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I’m supposed to have a family dinner tonight, but maybe you can come over and eat with us. My dad didn’t say I can’t have guests while home.
Great. I’ll text you and let you know.
Bye.
3
DINNER
“It looks great, Alicia. Thank you.” My eyes swelled at the spread of food across the mahogany, formal dining room table.
She went to great lengths, and I knew it was because she wanted to make a good impression on me, as she always did. I hadn’t had a home cooked meal since…well, since she cooked for me last time. My ex scalded expensive cookware while boiling water, and though they treated me better than most because of my status, I certainly didn’t get the royal treatment behind bars.
I eyed the perfectly seared ribeye and potatoes with vegetables arranged like a work of art from a three Michelin star restaurant. The side salads looked professionally prepared in the finest dishes they owned; the exorbitant white dishes with gold trim I gifted them for their wedding.
“Thank you for joining us, Vinny.” Alicia hugged me. Her long, silky black hair draped over my arm. “It’s good to have you home.” Her mysterious espresso eyes studied my every movement as I pulled away and sat down.
Elizabeth sat next to her boyfriend, who had been allowed to join us. Her younger brother, Lucas, sat with Alicia across the table while James and I sat at the ends. Alicia and James took turns filling the silence as they asked everyone questions.
“Eliza, do you still have a crush on him?” Lucas snorted as he nodded to me with his fork dangling from his hand.
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers as she lifted a cloth napkin to her mouth.
Aiden chuckled. “Well, we haven’t talked much about a future but—”
“Not you, ass munch.” Lucas chortled.
“Lucas!” Alicia tapped his arm with her long, red coffin-shaped, fingernails.
“I meant him.” Lucas smirked, jerking his chin toward me.
Elizabeth choked on her food, dropping her napkin to the floor. “Ugh, s-sorry.” Eyes wide, she bent over.
I leaned over purposely gripping her wrist. Though it was my attempt to assure her it was okay, I felt the electricity between us the moment we touched. Our gazes met and time seemed to stand still for only a moment before I withdrew my hand. Confused, I exhaled a calm breath as we both sat up. She tucked her napkin and hands back into her lap, then glimpsed at me from the corner of her eye. It was then I noticed her cheeks were rosy.
“Lucas, I don’t think that’s appropriate.” James scolded him before turning his attention to me.
Lucas rolled his eyes. I never realized how much he and James looked alike until now. He was the younger but taller version of his father at nineteen. It almost made me want to laugh. I bet he gave his parents a run for their money if his personality was anything like his appearance and mannerisms. Judging by his comment, he was the same.
“So, Vinny,” James pushed his empty plate back, propping his elbows on the table, “what’s your plan now?”
That was a brilliant question. The list was long. First things first. I needed to meet with my men since they had been waiting for my return. I needed to organize my home since Marissa had done a great job of adding her touch to it while I was away. Not that I had a problem with that, but I needed things to go back to how they once were.
“I need to get my house back in order and organize things before anything else. My office is still a wreck from when—” I darted my eyes toward Elizabeth’s boyfriend, then back at James.
Understanding my apprehensiveness to elaborate, he offered a knowing nod.
“I think I have an idea.” Alicia interjected. “Eliza is supposed to be working at James’s office for the summer, but I think you’d probably put her to better use.”
“What?” Elizabeth rasped, dropping her fork, causing it to clink on the edge of the plate.
“I just think you’d be a better help at Uncle Vinny’s house rather with your father at the office. He’s got plenty of help, but Vinny only has Marissa.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “She’s not much of help now that I’m home. She’s only staying with me until she finds a place to live, anyway.” It was genuinely not my attempt to get Elizabeth to my home. I was only speaking the truth.
“Then it’s settled.” Alicia shifted her gaze to James as she stretched her arm toward him.
He rested his hand on top of hers. “I think that’s actually a great idea. You can come to the office twice a week and help Vinny the other three days.”
