Freya sacked out on the sofa with her feet up on the coffee table and a big orange cat on her lap.
“Hello, Freya. Congratulations on the baby on the way.” I point stupidly to her pronounced pregnant belly.
“Thanks, Santino. So nice to see you again,” she replies cheerily while petting the cat.
When Mac grumbles from beside me, I look over, expecting him to say something, but he doesn’t. He just mutters his annoyance and begrudgingly removes his gloves.
I turn my attention back to Freya. “How long until the due date again?”
“Oh, baby should come before Christmas, God willing. We have a scan next week to see if I can get off this bed rest anytime soon.” She beams happily at Mac, who I can feel still glowering at me. “Tilly has been a godsend. And thank you for helping us with this contract. You and Tilly seem to have everything under control, so I’m focusing on my primary job as a human incubator.”
“As you should,” I reply with a forced smile. “And Tilly is very on top of everything. I think the revisions I made for both of you this week should be beneficial for Friday’s meeting.”
“And I hear you’re going to that meeting with her? That’s so thoughtful of you. Mac, isn’t that thoughtful of Santino?”
Mac tucks his gloves under his arms and grumbles again, although this time it sounded more like a growl.
“Mac,” Freya snaps his name, and he turns his scowl to her. “Thoughtful, right?”
“Aye, sure.” He turns his narrowed eyes at me. “As long as he’s thoughtful with everything.”
I swallow the knot in my throat and nod slowly. “You don’t have to worry about that, Mac.”
“I best not.”
Suddenly, our attention is diverted to the staircase as we hear Tilly descend. My eyes can’t help but drink in her ripped black jeans, chunky boots, and a white-and-black-striped tank top that flows down her narrow body in a casual yet somehow sexy way. I told her to dress comfortably because of my plans for later, but I didn’t anticipate her “comfortable” look to still be so sexy.
“That’s what you’re wearing?” Mac barks, eyeing his sister up and down. “You said this was a business meeting.”
“It is.” Tilly shrugs her shoulders and glances nervously over at me. “What are you, the fashion police?”
“You look great!” Freya calls out, effectively silencing her husband.
Mac opens his mouth, but Tilly steps between us and grabs my arm to pull me towards the door. “See you both later. Enjoy your evening alone.”
“I still don’t know why you couldn’t have had the meeting here. We have a perfectly good kitchen table that holds papers nicely. It’s strong…made of oak.” Mac stands in the doorway and watches us walk out to my car. He points a finger at my Audi. “That’s what you drive?”
“Yes?”
“Figures,” he huffs.
My brows puzzle as Tilly yells, “Bye!” and slams herself in my car, ignoring her brother completely.
I hurry around to the driver’s side, feeling Mac’s eyes on me the entire time. As I pull away, I glance over at Tilly. “You sure your brother is okay with this?”
“Too late to turn back now, Sonny. Just drive.” Her voice wavers at the end like she’s nervous.
“You doing okay there?”
“Yep,” she quips as she peeks at me out of the corner of her eye. “You?”
“I’m better now that your brother isn’t growling at me anymore.” I glance back, halfway expecting Mac to be tailing me. My eyes notice Tilly frowning thoughtfully. “Something on your mind there, Trouble?”
“Yes.”
“Care to share?”
“I think we should have rules,” she blurts out as she teases the frayed edge of a hole in her jeans.
“Rules for what?”
“Rules for this ‘business meeting’.” I can’t help but fight back a laugh at the weird tone she uses to say business meeting.
“Why don’t we just call this a couple of friends going to eat food?” I suggest, my body resisting this idea because I want this time to be different. I want her to just be herself and let her guard down a bit with me. However, if Tilly wants rules, maybe it’s because she’s nervous.
I like that I make Tilly nervous.
“Considering we’ve both seen each other naked, we need rules,” Tilly rushes out, and I nearly choke on my own shock.
I glance over to see her chewing nervously on her lower lip as I ask, “What did you have in mind?”
“Rule number one…”
I press my lips together because she’s adorably flustered right now but clearly has given this some thought.
“No