He walked up to me and gripped me around the waist. As if the last conversation we had wasn’t at all difficult, he kissed me on the corner of the mouth before he stepped away. “I have a phone meeting in ten minutes. Otherwise, your face would be down and your ass would be up.”
“Maybe later.”
“Definitely later.”
I continued to stand there.
He pulled his jeans and t-shirt out of the closet. “Something you needed?”
I hated the way I was about to phrase this, but I had to suck up my pride and just do it. “I was wondering if Landon could come over for lunch? It looks like you’re going to be here today.”
He pulled on his boxers without giving any distinct reaction. “He can stay for two hours. But that’s it. He’ll pass through two security checkpoints before getting access to the house. If he has even a pocket knife, I’ll shoot him on sight. You got it?”
That didn’t surprise me at all. “That’s fine.”
“Then have a good time.”
I felt the gratitude surge inside my stomach and I didn’t want let it out, but it was impossible to keep bottled up. “Thank you…” I looked forward to seeing my brother. We hadn’t been close, but now that he was all I had, I wanted to deepen our connection. Being with him made me calm, made me feel like everything would be okay.
I stood in the open doorway and watched Landon go through the second security check. The first one had been thorough, but the second one was excessive. Cato’s security removed Landon’s shirt and his jeans and made him stand in his boxers and shoes. Then they examined every inch of his clothing and even patted down his bare skin, like he might have sewn a weapon inside his body.
Landon shook his head. “I’m not even that hungry.”
They finally handed his clothes back to him, and he got dressed. He walked up the stairs and greeted me. “I hope I don’t have to get naked every time I come for a visit.”
“That makes two of us.” I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him. “I’m so happy to see you.” I pressed my cheek into his chest and sighed happily. It was so nice to see his face in my prison. It made me feel less alone and made the place feel more like home.
He patted me on the back then stepped out of my embrace. “If you weren’t my sister, I wouldn’t have made the drive out here and put up with all those assholes trying to take my clothes off.”
“But you did,” I said with a smile. “Because you love me.”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t go that far…”
I took Landon into the kitchen where Giovanni had prepared lunch. Landon’s eyes wandered as he took in the three-story mansion that Cato occupied alone. It was more of a hotel than a residence.
Giovanni had the dishes set on the counter. “Lunch is ready, Miss Siena.”
“Great. It smells delicious.” I turned to my brother. “Giovanni, this is my brother Landon. Landon, this is my favorite person in this house. He makes the best food, and he’s so cute.”
Giovanni’s cheeks reddened. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.” Giovanni gave a slight bow. “Your sister has been a breath of fresh air to this house.”
“With that gargoyle Cato living here, that doesn’t surprise me.” Landon shook his hand. “I’m glad my sister has a friend.”
Giovanni led us outside to the table on the terrace. The weather was cooling down because fall was knocking on the door, but the weather was still lovely. “Take a seat. I’ll return with refreshments and lunch.”
Landon sat across from me under the umbrella. He examined the exceptional landscaping and the acres of grass that extended into the distance. “This place is enormous.”
“I know.”
“And he’s got security everywhere.”
“I know that too.” There was no way in or out of this place unless Cato allowed it.
“I have to say, it’s not a bad place to be a prisoner.” He leaned back against the wrought-iron chair with his hands held together at his stomach. “Besides, the security trying to get you naked all the time.”
“Thankfully, they’ve never done that to me.” Only Cato and Bates had.
“Just the psychopath keeping you here,” he said bitterly.
“Yeah…”
Giovanni set the water and iced tea on the table along with the sliced bread, cheese, and grapes. Then he placed our entrees in front of us, salad with grilled salmon and lemon wedges. “The iced tea is decaf, Miss Siena.”
“I figured it was.”
Giovanni returned inside the house and shut the door.
Landon watched him go before he turned back to me. “I need to get a butler.”
“You could never afford someone like Giovanni. Your best bet is a good woman who’s willing to put up with you.”
“No such thing. I don’t let women stick around long enough to see how much of an asshole I am. They see the charming guy I am, and before that runs out, they’re gone.”