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“Regrets?” Enzo asks.
I think over his question for a long minute. Did I regret spending the night with that beautiful woman and taking her innocence? “No,” I state. “But the problem is…fuck, I don’t know. I’m so confused.”
Enzo takes a sip of his whiskey and studies me over the rim of his glass. “What are you confused about? It sounds like you met someone that you actually like. Spend some time with her and get to know her better.”
But, I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
I huff out a frustrated breath and shove a hand through my hair. “Because! Wanting to be with her involves opening myself up to be hurt again. I can’t do that,” I grit out. “I won’t.”
Getting over Cynda was the hardest thing I’d ever done and her betrayal had scorched me and left a deep scar.
“You can’t compare every woman you meet to Cynda,” Enzo says in a quiet, careful voice. He knows he best tread lightly when it comes to this subject. My whole family knows and I never discuss what happened. Not fucking ever.
“Easier said than done.”
“It sounds to me like you want to spend time with Hannah, but you’re fighting yourself on it.”
“Oh, I’ll be spending a helluva lot of time with her. If she accepts my job offer.”
“You offered her a job?”
“As my new assistant,” I explain. “Miceli said I needed someone, and Hannah needs a better job. It makes sense.”
“And she hasn’t accepted?” Enzo’s mouth quirks up in a smirk. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I took her virginity last night and then turned into a first-class bastard this morning.”
“Aww, fuck, Vin. What did you do?”
“Woke up, questioned everything, panicked and then took her straight home.” I scrub a hand over my face. “Not my best moment.”
“No, it doesn’t sound like it.” He turns his glass in a circle. “Most women don’t appreciate being kicked out immediately after sex.”
“I didn’t kick her out!” He arches a brow. “I sort of scooted her out.”
“Same thing, man.”
I let out a weary sigh. “I’m a damn idiot. But I don’t know what to do now.”
“Stop focusing on the potential negatives. Be happy and enjoy life for once. Indulge. If it goes somewhere then great and if not, then oh well. Don’t let yourself be so hung up on Cynda still. That’s all in the past. Time to move on to greener pastures.”
It’s easy for Enzo to give advice, I realize, because he’s never had his heart broken before. But I do want to be happy. And Hannah makes me laugh and smile. The urge to get to know her better fills me. But am I brave enough to do it? To take a chance?
I just don’t know if I can.
“Stop debating over every little thing that can go wrong and go call your girl,” Enzo encourages me. He swallows back the rest of his whiskey. “Now I gotta go stop by the office.”
“On Sunday?”
“Every day is a work day, Vin,” he says, slapping a palm down on the table and standing up. “There’s no such thing as relaxing on the weekend when it comes to making money.”
“You know what they say—all work and no play…”
“You find me someone to play with and maybe I’ll consider taking Sundays off.” He tosses me a salute, throws a wad of cash on the table and says, “Drinks are on me. Now go fix this situation with Hannah by at least getting her to agree to be your assistant. Okay?”
I nod then watch my brother walk out. Every single pair of female eyes follows him and I roll my own eyes. He could have every woman in this city eating out of his hand if he wanted. Maybe one day he’ll look around and take his pick. But, probably not anytime soon. He’s too wrapped up in increasing the family fortune.
