Page 68 of Steal My Heart

“A fresh start.”

“Does that fresh start include my brother?”

I shake my head. “A woman like me would never work with a ‘Mr. New Orleans.’”

“Why not?” Alessandra challenges. “You’re cool. Beautiful. Smart. Down to earth. Talented.”

“Thank you, my hype girl. Please, go on.” I make a continue motion with my hand.

Alessandra snorts. “What I’m saying is, my brother would be dumb not to be with you. And my brother isn’t dumb.”

We enter downstairs, only to run into the turkey trotting queen herself.

“Oh, hey Laurie,” Alessandra says, and my spine goes ramrod straight.

I knew I’d see the woman tonight with Angelo, but I wasn’t expecting her in his apartment. Could I be any more naive?

Dressed in a black trench coat, she’s nearly as tall as Angelo in those killer heels. Objectively beautiful, polished, and poised, the woman’s everything that I’m not.

To make matters worse, I probably look like something Nola dragged in, considering her “not boyfriend” just fucked me senseless.

Without a condom.

Actually, I could be more naive; Angelo’s sticky cum between my legs proves it.

“Hello.” She smiles politely, her eyes shifting to assess me. “And you are?”

“This is my piano teacher,” Alessandra covers quickly.

“How wonderful. I didn’t realize you played piano,” Laurie comments to Alessandra, never taking her gaze off me.

“Recently started learning. You ready?” Alessandra turns to me.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your piano teacher’s name.” Laurie says to Alessandra, but her calculating eyes are still on me.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” I turn the tables.

“Dr. Laurie Kole. Mr. Calvani’sgirlfriend.”

“Laurie, I’m glad I ran into you,” Alessandra interjects. “Can’t wait to go to the mayor’s party thingie with you and my brother.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize you’d be joining us,” Laurie says, annoyance flashing in her eyes a split second before she hides it beneath a practiced smile.

“That hasn’t been decided yet.” Angelo steps into the room. Freshly showered, all the evidence of us having been together washed down the drain.

Feeling the man’s gaze on me, I refuse to make eye contact.

“Al, run along with your teacher; I need to speak to Laurie,” Angelo tells his sister.

“Sure thing. See you tonight, Laurie,” Al says.

Laurie flashes a saccharine sweet smile. “Of course.”

Nola comes sauntering in the room, and I swear to God, if she takes Angelo’s side in this, I’ll lose it.

“Is that a bobcat?” Laurie takes a step back, her eyes wide with alarm.

“No,” Alessandra, Angelo, and I say in unison.