Our father’s grief is so ordinary to us that there’s no need to mention it. He never remarried. He never will. Other women are of absolutely no interest. I doubt he’s touched a woman in over two decades or intends to change this.
For him, there’s only Teresa. Then. Now. Forever.
The sunglasses don’t shield my father’s penetrating stare. I nod my head to acknowledge that the current mission will be finalized before he returns. I have complete faith that I’m right.
Cecilia has earned a perfect score so far. True, something might happen to derail the whole deal but I think not. She’s sexy, she’s smart and she’s sensible. One day I’ll be leading this family and Cecilia is exactly the kind of woman I want at my side.
The two of us obviously have chemistry. Cecilia’s attempts to hide her interest are valiant but futile. I can tell when I have a strong effect on a woman. She blushes and fights her own urge to stare every single time I get close.
If all I wanted out of Cecilia was a fuck then I could score a victory at any time. Since I want far more than sex, I’ll need to be patient.
My father ducks into the vehicle. The door shuts and two seconds later the tires start crunching. The driver speeds down the lane, kicking up a cloud of dust. A second vehicle follows.
Meanwhile, some jackass who believes he’s sly has left the barn and crept up behind my back.
“Don’t try it, Gaetano,” I warn without turning around. “I’m not in the fucking mood.”
My younger brother has the laugh of a maniacal cartoon villain. It’s not even something he works at. It comes naturally.
“Just helping you stay alert.” He knocks into me, trying to shove me aside.
I stand my ground and ignore him.
Getty crosses his arms and watches our father’s entourage disappear. “Looks like I’m in charge now.” He puffs up his chest. “Let’s throw a party.”
“And who would your antisocial ass invite?”
He spits into the dirt and pretends to give the question some thought. “For starters, I’ll add my new girlfriend to the guest list.”
The sound of voices drifts from the other side of the barn door. A woman’s laugh punctures the deep male rumbling. Cecilia is the only woman in there. I don’t recognize her laugh because this is the first time I’m hearing it.
“Yourgirlfriend,” I scoff with a head shake.
“Yup.” He flashes the cheesiest of cheesy grins. “She was promised a choice, wasn’t she? And I’m starting to think we were meant to be, me and Cecilia. Even her cat loves me.”
“Is that why she recoiled with disgust when you bumped into her this morning?”
“Such a fine line between love and hate. You look worried, Jul. Afraid I’ll take her from you?”
I seize a handful of his shirt and smash him against the barn wall. The raw snarl from my throat could have come from a tiger. “Afraid I’ll knock your teeth out of your head?”
He’s not scared. But surprise makes his eyebrows shoot up. Any pack of brothers close in age will be used to regular brawls. And we’re a whole lot more savage than ordinary brothers. This harsh reaction would be totally routine coming from Tye. Or from Getty himself. But I’m not so easily provoked.
Well,usuallyI’m not so easily provoked.
Getty’s shock turns to glee and he shoves me back with more of his cackling laughter. “Pussy whipped before you’ve tasted the pussy. That’s got to be some kind of record. Didn’t I warn you to get some exercise? You’re so tightly wound up you’re about to fucking erupt. No wonder you’re ready to stick your forsaken cock into the first pretty hole you find.”
I scowl and shove him again. “You really don’t know when to shut the fuck up.”
“Hey, I’m trying to help you.” He fixes his shirt, which is now in rumpled disarray.
“Help someone else. My cock never has trouble finding female company and you know it.”
He looks up and grins at something behind me. “Hi, Cecilia. How’d you like the barn?”
I will wring his fucking neck.
I turn around slowly, expecting to be confronted with a stunned Cecilia, who just heard me bragging about my conquests like I’m some shit-for-brains player.
