DEX BONUS EPILOGUE: JETT & CARI HOST A KNIGHT FAMILY DINNER
DANI
I love mornings like this.
Dexter works so hard during the weekdays. So do I. We don’t see each other apart from in the evenings when we have dinner together, or catch a show, or just go for a walk through Central Park.
That’s why weekends are the best. We have all day together. I can never get enough of this man.
He proposed to me a few days ago, and this time it’s for real. I keep pinching myself that this has really happened.
Jett and Cari have invited us all over for dinner this evening. It sort of started off as a joke after the last Knight family dinner when Paul Knight walked off in a storm, his face like thunder. It was after Dexter told him how he’d managed to get Papai’s company back, with the help of Rio, Matteo and Enzo. I love that these brothers all banded together to help my father and me.
After having seen dynamics in this family, I was surprised at how the brothers stood up to their father. That expression on Paul Knight’s face when he’d discovered that he’d been outplayed? It was priceless.
Now, Dexter and I are holding hands as we sit next to one another at the table, coffee mugs in place.
“Are you sure about this?” he asks me, about going to Jett’s.
“Yes. Of course. We have to go. They’ve invited us.”
“We don’t have to stay long if you don’t want to,” he counters.
“I want to. I love Cari! She’s wonderful,” I say. “She’s so disarming and friendly and welcoming.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Cari’s everything I wanted here. A friend. Someone like Raquel. They’re completely different, but they’re both strong women in their own right, and I love them.
“Don’t you like Cari?” I ask, my voice guarded.
“I do. I just don’t know her well enough, but I can see she makes Jett happy, and Brooke, too.”
“You need to get to know her, because she’s a part of this family now.”
Dexter frowns. “They’re not married, or engaged.”
“They don’t have to be.” I feel like I need to teach these boys how to be, as a family, and after seeing how their father is with them, I can see they don’t really know. Cari and I have talked about this. We both come from close loving families. Cari has her aunt and her friends, and my heart aches for her losing her mom.
But she’s focused and looking ahead, very much getting on with life, and I can tell that having Brooke in her life gives her a purpose beyond being Jett’s girlfriend. She loves that little girl so much. Cari and I have become a lot closer, ever since I returned, and I think she’s going to hate me when she finds out later today that I’m engaged, that I didn’t tell her sooner.
But I haven’t told Raquel either. She’s so busy, I can barely talk to her. I want to announce this new, second and real engagement properly.
“What are you thinking?” Dexter asks, his dark eyes boring into mine.
“I think it’s nice of your brother and Cari to invite us over.”
“Yeah,” he says slowly. “Jett admitted to me that he was cold towards you at the soiree evening.”
“He said that to you?” I feel a sense of relief at hearing that.
“He feels bad about it.”
I think back to the night of the soiree, when I was presented to the Knight brothers. “He was quite cold and hostile towards me that evening. Kind of like you were.” I run a finger along Dexter’s rugged jaw. He’s usually cleanshaven, but he hasn’t shaved for a few days, and I do like this rough five o’clock shadow that he has.
“Sweetheart,” he says, leaning forward and pressing a kiss on my lips. “We ended up getting married, didn’t we? It all ended well?”
“Yes it did, darling.” I revert to our honeymoon speak, and how we addressed one another with these subtly sarcastic terms of endearment, back in those early days when we hadn’t fully acknowledged our true feelings for each other.
“And now we’re doing it for real,” he says.
I look at my ring and smile. We called my parents and told them straightaway, but nobody in Jett’s family knows. We plan on telling them this evening.
“How do you think your father will take it?”
“I don’t know, and we don’t have to worry about it, because he’s not coming tonight. Jett didn’t invite him.”
I feel a sigh of relief, even though I know it’s wrong to invite all the brothers, but to leave out their father. I can’t imagine I’d ever do anything like that, but Paul Knight doesn’t function as a father. And these Knights … they’re kind of dysfunctional, as I’m starting to find out.
But there is hope. And I saw that hope when Dexter, with Rio, Matteo, and Enzo’s help, all worked to get back control of my father’s company from Paul Knight.
“We don’t have to stay long,” says Dexter. “We can come back and get into bed again.” He wiggles his brows mischievously.
My glance drops quickly to the space between his legs. I gasp at the sighted of his tented boxer briefs. “Dexter!”
