Page 4 of Captivated

“How much longer?” Joe asked.

Better to change the topic—he wasn’t going to get anything else from his father in this conversation, clearly.

“Actually, we’re almost there.”

Damian hadn’t been exaggerating, thankfully. It was only ten minutes of driving later, and the car pulled in front of a gated driveway. Once the gate was opened for them, a long and winding driveway lined with tall trees led them to a stop in front of a mansion that was probably large enough to house a small army.

He took in the manicured grass, carefully placed cobblestones in the driveway, and the large marble pillars holding up a grand entrance for cars to drive under. Their car parked off to the side, instead.

Wealth.

The place screamed wealth.

Joe had just slid out of the car—still taking in the Marcello estate with fresh eyes—when the front door of the mansion opened, and a group of young women fled onto the marble steps one by one. Five young women, actually.

Marcello daughters?

Principessas?

Did the Marcellos have that many daughters in their family?

Joe didn’t really know.

He figured it didn’t really matter anyway, and besides, his attention had caught something far better to focus in on. Like the young, willowy woman hanging back a little from her group of friends. Her hazel gaze caught his, and something struck him still and silent when she refused to drop his stare. Confidence wafted from the tall, gorgeous woman. Her dark blonde hair hung in loose waves that flicked over her shoulder when she turned her head a bit to keep staring at Joe even as she rounded the back of the waiting SUV.

Goddamn.

Joe wasn’t one to notice women. He liked a good time once in a while when the mood struck him, but he had far more important things to focus on in his life. Not like his brother, Cory, who liked to have a different female on his arm every weekend.

And yet, Joe found it damn near impossible to look away from the hazel-eyed, blonde woman with the bow-shaped lips, and dancer’s legs. She had to be a dancer given the way she walked like the ground was made of clouds, and her toes barely touched the cobblestone in her flats before lifting back up again. Quick, carefully taken steps with a posture that spoke of beauty and grace.

All the other ladies wore skinny jeans, and heels. But not her. She wore a flowy summer dress that spun wide with every step she took.

Still, she kept staring.

So did he.

What was her name?

And why couldn’t he breathe normally again?

“Joe,” Damian said loudly.

Joe snapped out of his daze just as the unknown woman reached for the backdoor of the SUV, and looked over his shoulder to find his father staring at him. He couldn’t even pretend like he hadn’t been gawking like a foolish boy caught with his prick in his hands. He didn’t even try, either.

“Yeah, Dad?”

Tires squealed before the SUV quickly pulled out of the circular drive, and headed down the winding path out of Joe’s sight.

Damn.

Who was that woman?

“Find something you like?” Damian asked, smiling in that way of his.

“Uh …”

Fuck.