Addy’s eyes lit up, though. “Really? I’ve heard of Naxos, but I’ve always wanted to see Mykonos.”
“You could combine the two,” Aldo suggested, completely oblivious to my strange emotional turmoil over her traveling alone. “As for Bulgaria and Romania, it really depends on your interests.”
It was like the two of them were trying to give me a fucking heart attack. Listening to them, it wasn’t difficult to imagine they were planning a trip they’d be taking together in the near future.
My throat closed up at the thought of both of them leaving. “We should all go sometime.”
Addy’s forehead furrowed on a frown while Aldo’s brows shot up at my blurted suggestion. He cocked his head, his eyes locking with mine. “Last year when I suggested a hiking trip in Eastern Europe in the summer, you laughed at me.”
“Yeah, but that was because we were busy with the canal negotiations, remember?” I said. “We don’t have to go right away anyway. We could go skiing in the winter.”
“Oooh,” Addy cooed. “I like that idea. I haven’t been skiing for years.”
“It’s a date then.” I smiled and reached across the table for her hand, ignoring the fact that my brother was watching me like a hawk. “We’ll go in the winter.”
“Great,” he said. “I’m in.”
“Good to know,” I said, but my eyes remained on Addy’s sparkling blue ones. Electricity crackled between us, and she gave me a small smile.
“I’ll be looking forward to it,” she said.
For a minute, we stayed just like that. Aldo eventually broke the moment by barking out a laugh. “Look at you two lovebirds. I feel like a third wheel. I’m going to have to get a date for this trip.”
“You do that,” I said, sighing as I withdrew my hand from hers. “We’re going to need someone to keep you busy.”
“Like Jenny Caviali kept you busy during our high-school trip to Livigno?” He snorted, turning his gaze on Addy before I could stop him from telling the story. “Jenny followed him around like a loyal lap dog for the whole week. It got so bad he had to start hiding from her.”
“Really?” She laughed, her head dropping back slightly. “Why would you bring someone on our trip you have to hide from?”
“Marco took her on that trip. He helped her raise the money to go and everything, but then realized she wanted a lot more from him than that.”
“I wasn’t ready for a commitment.” I glared at my brother, but he laughed it off.
“You’re still not ready for a commitment.” He smirked. “I like you with Addy here, though. I must tell her more embarrassing stories about you.”
“Yes.” She clapped her hands, angling her body toward him. “Tell me all the embarrassing stories. Having to hide from a girl isn’t nearly embarrassing enough.”
“It is when you learn she was two years younger and tiny. He just didn’t have the balls to let her down.”
“That’s actually pretty sweet,” Addy said. “I need embarrassing, not sweet.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled on a wicked grin as he rubbed his palms together. “I can do embarrassing. Has he told you about the twin switches we used to pull?”
I groaned out loud. “I didn’t even tell her about my twin before today. Don’t go there.”
Aldo wholeheartedly ignored my request, letting out a raucous laugh before he launched into stories that should have remained in the past. Thankfully, he kept it pretty tame.
Addy laughed almost all the way through. The two of them were getting along like a house on fire, and it made me happier than it should have.
At least it did until Aldo brought up our mother. “You know, I really like you. Our Mama isn’t going to, though. It’s a real pity.”
Her gaze flickered over to mine, her eyes full of questions I didn’t want to answer. My only option was to play it off like it was nothing and hope to God that Aldo followed my lead.
“Mama doesn’t even know Addy. Don’t scare her off just yet.” I slotted my last bite of pasta and swallowed before dabbing my mouth with my napkin. “Now, where do you guys want to go skiing when we go on our trip?”
Addy gave me another questioning look but went with my very obvious attempt at changing the subject. My brother caught on as well but followed her lead.
It was late by the time we left the restaurant, but I wasn’t ready for my day with Addy to end yet. Aldo hugged her goodbye like she was his new best friend, then gave us a wave before heading home.
“How about another drink at my place?” I asked when we climbed into my car. I’d switched from wine to water after dinner, and since my place was close by, I wasn’t worried about driving.
Addy’s cheeks were flushed, but her balance and speech were unaffected again. It seemed the girl really could handle her wine. She nodded at me while keeping her eyes on the city lights as we climbed the hill to my house.
“I want to get in the hot tub,” she said once we walked in. Turning to face me while walking backward to the stairs, she reached for the belt cinched around her waist. “But I didn’t bring a suit.”
She stopped when her heels hit the bottom step, her lids lowered as she flashed me a coy smile. That was all it took to shut off all the worries in my mind and get my head in the game being played right in front of me.
I stalked up to her and wound my arms around her waist before running them up her back. When my fingers hit the metal of her zipper, I
