Coming Home (Morelli Family 6)

“Beer?”

“Not a beer guy.”

This makes me feel warm, too. Neither is Mateo. Nodding once, I head to the bar to pour him something Mateo would like.

—

“You’re not going to eat?”

“I ate.”

Vince looks pointedly at my plate. “You took maybe two bites. Did you not like it?”

“I’m not hungry, okay?”

“Jesus Christ.” Jessica looks over at Vince, looking vaguely aggravated. “Who cares? If she doesn’t want to eat, let her starve.”

I don’t ordinarily relish being disliked, but there’s just something about this girl that rubs me the wrong way. I can’t bite back a smile.

Rafe isn’t lounging like me and Jessica, but he is sitting on one of the loungers like Vince while he eats his food. “If there’s any chance you two are going to rip each other’s hair out, I want to formally request you jump in the pool first.”

Vince shoots Rafe a look of annoyance.

Jessica rolls her eyes, but Rafe’s words seem to smooth her feathers. Now she sighs and relaxes from her bitchy stance. “God, I’m tense. Would either of you sexy gentlemen like to give a girl a back rub?”

Neither man moves or speaks.

Jessica dramatically thumps her head against the back of the lounger. “I don’t know why I even come over here.”

“Neither do I,” I put in, cheerfully. “You can leave anytime. If I were you, I’d take advantage.”

“You have nothing to complain about,” she snaps at me. “For Christ’s sake, I’m sleeping with an old, unfeeling psychopath for all this shit. Vince is worried because you didn’t eat enough. You’re a spoiled bitch and I don’t know why he even wants you.”

“Easy,” Vince says, frowning at Jessica.

I hold up my hand to halt him and sit up, shaking my head. Jessica doesn’t sit up—which is probably good, because I really don’t want to get in a catfight. “You are choosing to be here. You really don’t see the difference? If you don’t like Ben, leave him. I didn’t choose to come here. I am already in a relationship. I have a great relationship with a wonderful man whom I love. I was brought here against my will. You and I are not the same.”

“Jesus Christ.” Vince stands, shaking his head. “Yeah, he’s a real fucking saint, that Mateo.”

Jessica doesn’t even know, but she shakes her head and agrees. “I’m sure he’s an asshole if he likes you. You’re awful.”

I choke on a laugh, but now that I’ve pissed Vince off he’s storming off. Jessica sees her opening and follows him.

“Good luck,” I call after her, just to be an asshole.

She glares back at me and continues to follow Vince.

Shaking my head, I look back at Rafe. At least he’s still here. Now that Vince and Jessica are gone, we have our first moment alone since he arrived.

At least he looks amused and not put off by the momentary lapse. “Sorry about that,” I murmur, moving my legs to that side of the lounger so I can sit facing him. “I’m not normally a catty bitch.”

“Just a faithless slut?” he asks, smiling warmly.

I roll my eyes. “Remember that talk we had?”

“Not until I’m fucking you.” He shakes his head as if disappointed in himself. “I can’t believe I forgot.”

“I’m sure you’re terribly remorseful.”

“Not at all.”

I smile, easing back in the seat. “So, what kind of badassery do you do here in Vegas?”

That charming smile is back. “Why? So you can tell me how much better it is in Chicago?”

“Everything’s better in Chicago,” I inform him. “Vegas is the worst place in the world.”

“Nah, you haven’t seen Vegas,” he tells me. “If you weren’t on lockdown, I’d take you out, show you around.”

“I don’t think Mateo would like that,” I say, before I can think better of it.

“Well, he’s not here, is he?”

My gaze drops, the playfulness waning for me. Playing around is one thing, but I don’t enjoy even joking about disloyalty to Mateo.

I’m not always cautious when I need to be, but I know I should be careful with Rafe. In the very limited time we’ve spent together, I’ve flirted more than I probably should when there’s no one around to keep me safe.

Seeming to sense he crossed a line, he eases off and changes the subject. “You know, Golddigger Barbie has a point.”

“About me being awful?” I ask, grasping onto the chance to return to lightheartedness.

“About everything else. I know it’s not Chicago,” he teases, rolling his eyes, “but Vegas can be a pretty fun place if you let yourself enjoy it. Vince went to a lot of trouble to get you here, and I get the impression you could wrap him around your finger without much effort.”

“I don’t want to wrap him around my finger. I want him to go away.”

“How many relationships have you had?”

This question surprises me and I can’t keep it off my face. “Only two. Vince and Mateo. Why? That’s a weird question.”