Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 17 - Giorgio

Once he'd arrived at the hotel that he'd booked in New York City, Giorgio laid across the massive bed in his suite and closed his eyes. After the long weekend that he'd had serving as a groomsman in his cousin Layla's wedding, and with all of the festivities that surrounded the event over the past couple of days, Giorgio was truly exhausted.

He'd enjoyed seeing his cousin Layla, and spending time with her new husband Daryl. Daryl Edwards was a very successful pediatrician with his own private practice in Chicago, and from what Giorgio could tell, Daryl was crazy in love with Layla. The moment that Giorgio had met Daryl four years ago, he had immediately liked him.

His zio, Carmine Moretti, had invited Daryl, and two of his friends, Ethan Daniels and Shane Reyes to their villa in Italy to tour their vineyards and to sample a new monfortino wine they were debuting. The three men had spent a couple of weeks in Italy, and Giorgio had gotten to know each of the men well during their visit.

Shane Reyes had been a hilarious jokester, as well as a shameless flirt. Many of the female staff had practically thrown themselves at Shane during those two weeks, and from the hearts that he'd taken with him when he'd returned to the States, Giorgio had wondered if several of the ladies had warmed Shane's bed during his stay. It was also during that visit that his sister Valentina had apparently developed an extreme attraction for Ethan Daniels, and a week later, based on the conversation that he'd overheard between his zio, Carmine and his zia, Francis, Val had been a bit aggressive with Ethan during his visit.

When Giorgio had spoken to her about it, Val had simply waved him off, and said that it had been a misunderstanding and that Ethan had "overreacted." Giorgio wasn't sure what she'd meant by overreacted, but based on the way that both his aunt and uncle had reacted to an incident that occurred in Ethan's room the morning they were scheduled to return to the States, Val's behavior had definitely been cause for concern. Even their father, Benito, had made attempts to discuss Val's behavior with her, which had not gone well. Although that had been four years ago, Giorgio could still hear the yelling in his mind that he'd heard coming from their soggiorno that day. Val and their father had been so loud that their... differing of opinions could be heard throughout the villa, and even as far as to the gardens where Giorgio had been relaxing by the pool after his swim.

It was during that argument that Giorgio had learned of his sister's true feelings for his mother, Genevieve. Giorgio's French born mother Genevieve, was their father Benito's, second wife. Valentina's mother, Sophia Moretti, had been their father's first wife, but had tragically died during a macchina accident when Valentina was younger. Based on what he'd overheard during their very loud exchange, Valentina despised Giorgio's mother, and that resentment had even boiled over to their father as well. He'd also learned that their father had sent Valentina to a therapist when she was younger, whom she'd seen several days a week, but had ended abruptly when she'd become an adult.

During the time that they'd been in Vegas, Giorgio had watched as his sister had tried numerous times to get Ethan alone, and each attempt had failed. It was obvious to Giorgio that Ethan had no interest in his sister, which had totally surprised him because he'd watched as men practically laid themselves down at her feet. His sister was a very beautiful woman, and it was clear that she could have any man that she wanted, with the exception of Ethan Daniels.

When he'd thought of Ethan, his mind immediately conjured the image of his breathtaking sister, Carmen Daniels. Giorgio had been speaking to Ethan in the lobby prior to his cousin's wedding, and when Ethan had smiled at his sister's approach, Giorgio hadn't been prepared for his heart to literally stop beating at the sight of her. He'd turned when Ethan had said, "And here she is now. My famous sister....the Queen of Realty", and as he'd caught the first sight of Carmen Daniels as she'd smiled had caused his world to shift on its axis. For a moment Giorgio had thought that he would embarrass himself by passing out right there in the lobby, and the blood that was quickly rushing away from his head, as it pooled below his belt hadn't helped. If anything, it had made his physical state that much worse because now he was positive that he was on the verge of losing consciousness, and with a rock-hard erection to boot.