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Our family operated one of the largest restaurant and hotel businesses in the country and had been continuously acquiring assets since our great-grandfather started it in the early 1900s. Now our mother and father owned most of the shares, which was another reason being around the extended family wasn't always pleasant. Though many of them still worked in the family in some capacity, there were those who thought cushy employment wasn't good enough. They were still bitter about my parents having bought out the lion's share of the business following my great-grandfather's death. And in large families, pettiness was one of those things that could carry across generations.
“I don't think there will be anything relaxing about being stuck in Maui for a week with a bunch of people who talk shit as soon as our backs are turned.”
Enzo shrugged. “Then just keep your back turned, and you won't notice it. We've got a whole floor in that hotel. What's it called again?”
“The Wailea Grand, I think.”
“Yeah, that sounds right. Anyway, a whole floor. Lots of space to keep away from family. And there's all the other floors too.” He grinned at me. “I'm sure there will be lots of other people to spend time with.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I waved him off. “You don't have to repeat the entire pitch again. Nonna and Nonno’s vow renewal is enough to get me there.”
That was the truth. I loved my grandparents, and there wasn't much I wouldn't do for them.
Enzo nodded. “The real question is...how do I get you to not be a killjoy while we're there?”
His words hung in the air, and I downed another mouthful of my drink as I thought about it. Having some pretty young thing in my bed for the whole week would be a decent enough incentive, but the last thing I wanted to do was bring a date to the wedding. Most women would read way too much into meeting my family, and the entire Gianelli clan would take it as a declaration of marital intentions if I wasn't careful.
And I'd learned the hard way to be careful.
After a few minutes passed, Enzo decided to go ahead with his own suggestion. “What if we go to Vegas on the way?”
My interest was piqued by the possibility. “Vegas, huh?” I swirled the amber liquid in my glass and thought about it. “I might be interested in a bit of gambling.”
He laughed. “You're always interested in a bit of gambling, little brother.”
I grinned. “Of course. How else am I supposed to get my kicks when everything else is a sure thing?”
“Good point.” Enzo clinked glasses with me again.
The more he drank, the fonder he was of life in general. He might've been three years my senior, but most people assumed our roles were reversed. Not because I looked older but because he fit the stereotype of a youngest. Wild, enjoying the spotlight, impulsive. Plus, I'd been taller than him since I was fifteen.
“Sixty years,” he said wistfully, settling back into the leather of the bench. “Can you imagine spending sixty years with one woman?”
“I can't imagine spending sixty days with one woman. But I hope you start imagining sixty years with a single woman because I don't think Elina is going anywhere.”
Enzo glanced down at the gold ring on his left hand and shrugged. “She doesn't count.”
I shook my head. “Better not let our parents hear you talking about her that way. Or Elina's parents, for that matter. I doubt the Michelis would take it well.”
“Enough talking about me.” Enzo ran a hand through his coal-black hair. It was cut so precisely it fell back into place the second he was finished.
Mine never did the same thing twice. I liked it that way, ruffled and a little bit unkempt. It was my little sort of rebellion to being the level-headed one to Enzo's more flashy personality. Most of our traits were like that. He was an inch under six feet tall, while I towered over him by six inches. He and our older brother got their olive-colored complexion from our father, while I was a couple shades lighter like our mother. I had her eyes too. A unique sort of green the color of freshly mown grass. He loved being the public face of things, while I had no problem keeping my eye on him from the background. We worked well together because of our differences rather than because of them.
“So, Vegas...you're interested?” Enzo asked, bringing me back to his original suggestion.
“Yeah, sure.” I shrugged and downed the rest of my drink. “What else am I going to do with my weekend?”
I could think of a dozen other things my time would be better spent doing. Sure, we'd just closed a major deal. That didn't mean that the work was finished though. I had contracts upon contracts to sort through, as well as stacks of other paperwork. I'd also been thinking about hiring a new junior assistant since my current one had made it pretty clear that she'd only taken the job to get me into bed.
But all that could wait, I supposed. Maybe this was something Enzo and I really needed.
“I'll head back home and start making arrangements.” I set the glass on the table.
Enzo shot out a hand to stop me. “One more for the road?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“One more bet or one more drink?”
He grinned at me. “What do you think?”
I chuckled and shook my head. He was incorrigible. “Alright. What is it this time?”
“Double or nothing says I can get that hot waitress' number.” He pointed to a brunette strolling by with an empty tray in her hands. “Two minutes or less.”
I cocked my head as I watched her walk through the crowd. Guys of all shapes and sizes leered at her, and she barely flashed a smile. I suspected she'd be a tough nut to crack, even for my way-too-charming brother.
“Sure.” We shook on it. “You've got two minutes.”
Then I sat back to see if Enzo was as slick as he thought he was. It was even odds that I'd lose, I supposed, but it was always worth the money to watch.
