Page 3 of Her Dirty Secret
“Kent Evans,” he introduces himself. “I’m Sera’s dad. And this is my wife, Barb.”
I shake his hand, wincing under his vice grip. “I’m Emily, Bryce’s sister,” I reply, offering my hand to Barb next. Her handshake is just as firm and uncomfortable. Yeesh. These two. I step back in invitation. “Please, come in.” They enter, standing awkwardly in the foyer. Since I’m not sure we’re ready for them in the living room, I decide to leave them here. “I’ll just go get Sera.”
I make a break for it down the hall and through the living room, where Bryce gives me a weird look as I dash by him into the kitchen.
“Hey, Sera, your dad and his wife are here,” I hiss.
She looks up from talking to Mom and Aunt Char, clearly startled. “Already?”
Sera whips past me, heading out the kitchen door. Mom and Aunt Char look at me, and I shrug. Not a moment later, Bryce pops in.
“Aunt Charlotte, can you please man the front door? We’re trying to keep Sera’s brother and father apart until he’s ready to, er, tell his dad something.”
“Of course,” she agrees, following him out.
Mom and I exchange a look.
“I think it’s best if I go play hostess as well,” Mom says wisely. “Why don’t you start putting out the food, Emily?”
“Sure thing,” I agree.
I start moving dishes from the loaded counters to the banquet table, which unfortunately doesn’t allow me to catch much of the conversation with Sera’s dad and his wife. I have to admit that I’m more than curious, since Sera’s told me all about the double life her dad apparently lived with this woman while she was a kid, but I figure it’s better not to be caught eavesdropping. And not to annoy Mom by neglecting to feed people. Heaven forbid.
Once everything is out, I note that the place is pretty packed. Looks like most people are here. I make the rounds, introducing myself to everyone, making sure they know where to find the food, and all that kind of stuff. Being fake and cheery isn’t really my thing, and my dangerously low brain-to-mouth filter means that I need to avoid talking to anyone in particular for too long.
And when a couple with a baby arrive, I introduce myself briefly and then make sure I stay as far away as possible. It’s something I would never admit to anyone, but babies freak me out.
I babysat a baby once when I was a teenager. That’s all it took. The little hellion spent the whole time throwing up, peeing, pooping, or screaming. Sometimes more than one of those at a time. And when he peed in my mouth I swore from then on never again. No babies. No pretending to like people’s babies. Probably not even having my own babies, a conviction that developed steam over the years. And even though this baby looks happy and cute in a little sailor outfit, I just can’t. Traumatized for life.
So when I hear the doorbell chime, knowing Aunt Char is in the middle of a conversation, I more than happily trot down the hall and away from anything baby to answer it.
What I was in no way expecting is the Roman god standing on the doorstep. Lean and sculpted in perfectly tailored black pants and a black button-front shirt, with a perfectly styled head of gorgeous dark hair and a trimmed beard, brown eyes sparkling like he knows exactly how outrageously dazzling he is, I know without a doubt who this must be. The lying, cheating Italian prick who fucked with Sera’s heart. Who my brother hates with every fiber of his being. Well, as much as Bryce Hoyt can hate anyone. When my mild-mannered, all-knowing big brother hates someone, that’s saying something. But fuck me sideways if this isn’t the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
He stares at me expectantly as I stand there, speechless, looking me up and down in a way that makes it even harder to form a sentence.
I’m saved having to string words together in greeting when Sera appears behind me.
“Alessandro,” she breathes, a little too happily.
“Buona sera,” he offers in return, extending his hands as he steps across the threshold. My heart hammers in my chest at the voice that’s just as sexy as he is. They greet each other with a hug, just as my brother walks in behind Sera, clearly struggling to hide his distaste at her obviously being glad to see him.
But as much as I hate the dude for what he did to her, I kind of get it. They’ve been through a lot together. And Sera’s a smart chick, even if she does tend to overlook people’s shortcomings. But damn, I might be willing to overlook his shortcomings too if he’s half as good in bed as he is gorgeous. The odds are good as, from what I hear, he’s had enough practice.
I blush furiously, banishing the thought as I watch them converse. I swear Alessandro’s eyes wander to me more than is natural, but I could just be imagining it. Or I could just be staring so hard that I’m making him uncomfortable.
I realize suddenly it’s been a long time since I’ve had good sex. I’m sure that’s where this is coming from. Just horniness. I shake myself a little and make to head back into the living room when there’s another knock on the door.
Since Bryce is closer, he answers, grabbing Sera’s attention too, as it’s her brother and his boyfriend. That leaves Alessandro on my side of the foyer. And apparently, I haven’t stopped staring at him despite my intention to leave.
He turns to me and sizes me up once more.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” he says silkily. “Are you a friend of Serafina’s?”
“How rude of me,” I reply, finally finding my voice, and my manners. I extend a hand. “I’m Emily. And yes, I’m friends with Sera. Though I’m also Bryce’s sister.”
Alessandro accepts my hand, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow, a smirk playing at his mouth as he brings the back of my hand to his lips. His full, delicious lips. He places a light kiss there before raising his eyes back to mine.
“Are you, now?” he asks, still holding my hand in his. “Then perhaps I shouldn’t find you quite so beautiful. I fear your brother already doesn’t like me much.”