“What news?”
She stared up at the twin gorgeous men before her and gave a wicked smirk. “I’ll fix her up on a blind date. With someone hot.”
Michael’s face darkened. “Absolutely not. My baby sister is not experienced with dating.”
“That’s exactly why this will be perfect for her. See ya.” She added to the insult by raising herself on tiptoes and placing a kiss on his lips. The tiny zing between them distracted her for an instant but she ignored it. “Let’s not argue on our honeymoon, love, when we can concentrate on other fun activities.” She gave Max a wink, then strolled away, making sure to swing her hips as she felt his gaze on her rear.
Maggie held back a laugh. Damn, some of this was fun. Challenging his wit and bullheaded ways gave her some benefit. She made her way upstairs and searched for Carina’s room. Let Michael stew with that disturbing idea for a bit. She’d confess later she didn’t even know a suitable boy to set Carina up with. Unfortunately, her mouth got her in trouble again and she still needed to try to speak with Carina. She certainly had no experience with female advice. What could she possibly say to make her feel better?
Maggie sighed as she stopped behind a closed door and heard muffled sobs. Her palms were sweaty so she rubbed them on her skirt. Ridiculous. If Carina didn’t want to talk to her, she’d just hang here upstairs for a bit so Michael would believe they’d shared a conversation. She raised her hand and tapped on the door.
“Carina? It’s Maggie. Do you want to talk for a bit, or do you want me to go away?” Yep, she was a coward. A good advisor would demand she open the door for a talk. A few beats of silence passed. Relief caved through her so she turned to go. “Okay, I understand, I’ll just—”
The door swung open.
Ah, crap.
“Why doesn’t anyone understand I’m a grown-up?” the girl burst out.
Maggie paused in the doorway, tempted to run, but Carina stepped back and made room for her so she walked in.
“Because your older brother will never accept it,” Maggie said easily. She took in the pink walls, fluffy stuffed animals, and lots of lace. Yuck. Something told her Carina kept the room like this to please others and not herself. The canopy bed looked soft and inviting, but held a quilt of various butterflies that made it seem childish.
Definitely a young twenty-three. Maggie doubted she’d ever dated, especially with Michael in charge. She stopped at the back of the room where a few stairs led down to a separate space that looked as if it could have been a playroom at one time. This area had a different feel to it, with blank canvases, paint, and an array of artists’ tools. Various watercolors in vivid colors drew her attention, and clay models of embracing lovers lined the shelves. Hm, interesting. This seemed more of a fit for Carina than the main area.
“I hate my life.” Misery etched every feature of her face. She flopped on her bed as more tears leaked from her eyes. “No one understands or lets me make my own decisions. I’m not a baby anymore, but my life is already mapped out for me.”
Maggie mentally berated herself for getting into this mess with a girl she barely knew and a situation she couldn’t fix. “Um, how so?”
Carina gulped. “I’m only allowed to date boys my family approves of. Not that any boys have ever asked me out. I’m ugly and fat.”
Maggie let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s stupid. Your body is naturally curvy. You have breasts. Have you seen your sisters? They may be rail thin, but their boobs are flat as pancakes.”
The girl’s eyes widened in shock, and then an actual laugh escaped her lips. “Maybe. But boys like thin. And my hair looks like I stuck a finger in a socket. My lips look puffy and swollen and stupid.” More tears and another gulp. “And Michael says I have to help Julietta at La Dolce Famiglia, but he never asked me what I want! I wanted to go away to college but he made me study at the university. Now I have to get my MBA and then do a long internship. Why can’t I go to America and work for him? Nothing’s fair!”
Maggie shook her head. Geez, the dramatics in this family were off the charts. She sat gingerly on the bed and let Carina cry it out. She searched desperately for all the right things a mom or Alexa or Michael would say. Ah, the hell with it. At this point, Maggie figured she couldn’t make it much worse.
“Okay, babe, sit up.”
The girl swiped at her cheeks and obeyed. Those lips she hated pursed, and Maggie bet one day Max would be seeing a whole new persona of Michael’s baby sister. But not now. Not yet. Carina needed some time to find herself and be comfortable in her own skin.
“I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but life sucks.”
Another faint smile. At least she humored the girl.
“Look, I know we don’t know each other well, but let me tell you what I see. Max is smoking hot and you’re crazy about him.”
Carina’s mouth fell open. Her skin flushed bright red. “N-n-no, I don’t—”
Maggie waved her hand in the air in dismissal. “I don’t blame you. The problem is you recently passed legal drinking age. You’re practically jailbait to a thirty-year-old man.”
“What’s that?”
“Hm, never mind. I mean, you’re too young for him to see you as a woman yet. That may change, but instead of spending the next few years not living and waiting for him to notice you, you need to get out and live a little. Find out who you are. Then everyone will see you as your own person.”
