Page 143 of Claimed At First Sight

Somehow, his entirely practical message was worse than hearing nothing at all.

I lock the screen and set my phone face down beside me. Sienna watches me from across the coffee table, one eyebrow raised.

“I know that look,” she says, smirking at me.

“What look?”

“The one where you’re thinking about something you don’t want anyone to know you’re thinking about.”

Perceptive little devil.

“I was thinking about how much I dislike you,” I huff.

“That isn’t a secret.”

Ari giggles.

Before I can retaliate, Simon appears in the doorway.

A tiny spark of expectation flares before I can smother it, mostly because I’m beginning to recognize the particular expression he wears whenever a certain visitor is involved.

“Miss Accardi.”

All three of us look at him.

“Yes?” we reply in perfect unison.

Simon blinks while Ari grins.

“Miss Mialina,” he clarifies. “Don Marco is here to see you.”

A flutter stirs to life somewhere beneath my ribs.

“I want to see him and thank him for saving Gray,” Ari shouts.

Sienna smirks over the top of the rulebook she picked up to settle our latest dispute.

“I’ll happily stay here.”

“Where is he?” I ask Simon.

I’m surprised Maximo had himself announced instead of just marching in. What is he up to now?

“In the front hall.”

I frown. “Well, he knows where the sitting room is.”

Simon doesn’t even attempt to hide his amusement. “He’s asked for you to come to him.”

Seriously? What kind of power play is this?

I briefly consider sending Simon back to inform His Majesty that I’m staying where I am. The problem is that Maximo will no doubt have an infuriatingly sensible reason, and despite my best efforts, I’ll still end up doing exactly what he wanted in the first place.

I hate when that happens.

Besides, curiosity is already getting the better of me.

I rise from my chair as gracefully as possible.