“Can’t help it, amor.” A lazy smile tugs at the corners of his lips. “You have that effect on me.” He palms my breast, his hand sliding under my satin tankini and making my nipple stand to attention. “I see you can’t help it either,” he murmurs, leaning in and dropping a kiss along my jaw. “How about we get down to it once more, before we leave? Work up a real appetite before tonight’s dinner?”
“Isn’t your member sore?” I ask, feeling the base of my belly ignite.
He chuckles. “My member? That’s not the word you used when you were on your knees with your mouth wrapped around—”
“Okay, Dexter. Let’s try not get too hot and bothered again just yet.” Though the visual gets me aroused again. I press my thighs together, trying to quell my hunger. “We need to go to your brother’s for dinner and I don’t want to be late.”
“Are you worried about upsetting Jett? Don’t be. His bite is worse than his bark.”
DEX
Going to dinner at Jett’s place means we don’t have to go far. We just need to take the elevator or walk up a flight of stairs, and we’re there.
Cari opens the door, beaming at us. Behind her, I do a double take when I see Jett wearing an apron. I howl with laughter.
“You’re early,” he says dryly, raising an eyebrow and quickly tugging off the apron.
“What are you doing, dude?”
“He was just finishing off the dessert,” Cari says, leading us into the open plan kitchen.
“Dessert?” Daniela echoes. Jett greets her warmly, kissing her on both cheeks, his hands on her shoulders but, instead of pulling away, he stays like that. “I … I just want to say, I’m sorry, Daniela, for being so cold towards you, that night we first met.”
I can’t believe my eyes. Jett Stone Cold Knight, apologizing to Daniela? She can’t either, because she blushes. “That’s al-alright,” she stammers, taken aback.
“It’s not alright. One of the reasons we wanted to get you and Dex over, was so that we can start again.”
She flashes him a smile that melts my heart. I can tell he’s touched her, that she wasn’t expecting this, and that everything is going to be just fine. “We can start over. I would like that.”
They nod, and as soon as they move away, Cari starts squealing. “Oh my goodness, what’s this?” She holds up Daniela’s hand. “This isn’t what you wore before. This is not the ring you had the last time. That one was big and clunky.”
“Don’t remind me,” I groan. “What was I thinking?”
“You weren’t,” Jett says dryly.
“Dexter proposed to you?” Cari squeals.
Daniela nods. The women start hugging one another, even though they just hugged a few moments ago. I hear “Congratulations” and more squeals.
Jett looks at me, eyebrow lifted. “You proposed? For real this time? On Valentine’s Day?”
I shrug “A few days before that.”
“You couldn’t wait a few more days?”
“I couldn’t.” I didn’t want to wait another second before putting a ring on her finger and asking her to be my wife.
Jett shakes my hand before reeling me in for a bear hug. Then he gives Daniela a hug too. “Congratulations. I never had hope for this one, but I know you’ll make an honest man out of him. Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” she replies, her face flushed, beaming at me.
“Drinks are in order.” Jett walks towards the large refrigerator and pulls out a few bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal. Cari fetches the flutes when the doorbell rings.
“Do you want to get that for me?” Jett asks me as he starts to pour the champagne. I dutifully oblige and open the door to find Rio and Enzo staring at me. Rio and I bear hug one another. “Hey brother.”
“Hey dude,” he pats me on the back.
I turn to his younger brother. “Hey, Enzo. Come in.”
Enzo walks in and they follow me back into the kitchen where the others are talking.
They suddenly stop talking when they see Rio and Enzo.
“Thank you for the invite,” Enzo says to Jett and Cari, and hands them what looks like a gift bag. He looks pretty dapper, in a casual suit, but one that looks like it’s got a hefty price tag. Rio’s wearing dark trousers and a casual white shirt, unbuttoned.
“You didn’t have to bring anything, Enzo,” Cari says, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. “But thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He nods shyly, and I get it then. It’s the first time he’s been here, to Jett’s place. He hasn’t even been to this apartment block before, because when we were working on the deal to get back AO Eletronica, we always worked at Rio’s place, because we didn’t want Jett or Zach to know what we were all working on.
Having gotten to know him and Matteo better, I try to put him at ease. It’s ridiculous, really, to think this is Rio’s first time here too. He’s only ever been to my place.
“Here, some champagne,” says Jett, filling glasses for them and passing them over.
“What’s the occasion?” Rio asks.
Daniela proudly holds up her hand, beaming from ear to ear.
“You’re engaged?” Enzo cries.
“That’s not the first ring, is it?” Rio says slowly. “Dude, did you go and do it again?”
