Rodrigo’s desires had never been tied specifically to one gender. He had engaged in countless affairs in the past with men and women. The arranged ménage marriage—to either or both genders—had been the one caveat to membership in the Masters’ Admiralty that he hadn’t even blinked an eye at. At one point, Rodrigo had even been looking forward to meeting his trinity, to beginning that next chapter in his life. But now, that future was hidden, covered in a mist so thick he feared he’d never find it.
Casson ended the kiss slowly. Rodrigo didn’t bother to pretend he was the one in control at the moment. That ship had sailed within seconds of his lips touching Casson’s.
When they parted, they remained close, their gazes locked.
It was Giada who broke the silence in the room.
“That was beautiful,” she whispered, as if she was aware her words would somehow break the spell, yet she couldn’t hold them in.
Rodrigo rose, then took a step away from Casson. He had been playing a role, pretending to be someone else for so long, sometimes he wondered if there were any parts of the man he’d been before still inside him. Casson’s kiss had stirred a memory, bringing Rodrigo Santiago to the surface. Which was dangerous.
That was someone he couldn’t be. Not here. Not now. With her.
I am Rodrigo Capello, he reminded himself, pulling on the cloak of the man he might have been if his mother hadn’t run from his father all those years ago.
It was a poor fit.
“Giada,” he said, focusing on her, only on her.
She lifted her hand, waving off whatever he’d intended to say. Which was good because he didn’t know what he planned to say. This had been an insane risk—both his panicked cover story claiming Casson was his ex-lover and the kiss. It hadn’t been wholly uninformed because according to his father, Giada was more modern-thinking than the Russo family liked to pretend. Hence his father’s opinion that Rodrigo would have to put her in her place.
From her expression, the information was right, and this gamble had paid off.
* * *
Giada raced over and offered her hand, helping Rodrigo’s ex to his feet. He rubbed his shoulder where the darts from her stun gun had stuck him.
“I am so sorry. I’ll get ice.” Dashing to the room phone, she asked that they bring up ice, a few elastic bandages, and some Efferalgan. Realizing too late she shouldn’t have used the phone, given that she really shouldn’t be here, she threatened the person on the other end of the line with a painful death if they told anyone about this.
That done, she turned back to them. The men stood shoulder to shoulder, Rodrigo’s arm around the other man’s waist.
Holding out her hand, palm down, she introduced herself. “Again, I’m sorry. I’m Giada Russo.”
The stranger took her fingers, bowing over her hand. “Casson Botero. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
His Italian carried a thick Spanish accent.
“You’re Spanish?” she asked.
“Yes,” Casson agreed softly.
Giada looked between them, factoring that information into the story she was piecing together. “So you’re…you were together before, weren’t you? Before Rodrigo figured out who his father was and came to Italy.”
Casson nodded. “He disappeared, and it broke my heart.”
Giada backed up and dropped onto one of the lavender velvet couches. “And you saw the announcement about the engagement and came all the way to Italy to…to win him back?”
“It was foolish.” Casson moved away from Rodrigo, his expression heart-wrenching.
“Wait.” She held up a hand, focusing on Rodrigo. “You ghosted him? You straight-up left without telling him where you were going, moved to another country, and then got engaged to me?”
Rodrigo jerked, apparently surprised at being called out on his bad behavior. Probably no one in his life confronted him about his assholery. Figures.
“He did.” Casson gathered up the discarded flowers. “But this was a mistake.”
“The only mistake would be letting him get away with treating you like that. Here.” She fished the stun gun out of her pocket. “It has a second charge. Shoot him. You’ll feel better.”
Casson paused, raised a brow, then reached for the gun.
“Enough!” Rodrigo put himself between them. “Casson, I’m sorry, but we should talk at another time. Right now…right now my place is here.”
Casson stiffened.
“And,” Rodrigo turned to her, “it is a pleasure to meet you, Giada.”
“Wait, you two haven’t met yet?” Casson asked. “And you’re getting married?”
“Yes.” Rodrigo crossed his arms.
“So this is an arranged marriage?” Casson’s brows climbed up his head. “What sane person would agree to an arranged marriage?”
Rodrigo stared hard at his ex.
“This is more of a business merger than anything,” Giada told Casson. “I personally don’t think it’s necessary…”
Rodrigo turned to her. “What?”
“I don’t think it’s necessary. I think we could pivot to other business models and income streams and let go of what was lost with the recent Cosa Nostra attacks.” She watched Rodrigo carefully as she spoke. She expected him to scoff, to explain she was a fool and didn’t understand. Or that she was a naive woman.
Instead, he dropped down onto the couch across from her. “I…agree completely.”
Okay, that she hadn’t expected.
Was it possible that… No. She wouldn’t say that. That risk was too great even for her.
Casson circled around to sit beside Rodrigo. “So you don’t…you don’t love her?” There was such heartbreak and hope in his voice that Giada clasped her hands over her heart.
“No,” Rodrigo said softly. “I don’t love her…but I am going to marry her.”
Oh, this was so tragic and romantic she could barely stand it.
“I…I understand.” Casson turned his head away from Rodrigo. “I wish I could just walk away, but I can’t.”
That was phrased rather oddly, almost sounding like a threat, but she understood what Casson was trying to say.
“You have to,” Rodrigo insisted. “We can’t be together, and I won’t leave here. Won’t leave her.”
Casson glanced at him, and his expression shifted to stiff, almost angry.
She couldn’t stand it. Couldn’t keep silent anymore. “Don’t! Casson, don’t leave.”
They both looked at her, Casson with interest, Rodrigo with alarm.
“Giada, if you break our engagement and tell my father it was because of Casson…”
“Painful death, unmarked shallow grave.” She waved her hand in the air. “The Catholic homophobic hysteria of our parents is comically ridiculous at this point.”
Casson laughed softly. It was a very nice laugh. She absolutely understood what Rodrigo saw in him.
“I was coming here with plans to end the engagement if it turned out you expected me to be a good Italian wife.”
Rodrigo looked nonplussed. “Well…you would be my Italian wife.”