Evie’s laugh had me giving her a curious glance.
“It’s fine,” she said, her perfectly painted red lips stretched into a wide smile. “Liamisall kinds of hot. And he’s also mine so you can ogle all you like, but touch him and you might lose your fingers.”
More laughter bubbled up her throat, but I had a sneaky suspicion she was being serious. I knew because I felt the same when it came to Tristan. Didn’t know exactly when I’d turned into this person, but dammit, if I wouldn’t get physical if some woman tried to put her hands on him.
“All right, ladies.” Cece, Evie’s sister and quite possibly the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen, slid in next to Izzy. “What or who are we laughing at?”
“Your sweet sister threatened to remove my fingers if I touched her man,” Izzy eagerly provided. “Here I was minding my business and innocently commenting on the sexy masculinity in this room, and boom…that.”
We all laughed again.
“Ooh,” my sister cooed. “This one is especially tasty.”
I looked up to see Rafe walking toward us.
“Your home is lovely, Kate,” he said, his accent thick as ever. “And little Millie is quite something.”
Happiness lifting my lips, I splayed my hand over my chest. “Thank you.”
“Welcome.” His gaze traveled from person to person until he reached Cece. The smile that’d been on his lips vanished. “Cecelia.”
She stared and stared until she finally crossed her arms in front of her and jutted her hip. “What do you want,grandpa?”
A curse rolled off Rafe’s tongue before he stalked off, muttering Italian words under his breath.
It’d been the smallest interaction, but there was no mistaking the tension between them. I made a quick mental note to ask Tristan about it later. Especially since Izzy was checking him out. The last thing I wanted was for my sister to end up being the other woman…again.
“Oof.” Evie yawned. “I think it’s time for bed.” Facing me fully, she pulled me into another one of her hugs. “It was so lovely to meet you, Kate. Can’t wait to see you on Saturday.” Releasing me, she hugged my sister next. “And you too, Izzy.”
As soon as Liam and Evie were out the door, the rest of our guests followed suit. All except Izzy. She’d said she’d wanted to help clean up, but I had a suspicion that wasn’t the real reason.
That was why I slipped my arm through hers and went to the porch. Once we were seated and looking out onto the dimly lit yard, I turned to her, “What’s on your mind, Sis?”
“You,” she answered. “Millie. This place. Even Tristan. It’s amazing, and I know you’re happy—”
“But?”
She sighed. “I’m worried, Katie. What’s going on with the whole poisoning thing? Did you just forget there’s some sick asshole out there who probably wants to hurt you?”
I couldn’t forget, even if I tried, but I also refused to live like a prisoner. I was careful. I didn’t eat or drink anything that Tristan or I hadn’t made ourselves. I didn’t accept deliveries, and the same went for Millie.
Shegot a packed lunch every day. Her teachers knew not to give her anything, and we’d even set up a code system that changed daily. So yes, on the outside, it might’ve seemed like we’d become complacent, but in reality, we were being as cautious as we could.
“I know,” I answered my sister. “But I can’t stop living. I won’t. Maybe it’s selfish, but I’ve waited too long for this kind of happiness to not experience every single moment of it.”
In a blink, Izzy lunged forward and wrapped her arms around me. “I really am happy for you, Katie. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s you. Just please, please be careful.” Her hold tightened. “I don’t ever want to lose you.”
“Hey.” I cupped her shoulders to push her away slightly. “You okay?”
With a sniffle, she wiped under her eyes. “Yeah. These are happy tears…sprinkled with a smidge of concern. But mostly happy tears.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I love you, Iz.”
We sat there on the porch, chatting and laughing for a few more hours before my sister decided it was time for bed. I waited until her taillights disappeared before I went inside.
The house was shockingly tidy…and quiet.
Flicking my gaze to the wall-mounted clock, I let out a breath. Tristan and Millie were probably asleep already.
