A Night With My Stepbrother

soft golden lighting. The concierge behind the desk smiled pr

ck around her as Alessandro stepped up beside her-h

the suite hours ago and realization dull

too close, in front of a woman who had

De'Luca had a suite reserved under the family name, but Ms. Rossi-the concierge that day mixed it up. I believe she filled a s

her mouth. T

must be a mistake, do I look

ead. "Everything's full. There's a wedding party and a confere

room," he snapped, v

tand, sir. But there's nothing availa

s sides. Isabel could almost he

between the two of u

st luxurious. Ocean view. Double en-suite. Very s

toward the elevator. Isabel stood there for another breathles

was painfu

k of the elevator as it rose

bellhop before Isabel could speak. The man showed them in, left

ey were

l windows facing the open sea, an oversized bathroom with a glass doo

d this shouldn'

d parked it with more force than necessary. She kept her eyes on t

sed to stay in here to

e was like ice. "

erly, no humor i

e collar of his shirt was slightly open, revealing a sliver

said under his breath. "A bookin

e room with your stripper one-night stan

re could've cracked glass.

night you were calling me beautiful and whispering tha

but the line of h

les, pacing now. "I shouldn't have com

'd be here," he sa

turned. "No

id you agre

"Or rather, Vivian did. Apparently,

enient way to make sure you ran

ked. "Ex

left out a lot. You danced like you'd done it before. And somehow, within twenty-four

ned this?" she as

ink," he said. "I don't

ot the words-but how lo

l my father's new wife dragged out here to play nice. I didn't come her

could see the heat in he

thick. She had to get out of this room

," she said flatly, gr

n't st

behind her and braced her hand

hell just

A night that had felt almost m

tly swollen, her eyes red-rimmed with emotion. He

the quiet sta

rp, deliberate k

pa

ntrolled, but weighted wit

ed to