A Weekend of Misbehaving - Carmen Falcone Page 0,5

some reverence. “Alice didn’t know I was bringing someone home. And she wanted to surprise me.”

“Well, it’s safe to say she achieved her goal.” Viola cocked her head, sizing up Alice.

“I can’t believe you just told her we’re engaged!” Alice nudged his elbow, and sourness spread in his stomach. Was she going to call him out? “It was supposed to be a secret, silly,” she continued, walking in front of him. “I’m not wearing a ring yet because we’re waiting until Cara is comfortable with the idea to make it public. She’s just a little girl, and we want to ensure she’s okay with it.”

Viola nodded. “It’s nice you think of your daughter, but—”

“It’s still awkward.” Alice blushed and pulled the hem of her dress. “I totally get where you’re coming from. I could tell you I’m not a slutty airhead who does this every day, but how could you be sure? Except I’m not. A slut or an airhead. Though I guess women calling each other those names is sexist and wrong. Right? Sorry. I have the tendency to ramble when I’m nervous,” she said, standing next to the cage. The bird hopped to the door till his beak peeked between the metal bars. “Nibbles, why didn’t you warn me? I thought we had a deal, buddy.” Alice opened the cage door and let the bird jump onto her finger.

Viola took a step forward. “You like birds?” There was a trace of surprise in her voice.

“I love them, although I’m probably losing my cool badge by admitting to it.” Alice let the bird hop onto her shoulder. “My father hooked me on birds. If he were alive today, I’m sure he’d be writing blogs about them. I was the one who pestered Lorenzo to adopt this cutie.” Alice looked up and elbowed him. “Wasn’t I?”

Lorenzo nodded enthusiastically. Christ, she’s good.

Viola smiled. “Usually I see lovebirds in pairs.”

“I told Lorenzo they aren’t meant to be alone.” Alice sighed. “Trust me, it was hard enough to convince him to get this one. I’m learning to pick my battles.”

Lorenzo smoothed his hand over his shirt. He watched as Viola’s facial expression shifted. “That’s wise when it comes to men, I guess. But don’t give in too much.”

“Never.” Alice lifted her chin, the smile reaching her eyes.

Silently, Viola made the smallest turn of her head. A smile tipped at the corner of her lips, and Lorenzo imagined his potential seller was giving Alice a sort of approval that was from a female-only club. “You know, I have a bird sanctuary at my beach house,” she told Alice, like Lorenzo wasn’t even in the room.

“That’s awesome.” Alice petted Nibble’s beak, her purple nail polish glittering against him.

“Maybe one day we’ll have one, too, tesoro mio.” Lorenzo cleared his throat and winked at Alice.

A shade of red spread through her cheeks, and she worried her bottom lip. Damn, the woman was a great actress. How come he’d never noticed her hidden talents? Hidden? He caught a glimpse of her damp hard nipple pushing through her dress. The image of her naked stabbed at his mind, but he shook his head and willed it away. For the past year, Alice had been the glue keeping his family life together. He’d been going to New York City more and more, and had recently made the decision to move there within the next few weeks. She, of course, would come with him. He’d make her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“Wouldn’t that be a dream, honey?” Alice worried her lip, her eyes sparkling at him.

Viola’s gaze ping-ponged between the two of them, then she smiled. “Maybe you can see mine.”

“Are you for real? I’d love to see it,” Alice responded, but she kept her eyes pinned to Lorenzo.

A tingle ran through him like a high-speed rail. Who knew the adrenaline of pretending could be this…enticing?

“I’m hosting a weekend-long event to celebrate the finalization of my divorce and also tie up some loose ends. I have another dealer interested in my collection, of course, and he might join us, too. Either way, I want to make the right decision. I didn’t fight for those beautiful paintings to let just anyone handle them. It’s not about money for me.”

Another dealer? He couldn’t let anyone else anywhere near those paintings. “Of course not.” He turned his attention to Viola and hoped she could read right through him how much he needed this. “Art is more than money for me, it’s what I