I buttoned up the pants, irritated that they fit and that I couldn’t use that as an excuse to throw on something Italian.
At least we knew how to make clothes.
“Oooo, sexy,” Andi’s chipper voice said from the doorway just as I was starting to button up the painfully uncomfortable white shirt.
I glared at her through the mirror. “Your idea, I take it?”
Her eyebrows crooked as she bit her lip to suppress a grin. “What? You don’t like?”
“I don’t.”
“Not a fan of the arts? I mean, come on, the movie’s a classic!”
I sighed and continued buttoning the shirt. “I get it. This is my punishment for last night.”
“And what exactly happened last night?” She pulled her hands behind her back and moved farther into the room, her dress swishing with each movement.
“I threatened to off you…” I smiled into the mirror. “…like a family pet.”
She clapped. “Bravo, he can be trained.”
“So… you’re either going to torture me or kick my ass the whole time we’re married? This what I have to look forward to? Horribly made clothing and sneak attacks where I land on my ass?”
“The attack wasn’t sneak.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re just pissed I got you on your ass.”
“Was there something you needed?” I jerked at the necktie and nearly hung myself in the process.
She rolled her eyes “Here let me.”
“I don’t need your help,” I said through clenched teeth.
“You almost committed accidental suicide.” She grabbed the tie and pulled my body closer to hers. “The least I could do is assist.”
“Ha.”
We were nearly chest-to-chest. I could smell her perfume; it was flowery but not overbearing. If I wasn’t so pissed, I’d be tempted to lean in farther, but she was the enemy, she was the reason for everything going so horribly wrong.
Her soft hands glided against the fabric of the tie; my body jumped in response. I had to tell myself it was only because I hadn’t been with a girl in so long.
Days had turned into months.
Months had turned into a damn year.
It was a hell of a dry spell.
At first, I’d blamed Mo Abandonato… the girl I’d wanted but lost to Tex… and then I couldn’t use that excuse anymore; it progressed into just not feeling anything for anyone at any time.
It was like I had lost the ability to care.
The ability to even lust.
So the fact that my body responded to her? Just pissed me off all the more.
I jerked away once she was finished and snorted as I gazed at my ridiculous reflection in the mirror. “How is it fair that you look like a princess and I look like the punchline of a joke?”
Andi’s smile faltered. She hung her head. “You really think I look like a princess?”
“Yes,” a foreign-sounding voice said from the door. “I’d say you do.”
I quickly turned around, ready to defend her, ready to fight because I knew we hadn’t invited anyone outside the family, but Andi was already walking toward him, and then she was running, and then she was in his damn arms.
“Absolutely stunning.” He kissed her cheek.
I damn near bit my tongue. “Who the hell are you?”
The man set Andi down and glared at me. We were matched for strength and height. He was around six foot two and had dark features. His eyes almost looked black, his hair just as dark, but his teeth were so white it was nearly blinding, and he had dimples.
I officially wanted to end his life.
And cut the dimples from his cheeks.
Andi rescued him from certain death when she moved in front of him, still holding his hand. “This is Nicolai Blazik.”
“Shit.” I rubbed the back of my head. “The Doctor?”
“The famous doctor,” she said, emphasizing famous a bit too much for my liking.
The guy was a freaking celebrity. Women wanted him, men wanted to be him, and I was pretty sure that he owned half of the United States, or at least that’s what the rumor was.
“Pleasure,” he crooned from behind her.
“Likewise,” I hissed.
“This—” Andi moved over to my side and grabbed my arm. “—is my fiancé, Sergio.”
“Cute name.” Nicolai chuckled.
Shit, he was just asking for me to shoot him. Did he have any idea what I did for a living? What I would do to him if he pushed me too far?
I gripped Andi harder then wrapped my arm around her. “I would say thank you, but I’m pretty sure you didn’t mean it as a compliment.”
“I didn’t.”
“If you don’t mind Nicolai…” I turned to Andi and kissed the top of her head. “…my future wife and I were in the middle of something.”
His eyes flashed. “Fine. Andi, I’ll see you downstairs. And Sergio?”
I tilted my head.
“You hurt her, I cut out your heart.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh, doc, I’d love to see you try.”
He bit out a curse before walking out of the room.
“Pissing match, party of two,” Andi said under her breath.
I hadn’t realized I was still holding onto her, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to let go.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to mine. “So… you were saying I looked like a princess.”