Page 84 of Heartless

“You’re going to love Florence.I’ll take you to Rome, and we’ll go shopping in Milan.”

“Oh, I’d love that.”

“Let’s have gelato in front of the fire,” Cam decided.

Amid the grating of chairs against tiles, Sile said, “I’ll get the fire started.Can I have my

gelato with Cool Whip?”

“If you do, I’ll throw you in the fire,” Bianc snapped, which made Sienna giggle.

Sile winked.“I’d like to see you try, sweetheart.”

****

Hours later, musicwas flowing through the speakers.The playlist wasn’t to my tastes, but Sienna, who had again sat beside Sile, was bopping her head.

Bianc had obviously taken to Sienna, who returned the sentiment.I’d promised to be there for her, but I understood now how much she needed good women around her.She felt safe.It showed in the careless way she laughed, and how often she did it.

When Bianc sprung on her feet and started to dance, Cam followed while Sienna remained by Sile’s side.Her teeth dug into her curved, pillowy bottom lip while Bianc and Cam hopped from one leg to the other in rhythm with the song.Bianc threw her hand out to Sienna.

“Come dance with us, Sia.”

Sienna joined in, and her body became the music.Her hips swayed, her shoulders rolled, and her neck arched, sending her hair swirling around her face and her shoulders.The short skirt of her dress flirted and whirled around her thighs, and I got hard.

When the song ended, she swept her hair off her flushed face.

“Cara, you have some moves,” Bianc said.

The next song came on.Sienna skipped toward the couch and opened her hand toward Sile.“Silas, dance with me.”

He got to his feet.She took his hand.They danced, and she laughed the whole time.Near the end of the song, he dipped her back over his forearm.Her body arched deep, the tips of her curls swept the floor, and she let out that throaty giggle again.

When Sile pulled her up, she lifted her happy grin to him.“Thank you, gentle sir.”

“Anytime, sweetie.”

I relaxed my jaw.The ‘sweetie’ thing was fucking grating on me.

He pecked Sienna’s curls.“I’m gonna head out.See you on Saturday.”

“Oh.Already?”The disappointed pout she directed at him was sexy as hell, and the back of my neck tightened.

“I’m going too,” Cam said.

While Sienna followed Cam and Sile out of the room, Bianc plopped herself in the corner of the couch closest to my armchair.“I like her.”

“There’s a lot to like.”

She set her bent elbow on the arm of the couch and her chin on the heel of her hand.“I’d like to invite some of my friends on Saturday for Sia’s birthday party.”Her tone pitched low.“Zio Lenny and my dad personally vetted every single one of my friends here, and Zio Edo has his men watching the house.It’d be good for her to be around people.Did you know she never had a birthday party with more than two people?”

I didn’t, but I wasn’t surprised.“How many people are we talking about?”

“Two or three.I don’t think she would be comfortable with more.What do you think?”

I’d met some of Bianc’s friends, and they’d been eccentric, as artists could be, but Bianc had good instincts with people.“It’s a good idea, Bianc.”

When Sienna glided back in, Bianc sat up and extended her open hand.“Sia, come.I have an idea for your birthday party.”