Chapter 52: Half naked bimbo

She turns toward the bar.

"You’re sitting at a bar and you aren’t drinking?"

"No."

I glance down at my feet.

"I just sat here because my feet hurt from these heels."

She looks down at my shoes then back at me.

Her eyes widen in understanding.

"Girl, I get you."

I laugh.

She signals the bartender.

"Let’s get some drinks while we’re at it."

Before I can object, she orders two martinis.

When one is placed in front of me.

I stare at it, then at her.

She raises her glass.

"To surviving my brothers."

I laugh.

"You’re funny."

"I have to be. Living with my brother requires it."

I take a small sip.

The drink is surprisingly good.

We sit there for a while, talking about nothing in particular.

Isabella is easy to talk to. She doesn’t make me feel like the new girl, she doesn’t treat me like some stranger who married into the family.

For the first time since arriving in Spain, I relax, then I turn my head toward the crowd.

And freeze.

Lysander.

He’s standing across the room with a woman.

A very beautiful woman, she’s standing extremely close to him, close enough that there is practically no space between them.

Her dress is revealing, with her breast practically spilling out of it, she’s clearly making no effort to keep her distance from him.

My eyes narrow.

Why does that annoy me? I don’t care, I absolutely do not care.

He’s my husband only because of an arrangement.

Whatever he does has nothing to do with me.

I take another sip of my drink.

Beside me, Isabella follows my line of sight.

Then she sighs.

"That’s Eva."

I look at her.

"Eva?"

She nods.

"His ex, I think."

My eyebrows rise.

"They dated?"

"Something like that."

She looks toward them again.

"They had a thing some time ago, and she just won’t let it go."

I look back at Lysander. He doesn’t look particularly interested in the woman, at least, not from where I’m sitting.

Isabella takes another sip of her drink.

"Even though my brother obviously has."

I stare at the two of them for another moment.

For some reason, I suddenly don’t feel like drinking anymore and I really don’t like the feeling sitting in my chest.

I don’t even realize my jaw is clenched tightly until it starts to hurt. It like a splash of cold water on me, yanking me from my thoughts.

What the hell was that? Jealousy?.

I make a weird face at myself.

I don’t even like Lysander, our marriage is a joke. I’m not jealous of him flirting with who the half naked bimbo is.

Lysander, as if sensing someone watching him, turns in our direction.

His eyes find Isabella first and a small smile touches his mouth when he sees his sister.

Then his eyes move to me.

The smile doesn’t disappear. If anything, it becomes a little more amused.

Oh, I don’t like that look.

Before I can figure out what he’s thinking, he’s already walking toward us with Eva still beside him.

Isabella takes another sip of her martini, watching them approach with the kind of expression that tells me she already knows this is about to become entertaining.

Lysander stops in front of us.

"Ah, there you are."

His eyes settle on me.

"Isabella, I see you’ve met my wife."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes as Eva steps forward before Isabella can answer.

"Wife," she repeats softly.

Her eyes travel over me from head to toe.

Not subtly or politely.

Like she’s inspecting something she might buy and has already decided isn’t worth the price.

"So you’re Nerissa."

I give her a small smile.

"And you’re Eva."

Something flickers across her face.

"You’ve heard of me?"

"Nothing to matter."

Isabella suddenly coughs into her drink.

I glance at her, she’s trying very hard not to laugh.

Eva’s smile tightens.

"Well," she says, looking me over again, "I suppose Lysander has always had a thing for surprises."

I blink.

Was that supposed to be an insult? Before I can decide, she adds,

"You clean up nicely, I see."

I stare at her for a second, I’ve grown up around people who could insult you while smiling sweetly enough for everyone else to believe they were complimenting you. I know exactly what she’s doing.

Still, the sheer audacity catches me off guard.

Isabella doesn’t have that problem though.

"Oh, she does," Isabella says sweetly.

Isabella tilts her head.

"It’s a shame you don’t."

I nearly choke on my drink.

Lysander’s eyebrows pull together.

"Isabella."

"What?" she asks innocently.

Eva’s eyes narrow.

Then, as if deciding an explanation is necessary, he gestures toward Eva.

"This is Eva."

Isabella doesn’t bother hiding her expression.

"I know who Eva is."

Eva smiles.

"I’m sure you’ve heard quite a lot about me."

"Unfortunately."

I press my lips together.

Eva’s attention returns to me.

"So, Nerissa. How are you enjoying Spain?"

"It’s beautiful."

"Good."

She takes another sip of her drink.

"I imagine it must be quite an adjustment."

"From what?"

"From being a Luciano to being a Sanchez."

The smile on my face disappears as I lean slightly against the bar.

"I wasn’t aware becoming his wife meant I had to change my last name overnight."

Eva gives a little laugh.

"Oh, I didn’t mean it like that."

"Of course you didn’t."

Isabella turns her face away but her shoulders shake.

Lysander looks at me.

"You two seem close already."

I look at Lysander then back at her.

"Do we?"

While Lysander’s mouth twitches, Eva’s eyes harden.

"Well, congratulations."

The words are sweet but the tone isn’t.

"I suppose some women get lucky."

I smile.

"Some do."

Her smile freezes.

Isabella finally loses the battle and laughs into her glass.

Eva shoots her a glare.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Isabella wipes the corner of her mouth.

"I’m just enjoying the conversation."

Eva looks back at me and she steps closer.

"Take care of him."

I almost laugh.

Instead, I raise an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Her gaze moves briefly toward Lysander.

"He can be difficult."

I glance at my husband then back at her.

"Don’t worry."

I smile politely.

"I have no intention of taking care of him."

Lysander actually laughs.

It’s quiet, but I hear it.

Eva doesn’t or maybe she does.

Either way, the look she gives me could freeze the entire bar.

"Enjoy your evening," she says.

Then she turns and walks away.

I watch her go.

Beside me, Isabella lets out a long breath.

"Wow."

I look at her.

"What?"

She grins.

"I really like you."

I can’t help laughing.

"I think I like you too."