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you.”
    “He’s not an
asshole.” I find myself defending Dom. “He’s
demanding. There’s a difference.”
    “Is there?” He gives
me a look. “We’ve had our disagreements, so let’s
just say my perspective is—”
    “Biased?”
    He laughs. “Perhaps.”
He reaches for the drink he has on the desk, a glass of something I’m
betting isn’t iced tea. “You should have seen my
grandfather fawn all over him. He was always the favorite.”
    Now we’re getting
somewhere. “That sounds rough, especially when you’re
young. Is that why you went off racing in Europe?” I ask.
    “No, sweetheart. That was
for the beautiful women, like you.” He raises his glass in a
flirtatious toast.
    I smile and roll my eyes. “Come
on.”
    He shrugs. “It was
something to do. I mean, it’s not like Dom would let me be a
part of his empire here.”
    I can hear the bitterness in his
tone. Interesting. Dom feels like he’s had all the weight of
responsibility fall on his shoulders, while Xander resents not having
a chance to work at the top. It’s a shame they’ve never
been able to find a balance together.
    “It’s too bad you
stayed away for so long. But now that you’re back, I hope you
and Dominic can work things out,” I say honestly.
    Xander doesn’t seem to
absorb my words, nor their implications. “Do you have siblings,
Juliet?”
    “No. I always wished I
did.”
    He smiles at me, but there’s
a hard glint in his eyes. “Then you wouldn’t understand.”
    “Maybe not.” I take a
chance, and add, “But I do understand that feeling second-best
could be heartbreaking.”
    There’s silence. Xander
doesn’t acknowledge my comment at all. But when he swivels in
the chair to pour another drink, I feel like he knows exactly what
I’m saying.
    “Dom likes to shut me
out—always has, but I’m going to prove him wrong this
time.” His face is determined when he turns back to me. He
raises his glass. “Cheers to difficult assholes.”
    But he’s not looking at me
– his gaze is behind me, to someone in the office doorway.
    I know even before turning who it
is. Dominic stands there, hands in his pockets, looking pissed.
    Guilt washes over me. Sure, I’m
not doing anything wrong, but I can tell from the stormy look on his
face that Dom thinks I’m fraternizing with the enemy.
    “There’s a problem at
the Paris hotel.” He gives Xander a sharp glare. “We’re
leaving immediately.”
    Alexander sets down his glass. He
actually looks pleased. “Great. I’ll get my bag and—”
    “Not you.” Dom
dismisses him with a snort. “The last time you stepped foot in
that hotel, you left ten thousand dollars worth of damage and a
harassment lawsuit. I’ll be handling this alone. With you,
Juliet.”
    Wait, what? Did he just
say… Paris ?
    “Go home and pack,”
he adds, giving me a private smile. “Our flight leaves
tonight.”

 

Chapter Seven
     
    I
barely have time to rush home and pack before a driver is at my door
to take me to the airport, where Dominic’s private plane is
waiting for us. I can’t believe it. My nerves are racing as I
walk up the steps and into the plane’s luxurious cabin. I have
no idea what to expect except that I’m going to Paris.
    Paris!
    Dominic is already waiting in the
cabin.
    “Welcome aboard.” He
takes my bag with a smile and leads me to the rear of the plane. It’s
truly incredible, with plush, recliner-looking chairs, polished wood
accents, and glass-topped tables. Leather bench seats line the space
beneath the windows. There’s a flat screen television, and
beneath it, a…
    “There’s a fireplace
in the plane,” I say dumbly. It’s gas, I’m sure,
but still. There’s a fireplace. Inside the plane!
    “There’s one in the
bedroom, too.” He opens the door at the back and I gasp.
There’s a private room in there with a massive bed.
    “This is definitely an
upgrade,” I crack, nervous. “The last time I flew
anywhere I was jammed in the middle