“Daniela divorced me, remember?”
He nods, smirking.
“Dexter proposed a few days ago,” Daniela tells them.
“Up at the Sky Garden,” I add, “at The Bluebell Manhattan, Luke Hunter’s place, where you and Raquel—”
I immediately get cut off.
“You and Raquel what?” Enzo asks Rio, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other holding his untouched champagne flute.
Rio’s lips press together and I wish I hadn’t mentioned it. It was just a casual slip of the tongue, but this guy is so closed off about it, I haven’t asked any more about what went on between them. Or whether anything ever did.
“It was so beautiful. Luke closed it all off so it was private, and it was just me and Dexter, and twinkling fairylights, and the snow,” Daniela gushes.
“So romantic.” Cari clasps her hands together.
“You got engaged again—for real this time?” Enzo asks, still trying to make sense of it all.
“She’s off the market this time, dude,” Rio says to him. “This time it’s for real.”
Enzo blushes slightly. I feel sorry for him. “Leave the guy alone, brother.”
“Congratulations,” Jett says, lifting his glass high. “To Daniela, for being brave enough to return to this family the second time around.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Rio lifts his glass, as does Enzo.
“Where’s Brooke?” Daniela asks.
Cari opens the oven to check something. “She’s got a sleepover at one of her friends’ houses. Eden.”
“Eden Stone?” I ask, “Tobias’s little girl?”
“Yes. But before she left, she made cupcakes with her father, and that’s what we’re having for dessert.” Cari grins at Jett. “He was icing them when you and Daniela arrived.”
Rio almost splutters drinking his champagne, and Enzo is fighting not to burst into laughter.
“So that’s why you were still wearing the apron, when we arrived,” Daniela states.
“Nothing wrong with icing cupcakes,” Jett retorts.
“You can be a master of the universe as well,” Rio says, his face deadpan.
I look around the kitchen, enjoying this small talk, this gentle ribbing, this warm, family atmosphere. Cari and Jett are busy over the stove, and we offer to lay the table. The mood is light, and the evening feels natural. Like this is a usual, routine occurrence us going to one another’s houses for dinner.
“Is Matteo not coming?” Cari asks.
“He is,” Rio informs her. “Sorry, I should have said. He’s just running late. He told me to let you know, but the engagement news made me forget.”
“And Zach told me to tell you guys he’s away this weekend.” I roll my eyes. “It being Valentine’s weekend, he’s obviously busy.”
“So it’ll just be you five brothers and me and Daniela, Shortcake. I think we’re ready to serve,” Jett says to Cari. “If you all want to go and sit down.”
Shortcake? My brother really is in love.
“Can we help take stuff in?” Daniela offers, but Cari tells her no, they’ve got it. So we head into the large dining room, where he’s extended his glass table to accommodate all of us. We all sit; there’s no looking at who’s sitting next to whom, or people avoiding each other.
“It’s filet mignon with red wine reduction,” Jett announces, proudly.
“With truffle mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus,” Cari adds. “Jett was going to get the private chef to make dinner. Can you believe it?” She sits at the head of the table, while Jett sits at the other end.
“Wait, private chef, did you say?” asks Daniela.
“I have a private chef. I’m sure I told you,” I say.
“We don’t need a private chef,” she retorts.
“Same. That’s what I told Jett,” Cari says.
“This smells delicious.” Enzo tucks into his food heartily.
Jett looks pleased. “Thank you.”
“It’s … it’s very good,” Daniela agrees.
“Thank you.” They share a smile and a nod.
“So, the Sky Garden,” Cari says. “Tell us more. I want details about the proposal.”
Daniela recounts it all in detail. Cari gushes and sighs at every detail. Then the conversation moves to Luke and Tobias and Brooke. Jett looks relaxed. Cari wipes something off his shirt, and he pours her a glass of champagne.
There’s another knock at the door. Jett gets up to answer it and returns a few moments later with Zach who walks in, hands in his pockets, and surveys the scene in front of him.
“Grab a seat, I’ll get you a plate,” Jett says. “Good thing I made extra.”
“I see we’re playing Happy Families,” Zach says, looking around the table.
“Come and join us,” Rio signal the empty seat next to him.
“I thought you were away on a dirty weekend somewhere. Valentine’s weekend and all,” I press, wondering if he’ll spill the details.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Zach mutters.
“You’re not even going to tell us where you’ve been?” Jett asks. “Come on, little bro, what’ve you been up to? And where is she?”
