“Max, you really shouldn’t be messing around with this guy. He’s bad news. You could get into a lot of trouble. The kind that Dad can’t bail you out of.” Or worse. Max could end up dead.
Davit was part of the Armenian mob. Nothing they did was aboveboard. Dad had expressed interest in going into business with that family once, and Leo had shut him down hard.
“Trust me, no one can touch me when I’m with Davit. Anyway, now that we’re back on talking terms, how’s your vacation? Is it weird hanging out up there by yourself?”
He wouldn’t know. “I’m having a great time.”
“No shit? Alone?”
“Um…”
“Hot damn, you found yourself a new woman already. You dog. I’m so proud. What’s she like? What’s her name? Is she—?”
“Do not ask if she’s good in bed.”
“Okay, fine. What’s her name?”
“Shannon.”
“Shannon, huh? Is she anyone important?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
Max laughed. “It really is going to work out that I’m the new favorite, isn’t it? Because I do care about that stuff, just like our parents do.”
That was true. Money, power, prestige— it was all exceedingly important to his parents. And to Max. Leo supposed it had always been important to him, too, but not on the same level. He supported the business, did what he was obligated to do because it was the right thing to do. Because it was what his family expected.
Honestly, though? He didn’t care. Not the way he needed to in order to commit to marrying a woman he didn’t love—hell, he didn’t even like Bridgette. When his vacation was over, he’d go back to the fold, but there would be new rules. Starting with his personal life.
That was now off-limits. He would make the decisions about what he did when he wasn’t on the clock. And that included continuing to see Shannon after their little vacation was over.
He’d certainly done a one-eighty, hadn’t he? When he met her, he swore he wanted nothing but a good time, a temporary one at that.
But there was something about Shannon, and it had nothing to do with fabulous sex.
Okay, that definitely played a part, but seriously, it was her. Something about her drew him like a moth to a flame. The more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted with her. The more he learned about her, the more he wanted to know.
Did she feel the same?
“So tell me more about Shannon,” Max asked.
Leo shook his head, shaking off the niggling worry that when it was time to check out of the quaint B&B, Shannon may walk out of his life for good. Hell, he didn’t even know her last name. They hadn’t exchanged numbers. It wasn’t necessary when they were spending every waking—and sleeping—moment together.
“I don’t think so,” Leo said. “The last thing I want is you and your buddies to come sniffing around her like a pack of horny dogs.”
Max laughed, as if Leo had told a joke instead of insulted him.
“Okay, okay, I’ll let you get back to your honeymoon.” He barked out another laugh. “Just call Dad, will you? Let him know you’re cool with me marrying Bridgette. He wants to hold off rescheduling everything until you give your blessing. Thinks there’s still a chance you might change your mind.”
“Trust me, there isn’t. Even if Shannon weren’t in the picture, I’d never go back to Bridgette. I learned my lesson. If I’m going to get married, it will be to someone I love. And someone who loves me back.”
Max made retching noises. “Romance doesn’t make the world go ’round, bro.”
It was making his spin at the moment.
“Bye, Max.”
“Have fun, Leo.” And then the call was disconnected.
He stood there in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his phone, debating whether to call his father now and get it over with. Except he knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Dad would try to talk him around, and then they’d likely get into an argument.
A knock on the door drew him out of his musings. He found Shannon standing in the hall, her lithe body wrapped in a silky, thigh-length robe. He suspected she wore nothing underneath, and suddenly he craved her all over again.
“Hey,” she said, shyly. “Everything okay?”
He opened the door and beckoned her in. “It is now.”
She smiled wider, and he drew her into his arms, hugging her to him and ravishing her mouth.
When they finally pried their lips apart, she was breathless. “Oh my.”
He stroked a lock of hair out of her face. “Just wanted you to be clear about how I feel about you.”
She arched one brow, twisted out of his embrace, and began wandering around his room. “Wow, this is far bigger than mine. Why didn’t we stay here last night?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t need the space, did you?”
Her lips quirked. “Not at all.” She strode to the French doors that opened onto a private balcony. “Although this is definitely nice. And it’s covered too.” She glanced at him over her shoulder, a vision standing there with the dull, rain-soaked light illuminating her like an angel.
This wasn’t the first time he’d thought of her in terms of a celestial being.
“We should order breakfast and mimosas and sit out here. I love the sound of the rain when it’s a steady downpour like this.”
He didn’t care what they did so long as they were together. He dialed Maureen and asked for exactly what Shannon had requested. The proprietor promised to have something whipped up in about thirty minutes.
He stepped up behind Shannon and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against his body. “We have thirty
