ll be fine, he just about lives out of airports. Plus, if we don’t get moving, he just might beat us there.” Sabrina glared at me. “What?” I kissed the top of her head. “I’m just kidding.” Not really. “Before we go, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“You sound so serious.”
I pressed the pad of my thumb over the crease between her brows.
“I am. I just found out I have to go to L.A. next week.”
“Okay. For how long?”
“Just a few days, but I’d like you and Mikey to come with me.” The wheels were spinning as she contemplated my request. “Do you think you can reschedule your clients for the week?”
“Probably, it’s a light week since many take a vacation at the end of August.” In spite of her admission, unease altered her features.
“What’s the matter?”
“I just want you to be sure. Traveling with a six-year-old isn’t a picnic.”
“Well, with what I have planned all week, he’ll be too exhausted to act up. Disneyland, box seats at the Galaxy charity benefit game, Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park… the works.”
Her expression slowly morphed into one filled with emotion. In the parting of her lips, the shimmering of unshed tears in her beautiful eyes, I wondered what ran through her mind. When I watched her delicate neck work a swallow, I pinched her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Hey, talk to me. If you don’t think it’s a good idea we can do it another time.”
She shook her head and brought a hand up to palm my jaw. “It’s not that. I just…” We gazed at each other for a long moment. I waited, allowing her the time to work through what she needed to say. “You overwhelm me, Luca. I am overwhelmed with my feelings for you.”
A surge of joy shot right through me, and I revealed as much through the smile on my face. “I feel the same way, Sabrina. And I plan to enjoy every overwhelming minute. I plan to take you and Mikey to Italy and meet my family. I want to escape with you to remote locations while my mother spoils Mikey. My list of places we will be traveling to is very long.” Without preamble, I buried my fingers into her hair and pulled her closer. My kiss was thorough, moving from sweet and soft to crazed and needy. She gripped my wrists, her fingertips pressing into my skin in a desperate way.
After it was clear we either needed to take it to my bed or end it, the only thing that had me doing the latter was knowing Kyle would kick my ass if we didn’t show… and I knew if I got her naked in the next five minutes, we would not be showing.
“We need to go, now.”
She nodded, her eyes wide and alive with lust as she tried to calm her breath. “I agree.”
Seconds later, hand in hand, we walked out of my building into the hot humid August night. As usual, cars filled the s
treets, and after an annoying amount of time, we pulled into the lot at Cleary Labs. Kyle decided to have Vanessa’s party at his place of business so he could control every detail, the OCD bastard.
After I handed the attendant my keys, Sabrina grabbed the gift we bought Vanessa and let out a deep breath.
“Sweetheart, relax. Why are you so nervous? These are your friends too.”
“Not them, your brother. What if he doesn’t like me?”
“You’ve talked to my brother via video chat. He already loves you. Just remember when you see him in person, which Benedetto you’re with. I wouldn’t want to kick my brother’s ass the first night he’s in town.” I winked and my girl smiled. Little did she know I wasn’t kidding.
Her fingers flexed between mine. “No worries there… I’m all yours.”
“Bet your fine ass you are.”
The party was booming, Kyle had thought of everything. Purple and white balloons and streamers adorned the lab, along with a happy birthday sign draped along the far wall. All the tables were decorated with candles and party favors marked each place setting. There was a small tended bar in the corner and waitresses passed around trays of hors d’oeuvres.
Kyle, Vanessa, Jude and Brae had cocktails in hand and were laughing. Meanwhile, others that I didn’t know, but I assumed were Kyle’s employees, mingled about.
My friends, who had turned into lovesick puppies, brought a smile to my face—especially since I was now in the same category. Thinking back to our crazy college days, I never would’ve guessed that any one of us, not to mention all of us, would fall in love.
I thought for sure Jude would be marked as a confirmed bachelor, yet he was the first to fall. Kyle, although he had a brilliant mind, wasn’t too smart when it came to the opposite sex. And me, well, I never thought I’d be so lucky for a woman like Sabrina to love me. Yet, there we all were, happy and utterly entranced by the three best women in the city.
It was a shame Desiree couldn’t be at the party. Kyle told me he offered to buy her an airline ticket back to the states, but unfortunately, she was tied up in a court case.
“There you are!” Brae beamed.
“Hey guys.” After obligatory hugs and kisses, I turned to Vanessa. “Happy birthday.”
“This is for you,” Sabrina said handing her the square box wrapped in pink paper.
“Thank you for coming, you didn’t need to bring me a gift.” Her eyes scanned the area behind us. “I thought your brother was coming? I can’t wait to meet him.”
“He’ll be here soon. Where’s Cassie?”
Brae glanced at her Gucci watch that Jude bought her as an, I missed you, gift when he was away on business. The man needed an intervention. He was verging on Oprah’s level of gift giving. “She should have been here by now. I hope she’s okay.”
“Sparky,” Jude said coming up from behind and roping his arms around her waist. “She’ll be fine. I’m sure she’s stuck in traffic.”
Sabrina was in awe of our surroundings. “This is unbelievable. What an incredible place to work.”
Kyle grinned when he heard Sabrina’s compliment. “Would you like a tour? Actually, I have a couple boxes of product for you to bring to the salon.”
“Really?” My girl’s face lit up. “Thank you and yes, I’d love a tour.”
“I’ll take her.” I put my hand on the small of her back.
Vanessa sidled up to Kyle. “Sweetie, let Luca give her the tour.” She winked at me. “Just so you know, stay clear of the table in the fourth floor conference room… it isn’t very stable.”
