“Which guard?” All my men knew to let her up and that my sister would always have access to my home, but if they ran their mouths, that would be a problem.
“He’s new, and I saw your captain heading over to him.” She waved my concern away. “I’m sure he’ll have his head on straight before I leave.”
“Why are you here?” I dropped onto the couch next to her and took the to-go cup she handed me. I was just harassing her—I almost always wanted Sofia around. She was my favorite and understood me on a level that even our brothers didn’t. I took a sip of coffee, letting the first hit of caffeine flood my body.
Sof grabbed her mane of wavy chestnut hair and swept it to one side. “Enzo had a meeting with Marco and the other bosses today. I missed you.”
I leaned against the couch, debating whether I should go back to bed for another few hours. Sof smacked my stomach, and I grunted then forced myself to pick up my head to glare at her.
“So who do you have here? Anyone I know?”
I grinned because she would get a laugh out of the situation I was in. “Hailey Carmichael.”
She gave colorful commentary as I explained. We could have been twins for how in tune we were and how much we thought alike.
“What? No way.” Sofia grinned. “I love her.”
“How well do you know her?” I knew they’d had coffee together from what Sofia had said when I first met Hailey at the fundraiser. Sofia had taken Hailey under her wing after I’d walked away when the Coffee Stop was mentioned, but I didn’t know if they were actual friends or just acquaintances.
“Well enough. We met in the boutique”—she pursed her lips—“maybe a year ago? I can’t remember. There was a period of time we didn’t talk, but that was when everything was going down with Ivan, and Enzo took me to Italy for Fashion Week.”
“Not helpful.” I downed the rest of my coffee then noticed a white pastry box on the kitchen island. I got up, retrieved it, settled back on the couch, and flipped the lid open. My mouth watered at the assortment of pastries from the Italian bakery we loved. When I reached for the cream puff with chocolate shavings sprinkled on top, she smacked my hand.
“That’s mine.”
I laughed because there was no crossing Sof when she set her mind to something. Leaving her pasty alone, I grabbed asfogliatellathen bit into it, groaning as I chewed. The pastry was like a little window into Italy, and I was ready to visit for a while. She nudged my shoulder. She understood—it was from our all-time favorite bakery in the States. Then she took her cream puff, and we ate in silence.
“Hailey’s different from most of the rich kids who went to university.”
“She didn’t go to the same college as us,” Sofia pointed out.
“Not the point, smartass. Even though her family is loaded, you would never know she came from money. I don’t know her that well, but I always have fun when we hang out. She’s never gotten deep with me. I did learn a little about her family, though. Her sister was killed in a car accident with their biological father when she was in middle school. Her mom never recovered, and I got the impression they have a strained relationship.”
“And she doesn’t get along with her mom’s husband,” I added.
“Bingo.” Sofia took another sip of her latte. “I think you’ll like her.”
“I do. We’re in a screw-over-Allen plot together.” I tapped my empty to-go coffee with hers.
“Yeah, that’s not what I meant.”
“Listen, matchmaker, I don’t have the energy or time to date anyone right now.”
“It’s been months since Teresa died. You need to get back out there. And I think when you do, you’ll realize that your feelings for her weren’t as deep as you’d thought.”
“Sof”—my head fell back against the couch, and I turned toward her—“drop it.”
She smiled, but it was sad, lacking her usual infectious charming. “You know I love you.”
I tugged her into my arms and squeezed. “I know. I love you, too, weirdo.”
She snorted then shoved me away. “I’ve got to run. People to annoy—mainly my husband.”
I stood with her. “I don’t think there’s anything you can do that would annoy him. You’ve got Enzo wrapped around your little finger.”
“Goes both ways, brother dearest. I’ll catch up with you later.” She winked. “Have fun with Hailey.”
As soon as the elevators closed behind my sister, I heard another door open. I needed more coffee. I started one mug at the Nespresso machine and took down another to make Hailey some.