Page 18 of Claimed At First Sight

But I feel him.

“Ladies,” Maximo says as he steps up beside us. I can smell him now, something dark, expensive, and entirely too masculine. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Likewise, Signor Marco,” Isa replies with a polite smile.

I remain silent and focus on my champagne as if the carbonation is the most fascinating thing in the room. I sense his eyes on me, but I don’t budge.

“Please, we’re practically family. Call me Max.”

Family?

Hardly. He’s Mateo’s cousin, who’s my brother-in-law. That makes Maximo… what exactly? A cousin-in-law?

“As you wish,” Isa says smoothly.

“I’d like a word with your sister,” he says, and this time I do look at him.

He isn’t mincing words, is he?

I turn to him with a smile so sugary it could rot teeth.

“If you’re still trying to convince me we won that badminton match because of you, don’t bother. I would’ve won either way. I’m the reigning champion for a reason.”

He chuckles. The sound is low and warm, vibrating somewhere in my chest. It’s the kind of laugh that could make a girl forget her own name if she isn’t careful. Men in our world know how to use charm like that right before they cage you.

He raises both hands in mock surrender.

“Fair enough. I won’t bring up the game again, though I’m tempted to remind you who scored some of the winning points.”

I shake my head. My lips twitch, fighting the urge to let a real smile slip through.

“Let’s take a little walk in the garden,” he suggests.

Beside me, Isa half-chokes on her drink. I don’t blame her. A moonlit garden walk is the oldest trick in the book.

“No, thank you,” I say breezily. “That wouldn’t be appropriate. Father never approved of us being alone with a man.”

“Your father is no longer here.”

Thank God for that.

“His spirit lives on,” I reply sweetly.

I’m so enjoying this. For the first time in my life, I can use my father as a shield.

Maximo exhales a quiet laugh.

“Alright. Let’s step out onto the terrace then. You’ll be well within view out there.”

He doesn’t wait for my reply. Before I can find a witty comeback, he takes my elbow, his fingers firm through the silk of my dress. He guides me toward the open terrace doors as if my consent was never a question.

The sudden contact sends a jolt through me, more warning than heat. I throw a bewildered look over my shoulder at Isa, my eyes wide.

What the…

I mouth the words, “Stay close and rescue me.”

Ever since we were old enough to be paraded around at la famiglia functions, we’ve had signals for exactly this kind of situation.