“I said, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Jett gets up. “Would you guys like beers, or will more champagne be fine?”
A collective murmur for more champagne is his answer. Cari tells Zach what’s on the menu, and we all helpfully pass the serving bowls around. Zach doesn’t say a word.
Jett returns with more bottles of champagne and a glass for Zach. He’s busy wolfing his food down, and looks up briefly, then pauses when he sees the bottle of Cristal. “We are celebrating in style,” he murmurs.
“An engagement is a pretty big deal,” Rio comments, while we all eagerly anticipate Zach’s reaction. It takes a few seconds.
“You and Cari got engaged?” he asks Jett.
“No,” Cari answers, smoothly.
“Not yet,” Jett says, and I catch a surprised look on Cari’s face.
“We did,” I announce, proudly.
Zach stops eating long enough to look at me and Daniela.
“You got engaged?” he echoes.
I don’t know what happened to him, but he seems a bit dazed. “We did. Show him the ring, amor,” I say to Daniela, who dutifully holds her hand up again.
“Congratulations, guys.” He lifts his glass to us.
“Thank you.” Daniela and I reply at the same time.
“Does Dad know?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No.”
“Is he coming tonight?”
“No.” This time from Jett.
Shock slowly climbs on Zach’s face. “Oh. Okay.” He gets to wolfing his food down again.
Cari asks Daniela, “What about your friend Raquel? Does she know? Did she ever know that this was a fake relationship at the start?”
“Not at the start, obviously we had to keep it confined to just the families, but she knows now,” Daniela says quietly. “And I’ve yet to tell her that we got engaged for real this time.”
“When’s the wedding, dude?” Rio asks.
“We’re not sure.” Daniela glances at me. We’ve talked about it and neither of us wants to rush into another ceremony. “We might just have a small event,” she says after a beat. “I thought I wanted a big wedding, but I’ve realized now that it’s not about pomp and ceremony. I’m not really into that. I just want something small.”
“Another trip to Brazil?” Zach says with a grin. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He’s asking Rio.
I see the way Rio’s face tightens. “Why?”
“Because I saw you getting on with that—” Zach snaps his fingers, “what was her name?” he asks Daniela. “Your friend, the one with the red lips and long curly hair.”
“Raquel,” she answers.
“I saw you guys leaving together at the wedding reception while we were all dancing,” Zach continues. “Looked to me like you were both getting on real well.”
Everyone turns and looks at Rio.
“Now that I think about it, you weren’t on the flight home the next day,” Jett comments.
“He wasn’t, was he?”
The brothers all look at each other. Rio turns red.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
I sense his unease, and so does Daniela. “Before I forget,” she says, waiting for the chatter to stop. “I just want to thank you all—”
There’s a knock at the door, and Jett gets up to answer it again. When he returns, it’s with Matteo in tow.
“Sorry,” Matteo says. “I was running late, but I planned to be here much earlier. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Cari says, happily. “We’re still eating. Come, join us.”
“Want me to get you a plate, bud?” Jett asks.
Matteo nods. “Yeah. Thanks. I’m starving. Haven’t eaten all day.”
Jett’s brows push together. “You haven’t eaten all day?”
“No. I just showered and came straight here.”
“You showered and came here… you haven’t eaten all day? What the hell have you been doing, dude?” Rio asks. He’s thinking what every other hot-blooded Knight on this table is thinking.
Matteo eyes narrow. “I’d rather not say in front of the ladies.”
Rio winks, glances at the other guys. “I’m sure they can take it.”
“We don’t need to know,” Cari and Daniela say in unison. More laughter follows, more food gets passed around. The room buzzes with easy energy.
“Does the old man know?” Rio asks me. “About the engagement?”
“What engagement?” Matteo’s plate is piled high, like a mini-mountain of food. He looks up briefly, knife and fork in his hands, ready to dive in.
“No.”
“Dexter and Daniela got engaged,” Enzo announces.
Matteo’s eyes widen. “You serious?”
“Yes, very much so,” I reply, unable to wipe the silly grin off my face. Happens each time I think about me and Daniela getting married.
“Cool. Congrats. When and where is it this time?”
“We don’t know.” I shrug. “We’re in no hurry.”
“Does the old man know?” Rio asks.
“Not yet.” I huff out a breath. “I was never going to tell him before I told you all.”
“No doubt he’ll find out soon enough,” Rio retorts.
Jett wipes his mouth with a napkin. “No doubt he will, especially if he sees the ring.”
