Page 170 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

“Maybe not, but I asked, Cara.”

She turned slowly to face Gian, taking note that he still seemed a hell of lot more tense than he normally did. Even with his hands shoved in his pockets, she could still see his unease in his narrowed gaze and tight jaw.

“You have no business asking anything,” Cara reminded him.

Gian’s jaw ticked. “So you don’t want to answer, then?”

“There’s nothing to tell, and you don’t get to ask.”

“I—”

“Don’t you have a guest at your table?” she interrupted, her annoyance rising fast.

“It was over ten minutes ago, but it took him this long to realize I wasn’t interested in the conversation he was offering. Enough about me, let’s get back to you.”

Cara bristled. “Excuse me?”

“Who was that man?”

“None of your bus—”

“Cara.” The quiet way he said her name, so heavy and thick, made her back straighten as a shiver crawled up her spine. Damn him. Gian took one step closer to Cara, ensuring she couldn’t move, as she was backed into the goddamn bar. “At least tell me who he is, that’s all.”

“A date, someone I met. Happy?”

Gian’s eyes flashed with his jealousy, and she hated him for that, too.

“No, I’m not happy.”

“Well, don’t ask if you don’t really want to know.”

“How long?” he asked.

“I’m not answering that one.”

“I’ve seen him here before, with the owner. I could always … ask around.”

Cara stiffened a bit. “You have no right to do that, Gian. Whether or not I see someone, or go out with someone, or fuck someone, isn’t for you to know or have an opinion on. I’m not yours, now. You don’t get a say in anything I do. Learn that, and fast.”

By the time she had finished her tirade, her voice had turned into a harsh whisper.

Gian barely blinked a lash at her rage.

“It fucked me up,” he said, shrugging one shoulder, “seeing you out with somebody else. Smiling like you do, and it just … fucked me up, Cara. I thought, who the fuck is he, and what in the hell is she doing, and why? And it’s fucking disgusting how fast I thought about finding out who he was just to kill him. And you—Jesus, Cara—you don’t even realize how pissed off it makes me that you smiled for him, mon ange.”

Cara sucked in a low breath, willing it to give her some sense of calm.

It didn’t help.

Screw him for the fact he made her hot and bothered, and all he had to do was threaten a man he didn’t even know. God, she hated this and the confusing way it left her feeling.

“You don’t get to say those kinds of things to me. We’re not together. I can date whoever I want. I already told you that. And stop calling me your pretty French pet names, Gian.”

“Why? It still fits. My angel.”

“I’m not yours,” Cara snapped. “Not anymore.”

Gian smirked, his arrogance becoming all the more apparent. “Oh, Cara, you’re always going to be mine. Sempre, amore.”