She looked so bleak and hopeless, Maggie’s heart tore. God, she remembered how it felt, how confusing life was. But Carina had people to guide her, people who loved her, and Maggie hoped it made the difference. “How do I do that? Look at me. I’m a mess.”
“Do you like studying business in college?”
“I don’t mind. I’m very good with numbers—one
of the few things I can do well.” Her chin tilted up
stubbornly. “But it would be nice if someone asked my opinion.”
Maggie laughed. The girl had spirit. She’d need it. “Business and accounting aren’t bad degrees to get. You can do lots of stuff with it and meet new and interesting people.” She pointed to the art room at the back. “Is that your painting?”
Carina nodded. “Yeah, I like to paint, but I don’t think I’m good.”
Maggie took in the stark images of faces in different emotional turmoil. With a critical eye, she noticed the sweeping lines of the brush, the vivid expressions pulling the viewer in, and the beginnings of real talent. “No, you’re good,” she said slowly. “Don’t ever give up on the art. Take some classes on the side to nurture your talent, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Get it?”
Carina nodded, seemingly fascinated by her new sister-in-law.
“Michael has your best interests at heart, but as an older brother, he’s always going to suck at this. You’re going to need more of a backbone to let him know what is and is not acceptable.”
Her eyes widened. “But whatever Michael says is law,” she whispered. “He’s head of the family.”
“I’m not telling you to disrespect him. Just be clear with communication. Try.”
“Okay.”
“As for Max, maybe one day things will change. Until then, you need to concentrate on other boys.”
“I told you, boys don’t like me.”
Maggie shook her head. “You’re not presenting yourself to your full potential.” The invitation hovered at the edge of her lips, but before she could swallow the words Maggie sealed her fate. “Why don’t you come with me to my shoot this week?”
The girl studied her with suspicion. “Why?”
Maggie laughed. “I’ll give you a makeover. Show you the world of photography and introduce you to some of the models. It won’t fix your problems, but maybe you can see how other people view you. You’re beautiful, Carina. Inside and out. You just need to believe it.”
As she said the words, Maggie suddenly fought back tears. What she would have given for someone to say those words to her. Would it have made a difference? At least she had an opportunity to tell another young girl, whether or not it made an impression. Disgusted with her burgeoning emotions in the past twenty-four hours, she tamped down her silliness and stiffened her spine.
“You would do that?”
“Sure. It’ll be fun.”
Carina threw her arms around her in an all-consuming hug.
A beat passed before Maggie hugged back, then pulled away awkwardly.
“Thanks, Maggie. You’re the best sister-in-law in the world!”
“I’m your only sister-in-law, babe.” Guilt pricked her conscience. It was one thing to pretend to be Michael’s wife, but another to actually form an attachment to his family. She regretted the invitation immediately but it was too late to change her mind. Maggie rose from the bed and walked toward the door.
“Grazie!”
“Prego.”
She shut the door behind her. Oh, boy. Michael was going to be pissed.
Chapter Six
Dios, he was going to kill her.
Michael watched his fake bride calmly gather her belongings for the upcoming shoot and move about the room like she was alone. Unfortunately, she was not. He was getting more and more irritated at her fake ignorance of the chemistry that burned through the room.
This was getting complicated. She was supposed to stay out of his business, remain distant, and depart with not even a ripple. Instead, she caused a tsunami the first day here. Everyone seemed to like her mouthy attitude. Now his baby sister was going to a shoot to see half-naked men, and Maggie thought this was a good thing.
“You did not even ask permission before you invited her,” he stated coldly. “Do not disrespect me with matters of my own family, Maggie.”
She didn’t bother to glance at him as she packed her day bag. She wore black satin pajamas that rippled over her like water, emphasizing every sweet curve of her body. Her silky hair brushed back and forth past her shoulders and put him in a meditative trance. “Hm, I don’t think the word ‘obey’ was in our vows, Michael. Anyway, I told you I was kidding about the blind date thing. At least you don’t have to worry about that.”
“This is not funny.”
She snorted. “Listen, I had no choice. She was hysterical, and I needed to calm her down. If you hadn’t treated her like a five-year-old, maybe I wouldn’t have had to do it.”
“Carina is an innocent and I intend to keep her that way.”
She snorted again and his temper reared. “Wake up and smell the coffee, Count. She’s on the edge of exploring her sexuality. She’s gonna do it anyway, and we might as well be her guides.”
“Not under my roof. I have a duty to protect her and I will. She needs to finish college and start her career. Boys are not in the picture.”
“She’s hot for Max.”
“What?” His roar boomed off the walls. “Did he do something to lead her on? I’ll kill him.”