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“And you won’t take it out on them?”
“What?” Confusion rippled across his face.
“Is that what this is all about?” Grams asked.
“Siena, is that what you’re afraid of?” Genuine shock registered in Michael’s voice. “That I’d punishthemin some way?”
I looked from Michael, to Pops, to Grams. “Yes.” I finally admitted my biggest insecurity. I was on the verge of tears. I couldn’t help but be protective of Pops and Grams. They were all the family I had. I had my friends, sure, but once my grandparents were both gone—hopefully, a day long, long, long in the future—it would be just me. And then, what would I have? What would I do without them?
“I wouldn’t do that.” Michael insisted.
“How do I know? How am I supposed to believe you?”How am I supposed to trust you?He didn’t answer. “How can I be sure you won’t do something to hurt them if I piss you off? Because let’s be real, I piss you off, Michael.”
He took a moment to answer, a slightly defeated look on his face. “Yes, you piss me off. And, no, I guess you don’t know that you can trust me.”
I didn’t intend to show him how surprised I was at his candor. “Exactly.”
“All I can do is give you my word. I wouldn’t, and I couldn’t take anything out on Sophia or Sal.” He looked from me to them and back. “For any reason,” he concluded. “Okay?”
“I need you to promise.”
“Siena, this is business, not kindergarten.”
“Ha ha. You’re so funny,” I screwed up my face. “I know it’s business. But I still need you to promise,” I said. “Or no deal.”
“Okay, fine.” He looked me dead in the eyes. My heart jumped. “I promise.”
“Okay. Now”—I crossed my heart in demonstration—“cross your heart and hope to die.”
“No way. Uh-uh.” He shook his head furiously. I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
“I’m joking. A promise from your lips is good enough for me.”
His eyebrow cocked up. And that sexy grin slowly spread across his face once more. Damn.
I stood facing the firing squad. Time for the truth. Time for me to say what I was feeling. “I hate it.” Silence, complete and unnerving silence from all three of them. “Okay, hate might be too strong of a word.” I thought for a moment. “Nope. Hate pretty much covers it.”
His brows furrowed together as he looked at the designs. “What exactly do you hate?”
“It’s too big. With too many floors.”
“It’s a hotel, Siena. What do you expect?”
“I don’t know. I just thought maybe you’d have looked around the area, done some research, maybe felt the place out, come up with something a little less . . . audacious.”
“Audacious?”
“Yeah. It’s too much. All the glass at the front. It’s too . . . what’s the word?”
“Ostentatious?” Grams suggested. She smiled meekly at Michael.
“Yes,” I flipped my hand. “Exactly.”
“I’m sorry, Michael. I don’t mean to offend you.” Grams explained.
“No, no. It’s quite all right, Sophia.” He stood looking down at the designs, hands on the table. “It’s a great design. I just . . . I don’t know. Ostentatious? Really?”
“Oh! It’s a beautiful building,” Grams said. “Don’t get me wrong. You agree, don’t you, Sal?” Grams bumped him, trying to force him to say something.
