The words come to a screeching halt.
It’s impossible to sum up Julian Tempesta in a few sentences. He’s by far the most mature and always the first to take charge. It’s obvious that he is highly intelligent. I suspect he’s also uniquely cunning and calculating. Yet he’s gone out of his way to make me feel welcome here so I don’t know how to categorize him.
All of the Tempesta brothers are staggeringly good looking. Sexy. Magnetic.
But Julian?
He sets my blood on fire with one look.
My instant and intense attraction to the eldest Tempesta brother is an earthquake that shakes me to the marrow. It’s disruptive and alarming. He fascinates me in a way no other man ever has.
At the same time, Julian is difficult to read. He’s sharp and shrewd and careful about what he reveals. When he’s close, my skin tingles and a shiver rides up my spine.
If I’m not careful, the contest will be over before it starts and I’ll be owned by Julian Tempesta forever.
The sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway interrupts my thoughts. Then comes a harsh, staccato knock that shakes the door.
“Cecilia,” taunts a deep voice, “come out, come out.”
“We’ve waited long enough,” growls a second voice, more menacing.
I’m not yet able to tell them apart from their voices alone. But an outbreak of laughter is familiar enough. Tye is out there.
Maybe they areallwaiting on the other side of the door, Cassio Tempesta included.
The doorknob rattles and I flinch. I could hide under the bed. However, Louisa would surely fight me if I invaded her sanctuary. And it’s highly unlikely the Tempesta brothers wouldn’t think to search there.
As I stand up, I check to make sure my robe is securely closed. Why didn’t I change to real clothes after my shower? There’s nothing more vulnerable than confronting a throng of strange, virile men while wearing a powder pink granny nightie.
“CEC-EEE-LEE-AAA,” they chant in unison.
My hair is still damp and I run my fingers through it quickly, feeling so self-conscious I might as well be naked.
I’ve barely cracked open the door a couple of inches when a cowboy boot pushes its way into the room. The boot is attached to a grinning Tye Tempesta, who slides all the way in and promptly runs his eyes over my body.
“Hot look,” he says. “The glasses really do it for me. How’d you know I have a librarian kink? Why weren’t you wearing them yesterday?”
“I usually wear contacts. You’ve heard of contacts, right?”
“Sure.” He plops down on the bed so hard the mattress bounces. He looks at the folded coral pink blanket and picks it up at the edge. “What the fuck is this thing made of?”
I sigh loudly. “It’s a weighted blanket and it’s filled with tiny glass beads.”
He loses interest and drops it. “So what have you been doing in here all morning?”
“It’s eight thirty. The morning isn’t exactly over,” I say, watching as Fort strolls into the room next. He’s got a large shoebox tucked under one arm.
“For you.” Fort drops the box on the desk.
My face turns flaming hot as I realize I left my journal sitting open. All Fort needs to do is look down and he’ll see his older brother’s name written in very bold writing. I kept tracing the letters with my pen while brooding.
Oh, and at some point I dotted the ‘i’ in Julian with a heart.A FUCKING HEART!
“What’s with the box?” I ask, relieved when Fort steps away from the desk before he catches a glimpse of some damning evidence.
My relief doesn’t last. He barrels in this direction, almost like he intends to crash into me. I’m startled enough to take a step backwards. My bare foot knocks over an empty trash bin.
Fort skids to a halt. We’re standing absurdly close. The mocking smirk on his face makes him look too much like Getty. Suddenly, I have my doubts that he’s as harmless as I initially thought.