“When’s he going to see the ring?” I ask, puzzled.
Jett sips his champagne. “At the next family dinner.”
Everyone erupts in laughter.
“Are Dani and Cari allowed at the Knight family dinners?” Enzo asks. “I know you both came,” he gestures at both women, “ and big announcements were made, but going forward …?”
“Who knows?” I say.
“Do you want to come?” Jett asks Cari.
She huffs out a breath. “I’m not sure.”
“Do you want to come?” I ask Daniela.
She looks at Cari. “Maybe?”
“You think he might stop having the Knight family dinners?” Matteo asks, “Since the last one went so badly.”
“No.” Jett disagrees. “It’s just another way he thinks he can keep control over us. Keep us divided. He’ll keep on holding those dinners until something changes.”
“It doesn’t always have to be that way, though, does it?” Enzo points out.
“No. It doesn’t,” I say. “Look at us now.”
“Yeah, it’s not so bad now that we’re getting to know each other,” Matteo says.
We eat, and we talk. We laugh and we jest. Everyone’s enjoying the food. The mood is warm, light, and relaxed.
“I just wanted to say something, now that everyone’s here,” Daniela says, her voice wavering a little. She takes me by surprise. Everyone turns to her. She looks at each of my brothers around the table. “It’s … about how you all worked and helped get my father’s company back.”
“Wasn’t us,” Jett says, a slight edge to his tone as our eyes meet. “I didn’t know about it. Neither did Zach.” I’m about to open my mouth and explain when he continues. “But I understand why it was best to keep us in the dark. I’m not angry about it. I’m just glad it all worked out. Credit goes to these guys.” He nods at Rio, Matteo and Enzo.
Rio nods approvingly. “Dex led the way.”
“But you all worked together, with him, and I am so grateful for all that you did.” Daniela clasps her hands over her chest, in gratitude. She’s thanked me so many times, and this was her first chance to tell the others together. Because we are never together like this, unless it’s a Knight family dinner, and these kinds of moments don’t take place at those events.
I throw down my napkin, because now that we’re all together seems like the perfect time to tell them my news. I clear my throat, and sit up, then sit forward, elbows on the table, hands clasped together. “So, I don’t know if you know that the old man was supposed to pay me one million dollars for every month I was married to Daniela.”
“You asked about that at the last dinner,” Matteo prompts. “He owed you one and a half five million.”
“About that.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Turns out there was a hidden clause in the contract.”
They all groan.
“Another one?” Jett’s face is like thunder.
“I had to pay him back if the marriage ended before a year.”
“Tell me you haven’t paid him back?” Jett growls.
“I have not,” I reply.
“Good move.” Matteo approves.
“What’s he going to do?” Rio asks. “Sue you?”
They all laugh.
“Yeah, so the old man demanded I pay back the one million, not one point five million, because I only got paid at the end of a completed one-month period. The hidden cause stipulated that I must repay the money but I decided not to. I have no intention of paying it back because what I plan to do is something I’ve been thinking about for a while now.”
I inhale a breath. Daniela shifts closer to me, her hand pressing firmly in mine.
“I’m going to set up a shelter for women who need a place of refuge. Somewhere where they can get help and support to be well enough again to confront life. I know it’s not the same. Our mom had money, a mansion, staff and security, but none of it saved her. None of it gave her power when she found out our father had a whole other family tucked away in Italy. That secret shattered her. She was proud, but she was alone. And when you’re isolated like that, when the person who was supposed to protect you turns out to be the one who’s been lying to you for years, it breaks something deep inside. So, I’m putting my money into a shelter for women and kids who’ve been through hell. Women who don’t have mansions or staff. Women who have nothing but the strength to get out and start over. They need safety, a roof, someone who gives a damn. Mom didn’t have that, and we weren’t old enough to know of the extent of her suffering,” I take a moment to catch myself. To regain my composure and to keep suppressed the knot that’s stuck in my throat. I feel the solid and steady press of Daniela’s hand, and it gives me the strength to continue. I look at them all.
“But maybe they can.”
The room falls deadly silent. Daniela eyes have misted over and it looks like she’s going to cry. “That’s beautiful, Dexter. Really beautiful,” she says.