Sabrina’s cheeks flamed. Kyle smacked Vanessa’s ass. “Whose fault is that? One sniff of the new fall scent and she was all over me like a wetsuit on a surfer.”
She laughed. “Whatever, you loved riding my wave.”
On that note, I took Sabrina by the hand and lead her out of the room. “Don’t mind them.”
Sabrina snickered. “I’m surprised it wasn’t worse. Do you think they think we’re going to have sex in one of the rooms?”
“I think, yes.”
One by one I showed Sabrina all the different labs the building housed. Each one impressed her more than the last. The air was filled with various scents, but they all seemed to come together in a way that soothed.
When we came upon a small conference room, Sabrina closed the door. She popped up on her toes and began to pepper my skin with kisses. Did they pump an aphrodisiac into the vents? “So,” she said in a sultry tone. “Since they think we’re having sex…”
“Are you saying you want to have sex with me right now?” She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “Be careful what you admit to, Ms. Ricci. I left my apartment with a raging hard-on, and I know for a fact my dick wasn’t happy I ignored it.” I pulled her firmly against my hips proving I was already game. “Ti amo.”
The apples of her cheeks deepened in hue with her blushing. “Okay, bad idea. Especially if you’re going to speak Italian. We’ll wait until we get home.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I agree.”
After completing the tour, we made our way back down to the party. Music played, forcing the guests to chatter louder than before. Sabrina and I helped ourselves to a glass of wine when a blonde blur flew into the room. “Oh. My. God!”
All eyes went to a disheveled Cassie.
Brae scurried toward her. “Are you okay?”
“No. I just got into an accident with an obnoxious Uber driver and an even more obnoxious tourist. No, obnoxious is too kind for that… that… jackass.”
Vanessa and Brae flanked each side of their friend, scanning her body for injuries. “Sweetie, are you okay?” Vanessa repeated Brae’s question while frisking her.
“Yes, my car isn’t though. I can’t believe this.” As she went on about what went down that caused her delay, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
On my screen was a text from Dante.
Running late. Wacko hit my Uber. Just filling out paperwork. Will be there soon.
Sabrina picked up on the oh, fuck look I sported.
“What’s wrong?”
I flipped my phone so she could read Dante’s text. And in less than three seconds, she sported the same oh, fuck look that I had. “Should you warn her?”
“No. This one needs to play out on its own.”
In a matter of minutes, things were about to get crazy. All I could do was hope my brother survived the wrath of Cassie Brooks.
The End
Chapter 1
Dante
The buzzer announcing that the bags were on their way sent the hoard of people moving closer to the conveyor belt, like cattle. One by one they impatiently yanked and pulled their suitcases off, failing to realize that trying to do so in a bottleneck was counterproductive. After assisting a nice elderly couple with their luggage, I located mine coming around the turn. Thankfully, three bags had gone on the plane, and three came off.
I spotted a man holding a sign with my name. At my approach, he asked, “Dante Benedetto?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
I followed him to the parking lot as horns, sirens, and the clamor of people welcomed me to one of my favorite cities. Even though it was dusk outside, the heat clung to the humid air, causing beads of sweat to dot my forehead.
Minutes later, my luggage was in his trunk, I gave him the address, and we were on our way. I sat back into the leather seat and watched the city pass outside my window.
I’d been blessed with traveling the world, along with living in exciting cities. Milan, Los Angeles, Chicago were once home… and now I could add New York City to the list. I couldn’t wait to see my brother, Luca. We hadn’t lived in the same place in over a decade, and I looked forward to spending time with him again.
When he had called to tell me about Sabrina, and her son, Mikey, it didn’t surprise me he’d fallen head over heels for her. Between the two of us, Luca was the romantic one. I, on the other hand, preferred a bit more advent
ure.
His friends were much like me in that regard. Years ago, when I met his buddies, Kyle and Jude, I hadn’t pegged either of them as the type to settle down with one woman. Now Jude was married, and I was on the way to a birthday party for Kyle’s girlfriend, Vanessa, as the only single male left in the bunch. My, my, how things had changed, and I looked forward to ribbing them about it.
Traffic was horrible, just like all the other times I’d come to the city. My driver felt the need to lay on his horn every few seconds as if it would magically change the red light to green. Rather than get annoyed by it, I pulled out my phone and went through email and confirmations for upcoming shoots.
Being a photographer was what I lived for. Every image possessed a unique quality, and if shot correctly, could tell a story all on its own. It’s what I loved to do, and I was one of the best in the field. For that reason, agencies had no issue paying an exorbitant fee to book me to photograph their top models.
The driver, who I now knew as Andre, lowered the radio and glanced at me over his right shoulder. “We’re pulling into the lot if you want to gather any personal belongings.”
I nodded, leaned down to grab the small bag that held my favorite camera, and bang! My body was jolted, the seat belt tightened on my collarbone, and Andre began to swear.
“Son of a bitch!” Andre slammed the car into park and flew out his door. I unfastened my belt and dipped my head to look out the side window. A blonde flew out of her car, throwing her hands in the air and began to yell at him.
Not wanting to miss one second of what promised to be one hell of a show, I emerged from my place in the backseat. Sure, she was stunning, but I was used to that in my field. It was her feistiness, however, that immediately caught my attention.
“I can’t believe you cut me off!” She swept a stray lock of hair off her forehead. “Ever hear of a turn signal? It’s the lever on the left side of the steering column. You push it down to indicate you’re turning left, and up for right. They make them for a reason, you know.” Exasperated, she examined where her car bumper had a crack across the front. “Dammit! We need to call the police to file a report.”
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