Max stared up at his friend, and coldness seeped into his chest. Would he ever truly feel like family and good enough to own a portion of the business? Was he being selfish or ungrateful? They’d built La Dolce Maggie together, but in his gut, Max knew he was replaceable. Carina may be appointed CFO, but would also own a portion of the company. He never demanded permanence from Michael, afraid their friendship would cloud a decision that should be strictly business. Why did he always feel the need to fight harder to truly belong? Sure, his a**hole father took off, but the constant struggle of worthiness was getting weary.
“I shall see you at seven tonight. Thanks, Max.”
The door shut behind him.
Max was left in the room with silence. With memories. And with a sick feeling in his gut that never seemed to go away.
Chapter Two
Carina sat cross-legged on the bed and giggled as her sister-in-law waddled over and carefully slid into the chair. Her swollen bare feet poked out from the floor-length skirt, and her massive belly rose up and dominated her body. Cinnamon-colored hair slid into her eyes, and Maggie stuck out her lower lip and blew. Immediately the strands parted to reveal a pair of stunning green eyes, now filled with irritation and general discomfort.
“Your brother sucks,” she announced.
“What did he do now?” Carina asked, trying to look serious at the current condition of her usually trendy, composed sister-in-law.
“Pick from the list. He sleeps and has the gall to snore while I lie like a beached whale in the bed. He acts ridiculous by continuously asking me if I need anything. And today he informed me I wasn’t allowed to go to my next photo shoot, something about it getting too dangerous for me to travel.”
Carina gulped back a snort of laughter. Maggie was due in eight weeks and still refused to believe she couldn’t follow her normal schedule. “Well, you know how overprotective Michael is,” she offered. “And, umm, I don’t know how you’d even be able to kneel down to get the shot, Mags.”
Maggie glowered. “I know. Why didn’t you tell me twins run in your family?”
“Would that have made a difference?”
“Maybe. Oh, God, I don’t know. Probably not. Men suck.”
Carina was saved from answering that remark by the opening of a door. A face peeked in surrounded by a bunch of corkscrew black curls. “Oh, yay, I was hoping you’d be up here. Carina!”
Carina screeched in joy and they hugged and kissed. Maggie’s best friend, Alexa, was married to Maggie’s brother, and reminded Carina of an older sister. Filled with general enthusiasm and joy, she was part of the core family that made her feel like she belonged. As Carina released her, something jumped under her hands, and she drew back.
“Oh, my God. The baby moved!”
Alexa put her hands over her swollen belly and grinned. “I’m gonna enroll this one in karate.” With a matching waddle, she air-kissed Maggie and took a seat in the second chair. “Thanks God you’re up here. I need some serious girl time. My husband is pissing me off.”
Maggie snickered. “Seems to be the consensus. What is my dear brother doing now?”
“He told me I’m not allowed to go into the bookstore anymore. Like I’m going to let my business slip because I’m pregnant. He keeps reminding me we don’t need the money.” Alexa snorted. “Do you know how many animals we can save with that kind of money? And he’s all cavalier about it, saying I should just stay home and relax. Relax with a three-year-old? Yeah, sure, let me put my feet up and eat bonbons all day. Ain’t gonna happen. At least BookCrazy is quiet and I get to talk to adults.”
Maggie shuddered. “Last time I came over, Lily locked me in the nursery and made me play tea party for hours. I was fine the first hour, but come on. How long can you drink pretend tea and eat pretend cookies?”
Carina laughed. “You guys are killing me. Whatever happened to the happily-ever-after? The romance after marriage? The perfect relationship?”
The two friends shared a look. “Get over it,” Maggie advised. “Real life is messy.”
Alexa nodded. “You want a man who sticks—through the good stuff and the crap. ’Cause there’s a lot of crap.”
Carina studied them, all belly and discomfort and pissed-off female hormones. “Um, is it worth it?”
Maggie sighed. “Yeah,” she admitted grudgingly. “It’s worth it.”
Alexa beamed. “Definitely worth it. Now let’s talk about you. Any yummy stuff to share? Did you decide to take me up on my offer and move into my old apartment?”
Excitement shimmered up and down Carina’s spine. “Yes. It sounds perfect. I’ll move in in about two weeks. Keep Maggie from killing my brother for a while.”
“Thanks, sis.”
Carina grinned. “Welcome. I stopped at the La Dolce Maggie office and got a tour. Max is going to show me the ropes.”
“Max is the sweetest man. So charming and helpful,” Alexa said.
Maggie shot her a concerned look. “Is that a good idea, Carina? Do you think you can work closely with Max?”
Bull’s-eye.
Carina remembered three years ago when Maggie confronted her about Carina’s major crush on Max. Eight years older, and way out of her league, Max caused sleepless nights and crying jags over the proper way to finally get him to notice her. Maggie lectured her on living her own life on her terms first. But love was stubborn. No, it had taken that one unforgettable night to realize Max would never see her as anything more than his friend’s little sister. The memory of her humiliation shimmered before her, but Carina needed the jolt to go and find her own life.
