Why the conversation felt so awkward to him, Enzo wasn’t sure, but he sensed that his brother wasn’t feeling awkward at all. He sounded happy, maybe? Excited? Enzo hoped so, and also hoped his brother’s heart wasn’t going to get mashed up over all of it. “Glad to hear it. Well, I just wanted—”
“What’s the situation with the house?” his brother interrupted. “Last time we talked you were having trouble raising enough funds.”
“Still working on it.” No point in adding to his brother’s concerns, since they’d already collaborated to borrow as much as possible against their wineries.
“I heard that Aubrey Henderson is back in Venice with the UWWHA and living at your house now.”
“It’s not my house anymore, remember?”
“It will always be your house.” Dante’s voice was fierce. “I’m still exploring a few other possibilities for raising money, and I know you’re going to find some way to buy it back. No one is as determined as you when you set a goal for yourself.”
“Thanks. And I am determined.” Somehow, his brother’s vote of confidence eased the tightness in his chest a little, even if they were just words and not money in the bank.
“So how’s it going with Aubrey working at the clinic, or shouldn’t I ask?”
“How did you hear about that?”
“You know how women like to talk,” his brother said drily. “I heard it from Shay. But she didn’t have to tell me you went out with Aubrey. I had a gut feeling you’d end up in bed with her when you told me you were going to introduce yourself to ask questions about Shay. Despite my telling you I knew the child was mine.”
His brother’s voice was chiding, but he didn’t sound annoyed with him anymore. But who wouldn’t have wanted to find out more about the woman his brother wanted to marry? “Maybe your gut feeling was just indigestion.”
“Or not. Aubrey’s a beautiful, smart woman and I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist. And neither would she. If there’s one thing the Affini men are good at, it’s charming women, right?”
“I hope we have more going for us than that, since it’s one of the many things about our father that we both despise.”
“Yeah.” Dante’s joking tone disappeared. “Listen, I just got a surgery consult. Thanks for calling, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
Enzo stood to shove his phone in his pocket, sling his camera around his neck, and grab the keys to his boat. He jogged down the curved stone staircase of one of the several homes that had been in the Affini royal family for centuries.
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