I look around the table, and my brothers, all of them, are still. Cari blinks rapidly, tears gathering in her lashes. Jett gives a small nod, jaw clenched, like he’s trying to keep his composure. Enzo swallows hard, then drops his gaze to the table like the weight of it all has become too much. Matteo leans back in his chair, pressing his lips together as he sucks in a long, slow breath, like he’s trying to process it without losing control. Zach shifts slightly, looking uneasy. He gives me a look that is infused with respect and regret, and something that looks like grief.
Rio finally speaks. “Secrets like that… they don’t just destroy people, they infect everything. Families, memories, the truth itself. Your mother didn’t die because she was weak. She died because she was lied to, for too long, by someone who was supposed to protect her. That kind of silence kills, too.”
Matteo clears his throat, his voice rough. “We’ve never talked about this before, but—uh…” A deep line forms between his brows. “When the shock wore off, when we found out that the man we called “Papa” had another life, another family across the ocean, and we learned what happened to your mom … we didn’t just feel betrayed. We felt sick. Guilty. Like we existed at the cost of someone else’s pain.”
He pauses, then adds more quietly, “After that Mama used to talk about your family. She prayed for your mother every night. She said if she’d known, if she’d understood the truth earlier, she would’ve walked away. She hated feeling like maybe, without knowing, she’d been complicit.”
“She wasn’t complicit. None of you were,” Jett says, wearily, as if just talking about our past has sucked the energy out of him. “He lied to everyone. None of this is on you.”
Nobody speaks after that. But in the stillness, I see who we are, and who we aren’t. We’re not half anything anymore. Not here. Not over this.
It takes me a second to get the words out. My throat feels tight, and I hate that it is. I don’t do emotional. I do control. Logic. Precision. But this … this matters.
“I’m calling the shelter The Aurora Project.” My voice comes out softer than I intend. “Not a house or a refuge or anything that sounds like a dead end. Project means it’s ongoing. It’s work. It’s change. And Aurora… well, I wanted it to have mom’s name.”
For a long time, no one says anything. We just sit there, the six of us, not as billionaires, not as enemies or allies or sons of a broken man, but as brothers. In this moment, I see that we are a family.
Daniela speaks up, her voice soft, but steady. “Your mother would be so proud of you, Dexter.”
I nod, unable to speak. I want to much to believe that.
Zach clears his throat, reaches for his glass. “To Mom,” he says.
“To mom,” Jett echoes, his voice cracking. I raise my glass too, but I can’t speak. Then I hear the others. “To Aurora,” they say, almost in unison. Rio, Matteo, Enzo. When I look up, they’ve all raised their glasses.
The mood in the room changes; the tightness and tension losing its grip. Light after darkness. Understanding in the place of old resentment.
I lean back in my chair, set my glass down, and take it all in—my family, no longer as fractured.
And Daniela. My wife-to-be looks up at me as I run my thumb over the ring on her finger. In this quiet, private moment, I know that I will love and cherish this woman for the rest of my life.
She’s my always. My after. My beyond.
BONUS SCENE: RIO & RAQUEL MEET AGAIN
RIO
I see her, sitting in the front row, next to Dani’s parents, we’re on the other side, with the groom’s side, and when she turns, glancing over her shoulder, I see that rich red lipstick and the mouth I can’t stop dreaming about.
“Why do you keep looking at Dani’s parents?” Enzo hisses.
“He’s not looking at the parents. He’s checking out the woman in the red lipstick,” Matteo replies.
I turn to my annoying brothers. “I’m looking at Dani’s parents. They were nice to us yesterday, inviting us for dinner.”
“Quit lying,” Matteo mutters. “I know you.”
I don’t bother to defend myself, and when Dani walks in a few seconds later, I can’t help but gasp. She looks too beautiful for words. Seriously, my jaw drops at how serene and stunning she looks in her wedding dress.
My eyes go to Dex. He’s gaping at her, and trying to remain calm and composed, like I expect him to, but there’s something in his expression, in that face I have come to know so well.
That dude is blown away.
So when he turns his back on her, to face the front, I know he’s feeling something. I can already tell that this is going to be harder on him than he first thought. This dude has the hots for Dani. I never could work out why he agreed to this. He resents the old man so I can’t see him doing it to please him. He told me he wanted to have some fun and see how it goes. With his friends-with-benefits arrangement currently paused, I can see why he might say that. I just hope Dex doesn’t break her heart. I hope he protects her and makes it easy for her to get through this year.
A fucking business deal.
Never figured that dude would ever agree to an arranged marriage, but he surprises me most of the time.
