Rooted (Pagano Family #3)(14)

She stared down at his hand for a beat before answering, but she didn’t pull herself free from his light hold. “No. My sister is here—I need to meet up with her.”

“Yeah? Where and when?”

“The inverted pyramid. And now, so I’m going.” Now she did pull her arm free.

“I’m supposed to meet my sons there now, too. I’ll walk with you.”

Instead of heading in that direction, though, Carmen got very still and stared hard at him. He cocked his head and waited to see what she would say.

“What’s your game here, Theo?”

“Honestly?”

“No,” she scoffed. “Lie to me. Jesus, never mind.” She took a step away, and again he took her arm, this time a little more firmly, since she’d been moving from him. Her eyes went hard when his hand went around her.

“Look, I suck at this. Clearly. But I enjoyed hijacking your dinner last night. It’s a treat to see you here now, like a gift from the Fates. I’m attracted to you—and not just because you’re beautiful. It’s been a while since I felt that, so I guess I’m trying. No game. No lies.”

“To what end?”

“No idea. Conversation? Companionship?” He tried a smile and loosened his hold, letting his thumb arc over her bare skin. Soft and warm—and firm. Her arms were toned but not brawny. “More kisses like last night? More than that?”

“Booty call.”

Those two bald words surprised him. But maybe they weren’t far off. He wasn’t looking for a relationship—certainly not in Paris, with a woman who was here for only a few months. Still, he thought he might like talking with her as much as anything else. Her mind intrigued him, what he’d seen so far. “Not necessarily. But would that offend you?”

“No. Just setting the terms. And yes, necessarily. I don’t want more.”

That sounded encouraging. “Are you saying you want that?”

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I’m saying it’s under consideration. But right now, I need to meet my sister.”

This time, when she stepped away, he let her go—but she waited for him to join her. So they went together to meet their families.

Eli and Jordan were already there, and they both reacted to seeing their father approach them accompanied by the tall beauty at his side. Eli seemed simply impressed. Jordan, however, was thrilled. He grinned and put his hands on his hips as they approached.

Always, Theo put a little guard up when someone met Jordan. Theo didn’t like to see him disrespected, and every now and then, someone reacted to his fashionista son, with his coiffed hair and lined eyes, in a way less than accepting. So he cast a sidelong glance at Carmen and waited to see how she’d meet his children. His opinion of her could change dramatically in this moment.

“Carmen, these are my sons, Eli and Jordan. Boys, this is Carmen…” He paused and turned to her, sending her a question. He didn’t know her last name.

She answered by completing the ritual of introduction herself. “Pagano.” She held out her hand to Jordan first.

They shook hands. Carmen’s reaction was nonexistent—a vague smile and a strong handshake. She had simply met two new people. And that was the best possible result. Encouraged, he asked, “Do you and your sister have plans for dinner? We’re on our way for burgers—there’s a good American bar not too far from here.”

Before Carmen could answer, another beautiful brunette walked up, limping noticeably in fancy, tall sandals. She was obviously younger than Carmen and obviously related. But her fashion sense was considerably different—flashier, by far. A handbag and a shopping bag hung on her arm.

Both of his sons were ogling her openly, for different reasons.

Theo watched the girl notice Eli and Jordan noticing her. And then her eyes fixed hard on Eli, and her look turned greedy. Eli was a fine-looking young man: six-two, blond, built like the linebacker he’d been. “You met people while I was shopping. No fair.”

Carmen laughed. “Rosa, this is Theo Wilde and his sons…um…”

Eli stepped forward, his hand out. “I’m Eli.”



A blush brightening her pretty face, Rosa shook his hand. “Good to meet you.” She had a stronger accent than her sister, by several degrees.

Jordan sighed when Eli neglected to make way for him. Pushing his brother to the side, he extended his hand, too. “And I’m Jordan. Love the shoes. Jimmy Choo?”

Rosa kicked a foot back and to the side, in a charming photo-op of a pose, displaying her shoe. “Prada—from last year. And they are killing my feet.”

“Well that makes sense, because they’re to die for!”

Rosa and Jordan laughed at Jordan’s little fashion funny, and Eli busied himself with a scientific study of the girl’s shapely, bare legs. Sensing a positive group vibe, Theo picked up his abandoned question. “I was just asking your sister if you two would like to join us for dinner tonight—nothing fancy, just burgers at a pub.”

Carmen shook her head. “Thanks, but I think we’ll just—”

Rosa cut her off. “Yes! That sounds great. Let’s do that.” She turned to her sister. “Right, Carm?”

Carmen sighed. “Fine. Okay, yeah. American burgers in Paris.” The look she sent her sister’s way was loving and indulgent, irritated and maybe a little relieved. And then she turned a not dissimilar look on him, that mouth canted up in a wry twist.