Page 5

I was up early. Or I should say earlier than usual, since I tended to be someone who got up at dawn. I had been unable to lie there a moment longer. I was filled with anticipation. Plus, my sleep kept being interrupted.

I was anticipating today’s meeting here at home with the DeSantis family.

I’d impatiently counted off the hours and days this week waiting for it to arrive.

On Monday evening, Darragh had informed the family that he’d asked them to come here to speak about the work we’d been doing.

He thought having them back would help solidify our connection with them and their willingness to consider his proposal.

Since they helped us with Chris Brynes’s issue, they’d continued to be an asset when we’d gone after more scum involved in that ugly business and rescued others.

There had been two times that happened. I ensured I was part of the team that went after the culprits.

I’d wanted to see Gianna again. It wasn’t the only reason, of course, but it seemed to be the one driving me.

Since that initial meeting, I’d been unable to forget about her.

The second one here at the house intrigued me more.

My attraction and desire to know her kept growing.

Cody had thoroughly investigated them, and everything he found indicated that they were a hardworking family.

They were dedicated, honest, and had a strict moral code.

They dealt with people fairly. The DeSantises had a successful bail bonds business in Hastings.

They were known to help their community and those in need.

Nothing hinted at them having extracurricular activities targeting evil people like Chris.

They hid their tracks well. Cody had been impressed.

He said they had to have help to do it. He wanted to figure out who. Cody loved mysteries.

Outside those two missions, I’d spent a ton of time analyzing.

Unlike my cousins and siblings, I wasn’t one to jump into something right away, such as deciding on business deals, which people to become close to, or that someone was my anamchara, and going after them right away.

So far, everyone had claimed their soulmates hastily, except Aisling, but that was a different story.

While I believed in them as much as anyone else in our family, I was scared to make a mistake.

I would be left with someone I didn’t love if I did.

In our family, you were expected to claim an anamchara once.

And when they died, it was unlikely you’d find another.

Mamó , Granny, hadn’t when Daideo , Grandpa, died.

She still missed and loved him. It was coming up on twelve years since she lost him.

Love didn’t die just because the other was gone forever.

Divorce wasn’t something I saw the family tolerating, which would mean going against them and affecting my relationship with my family for all time if I did it, or remaining in a loveless marriage, full of regret and animosity, for the rest of my life.

I didn’t want to chance that. And I sure didn’t want children to grow up in a house with parents who didn’t want to be together.

My siblings and cousins sometimes teased me about my overthinking, as they called it. I took it in stride. They didn’t mean anything by it. They relied on me to be the voice of reason if I thought we were moving too fast on something. I needed to look at things from every angle.

However, in this case, they had no idea I was doing it regarding Gianna DeSantis.

I’d repeatedly reviewed every thought, feeling, and possible outcome.

Wanting to be sure, I’d even gone out on dates with different women if you wanted to call them dates.

They weren’t the typical go-to-dinner-and-a-movie kind.

In our world, they were mainly charity balls or dinners to raise funds.

A premiere for something such as a movie.

Celebrations or schmoozing get-togethers for one of our businesses, or less commonly, straight business meetings.

The women had been beautiful and charming.

Some were intelligent and amusing. All of them had sex appeal.

At the end of our time together, though they were willing and probably expecting to have sex with me, I escorted them all home and gave them a brief peck on the cheek as I thanked them for a lovely time.

I didn’t leave them with the promise I’d call.

Some had called me asking when we could go out again or if they could see me.

I’d told them I was only into a casual friendship.

I left out the part that it was only in their cases.

I wasn’t tempted to fuck any of them. The only woman who raised those desires in me these days was Gianna.

I thought about her more than I should, even when working.

At night, she consumed my thoughts and dreams. I had carnal dreams about her, us, every night.

I’d awaken sweaty, hard, and needing sex.

I could’ve called those women and asked, but I didn’t.

Instead, I used my hand and my imagination, trying to picture what she looked like underneath her fatigues.

I came hard and within minutes every time.

Thank Dia for the lube, or my cock would be raw from how many times I jerked off. I knew something had to give.

After four months of reflection and agonizing, I had made my decision: I would pursue Gianna DeSantis.

Something told me she was attracted to me.

It was the way I caught her peeking at me at those encounters, a vibe she gave off.

She seemed to be different with me than she was with the others in my family.

It all made me believe she found me appealing. I could work with that.

All that had me up so damn early. I couldn’t wait for noon to get here. I planned to speak to her after Darragh was finished talking to them about what we were doing and future plans. I’d ask her to walk with me to get her alone. I didn’t need both our families hanging over us.

Mine would be overjoyed that I’d hopefully found my anamchara .

When they were excited, my family could be overwhelming in their attempts to bring the person into the fold and help solidify the bond.

They meant well, but it was a bit much. As for the DeSantis men, I had no doubt they were protective of Gianna like we were of my sister Siobhan, cousins Cara and Aisling, and Alexis, my sister-in-law Ashlynn’s younger sister.

It didn’t matter if they were capable of taking care of themselves or not. We would always defend them.

Once I got Gianna’s consent to pursue a relationship, I’d have to sit down with her father and brothers, explain what I wanted, and get them on board.

Even if they objected, it didn’t mean I would change my mind.

I wanted her, and I’d do whatever I could to get her and convince her family of my sincerity.

I spent an intense hour in my home gym, working out to burn energy and time.

I could’ve gone to the family gym in the main house, but I didn’t feel like talking or fielding questions from anyone about my preoccupation.

I’d been asked enough times these past four months if I was okay and if anything was bothering me. Each time, I’d told them no.

When I was done working out, I fixed breakfast. Not knowing what to do and having hours to go after I finished eating, I went for a run.

I passed several guards on the grounds. I greeted them and exchanged brief words.

They provided security. Given our family’s wealth, notoriety, and history, we had to stay alert and have protection.

People were known to try to scale the walls that enclosed our homes.

Threats were a common occurrence. The biggest culprits were the damn paparazzi.

Returning to my house after my run, I took a long, hot shower.

Wanting to be ready when they arrived, I thoroughly cleaned up.

It was ten o’clock. Sighing, I sat at the desk in my home office and reviewed some emails and reports.

I tried not to work on weekends unless necessary, but I had to stay away from my family. I’d give away my nerves if I didn’t.

I oversaw our ski resort in Aspen, Colorado.

Crystal Castle Chalet was in a prime location and was considered one of the top ski resorts in the States.

We pride ourselves on giving customers the best experience possible.

As an avid skier since I was a kid, I gravitated to managing it when I became an adult.

At one point, when I was younger, I skied so much I could’ve been a professional.

I’d never wanted to do it, though, other than for fun.

I loved staying physically active, and skiing was one of the ways I did so.

I tried to go to Aspen monthly, but if not, at least every other month.

I varied my times, so the staff never knew exactly when to expect me.

It kept everyone on their toes and prevented them from slacking off until they knew the boss was coming.

Overall, I thought I had great staff and trusted them to do what was right and best. However, there were two that I had my eyes on.

They weren’t up to the standards of the rest, and I was debating whether more training was the answer or to replace them.

The manager I had out there was on the fence about it.

By the time I finished with the reports and emails, it was only fifteen minutes before twelve.

I got up, checked myself in the mirror, straightened my clothes, and then headed to the main house.

Or, as we’d started to call it, because of Kynedi, the commune.

She wanted to hurt Tiernan when he told us that’s what she called it.

We thought it was hilarious and started to do the same.

She rolled her eyes every time we did, but she’d smile, too.