10

C A Y E T A N A

"Shit!" I muttered in panic and quickly took the call. I remembered how bloody risky this was And actually wrong. "Ale?" I said into the phone. I tried to sound as normal as possible, which I think I did well. "Buenos dias, hermana," he greeted me. "Buenos dias, hermano," I replied and looked briefly at Domenico, who looked at me questioningly. I just shrugged. "What's up?" I asked, bursting on the inside because I was so nervous. "I wanted to know when you'll be home?" he replied questioningly. I swallowed. "How so?"

"Because there's a flight to Hawaii for the two of us tonight," he informed me. I frowned. "Que?" I pressed. Like, a flight for the two of us to Hawaii? What is he doing there? "We're going to Hawaii," he repeated. "I get that, but why?" I asked. Ale laughed. "What were we going to do in Hawaii?"

I considered. What is he talking about please? "Ale, wovo-" I suddenly stopped when it clicked. "What? I thought the hotel belonged to Ramón now?" I asked confused. Ale and I wanted to build a chain of hotels from our hotel in Spain and build the next one in Hawaii. I actually dismissed that thought when Ale confessed to me that he lost our hotel on a poker night. "Your favorite brother won it back," he said proudly, and I could almost see the grin on his lips in front of me. But I couldn't hide a grin either. "I got my baby back?" I asked again, just to be sure, while I saw at the same time how Domenico looked at me questioningly and confused. That almost made me laugh. "I'll correct you hermana: We have our baby back.” I grinned even wider. “Don't think I'm not mad anymore!” I said, mockingly serious. Ale laughed again. "When are you going to be home now?" he asked again. Shit, I forgot about that. "I don't know, in an hour?" I said in a questioning tone. "Okay, I'll pick you up then."

I suddenly widened my eyes. "What?" I slipped out. I would never make it! I would first have to text Adriana to pick me up. And besides, I drove myself. Bingo! "You don't have to, hermano. I'm myself drove," I informed him, hoping he didn't get suspicious. "That's right," he replied casually. Relieved, I closed my eyes and exhaled calmly. "Okay then, see you in an hour," I said goodbye to him. "Until then."

When he hung up, I opened my eyes again and took a deep breath. That was close.

"What is it?" Domenico wanted to know. "I umm...I have to go, sorry. Ale and I are flying to Hawaii," I explained while I got up and grabbed my things from the floor and got dressed again . "Vacation?" he asked. I shook my head. "We're going to have a second hotel built and it's supposed to be in Hawaii," I said, dressing quickly and then texting Adriana to pick me up. "Oh," he simply replied.

Fully dressed and a little out of breath, I sat down next to him on the bed. "Does that mean you have to go now?" I looked at him and nodded. And at exactly the same moment my cell phone rang. A message from Adriana.

Back in Central Park in 30 minutes?

I quickly looked at Domenico. "Could you take me back to Central Park?" I asked, turning to him. He nodded. "Sì." I gave her a thumbs up in response.

Domenico also fished his clothes off the floor and got dressed before coming up to me and cupping my cheeks with his hands. "When will I see you again, mia bella?" he whispered hoarsely, so damn close to my face again. Was there? Next time? I snorted. I wanted a next time, but was it right? Definitely not. "Domenico you really think we should keep doing this?" I wanted to know, slightly desperate. He came a little closer to me, his lips brushing mine. "Definitely," he grinned broadly and then kissed me.

The kiss wasn't like the one before. He was much gentler and tender. Our lips moved to the beat while his hands still rested on my cheeks. We stayed like that for a short time before we parted breathlessly. Domenico gently rested his forehead on mine. "So..." he started. "When will we see you again, amore mio?" he breathed. "I don't know," I replied. "I've got to keep an eye out for my brothers, and too often it gets conspicuous," I explained. He nodded. "You have my number," he grinned.

-

"You meant a second hotel," he began as he drove off. He placed his hand on my thigh and gently stroked it with his thumb. "Do you guys want to do a hotel chain or what?" I nodded. “It has always been our wish. When Ale and I opened the hotel two years ago, we knew we wanted to make it a chain. It was like our little baby," I smirked. The hotel means a lot to me, especially since I had it built with Alejandro. "That sounds nice," Domenico replied. I nodded grinning. "Do you already know where you want to build the next one?" he asked interested. "Well, not exactly. But we already had some ideas," I explained, whereupon he nodded. Then there was silence but not an unpleasant one, but rather a beautiful and pleasant one. Domenico's hand was still stroking my thigh. I just enjoyed it. With his mere touches he restored my whole body and power.

