He kisses her cheek. I see her squirm a little, but she nods her head. She walks inside without looking back, without looking at me. Without looking at Konstantin. She doesn’t want anything to do with a man her father has picked. I’m sure of it.
I can still remember her telling me that when I walked her home from the library one night. She’d looked at me, looked at our hands almost touching, and laughed. I’d wondered why. I wondered what could make her laugh. She’d met my eyes.
“You’re gorgeous Gio. You’re my best friend.”
“So why are you laughing?”
“Because people are going to assume that we’re going to end up together.” She shrugs.
“Would that be the worst thing in the world?” I’d been crushing on her. Addicted to the little bit of danger, addicted to the way she lived her life – like there was no tomorrow.
“Gio, my dad would love us being together. I think he’s hoping for it. Even Mom would love it.” She’d taken my hands and kissed my cheek. “But this is my life. And I won’t be with someone my Dad controls.”
It hadn’t come up again. A few months later, her mother died and Juliana had finished her degree online. And then it had been months before I’d seen her again. Now we’ve had one moment together and her dad is right back in the picture.
“I like you, Gio.”
“I’d hope so, Uncle Tony.”
He pats my shoulder. “So I’m going to give you a very special task. Juliana is not the kind of woman who knows what’s good for her. She needs all the protection she can get and I know that there’s no risk with you.”
I don’t really stop to process what that means.
“I know that she needs round-the-clock watching and that if I leave one man alone with her for too long, she’ll manipulate it.” Uncle Tony says. “But if something was going to happen between you and Juliana, it already would have. Stay close to her.”
“Uncle Tony, I don’t-”
“Not so close it will raise eyebrows, but close enough to protect her, just like tonight. Can you do that?”
His intense dark eyes scrutinize me. I nod once. I know there’s no other option. There’s only a yes. So I agree, walk into the party and sit next to Juliana. Her security sits there as well, not looking at her when anyone can see. But I see his eyes flick to hers and hers to him.
Trouble is already brewing and I’m supposed to control this? Juliana’s eyes flick between us and she takes a long drink of bourbon. “Remember the rule, Gio.”
“Impossible to forget, Julia.”
She pauses with her drink and sets it down before looking at me. “Juliana. Not Julia. That goes for you and Konstantin.”
He looks over at her. “So I am memorable.”
“Would have been more memorable if you would have told me your name.” She finishes her drink and looks around. Her eyes flick to Hunter Volkov as he stands with a brunette, obviously flirting.
Something wicked is in her eyes. I shake my head. “Don’t even try, Juliana.”
“Oh, I read plenty of tabloids. Don’t you know that he and his brother are spoken for?” She asks. “I might want to talk to her though. She could be interesting.”
“Nothing interesting tonight,” I say sharply. “Not until your blood dries.”
Juliana laughs once, then drowns the sound with alcohol. “If life isn’t interesting, what’s the point of living.” A slow smile teases her lips. “I’ll go easy on you two ... for tonight.”
Great. Not only do I have to keep Konstantin focused, but I also have to keep Juliana in line, or else it’s more than my job on the line. I glance at Uncle Tony and don’t see a trace of friendliness.
“You never change.” I sigh.
4
JULIANA
Iroll my eyes at Gio, but honestly, I think he’s gotten a bit yummier since college. He has thick dark hair, lovely tanned skin, lean muscle, and stands about a foot taller than me. Not quite the same climb as Konstantin, but considering he had plenty of entries in my diary when I was eighteen, he’s worthy of a whole book now.