For Angelo(57)

Stay calm, stay calm, you and Dylan planned this. Don’t let your stupid phobia ruin it.

She took a deep breath and pasted a bright smile on her face. “Hi.” She shook hands with the pretty brunette, who was clasped possessively to the rockstar’s side. “Dylan told me so much about you.” She felt inordinately proud for not stammering, and behind the couple, she saw Angelo smile at her. Good girl.

Oh my gosh, why did she always feel like wagging her tail when he was proud of her?

“Dylan’s told me about you, too,” Bree was sharing. She wrinkled her nose at Dylan, adding, “But he forgot to tell me you had, umm, a phobia.” She hesitated, wondering if she counted in that category.

Dylan chuckled at the look on Bree’s face. “Yes, babe, you unfortunately qualify. I think the minimum requirements of her phobia are…say, one million dollars in personal fortune?” He slanted a brow at Angelo.

The Italian tycoon nodded. “Just about that. I’ve been trying to convince her to raise her standards—”

Bree and the two men were doing their best to fight their grins off at Lane’s growing discomfort, but when Lane let out a squeak of dismay at Angelo’s words, everyone laughed.

“It’s not funny,” she protested, but their hilarity was infectious that a smile started to tug her lips. But as Angelo drew her back to her seat, she saw the mountain of cash in front of them – oh gosh, how much was it again – and her smile started to fade.

Dylan and Bree took the seats opposite her. Angelo reclaimed his seat…and reached for the uncounted bills again.

Lane winced. They were continuing with the punishment then.

“Can I ask what she’s being punished for?” Bree asked, who was half feeling sorry for the other girl…while her other half was threatening to burst into laughter again. The scene was just too cute, with Lane cringing like Angelo counting his money was the most evil thing ever done.

“She forgot…” Angelo paused.

Lane’s stomach dropped at the look Angelo slanted towards her. You do the honors, my Lane, those silvery eyes told her.

Sadist, she thought.

Angelo raised a brow.

Oh gosh. Knowing she would only be punished later on, she mumbled, “It’s because I forgot to…” She stopped, unable to get the words out. It was just so embarrassing. She looked pleadingly at Angelo.

But he only leaned back on his chair, as if enjoying a show.

Sadist, she thought again. It was just too bad that she loved him all the more for it.

Lowering her gaze to her lap, she forced the words out. “I forgot to k-kiss him hi when I g-got here.”

Silence.

And then Dylan coughed. “That’s, umm, unfortunate.” He looked at Angelo, marveling silently at how sadistic the man was, in a—

It wasn’t exactly cruel or distasteful.

It was almost…sweet?

He mentally shook his head.

Angelo Valencia, sweet?

No, he must be mistaken.

Unable to help his curiosity, he asked Lane, “Do you really not mind he’s a sadist?”

Lane said sadly, “No.”

Bree quickly covered her mouth before someone could see her grin. So this was what an emotional masochist was, she thought. It wasn’t as taboo as she had feared. It was actually kind of…cute.

Dylan’s phone buzzed, his driver telling him the cake had arrived. He glanced at Bree, and taking her cue, his fiancée cleared her throat and asked, “Excuse me, but Lane, could you show me where the restroom is?”

Lane automatically stood up. “Of course.” It was going to start then. She quaked at the thought and struggled for a moment to make her limbs move.

Angelo looked up sharply, sensing her sudden discomfort. “Tesoro?” When she glanced at him, he didn’t mince words, asking simply, “Do you need my help?”

Oh. Her heart constricted, and she wondered if he knew what that always did to her. She had lived with him over a month now, enough to know that his insanely hectic busy schedule would have made a lesser man collapse.

And yet—

Every time she needed him, she didn’t even have to say a word. He would know, and he would always show unreserved willingness to drop everything…for her.

Only for her.

Clearing her throat, she shook her head, stammering, “J-just telling myself I can, umm—” She mentally apologized to Dylan’s fiancée. “—bear going to the restroom alone with B-Bree.”

Dylan smothered a laugh.

Bree blinked. “Umm…” Should she be insulted here? Then she noticed the look of concern on the tycoon’s face. Right. She saw that look on Dylan’s face all the time. It was the look of a mercilessly alpha man who would do anything to protect his woman. She said quickly, “I promise not to turn into a monster while we’re in the restroom.” She gave Angelo a solemn look of promise.

Dylan watched Angelo’s narrowed gaze follow the women out of the conference room. When Angelo turned to him, he said baldly, “Why don’t you just admit it?”

Angelo shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” His tone warned the other man to drop the subject.

Dylan only shook his head, continuing, “It’s written all over your face.”