"That was your family, wasn't it?" he suddenly asked into the silence. My eyes drifted to him questioningly. "What do you mean?" I asked confused. "The burglary in my dad's office last night," he prompted me. I swallowed. I had completely forgotten about that.

"W-what burglary?" I asked, trying to be as normal as I could, scratching the back of my neck so as not to seem so nervous. Domenico started to grin. "You're a really bad liar, mia bella," prodded he amused and meanwhile turned left. "What no! I dont lie! I really have no idea what you're talking about," I lied. Mierda, I've never had trouble lying.

He just laughed and didn't say anything more. "What makes you think it was my family?" I slipped out curiously. "Are you kidding?" he laughed. "It's totally obvious. Why else would your dad take us to dinner?" "Okay, that makes sense, but I don't know anything anyway!" I tried to be as believable as possible. Then Domenico just shook his head with a smile. Great! Apparently he sees when I lie.

-

When we got to Central Park and got out, I recognized Adriana's car from a distance. I started moving automatically. But I didn't get far. Suddenly I felt an arm around my waist before Domenico pulled me tightly and pressed his lips stormily onto mine. I kissed back immediately and ran my hand over the back of his head.

"I can't believe you wanted to go without him," he breathed against my lips in mock indignation after we broke up again. I had to laugh. "Will you text me then, mia bella?" He asked directly. "Sí," I murmured, locking our lips in a quick final kiss before then walking towards Adriana's car. Somehow I can't believe I'm actually going to do this. You should end it! , my sane self reminded me. Me got closer and closer to the car and could already see her grinning from miles away through the windshield.

"Stop grinning!" I said as I climbed in. "I kinda feel like he looks even better now than he did at the club last time," she said, amazed. "And that kiss, mierda. "I want to be in your shoes," she sighed. She was still grinning. I rolled my eyes and asked, "Could you please stop grinning so stupidly?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm just looking at the gift your Domenico left you," she said, amused. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Which present? "Adri, what pro-" I cut myself off before widening my eyes. "No, right? He didn't?!" I shot out in panic. "Oh yes!" she laughed. I quickly pulled out my phone, went to the camera and discovered the fat hickey on my neck. "Mierda..." I mumbled in panic and looked desperately at Adriana. "What am I going to do now? If anyone sees this, I'm screwed," I said desperately. Crap, crap, crap!

"What if you make me one?" she suddenly asked as she drove off. "Que?" "Well, I have an idea. You could make me one and then we'll go to your house together. We could say we made each other's," she suggested. I thought about it for a moment. It didn't sound that bad and I'm sure my brothers would buy it. After all, Adri and I have done much worse. Resolutely, I turned my gaze to her. "I love you, Adri. Do you actually know that?" I smiled in her direction. "I know, after all I'm the best," she replied with a grin, which made me laugh and her too. Oh yes, she is.

-

During the drive over, it was actually fairly quiet, but by no means uncomfortably quiet. We were right there with her. I couldn't get the thought of why Domenico hadn't told me about his gift. I mean, he must know that's pretty risky, right? Finally, I took my phone out of my pocket and texted him.

Thanks for the lovely hickey.

I didn't have to wait long for an answer because within seconds he was online and started typing.

I was sure you would like it, mia bella.

Are you serious? However, I couldn't help but smile.

That was meant sarcastically, Domenico! You could have paid a little attention, after all, my family could become suspicious.

I eagerly awaited his answer.

You are smart, amore mio. You'll come up with a good excuse.

My jaw dropped briefly. He did not care. Before I knew it, a second message arrived.

But admit it, you like it.

Did he? Definitely. But I definitely wouldn't rub that in his face. My fingers quickly typed an answer.

No.

Will he buy that from me? Certainly not. He knew me, or rather, based on how my body reacts to his, he can certainly imagine that I liked him.

Liar.

I knew it. "Do you already have a specific building site for the hotel?" Adriana suddenly asked curiously. My gaze slid from my phone to her. I didn't tell her anything about the hotel, did I? "Hmm?" I questioned. She gave a look I couldn't quite read, but quickly started to speak. "I asked if you already have a specific site for the hotel?" she repeated her question. I raised an eyebrow questioningly. "No, but I haven't told you anything about it yet," I replied. Strange. "Huh? You told me right after we left that you were going to Hawaii with Alejandro because of the new hotel." She said in a funny tone. Did I? "Dios mío,

Mierda, I honestly couldn't remember telling her that?