“That’s too bad. At least you got something good out of it.”
“Yeah. He took the rejection kinda hard, but he’ll get over it.”
“What did you tell him?” I asked.
“The truth. We have nothing in common, just good sex. So he suggested we keep having sex.”
I chuckled. “Of course he did.”
“But I told him I didn’t want to get attached to him, so it was easier if we just went our separate ways. He wasn’t happy about that, but he accepted it.”
I liked the way Vanessa was real about everything. Nothing with her was complicated. She saw the world in black and white, and if she didn’t see something working out, she just moved on. Nothing was personal with her. She also didn’t settle for something unless it was absolutely what she wanted. It was another reason I respected her. “It’s hard to find the perfect guy.”
“It is. But don’t worry, you’ll find someone much better than Conway someday.”
Conway walked by at that very moment and gave her a glare. “You’ve been here for less than five minutes, and you’re already annoying me.”
“It usually doesn’t take me that long,” she said with a sigh. “Looks like I’m losing my touch.”
I chuckled because I couldn’t help it. Vanessa was the only person in the world who picked on Conway and got away with it. I didn’t even give him that much shit.
Conway shifted his glare to me.
I shut my mouth quickly, hiding my smile.
Conway kept walking then picked up the last bag and took it to the car.
Carter moved to the passenger side and opened the back door. “Get in, ladies.”
“Muse is sitting up front with me,” Conway said as he shoved the keys into his pocket. He was in tight jeans and a green V-neck, the muscles of his arms looking veined and corded in the hot sun.
“Who?” Vanessa blurted.
Carter grinned. “It’s his little pet name…”
“I mean, Sapphire,” Conway quickly corrected. “She’s sitting with me.”
“Uh, no,” Vanessa said. “I’m not sitting next to Carter for five hours.”
“Hey,” Carter said. “What the hell did I do to you?”
“No offense,” Vanessa said quickly. “But I’d rather sit next to my friend.”
Vanessa was the only friend I had, and it meant a lot to me that she viewed me in the same way. It didn’t seem like she only liked me because I was dating her brother. We got along pretty well.
Conway dropped the argument. “Fine.”
“But I’m not calling her Muse,” Vanessa said. “What’s that supposed to mean anyway?”
We piled into the SUV and buckled our safety belts.
Conway never answered her question.
Carter did. “It means he’s psychotically obsessed with her.”
“Since she’s the only woman I’ve ever seen him with, I already figured that out.” Vanessa leaned over the center console and immediately touched the radio, changing it to a station with pop music.
Conway swatted her hand away. “Chill out, alright?”
“I don’t want to listen to your stupid rock music,” Vanessa said. “You have the worst taste in music.”
“No.” Conway pushed her back and blocked her way with his arm. “I have the worst taste in sisters. Now sit back there and have girl talk with your friend.”
Vanessa sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. Gold earrings hung from her lobes, and they reflected the light anytime she slightly moved. “How do you put up with him?” she asked me. “Is he this bossy and intense with you?”
I hid my smile because she had no idea what kind of man her brother truly was. I could see Conway’s eyes in the rearview mirror as he watched me, waiting for my response. “Yes…but in a romantic way.”
* * *
We were an hour away from the house. We drove through central Italy, seeing the countryside and endless wineries. There was so much beauty to the land that I couldn’t process what I was seeing. No picture or photograph would do it justice.
“So, when are you guys going to have kids?” Vanessa said. “I can’t wait to be an aunt.”
“Vanessa.” Conway’s sharp tone said everything else he didn’t say with words.
“It’s just a question. You’re telling me you didn’t talk about that stuff before you moved in together?” Vanessa asked incredulously. “So when are you going to have kids?” She turned her face to me.
Conway had talked about children once before, but it was a general conversation. The idea of us having children together was never on the table. Right now, we were just two people who slept in the same bed and spent all their time together. I couldn’t label us in any other way. But I had to say something to get Vanessa off the subject. “Sometime after we get married.”
“And when will that be?” Vanessa asked.
“Vanessa.” Conway said her name a second time, this time his tone angrier.
“What?” she asked incredulously. “I can’t ask her any personal questions?”