Chapter 29 #2
“I’ll let you be the judge of that.” We’re standing hand in hand, facing one another.
No one at the party has realized it’s him, and we take this moment to relish being alone in a sea of people.
Laughter drifts across the deck. He cups my face, eyes gazing at me, deep and sincere and is about to say something when we’re interrupted.
“Well, well, well.” From my periphery, I see someone just behind Zach, but Zach doesn’t flinch; he continues to look at me.
I’m the one who springs apart, only to realize that it’s Dex and another brother, I think.
Someone who looks very much like Dex. This isn’t Jett.
By their sides are two glamorous, gorgeous women.
I do a double take. Not because they look like twins.
They don’t. They’re just… gorgeous. Hollywood movie star gorgeous.
Long luscious locks, dark eyes, olive skin.
“My brothers and their girlfriends,” Zach murmurs quietly, before acknowledging the women with kisses on the cheek, and the men with hugs and handshakes.
“You’ve met Dex,” he says to me as Dex approaches.
“Maya,” he says warmly, without any of his usual swagger. “So nice to see you again.”
“Nice to see you, Dexter.”
“This is Rio.” Zach introduces the other brother, from the secret family.
“Enchanted.” Rio boldly takes my hand and kisses it lightly. “It is good to finally meet you.” He strikes me as effortlessly smooth, his dark hair slicked back and confidence oozing from every pore. When he smiles, a deep dimple cuts into his chin.
“We’ve never met,” I remark, stating the obvious.
“I didn’t have the pleasure of growing up on the Knight Estate,” he replies, dryly.
“Let’s not ruin tonight by talking about family issues,” Dex says, interjecting. “Let’s just enjoy this evening, especially while the old man is away.”
“These two are so useless with introductions.” One of the gorgeous women steps forward. I can barely take my eyes off her. Her eyes are done up all smoky, like mine, and her dark hair falls in sleek waves over one shoulder. She wears bright red lipstick, like a statement. This woman has balls.
“I’m Raquel.”
“And I’m Dani,” the other woman says. Bright green eyes meet mine. “We’ve only just heard about you, and it’s lovely to finally meet you, Maya.”
The heiress.
Don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous.
I suppress a nervous chuckle. “Zach has told me about you all, but it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
I hear laughter and turn to see Jett. He looks happy, and he’s even smiling.
He’s walking towards us with a young, gorgeous, woman who I assume is Cari, and a little girl.
That must be Brooke. She’s holding Cari’s hand, and what looks like a soft toy in the other.
This isn’t how I remember Jett. He was moody and mercurial back in his teens, but now he seems softer, talking to the young woman.
Auburn hair, younger than him and his assistant.
She must be Cari.
She catches me looking, and rushes in front of Jett, still holding Brooke’s hand. There are so many names and faces to remember. I worry that I’ll get them all mixed up.
“Maya?” Cari slips me a warm smile.
“This is Cari,” Zach says. “She has a florist shop in a very nice café. Cari, meet Maya.”
Cari and I acknowledge each other warmly.
“You should come and see me sometime,” Cari suggests, and mentions the address of her shop. I make a mental note.
“And this little munchkin is Brooke.” Cari beams down at the little girl holding her hand.
“Hi,” Brooke says, turning all shy. “This is Elephant.” She holds up a tattered cuddly toy. I bend down so that I’m at her level.
“Nice to meet you, Elephant.” I’m trying to crouch as elegantly as I can in my heels and dress. I straighten up again. “So many names and faces,” I say to Cari.
“It can be daunting, I know, but try not to worry about it. We’re a nice bunch. Harmless and friendly. Not sure if I can say that about the men.” She winks at Jett.
“Remember Jett?” Zach asks me. “You remember Maya, don’t you?” he says to his brother.
Jett looks stern. Like he’s really not pleased to see me.
“I do. Nice to meet you.” We shake hands, formal and careful as we stare at one another in silence.
I remember him as the cold, older brother.
Sometimes I wonder—in fact, I’m certain of it—that had their mother still been around, had her tragic ending never happened, these boys might be different, less damaged, more open.
“Enzo!” Zach motions to a smartly dressed man standing nearby. He comes over.
“This is Enzo, the youngest of the Italian Knights,” Zach says. We nod at each other in acknowledgement.
Another man joins us, and I realize with a start that it’s Matteo.
“Oh, hi! Good to see you again,” I exclaim, truly happy to see him. He saved me.
“All good?” Matteo asks cryptically.
“All good,” I reply. “Didn’t hear a peep. Thank you so much.”
He nods, like him saving my life that night, fixing Cecil’s laptop so quickly, was no big deal.
Introductions over, I feel myself relax again. Everyone starts to talk amongst themselves. Zach and I hold hands. Dex boasts about the guest list. Rio mocks the music choice. Jett calls it excessive. Jokes and insults fly.
City lights blur as the night unfolds. Zach’s hand moves to the small of my back, grounding me as the yacht eases away from the pier, gliding smoothly across the dark river.
His brothers are warm and curious, and I see now that I had nothing to be nervous about. The women are lovely, and I already have a feeling that I’d get along with them. Standing in their midst, I don’t feel like I don’t belong.
There was always a difference between Zach’s world and mine, and I never longed to be a part of his, here I am, and it’s not so bad.
“Why don’t you take Brooke over to the entertainer?” Dex suggests to Jett.
“You have a children’s entertainer?” Zach looks bemused.
“We thought of everything,” Rio answers, drink in hand, one arm thrown lazily around Raquel’s waist.
I’m secretly pleased that the brothers organized this party for Zach.
“It’s a great party,” I comment, looking around.
It’s not a small event thrown together quickly.
This looks like an event that took careful thought and planning.
I feel happy for Zach. For his brothers coming together like this for him.
Rio tilts his head, eyes on Zach. “We had to work hard to convince birthday boy. This dude didn’t want a party.”
“Could you believe it?” Dex says. “Bro wanted to sit at home and mope, just because he’s getting old.”
“I wonder what changed his mind,” Jett mutters dryly, loud enough that we all hear.
“Maybe the old man being away did it.” This from Matteo.
Nobody realizes how much I smile with relief at that.