That familiar tight feeling in my chest was making itself at home again. I took discreet deep breaths. If I didn’t get it under control right then, my entire day would be out of whack.
“Sometimes, I can’t imagine what it’s like, either. And then I realize I’m living in the middle of it,” I said.
He walked around the kitchen island to me and pulled on the belt of my bathrobe. It fell open, inviting his warm hands to my breasts.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he said.
“Then shut up and do it.”
Just as his lips met mine, there was a loud throat clearing from the bedroom doorway. Damn if Gio wasn’t standing there in his unclothed glory, the smooth mounds of muscle all over his body catching the sun streaming in my windows. I followed the perfect splay of chest hair to the thin line over his tummy, to his uncircumcised cock, which was at rest but nonetheless gorgeous.
I pulled my robe closed and poured a cup of coffee for him, too. “You’d better put on some clothes, you brute, or the three of us will never get out of the house this morning,” I said.
He grabbed me by the
waist and kissed me deeply, while Ash rolled his eyes and smiled.
Damn, I was one lucky girl.
“How was your call with Sumner?” I asked.
“About as you would expect. Weary and sad,” Gio said, shaking his head. He headed back into the bedroom and started to pull on his clothes.
I plopped down on the edge of the bed to watch.
Ash stood in the doorway.
“Mia cara, what is this about selling your gallery? Surely you know that’s completely pazzo.”
I twisted my robe’s tie. “After last night…I don’t know. I mean, it’s really left a bad taste in my mouth. And not only that, but my ex’s name is on the lease, and it looks like that could be an issue. I found out last night right before the party. I didn’t want to say anything then.”
Ash looked pissed. “What is wrong with that asshole? He can’t force you to close.”
I was blown away by the guys’ support. I hadn’t known them for all that long—well, not intimately anyway—and they totally had my back. Like we’d been friends forever. Or lovers forever.
“You guys. Thank you. I love your support.”
Gio pulled on his jacket, kissed my forehead, and headed for the door. “We know, cara, you must make your own decisions. You are a smart, strong woman. It’s what we love about you.”
Love?
Ash’s head snapped in Gio’s direction, and they exchanged a look.
What the hell was going on? I looked from one to the other.
“Let’s talk later, bella. I just got off the phone with Sumner. He was up all night taking care of Smith’s affairs. I want to get to the office to see what I can do to help.”
“I’ll head out with you, Gio,” Ash said, looking at his watch. “I want to get in touch with anyone Smith might have had meetings with.” His last few words broke up, and he struggled to hold on to his composure.
I ran over to him.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.” I kissed him, and then Gio.
“Look,” he said, “let’s all of us get together tonight. We need to talk about some things.”
All of us? Like all five of us?
“Sure. Let’s do it,” I said.