She took a deep breath and faced her sister-in-law. “Yes,” she said firmly. “I’m fine working with Max.”
Maggie studied her face, then nodded. “Got it. Well, most of the crowd is probably waiting.” She braced herself against the arms of the chair and rocked herself forward. “Come join us when you’re done getting ready.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in a few.”
Carina lay back on the stuffed pillows and stared at the ceiling. Her entire life revolved around fighting for her place within the family among her gorgeous sisters and talented brother. It seemed everyone had a special niche, except her. Raw anticipation flowed through her blood at the thought of a fresh slate. Another country. A new job. A place to live on her own. The possibilities were endless, stretched before her like a gift, and she was tired of wasting those minutes on a man who’d never love her.
Marriage and settling down with one man was no longer her goal.
A hot-blooded, no-holds-barred affair definitely was.
Her skin tingled. Finally, she was freed from restrictions and intended to explore all of her sexuality. She’d find a man worthy of her and dive headfirst into a physical relationship with no hope of long-term commitment.
Bad girl.
Yeah. About time.
The thought cheered her up. She rolled from the bed, grabbed the red dress off the hanger, and went to change.
• • •
Max was enjoying himself. He often ate dinner with Michael and Maggie, and many times they were joined by Alexa and Nick. Comfortable hours filled with laughter and wine and relaxing reminded him of the endless evenings he spent with the Conte family in Bergamo. Mama Conte and his mother had grown up together and were friends as young girls, so when his father took off, Mama Conte adopted him and his mother into her own family. He always felt like a cousin rather than a good friend.
An itch crept up his spine. Oddly, he had more money than Michael but never wanted a penny of it—not unless it was earned by his own blood and sweat. Like a business transaction, his rich Swiss father swooped in and seduced the local Italian girl. They married quickly, and when the baby arrived, he deposited a nice fat check in her bank account. Then left for good. Max had never met his father, but his money garnered interest over the years. With no extended relatives, his mother needed the funds to survive, but Max choked on it and couldn’t wait to earn his own way. He didn’t want anything from a man who laid eyes on his newborn son and left without a glance back. A man who humiliated his mother in an old-fashioned Catholic town and forced them to wear the stain of abandonment and divorce.
No, Max didn’t care. He just swore to never bring shame on his mother or ever run away from responsibility. The sins of the father would not carry to the son.
He’d make sure of it.
Max freshened up his glass of Chianti, grabbed a piece of bruschetta, and turned.
Holy hell.
She came down the elaborate stairway with nonchalant grace, an easy smile, and a killer body wrapped up in fiery red. He’d never seen her in red before, let alone a dress. He’d only seen her in baggy clothes and T-shirts, her natural curves always hidden from view.
Not anymore. The scoop neck emphasized the lushness of her br**sts and the curve of her hips. Her dark curly hair fell around her shoulders and down her back, begging for a man’s fingers to thrust deep and disappear. Her lips were painted scarlet red, setting off the inky depth of her eyes.
She stopped in front of him, and the words of greeting died in his throat. He was so used to her looks of open longing. He realized she had a tiny crush on him years back. He’d always thought it cute, and quite flattering. Now, he held a sinking feeling she’d come into her own magical powers. Max had taken her flattering words, protectiveness, and admiring gaze for granted. Now, she treated him the same as the others. A sinking disappointment grabbed at his chest, but he firmly shook it off.
“Hey,” he said. Halfway embarrassed by the lame word, he reminded himself she was like his sister and that his last girlfriend had been actual royalty. “Can I get you some wine?”
“Absolutely. Chianti?” She pointed to his glass, and one curl slipped over her forehead and into her eye. The clean scent of cucumber rose to his nostrils, somehow more intoxicating than fake perfumes.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Perfect.”
He busied himself with getting her a glass and held it out.
“Thanks.”
Her fingers brushed his as she took the glass, and he swore he almost jerked back. The tiny buzz was subtle but still present. Exactly what he didn’t need. He shook his head hard and refocused.
“Let me know if you have any questions about the area. I’d be happy to show you around.”
She sipped her wine and half closed her eyes in pleasure. “Hmm, there’s one thing I need above all else.”
“What?”
“A gym. Can you recommend one?”
“Michael installed a full facility at the company. I’ll show you tomorrow. I usually work out in the early morning if you ever want to join me.” Her gaze flicked over his body as if assessing his muscle structure. He grinned. “Want me to flex?”
The old Carina would have blushed. This one pursed her lips and pondered. “Maybe.”
“Brat.” He raised a brow. “You always hated working out.”
“Still do. But I love to eat, and I have a weight problem. Exercising balances both.”