By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers #3)(14)

It was the optimal solution. I couldn’t fall in love with someone and have sex with them, after all. My future marriage with Clifford would make a relationship really difficult. Not to mention that I didn’t have time for a boyfriend. I was busy with school and my designs. Anything more than a fling was out of the question.





A few months later, when Clifford invited me to his end of school year party, I saw my chance. If Santino refused to see me as a woman, I’d have to settle for someone else, and who’d be better than my soon-fiancé?

Because Mom was desperate for me to hang out with him and possibly fall in love with him, Dad grudgingly allowed me to go to the party. Of course, he insisted Santino tagged along. Santino quickly left me to my own devices and sought a place in a corner with a beer and his phone, trying to stay undisturbed. Him looking like he did, and being a hot, a few years older guy, had girls swarming around him in no time of course. But he ignored their advances like he’d ignored mine all these months.

I headed over to Clifford who was talking to a very pretty dark-skinned girl. Like I’d told him, I wasn’t jealous. Nobody knew of our soon-to-be-announced engagement anyway.

When Clifford saw me coming his way, he excused himself and met me halfway. I could tell that he was drunk already, not just because he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. He’d never been this touchy-feely before. “So glad you could make it.”

“Me too,” I said. Santino’s expression had darkened at Clifford’s familiarity, but soon he disappeared from my view as more dancers got between us, and Clifford led me into the next room. The entire mansion seemed to have been cleared of furniture.

“I can’t believe your parents allow you to party in their house like that.”

“They are in our holiday house down in Florida. As long as the cleaning staff makes sure everything is squeaky clean once they return, they don’t care what I do.”

He led me toward his pool house, which was the only place where the party wasn’t going on.

Clifford strolled over to the pool table with me by his side and leaned against it. “And? Did you follow my advice?”

“Advice?”

“To get some action?”

I huffed. “It’s not easy to have fun when you’re me. My bodyguard makes sure fun is impossible. Did you see his sour face because he had to be at this party?”

“Can’t you tell him to give you some privacy now and then? When I want to be alone with a girl, I tell my bodyguard to give me some room and he does.”

“Santino doesn’t follow my orders, only my dad’s and mom’s. And they won’t order him to give me alone time with guys, trust me.”

Clifford shook his head with a chuckle. “This is so archaic. You realize how awkward it’ll be if I give you your first kiss on our wedding day.”

“That’s still a few years away.”

“More than a few I hope.”

I didn’t want to burst his bubble but I doubted my parents would want to wait until I was thirty for me to marry. It just wasn’t done in our world.

“What makes you think you’ll have more chances to be alone with guys in the next few years?”

“Nothing… then kiss me now if it’s more convenient for you,” I muttered.

A grin spread on Clifford’s face as he considered that, taking me by surprise. “Why not?”

I smiled. If Santino didn’t want to kiss me, I might as well test the waters with my future husband. Nobody could say anything against that, right?

Clifford pushed away from the table and moved in front of me. His unruly hair fell into his eyes and he shoved it back with a charming smile as he leaned down slightly.

Clifford was good-looking in a neighbor-next-door way. Santino was a sexy, angry beast.

“You ready?” Clifford asked as he leaned down more. He cupped my cheek with a grin. I nodded, even as my stomach twisted with nerves.

Clifford’s lips pressed against mine. They were soft, gentle, and his eyes searched mine to see if I was okay with what was happening. It was nice and considerate—and not what I wanted. He deepened the kiss and moved closer, his palm pressing against my cheek and his body leaning over mine.

I tried to get into the kiss. This was my future. I closed my eyes and became more active in the kiss, trying to let loose and not get lost in my thoughts.

The door creaked open. Clifford and I both turned toward the sound. Santino loomed in the doorway, looking murderous. He prowled into the room. Clifford immediately stepped back from me, alarmed. “What—”

Santino grabbed him by the collar, lifted him away from me and shoved him toward the door. Clifford landed on the floor.

“What’s your problem, dude? This isn’t the Wild West.”

Santino sneered at him. One of Clifford’s bodyguards staggered into the room, hand on his gun. When his eyes settled on Clifford and Santino and me afterward, he lowered his hand a few inches. Not taking his eyes off Santino, he helped Clifford to his feet.

“You called?” the bodyguard asked.

Clifford gave me a sheepish smile. I raised my eyebrows. He pulled out a small remote with a red flashing button and clicked on it until it stopped flashing. “My parents forced me to carry this at all times.”

“Because of our bond?”