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He looks up, a tumbler of what looks like whiskey in his hand, and I bite my lip when I see how warm his eyes get.
I nod in greeting but keep walking toward the kitchen. I came down for food, not company, and with some papers spread out next to him, he looks like he’s working on something anyway.
“Hey, princess,” he says before I’ve taken more than a step or two. “Don’t go.”
I cross my arms over my chest, stopping where I am. “Why not?”
He cocks his head to the side like he’s thinking, then shrugs and holds up a bottle of amber liquid. “I’ve got whiskey.”
A shot of heat goes through me as I’m reminded of the first time we met, but I wave away the offer. “I haven’t eaten anything since this morning. It would probably be a bad idea to drink on an empty stomach.”
“Probably,” he agrees with a wink, beckoning me closer. “But there’s one thing you forgot.”
“What?” I ask, taking the bait and joining him in the living room.
He grins. “You’re really good at bad ideas.”
I laugh in spite of myself as I come to a stop in front of the couch. Fucking Dante. He’s bad for me in all the best ways.
He chuckles, looking a bit smug at having gotten a reaction out of me, but when he reaches for a second glass and looks up at me, his face goes serious in a way that tugs at the most vulnerable parts of me. “Rough night last night. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, both loving and hating that he asked.
He gives me a long look, then chuckles again as he pours, shaking his head. “I know you are. That’s what’s fucking us all up.”
He hands me the glass, and although I probably shouldn’t take it, the smoky, spicy scent is too good to resist. My nerves and emotions are less keyed up than they were yesterday, but I could still use a drink.
“What are you talking about?” I ask. “What’s fucking you all up?”
He shakes his head again, topping up his own glass, and I smack his shoulder when it looks like that’s the only answer he plans on giving me.
“Dante, I’m serious. What do you mean?”
“You’ve got an indomitable spirit,” he finally says, pushing aside the paperwork and tugging me down onto the couch next to him.
I hiss when the pressure on my belted ass lights it up, squirming a little at the feeling. Dante turns toward me, running a calloused finger down the curve of my cheek.
“I saw it from the first moment I met you, princess,” he murmurs. “And it’s fucking incredible. Me and my brothers, we’re used to breaking things. Hell, we kinda like it sometimes, especially Madd. But you? You just won’t break.”
My throat gets tight, and I have to look away.I don’t trust this man to have my best interests at heart, but I do trust him to be honest. He’s never promised more than he’s delivered, and if he thinks I’m strong…
Well, I know I am. I have to be.
But sometimes, it really, really helps to hear it from someone else too.
“Drink up,” he says, tapping my glass with his and then downing his whiskey in one gulp.
I follow suit, and he immediately pours us both another.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, twisting the glass in my hand. I’m not sure I should drink too much if it means losing my edge when I need to stay on guard.
“Out,” Dante says, lounging back, one arm spread out along the back of the couch.
I roll my eyes. “Is that your way of telling me it’s not my business?”
He chuckles. “Nah, it’s just true. They’re out. Taking care of shit. It’s just you and me.”
“So basically, you’ve been left behind to babysit?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
