Dante Sabatini. Billionaire, manwhore extraordinaire—and my new next-door neighbor. Two years ago, my sister married his brother. Over the years I’ve heard all about him and seen his pictures everywhere, yet between me away in school and Dante’s hectic... ahem, “social life,” we keep missing each other. Until the day I move in across the hall from him. Nothing could have prepared me for Dante Sabatini in person. He’s more gorgeous than a photo could do justice—and more of an a$$hole than I thought was humanly possible.
Oh yeah, and he wants me. Me? Plus size, virgin, twenty-four to his thirty-five, nobody to the models and actresses he’s been with. Seriously? Only the jerk refuses to take me up on my begging to learn everything I can under his expert tutelage. We’re family now, and there’s too much at stake when we crash and burn he insists.
This guy is giving me whiplash and driving me crazy. We’re only five hundred feet from each other, but we’re separated by so much more. All I want is some fun, no promises or hand-holding necessary. Once I get what I want, will we be able to survive everything that comes our way... or will we crash and burn, hurting the people we love the most as we do?
1
Bethany
I fling open the door and before I can even open my mouth, I’m seized in a hug that has me gasping for air. Alicia is five eight to my five four, which means my feet are dangling as she picks me up and swings me around.
“Missed you too,” I wheeze.
“I can’t believe it, it’s finally happening. You’re done. Finally! When you come home to Chicago, you get to stay.” Her squeal in my ear leaves my head ringing. I hear a crack, broken rib, broken rib.
“I can’t breathe, you broke a rib and punctured my lung. Call 911.”
With a huff she lets me go. “You are so dramatic. You should have been an actress instead of becoming a physician assistant.”
“Whatever.” A hand running over my middle reassures me my ribs are intact. “My ribs are bruised, thank you very much. I’m sure my unborn niece is unhappy with you too.” I pat her barely swollen tummy. “Where’s Cesare? And my nephew? Where the heck is Matteo?”
“Cesare got caught up with a client—he is massively sorry. I was never going to bring Matteo, I told you. He’s home with the nanny. The kid is a freaking tornado. He can’t sit still for five minutes, never mind an hour-long graduation ceremony. You’re coming home with me, anyway. You can spend the night or however long you want and get your fill of him. Although Cesare is betting you’ll run for the door after a few hours.”
I’m not really surprised Cesare isn’t here. He’s giving Alicia and me our space, being considerate of how close we are. While I would in no way have resented having him here, I’m grateful he understands. As far as me not being able to handle Matteo, whatever. Cesare thinks he’s knows everything. Okay, he usually does, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. “Rude. How much is the bet for?”
“Nothing you can get in on.” Alicia smiles wide.
“Ew, thank you for the imagery.” I notice the elderly man who drives my sister around the city. “Hi, Henry. You get the fun job of driving my car home for three and a half hours? I’m sorry. I would have been happy to do it myself.”
“No problem at all, young lady. I have an audiobook to keep me company, been looking forward to it all week.” I hand him the keys.
“It’s packed and the gas tank is full. You remember it’s the little red Corolla, right?”
“Yes, ma’am. Your sister pointed it out on our way in. Congratulations on your graduation.”
“Thanks, Henry. See you soon.”
“Be careful, Henry. Your cell is on and charged?”
Henry smiles. “Yes, ma’am, like you asked before we got on the plane and before we got off the plane.”
“Laugh at me because I worry. You have the tracking mode on, right?”
“Yes, I do.” With another smile he nods, then leaves.
“It’s three hours on a busy interstate highway.” Alicia mutters.
“Yeah, totally not a busy highway. It’s one long boring stretch of gray. I’m more worried he’ll fall asleep.”
“Me too, I just didn’t want to say it. Wow, this place is so insanely clean you might even get your deposit back.”