Christmas with the Beast (The Fiore Family 1)

“My body’s fucked up too. I have scars over half my body.” I continue my pity party, standing and walking around the room to remind them that I’m not normal at all. My dogs follow me around as I move, never getting under my feet.

Fabio sighs and nods. “You have a point. You know what? You should just forget about Isabelle. I’ll keep her in the kitchen the entire time, and she won’t have to deal with you at all and then you’ll be happy.”

“You better not,” I roar, teeth gnashing, ready to slam his head against the wall.

“Hey, you’re a picky bastard. Do you want her or not? Several guys are itching to ask her out at work just for her cooking alone. Never mind that she’s beautiful.” Every word out of his mouth pulls on my jealousy, and I lose control.

Snarling like the beast I am, I grip him by his collar and nearly slam him against the wall.

“Chill out. I’m not interested in Isabelle. Hello—I could have asked her out any time in the four years that she’s worked for me.”

I release him and step back. “Sorry.”

“No. It’s cool, bro. I know you’re suffering, and I took it too far. Still, I’m telling you to go for it, even if you look like a haggard beast. When’s the last time you got a haircut?”

“Three months ago. Mama sent over Father’s barber.”

“I think it’s sexy, like just enough hair to sweep back but not enough to put in those ugly man buns.”

“Thanks, I’d hate to make a fashion faux pas.” I shake my head and give her a slight eye roll.

“That’s why you have me.” My cousin smiles, tilting her head and ignoring my grumpy attitude as always.

“I’m surprised you’re still not off the market, Mia.”

“Aw. Thank you. See? You need to just charm Isabelle out of her knickers and then lay down the pipe,” Mia says with a nod and a wink.

“Who have you been hanging around?” Fabio asks her. I think it’s too many movies lately, since she doesn’t go anywhere and often spends her weekdays here or at her parents.

“Whatever. How about you worry about impressing that pretty chef and not about my life?”

“Maybe one day.” It’s a lie I tell myself all the time. Maybe one day I’ll stroll into Fiore’s kitchen and pull her into my arms and beg her to be mine.

“Fine. So what about Christmas? Mom’s going to want it to look like Christmas here.” He’s right. She’s becoming more and more determined to get me out of my funk. Financially I’ve never been better; being a recluse gives me more time to work on numbers and options for deals to be made. It’s the emotional side that has everyone worried, and they’re not wrong. I’m fucked up in the head and the heart.

“Okay. Can you have a company come and do all the decorating?”

“Yes, but we’ll keep it classy. Everyone will come over Christmas Eve and have dinner and then be out of your hair by Boxing Day.”

“Sounds great to me. Are your parents coming?” I ask Mia.

“You know it. They’re coming on the twenty-fourth after they pick up Soren from the airport.”

“Great. Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I have to hit the pool.” Every day with the help of my guards and personal trainer, I work out in the pool. It’s only an hour, but my trainer leaves tomorrow for the holidays coming up.

Scooping up my cane, I walk down to the pool area to meet my physical trainer and change into my swim trunks.

“You’re looking a little fatigued. Are you sure you’d like to work out today?” Luis asks. He’s been with me the past two years and can tell when something is bothering me, but today it’s nothing but my heart aching for Isabelle.

“Yes, Luis. Come on. I need to build all the strength I can get.” If Mia isn’t shitting me, maybe I’ll finally build up the nerve to let Isabelle see me and decide if she could ever give me a chance.

“Luis, do you think I’m surly?”

“Like grouchy?” I nod. “Yes, but that’s to be expected. What you need is a woman to make it all better, even if it’s not the forever woman.” He tilts his head and rocks his hips. “Just to blow off a little steam.”

“No. There’s no one else but her.”

“Then I’d figure out a way to get her. You’re rich enough, so kidnapping would be the way I’d go.” He winks at me before jumping in the pool.

“That might not be a bad idea, Luis. Not a bad idea at all.” I do the same, diving in the deep end while contemplating a felony.

****

It’s been several days since I told Mia she could hire someone and my house looks like a beautiful, elegant display that I wish Isabelle could see and share with me. I never saw the workers come in and make it happen because Mia had them in and out, avoiding any place I might pop up, per my request. I don’t know what I would have done without her. It’s been so damn hard, and she makes life a little better.