“For my sister; she’s coming this way.”
He’d barely had a chance to talk to Melanie,but Cassidy would have noticed his interest in her, and she wasn’tgoing to let it slip by without saying something. He hoped shedidn’t remember Melanie from the first time he met her. If she did,Cassidy was going to be worse than a dog with a bone over this.
Kyle gritted his teeth as he prepared himselffor what was to come. Cassidy would be curious and protective, justas he’d been of Dante, but would she be as hostile as he originallywas with Dante?
She stopped near Lucy and smiled at them, buthe saw the curiosity and uncertainty in her eyes.
“Hi,” she greeted. “I’m Cassidy.”
“Lucy,” she said with a wave.
“Melanie.”
His sister’s eyes widened at the name. Hermouth parted a little before she covered her surprise and plastereda smile on her face.
She remembers her, Kyle groanedinwardly.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Cassidy said. “Areyou friends with Kyle?”
Melanie wasn’t sure how to answer, butthankfully, as she fumbled for a response, Lucy jumped in.
“More like getting to know him,” Lucysaid.
“I see,” Cassidy replied though her attentionremained fixed on Melanie.
Melanie tried not to squirm beneath thescrutiny of eyes the same shade of blue as Kyle’s, but she couldn’tstop herself from shifting on the chair. Then, Cassidy’s gazereturned to her brother.
“Can I get a water?” she asked.
Kyle stared at his sister, silently warningher to behave, before reluctantly going to get her drink.
“Are you from around here?” Cassidyasked.
“Not originally,” Lucy replied with ease.
Melanie sipped her soda as a handsome manwith dark brown hair and eyes the color of chocolate, came to standbeside Cassidy. He rested his hand possessively on her hip.
“Are you going to join us?” he asked her.
“Just waiting for my drink and talking withKyle’s… acquaintances,” Cassidy said. “This is Lucy andMelanie.”
Melanie frowned when the same flicker ofsurprise she’d seen on Cassidy’s face flashed over his, but hecovered it up faster than she did. He gave them a dazzling grinthat would have had every agent in Hollywood scrambling to sign himif they saw it.
“Nice to meet you; I’m Dante.”
“Hi,” Melanie said.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” Lucy said anddrank her tequila shot. She didn’t so much as flinch.
Then, she turned to Melanie and mouthed, “Ohmy God,” as she discreetly fanned her face with her hand.
Melanie had to bite her lip to keep fromlaughing. She felt out of place and awkward amongst Kyle’s family,but Lucy always managed to lighten the mood.
“Julian, come over here,” Cassidy said andwaved at a table in the corner.
Melanie recognized the name of Kyle’sbrother. Would she meet them all tonight? She wasnotprepared for that.
She gave Lucy a frantic look that caused herfriend to frown back at her. Lucy’s attention was drawn away fromher when a guy with blue eyes and black hair joined them. When Lucylooked like she might fall off her barstool, Melanie rested herhand on her friend’s back before giving her a playful pinch.
