Page 91 of Fly's Path

Where he lives—This is Vincenti territory. That’s why Sheri feels so safe running around alone in the dark. “Is there anything I should know?”

“Viola has taken a marked interest in her.”

Viola??? Viola Vincenti? The former don's wife? “Does that mean something?”

Vex snorts. “You haven’t met the grandmothers. Hope you never do. They’re meddlesome women who have a knack for arranging weddings.”

Arranging weddings?

“Viola has a lot of family. If you catch my drift.”

All too clearly. “Sheri is leaving town soon.”

“Like that will matter. Nothing thwarts a meddling Italian grandmother when she decides something. You can take my warning or ignore it. It doesn’t matter to me. I have what’s mine, and killing you won’t bother me at all.” He lifts the beer to his lips and takes a pull before walking away without a word.

I’m dead.

It’s official, Vex is going to kill me just for breathing in the direction of that woman. It doesn’t matter, though, I still can’t walk out the door. Whatever Sheri and I are going to end up being, whether it’s friends or forever, I need to know.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs pulls me back over to the foyer.

It’s not one set. There must be a half dozen or more. Vex said there were a bunch of women. I look up—Wow!

Who is this woman?

She’s beautiful. The smile on her face draws me in, daring me to kiss her while making me want to do anything to ensure she always smiles just like that. “Beautiful.”

“Don’t go acting all charming like that. You’re going to make me think you’re the prince in this story.”

“Only if you’re my princess.”

Sheri stops on the bottom step. “Would that make your motorcycle our carriage? Because I’m pretty sure it has more than four horses and it isn’t white.”

I chuckle. “That might be true.”

“No ‘might’ about it. There’s no way you have a white motorcycle or a slow one. So what color is our ride tonight?”

“Gray, but this vehicle has four wheels instead of two.”

Her face falls.

“I thought you’d appreciate not freezing the first time we rode together.”

A smile pulls up the edges of her lips. “Does that mean you’re already planning on us having a second date?”

“How could I not be?”

A chorus of sighs comes from above us.

There, leaning against the banister, is a plethora of grinning women. I give them a nod and a wink before holding a hand out to Sheri. “Your chariot awaits.”

Giggles erupt all around me, but the little ones from the woman in front of me are all I can hear.

“Don’t have her back before ten!” one of the women shouts down as I open the front door. They’re bold and brazen and probably the best wingmen a guy could ask for.

Sheri’s grin just gets wider.

As I close the door behind us, I spin her into my arms. “All I’ve been able to think about is kissing you. I can’t wait for our date to get started.”