Redeemed (Dirty Air #4)(15)

The woman grips onto Santiago’s arm. “Is this your girlfriend? You’ve been holding out on us! No wonder you haven’t answered my phone calls.” She speaks with such delight at the idea.

Oh God. No. My face must say everything words can’t. Santiago smirks like he’s in on a joke I’ve yet to catch onto.

I speak at the same time as him. “This isn’t what it looks like—”

“My girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be here.”

Girlfriend? Excuse me?

The asshole has the nerve to smile at me. At least he has plump lips to distract me from the cunning lies he spews.

Maya frowns at me. “Are you okay? Your knees are covered in dirt.”

My cheeks flush as I brush random clumps of dirt off me. “Oh, yeah. I was gardening.”

Her brow raises. “At night?”

“My fair skin tends to burn easily so I like to work at night.” Well, that’s not a total lie.

Another guy appears, cradling a small child to his chest. Okay, seriously, what is in the Italian water and where can I get some? His dark hair and penetrating blue gaze has me wanting to pinch my arm to make sure I’m not dreaming.

Santiago’s eyes narrow at me. “She was supposed to come over tomorrow to help me babysit. That is, if you agree to letting Marko stay of course.” He looks at the woman before his eyes meet mine. “She must’ve mixed up the days.”

Well, I can’t let him win this round. I’d rather outplay him at his own game than let him have the upper hand.

I walk down the stairs with as much Julie Andrews’ The Princess Diaries’ energy as I can gather under tense circumstances. “I’ve heard so much about Marko. I can’t wait to help babysit. I actually spent years working in a daycare before coming to Italy.”

“Oh, that’s great! I’m Maya, Santiago’s sister.” An overly excited Maya offers her hand. Her assessing brown eyes make me nervous.

“Chloe.” I shake it with a fake smile.

“Chloe—” The way Santiago says my name has my toes curling in my sneakers. Screw this mission to hell and back. Would he think I’m weird if I ask him if I can record him saying my name a couple of times? For mindfulness meditation activities, obviously.

Santiago tilts his head in the direction of the other male. “This is Noah, my sister’s husband.” He says it in a way that makes me feel like I should recognize his brother-in-law.

I blink at Noah, trying to place him. Nope. Drawing a blank. “Santiago talks about you all the time.” Well, that sounded like the right thing to say.

Noah smiles wide, looking way too handsome for comfort. “Oh, does he now? I’m flattered.”

“Yeah. It’s not my fault your ugly face is always on TV,” Santiago offers, saving me.

I have no clue why Noah’s face is on TV, but based on how he looks, Hollywood would suit him well. “I’ve heard a ton about you.” I move toward the front door. “Well, it’s pretty late, and I have an early morning. It was great to meet you both.”

“Oh no.” Maya’s bottom lip wobbles.

“Don’t go yet.” Santiago, in his typical don’t mind me, I’m secretly a psycho way, grabs me and tugs me into his body. His strong arms wrap around my body, basking me in his enticing scent and warmth. I’m tempted to rub my face into his shirt like a creep.

Bad Chloe. This man is anything but stable. Not to mention he stole your phone.

“Yes, please stay for a few more minutes.” Maya clasps her hands together. “So... Santiago didn’t mention you today.”

“You know him. He prefers to have a life full of secrets in this big castle of his.”

Everyone laughs. Interesting. The plot thickens.

“I see why he hid you from us.” Noah’s blue eyes lighten.

Santiago’s hand slides up my side, singeing my skin. “Chloe had me pegged from the first night she met me.”

“Yeah, it seems like only yesterday.”

The way Santiago laughs, loose and rough, has Maya and Noah looking at us with wide eyes. Something about their reaction tells me Santiago doesn’t laugh that way often.

Can I make him do it again? I’ve always dreamed of having a superpower.

Marko stirs in Noah’s arms.

Maya brushes his head with a tenderness I’m unaccustomed to seeing. “We’d love to have breakfast with you before we leave tomorrow. I can’t believe Santiago has kept you a secret for this long. I need to know everything about you. He hasn’t had a girlfriend since he was a teenager.”

I’m eating up all these clues about Santiago like discounted candy after Halloween.

“Oh. Chloe can’t have breakfast with us since she has to visit her friend.” Santiago speaks for me.

Right. My friend. AKA the father I traveled thousands of miles for but haven’t gotten the courage to meet yet.

Maya’s smile drops.

Noah’s eyes move from his wife’s face to mine. “I insist you join us. I’m sure your friend wouldn’t mind rescheduling.”

“Well…” I bite my bottom lip.

“We don’t visit often,” Noah says.

“More like ever,” Maya mumbles under her breath.

Shoot. “Umm…”