My gaze drifts to Raquel again. She’s staring at the bride, her smile wide and, hot damn, those beautiful full lips. She has a smile that’s unforgettable, and she’s looking at her friend like she’s so proud of her girl. Makes me feel bad being in on a secret that she has no clue about. It also can’t have been easy for Dani to lie to her best friend. This shit is hard on everyone.
We all take our seats, and my attention flits between the ceremony before us, and Raquel. Too bad I only have a somewhat unclear view of her back.
We watch the wedding. I squirm in my seat when Dex kisses her, cold and short, Like it’s an afterthought.
They both knew what they were getting themselves into.
When it’s all over, everyone moves onto the beautiful grounds. Daniela sure has a lovely home, nice and cosy, and a loving family. Everything the Knights don’t have. I can’t help but notice how sad her father looks, almost like he’s terrified of sending her off to the Knights.
Guests are mingling, champagne is flowing, and an elegant samba band plays softly in the background.
Photos are being taken, and the beautiful bride and handsome groom are surrounded by people. We stroll around, in a group, with the old man, and Jett and Zach. It’s sweet how Cari and Brooke are holding hands. Though I find the dude stuck up and cold, it’s nice how Jett found someone to love. Cari thinks the world of him, and little Brooke is the happiest I’ve ever seen her.
Matteo, Enzo and I go over to the happy couple, to give our congratulations. I joke with Dex while Dani is busy talking to Enzo.
“You did it, dude.” I punch him lightly on his shoulder.
“I did.” He seems quiet. More somber than I expected.
“It’s … you know …” I lean in and whisper into his ear. “… temporary, and not the real thing, so, don’t look so despondent.”
“Right.” Dex’s hard face doesn’t soften, and just as I’m about to try to find something to say to make him feel better, I see her.
Raquel.
She’s talking to a guy who’s suited.
Fuck. Did she bring a partner?
He’s tall, dark and handsome. Like me.
She had me believe that she was single. My chest caves, like I’ve been punched. The guy leaves, and I watch him as he summons a couple of the servers over. Looks to me like he’s giving orders. The tightness in my body eases a tiny bit. Could be he’s just the manager, for this event.
I fucking hope so.
I turn to Raquel again, but she’s disappeared, so I walk around, neck craning, eyes scanning, and then I find her again. She’s busy rushing around. It’s like she’s in charge. Did she plan this wedding? Because she seems to be quite involved.
I’m desperate to talk to her, to continue from where we left off that last time when Dex had a date with Dani, and I was lurking around the corner, in case he needed me.
It was the best thing to ever happen … Raquel walking in and sitting next to me. A woman with guts and balls. She caught my attention without even saying a word. I love everything about her; her mouth, her wit, her fire. And I want her, no question about it. Had Dex and Dani not interrupted that evening would have ended well instead of fizzling out like it did.
One of the highlights of flying out here was the thought that I’d get to meet her again. I don’t know if our paths will cross much, otherwise.
I look around in frustration. Where the hell is she? I’m determined to find her, irritation crawling along the back of my neck in this balmy weather. I wander restlessly around the gardens, and then I find her.
She’s over by the corner, furthest away from the tent, away from all the commotion, exhaling slowly, with her hand pressed to her chest like she’s trying to process something.
Or calm herself down.
In the other hand she’s holding a glass of champagne. Then, she looks up at the sky, and closes her eyes. As I’m walking, I can’t help but sneeze. Something about the pollen in this place has been bugging me all day. Immediately, her eyelids fly open. She turns, sees me, and cries, “You!”
It’s not a happy greeting. She’s so not pleased to see me, but damn, am I happy to see her. I wink and smile. “We meet again, princesa.”
“I see you’ve finally come out from whatever dark corner you’ve been lurking in.” She brushes something off her silk dress.
“I was wondering where you’d disappeared to,” I say, ignoring her barbed comment.
Taking a step back, hand on her hip, she asks, “What are you doing here?”
“My brother got married.”
“I mean here. What are you doing here?”
Ouch. So that’s how she’s going to be, huh? “I came to say ‘hi’, princesa.” She hates me calling her that name, which is why I love doing it. I love riling her up, getting a reaction out of her. I love seeing those full, red, luscious lips pout and turn angry.
The makeup sex we could have. Her lips press together, like she wants to hurl abuse at me, or the champagne glass, but has remembered where we are.
She clutches the champagne flute so tightly I think it might crack. “You’re unbelievable.”
I lift a shoulder. “I’ve been called worse. You disappeared on me in Manhattan. Thought we’d finally get to have a proper conversation now.”
