I snorted, pulled out another chair for myself, and sat down. Sighing loudly and rolling his eyes, he sat in the chair he’d pulled out. His shiny electric blue shirt was open at the collar which left the Greek-lettered tattoo on his throat visible. It was the only thing that shattered the image of straight-laced executive he liked to project. That and the five-o-clock shadow along his strong jaw. Damn him anyway for being so uncompromisingly attractive.
“So…” he began.
I narrowed my eyes warningly.
“Would this be a good time to find out why you don’t like me so much?”
My lips twisted. “It’s not really mandatory for people to like you, you do know that?”
“Yeah, but what with having Morgan in common, I thought we could at least try to get along.”
My brow furrowed. “Are you threatening me?”
His ultramarine eyes widened and he reared back as if I’d slapped him. “Why would you say that?”
“You told me we need to get along because of my brother. Are you gonna fire him if I’m not pleasant to you?”
“For Pete’s sake!” He threw up his hands as if I was the problem. “I was merely saying we could try a little harder to get along. Why are you so suspicious of me?”
“Why do you have my brother on such a short leash?”
He threw back his head and laughed as if I’d said the funniest thing on earth. Then he leaned forward, favoring me with the full Domenic Cliff Blue Eyes of Doom. “He’s my head of security. It’s his job to be near me,” he said slowly as if I was special or something.
I mean I’m not dumb. I know what my brother does for this guy. I also know there’s more to Domenic Cliff than meets the eye. I just want to know how deep he has my brother in his shit. “Really? And what’s he keeping you so secure from anyway? Angry exes?”
He shrugged nonchalantly, massive shoulders moving under Armani with a fluidity that said he was quite capable of crushing anyone who got in his way. Hell, he was more jacked than Morgan was. He did not look like a man who needed a personal bodyguard.
“Do you have some objection to your brother’s job or is it just me you don’t like him working for?”
“This isn’t a job. He works for you; he lives with you… it’s a cult.”
“I’m sorry if you don’t have any friends, so you might not know this, but when people like each other, sometimes they just hang out without having to be paid to do so.”
Okay. That stung.
He’s right. I don’t have many friends. Doesn’t mean I can’t spot a dysfunctional relationship when I see one. Willing the heat away from my cheeks, I looked away, pursing my lips.
“Hey…” his voice was soft, apologetic. I forced myself to look back at him because I didn’t want him to think he’d hurt my feelings. “I’m sor-”
“Can the fake concern. I ain’t buying it.”
Morgan took a seat between us, already frowning at me. He placed a slice of cake in front of me; the bastard. “Nico…” He said my name like an admonishment and I scoffed under my breath. Domenic sure had my brother under his thumb.
“What? It’s true though.” I forked a large piece of chocolate heaven and put it in my mouth, savoring the taste with my eyes closed.
“Nico, could I ask you a favor?”
I didn’t want to be difficult. Honestly, I didn’t. But this never-ending campaign of my brother’s to get me and Domenic to get along was old. Why couldn’t we just agree to disagree on everything?
I opened my eyes and gave him a long sidelong glance. “What is it?”
“We’ve had a long day. It’s Sunday, and we just came from the office. Can we all get along for five minutes, so I can relax?”
Of course, he had to make me feel bad. I subsided in my chair, too high on chocolate goodness to really maintain my high dudgeon. “Okay then.”
“Great.” He put his elbows on the table and leaned confidingly towards me. “So boss man here has got to find a bride-to-be by like, week’s end. Someone respectable, kind, loving… do you happen to know anyone like that?”
“What-?”
“Dude-!”
Domenic and I spoke at the same time, my face paling while his went all red. Morgan grinned evilly at us both.
“What?” He looked at Domenic with wide eyes, spreading his hands out innocently. “She’s a respectable girl. Might know other respectable girls. I thought I’d ask.”
“Why do you need a respectable bride? Are you recruiting more members for your cult?” Maybe my voice held a bit more snark than was called for. What can I say? That took me by surprise. The thought of Domenic snaring some innocent young thing into his web of lies didn’t sit well with me.
“No, Nico. He has a high-profile appointment pending and they’d prefer if he was married.” Morgan, of course, jumped to Domenic’s defense like a lap dog.
I didn’t even try to hide the incredulity in my laughter. “What? Don’t tell me you’re running for office or some shit? Don’t you think we have enough unqualified people in power?”
“No, I am not running for office. Tech Dyne is offering me the position of CEO but with strings attached. My competition is an Ivy Leaguer with a family. Right side of the tracks. I need to level the playing field as much as I can. Being married to a good woman will do that.”
I blinked, not having expected to actually be given an explanation. And I must admit that the notion of him having to even the playing field got to me. I had my own Ivy Leaguer to deal with –goddamned Danna Powell– so I could relate.
I don’t want to relate to Domenic Cliff, goddamnit!
“So why’d you leave it so late?”
It was his turn to blink in surprise. “Huh?”
“Why did you wait until
