Sergio hadn’t made it far.
He was sitting on the lower branch of a giant tree, his legs dangling in the air; it made him look playful, approachable.
“So…” I braced my hands behind my back and strode forward. “…are you pissed?”
“Am I pissed?” he repeated in a bored tone. “Yes and no.”
“Ooh, a puzzle.” I tried to climb to the first branch but wasn’t tall enough or strong enough to pull myself up.
He watched me struggle.
I kicked the stump.
After a few more minutes where he watched me attempt to levitate into the tree, he hoisted me into the air and placed me next to him. “Better?”
“Yes,” I gasped, my breathing heavy. “So, you’re pissed because I kept something from you?”
“It’s stupid.”
“What is?”
Sergio chewed his lower lip. “My reason for being pissed.”
“Try me.”
He turned to face me, his legs straddling the tree. “Alright…” His blue eyes flashed with something, not anger, but something just as intense. “I’m angry because I wasn’t the first choice.”
“Pride cometh before the fall,” I chanted.
He snorted and let out a breath. “Told you it was stupid.”
“And it is.” I reached for his hand and didn’t let go. “Because had I been given a choice, it would have been you.”
“Before or after the ass-iness.”
“Before.” I nodded. “Definitely before. Russians love a good challenge. Hell, you’re like my catnip. You rarely smile, you get drunk for no reason, and you like to shoot things. My hero.” I batted my eyelashes.
“Too bad I hate vodka.”
“I won’t tell Dad.”
“Oh good. Maybe he won’t shoot us next time he sees us then.”
I bit back a grin. “I didn’t tell you, not because I was trying to hide anything from you…” I licked my lips. “Have you read your folder?”
“Shit, not you too. How the hell do you even—” He paused. “Right, you were in my office.”
“Guilty.” I winced. “But you should probably read your folder before you go getting all pissed off at everyone.”
“What if I don’t want to?” He squinted. “What if what’s inside of that folder makes me feel worse than I already do?”
“Could you?”
“Could I what?”
“Feel worse?”
“There’s always a chance.” He squeezed my hand. “Are we having a heart to heart right now?”
“Yup.”
“Shit.”
“You love it.” I tugged his hand hard enough so that he would lean forward. “I’ll even let you kiss me.”
“Oh, you’ll let me, huh?” His grin was wide, unapologetic. I loved the way his eyes almost seemed to darken when he looked at me. He got this lazy, seductive look on his face that had me feeling weak in the knees.
“Uh-huh,” I breathed, my voice airy.
“Hmm… I think I like this side of you Andi, falling on your own sword and all that… just to make me feel better.”
“Well, you did jump out of a plane with me today, so basically we’re stuck with each other.”
“Yes, skydiving does mean forever,” Sergio said with a serious nod. “Good thing we’re already married.”
“Right?” I laughed.
He pulled me onto his lap. My legs wrapped around his waist as our mouths touched briefly, for maybe two seconds, before he pulled back. “You’re really pretty.”
“Wh-what?” All joking left my system. “Since when do you give compliments?”
“Since now.” His voice was raspy. He tucked a piece of my blond hair behind my ear and cupped my face. “You’re really, really pretty. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before.”
“You’re saying it now.”
“And I’ll say it every day.”
Until I die, I wanted to add, but it seemed too morose and depressing, so instead I added. “Until forever?”
“Until forever,” he repeated, his lips meeting mine briefly before he kissed my jaw and then placed a hot open-mouthed kiss to my neck.
“Get a room,” a male voice called out.
Sergio grunted, “Bastard,” under his breath as he broke our kiss.
Phoenix was standing by the back door. “Sorry to interrupt the special moment, but food’s getting cold.”
“So eat it!” Sergio yelled back.
“Families eat together.” Phoenix smirked. “Come on, Sergio, get out of the tree. Andi won’t let you fall.”
“You’re not funny!”
“He’s hilarious,” I added.
Sergio shot daggers my way. “People used to cut themselves in his presence. Believe me when I say, this is new.”
“I know.” It slipped before I knew it.
Sergio paused. “Just how long have you known Phoenix, Andi?”
I swallowed and looked down. “Truth?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“I’ve known of him for years. I didn’t actually meet him until we were at Eagle Elite, but I had his background memorized.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sergio
I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT ANDI HAD SAID. Just how long had she been watching us? And what more did she know about our family? Hell, what more did she know about me?