Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“Well, it’s nice to finally put the face to the name,” the last man with the jet-black hair says. “I’m Lucas. They call me Uncle Lucas. Bella talks so much about you. You’re quite the star around here.”
I look down at my feet. I don’t feel like a star at the moment. Not with my sister looking like she’s going to perform a full concert. Her hair is flawless, as is her makeup and sweater dress.
“Come on, Bella. Why don’t we go change for the day and then you can come back and open the rest of your gifts,” Dante says.
“Okay, Lizzy, will you help me put on my new dress?”
“Sure, sweetie. Come on.”
I rush from the room, breathing a sigh of relief once outside of all the tension.
Chapter 18
Clean up
Dante
I stroll through the house to make sure all the lights are out. I notice the sound of movement in the sitting room and head that way. I turn the corner to find Lizzy in those damn shorts again.
This time a black pair with white trim. She is wearing a pair of those knee-high socks as well. This time she has on a pair of shell tops.
I bite my lip as she bends to pick up and rearrange a few of Bella’s new toys. I fold my arms across my chest and take her in for a moment.
“You don’t have to do that. The staff will handle it in the morning,” I finally say.
She jumps and drops the jump rope she just picked up.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I start to move farther into the room. “Come sit. It’s been a long day.”
I take a seat on the couch and pat the space beside me. She saunters over cautiously, her eyes roaming over my bare chest. The shy look that comes to her face makes me smile.
“I wanted to at least make it look neater, so the staff doesn’t freak in the morning.”
I nod. “I appreciate that. You’ve done more than enough for today. My grandfather took to you as much as Bella has. You have to be exhausted.”
“He was nice. I didn’t mind. He just wanted to talk.”
“I appreciate it. I think I noticed today we can all be a demanding bunch. If my nonno didn’t talk your ear off, I think my uncle was going to feed you to death.” I chuckle.
She laughs. “And Gio and Dario planned to tease me until the ground opened and swallowed me up. We can’t forget that.”
I laugh louder. “You’re officially family. We always wanted a sister.”
“You know, I think that’s why Gio and I clicked. He became like a big brother to me.”
I pause to think on that. “I can see that. I wonder why he never introduced you to Nonno before today.”
She snorts. “But my sister seems to know him pretty well.”
“You caught that too?”
“Yeah, okay, so I’m going to ask because she won’t say a word. Do you know what’s going on with Nyla and Gio?”
“Haven’t a clue. He treats her like one of his dolls but…” I stop to think of what the difference was that I picked up on. “Better, he treated her…I don’t know it was different. I’ve never seen him like that.”
“Okay, I’m not losing my mind. I was thinking the same thing.”
“I can’t blame him. You two are stunning women. Your parents had some stellar genes.”
Her lips part and she looks at me with awe. I’m so tempted to lean in and kiss her soft-looking lips. She has to know how gorgeous she is.
She looks down into her lap. “I don’t think your other grandfather likes me much. What’s that about?”
I’ve noticed she changes topics when she’s nervous. It’s cute. However, once Papa Riccardo arrived, I did notice his attention to Lizzy and his seeming disapproval. I ignored it because I bump heads with the man naturally. We’ve never been close.
“Ignore him like I do.”
“Bad blood?”
I shrug. “Believe it or not, he used to be Nonno Giuseppe’s adviser.”
She tilts her head at me. “You mean, his consigliere.”
I grin and look at her through my lashes. “What don’t you know about my family?”
She shrugs. “Gio and I are good friends. I know quite a few of his secrets.” She narrows her eyes as if trying to see deeper into me. “I’m still learning about you.”
“They were best friends and yes, he was his consigliere.”
My phone rings in the pocket of my sweats. “Excuse me,” I say as I pull the device out to check it.
It’s my father-in-law. I bare my teeth, not wanting to deal with this conversation, but I guess it’s just as well before I do something stupid.
“I need to take this,” I say and stand.
Lizzy
I want to kick myself. I was in a trance the moment Dante said Nyla and I are stunning. Yeah, I think my sister is, but I wouldn’t place myself on the same pedestal I put Ny on.