She snorts. “A proper conversation? Is that what you call whatever it is you were doing that night? Trying to get me drunk, then into your bed?”
“Princesa, you’re the one who bought me a drink, and …” I tilt my head, looking at her disapprovingly. “ … that wasn’t the plan.”
She turns to walk away, muttering a curse in a language I don’t understand, and I rush to follow, because I’m not letting her out of my sight. But she stumbles, not dramatically. Not about-to-fall-on-her-face stumble, but enough of a sway that I notice immediately. Her six-inch pencil point heels won’t help. I rush to her side “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” But her voice betrays her. It’s too tight. Too clipped.
“You’ve barely eaten. You’ve been on your feet all day helping Dani. How many glasses of champagne is that?”
She glares at me. “Have you been watching me?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrow and the moment slows down. “You think I’m drunk?” She pouts with those lips I so badly want to kiss.
I scratch my beard. “Dehydrated, more like, and overheated, and stubborn.”
She scoffs. “I don’t need you to tell me—” But she stumbles again, and this time she has to steady herself against a tree. “I need to get back.”
“You’re leaving?” I ask, my tone somber. We’re close enough to the tent to see Dex and Dani dancing.
“I hope he treats her well,” she says, watching them.
I shake my head, not even wanting to go there. “You’re leaving?” I ask again.
“I have a ton of work to do.”
“Work?”
“Not all of us are trust fund brats.” She spits the words out like she hates me. “Some of us have to work for a living.”
“Where are you staying?” I’ll take you.”
She hesitates. “It’s five minutes away.”
“Great. Let’s go.” I gesture toward the garden path.
“I don’t need a chaperone, Knight.”
“Good. Because that’s not something I’m good at.” I start walking and after a second, she follows me, muttering again.
“You’re not going to get far in those heels.” I shake my head at those lethal pins she’s balancing on, but can’t help also admiring her shapely calves.
“It’s not far. Just a five, maybe ten-minute walk.” She stumbles again, and this time catch her, my hands going firmly around her waist, pulling her back, because I think she was about to go face down on the floor.
“I’m not drunk,” she insists.
Her back meets my chest for the briefest of moments, but its enough for me to catch a scent of her perfume, to feel the silk of her dress, for my hands to feel the firm contours of her body against mine.
My cock stiffens even more. It’s the last thing I need her to notice.
“It’s these heels.” She steps away from me, then bends over, and slips her heels off, but my eyes fix on that beautiful bottom, encased in the silk of her dress. I groan inwardly, shoving my hands deep in pockets, trying not to imagine my hand skating around her body, touching and exploring.
I turn around, raise my hand and luckily catch the eye of one of the drivers.
“There’s a hotel around here somewhere?” I ask. He nods, just as Raquel turns around, her heels dangling from her hands, barefoot and sexy as hell.
“We’re getting a lift,” I announce.
She must be grateful, because she slides right in once the driver opens the door. She drops her shoes on the floor.
“Those things could be fatal,” I remark.
“You expect me to wear this dress with sneakers?” Her head rolls back against the headrest, curls cascading down her dress. Eyes closed. I survey her carefully. Shimmering deep maroon dress, high-neck, with a big, bow tied at the side of her neck. It’s elegant, and fitting, and she looks amazing in it.
“You’d look gorgeous in a bin bag,” I whisper.
She doesn’t hear me.
The driver soon announces that we’ve reached the hotel. We get out and I hold the door open for her. She climbs out and walks into the hotel, barefoot, shoes dangling. Naturally, I follow.
“This is a small, discreet establishment,” she says, climbing up a flight of carpeted stairs. “You don’t need to see me to my door, Knight.”
“I just want to make sure you get in okay.”
She opens the door, glances over her shoulder while I hover around in the hallway, because now that I’m here, and she’s safely back in her room, I don’t know what to do. It usually isn’t a problem. It’s not usually a question that needs answering, because things just fall into place, but with is like a grenade that could go off any minute.
“Well? Are you going to lurk outside until you’re sure I didn’t collapse from champagne poisoning?”
My heart jumps. From telling me I didn’t need to see her to the door, to this? I lean on the doorframe. “Depends. You going to invite me in?”
She arches a fine brow. “Depends. You going to behave?”
I smile. Now we’re talking. “Absolutely not.”
She waggles a perfectly manicured finger at me. “Fine. But only for five minutes. And no flirting.”
“I’ll do my best.”
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