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The cooking lessons had come in handy, though. I made pasta with Bolognese sauce for Jacob on our first date; he said it was the reason he’d fallen for me instantly. That lasted a year, well, until he heard the siren call of Bridget, a tall blonde with big breasts and a snarky smile. After that, all the pasta with Bolognese sauce in the world couldn’t keep him loyal to me.
“Piper! Come here and give Antonio some love. It’s been ages. Please tell me you are here to cook with me.”
I grin as he wraps his arms around me, bringing me in for a hug.
Antonio is like the brother I never had. I always enjoyed sitting at the counter just to listen to the woes he had with whichever piece of man-candy had attracted his attention this week.
“I am, actually, I will be here for a while. This isn’t just a visit. Jacob and I broke up, and I kind of, well, fell apart.” I bite my lip and will the tears to stay away. Jacob doesn’t deserve any more of my tears.
“I am sorry to hear of your troubles, Piper. We will make tiramisu and drink red wine while cursing the bastard. It’s so nice for Senior Wellington to let you stay here.”
I frown as Antonio stirs something that smells lovely on the stove. I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of it before addressing his strange comment.
“Why would I need Mr. Wellington’s approval to stay here?”
“That’s a good question. Why would your girlfriend need my approval to stay in your cottage, Antonio?”
I turn around, and my jaw drops at the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my nineteen years. He’s just standing there, staring at me.
Dark hair, light grey eyes, and from what I can see, a muscular body. If this is my mother’s husband, I can see why she kept me away.
3
BRANSON
It takes me a moment to respond to the conversation I just walked in on. The last two weeks have been a brutal battle. Marine’s lawyer’s persistence on several demands and now complications with the merger; it’s all been a ride I’ll say.
I arrive home with a vicious headache and only one thought; eat, and return to the tedious process of untangling the mess my life has become.
When I walk into the kitchen, the scene I witness stops me dead. I’ve never spoken to Antonio about his personal life, but I always had a feeling that he’s gay. He’s a fantastic chef, and as it turns out, a loyal employee. I could care less what the gender of the person warming his bed is. But it turns out I was wrong.
The stunning blonde sitting in front of him I can only assume to be his girlfriend if they were discussing her moving into his cottage on the property.
Her long, silky hair cascades down her back in beachy waves. The tiny shorts and belly shirt she’s wearing shows off her perfect, perky breasts and smooth, tanned skin. She’s on the slimmer side, but those curves… I can’t pull my eyes from.
A pang of jealousy irks me. It’s been almost a fucking year since I’ve had a woman in my bed. My wife may not have thought it’s important to abide by our vows, but I sure did.
“Why would she need my permission to stay in your cottage?” I ask.
The blonde turns around, and I was right; she’s absolutely stunning. There’s something familiar about her features that I can’t quite place.
Antonio coughs, “Mr. Wellington, there has been a misunderstanding. This is not my girlfriend. This is Piper James.”
Although the name rings a bell, though distant, I stand there looking blankly.
The gorgeous girl rolls her eyes. “My mother is Marine, your wife. I’m your stepdaughter, Piper.”
I almost don’t hear what she says, I’m too busy staring at her red lips. Silence wraps the kitchen. She bites down on her plump bottom lip and I can’t help but feel my pants tighten. Fuck.
r /> I can only imagine this girl is every bit of the temptress her mother is. Seemingly sweet and innocent also, but is sure to turn on me the moment I’m not paying any mind.
“Piper, will you accompany me to my study?” I ask, my voice sounding a bit edgier than intended on. I don’t have time for another one of Marine’s tricks tonight. I have work to do, and if she thinks sending this little siren here to tempt more money out of me is a good plan, she has another thing coming.
I can see why Marine put Piper in a boarding school the minute we were engaged. The girl wasn’t even allowed to attend the wedding; Marine’s reason had always been that Piper was too unruly, too much like her father, and wouldn’t fit into our world.
I had shrugged it off as teenage delinquency, but I should’ve known better. Marine is a jealous creature, and having this vision roaming around the house would have been an absolute threat to her.
I gesture down the hall, and Piper gives me a curious look before walking in front of me. Her shorts are so short that the bottom half of her perfect, round ass peaks out of them.
