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“Anyone’s ever paid you?” Rick finished for her.
Cole cast Rick a droll look. “Quite the romantic boyfriend, aren’t you?”
Chiara flushed. “I meant the best professional praise.”
Cole and his wife just laughed.
“Cole’s gotten better with sharing warm thoughts since we’ve gotten married,” Marisa added, throwing a playful look at her husband, “but I’m still not finding little heart drawings in my lunchbox.”
Chiara envied Cole and Marisa’s obvious connection. In contrast, she and Rick pushed each other’s buttons. Then she reminded herself there was no her and Rick. They had a fake relationship for the benefit of the press.
When Cole and Marisa excused themselves, another woman approached, and Chiara again saw a resemblance to Rick.
“Chiara, this is my younger sister, Mia,” Rick said.
Mia was slender and lovely, with arresting almond-shaped green eyes. She could have qualified as a model or actress herself.
“I wish I could say Rick has told me a lot about you,” Mia quipped, “but I’d be lying.”
“Family,” Rick muttered. “Who needs enemies?”
Mia tossed her brother a droll look that made Chiara smile.
“Rick mentioned you’re a designer,” Chiara said.
“He did?”
“I’d love to see some of your creations.”
“I’m based in New York.”
“Do you have something that Chiara could toss on for an appearance on Mom’s cooking show?” Rick prompted.
When Mia rolled her eyes, Chiara held back a grin.
“Leave it to my brother to give me the professional opportunity of a lifetime, and no fair warning.”
“Hey,” Rick said, holding up his hands, “I did tell you to bring a trunk of stuff to show a friend of mine.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t say who!”
“Don’t you read any of the celebrity glossies or supermarket tabloids?” Rick countered. “I’m dating one of the hottest actresses around.”
Chiara felt a wave of heat at the word hottest.
“How am I supposed to know what’s true and what isn’t?” Mia responded. “It’s a good thing I know my way around a needle and thread for a little nip and tuck if necessary.”
“I’m not that thin,” Chiara chimed in.
“Yeah, she has the appetite of a lumberjack,” Rick agreed jokingly. “I should know. I’ve carried her out of exploding buildings and onto a helicopter with one hand.”
“Hilarious, Rick,” Mia said. “Next you’ll be telling us that you have real superpowers.”
Rick arched an eyebrow. “Ask Chiara.”
Chiara flushed again. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss Rick’s prowess—sexual or otherwise—with his siblings.
When Chiara didn’t immediately reply, Mia laughed. “I guess you got your answer, Rick.”
