“You’re going to have to make a sports-only section and put it in the back,” I told Franko and Tre.

Franko’s face wrinkled. “Aw man, stop being a downer.”

“I’m not. Ask Mom. You think she’s going to want your football and two dozen Louisiana State ornaments next to her Nativity one?”

Franko grumbled something and turned away. In the far corner, the men who brought the tree finished putting it up. Everyone stopped what they were doing to admire the sight.

“Wow,” Dominic said, coming into the room. “Admirable.”

Lia followed close behind, her arms folded and her jaw set.

“Did you guys see Paige?” I asked, realizing it had been a while since she went to retrieve the last box of ornaments.

Dominic shook his head and went to sit on the couch.

Leaving the swaths of decorations on the floor behind, I left the room.

Paige was halfway down the hallway, the cardboard box pressed against her stomach.

“Hi.” She smiled at me over the box flaps, but the grin didn’t reach her eyes… Eyes that were puffy and red.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she quickly said.

I took the box from her. “Don’t do that.”

She sighed and looked past me at the living room. “I just heard Lia and Dominic talking about me. Lia thinks that I...” Her eyes shifted to the side. “That I’m into you for your money.”

I couldn’t contain the scoff. “No. She wouldn’t say something like that.”

She dismally looked back at me. “I heard it myself.”

I wasn’t too surprised. It was Lia, after all. Her delicate exterior was the perfect contrast for her inner toughness. She wasn’t callous, but she could be careful and critical, as well as overly protective. Her strong personality was both her strength and, sometimes, her fault.

“I’m sorry she said that.”

Paige’s shoulders sagged. “It’s not your fault.”

“I know you’re not. That’s all that matters.”

Noise and laughter erupted from the living room. I glanced over my shoulder. “She’s my sister, I said, lowering my voice. “Sometimes she can be hard on people. It’s because she’s so protective. I’ll have a talk with her.”

More like rail into her. Paige was my girlfriend. The first woman I ever went so far as to bring home. Not even Lia could get away with giving Paige any disrespect.

“No,” Paige pleaded. “Please don’t. I don’t want to be the subject of any drama.”

I put the box down and placed my hand on her shoulder. “This is already dramatic. If we ignore it, things might get worse. She has to accept you, Paige. You’re a part of our family now.”

A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. “All right, but go easy on her.”

“Why? Doesn’t sound like she’s returning the favor with you.”

“Come on. Maybe she’s just being a protective sis. I know all about how far that can go.”

“I will.”

“And don’t make a scene.”

“I won’t make a scene,” I promised. “Come on. Let’s get those ornaments in there. Just wait till you see how great the tree looks.”

* * *

The tree trimming passed flawlessly. I kept an eye on Lia from the corner of my eye. Once or twice she glanced Paige’s way, the expression on her face unreadable, but mostly she stayed on the couch, untangling lights or joking with Franko.

With the tree finally finished, everyone dispersed to get ready for a late lunch.

“Lia,” I said in a low voice as she rose from the couch.

She froze and eyed me, everyone else filtering out of the room. Paige glanced over her shoulder at me, her plea to keep things chill practically audible.

“What’s up?” Lia asked.

I stepped closer to her and waited till we were alone in the room. “I get the feeling you don’t like Paige very much.”

She scoffed out a short burst of laughter. “What gives you that idea?” She folded her arms and stared me down.

“Come on, drop the facade. I know you better than that.”

She sighed. “She’s using you, Angelo. It’s plain as day.”

Anger flashed through me but I kept it contained. “You barely know her.”

“I don’t need to. I know you, and I know her circumstances. She wants at your money.”

“She has her own money.”

Lia rolled her eyes. “This is the exact same conversation I had with Dom. Don’t you guys get it? Gold diggers are greedy. They’re not going to stop at ten million. After that they want twenty, and after that...”

“I get the picture,” I hissed.

Her eyes narrowed. “She’ll break your heart.”

“If she does it won’t be due to money. I love Paige and she loves me. That’s just something you’re going to have to deal with.”

Lia’s upper lip curled. “Wow. It sure sounds like you’re whipped.”

“Watch your mouth, and quit it with the resting bitch face, little sister,” I snarled.

“Call me bitch one more time, you little shit,” Lia said calmly, all the threatening made with her eyes.

I held her gaze. Backing down from Lia was the worst thing anyone could do. “Be nice and I won’t have to,” I grunted out.

“I’m not being mean to her.”

“Yeah. Right.”

Lia just gazed back at me.

“You’re wrong about her. But honestly, I don’t give a crap what you think of her. Just show her some respect.”

Lia jutted out her chin, ready for more arguing, but I was done. I stomped past her and out of the room.

I’d been rougher than I meant to be. I knew that. I couldn’t take anyone treating Paige unfairly. The fact that the offender was my own sister made the hurt sting twice as much.

I had to make things right between all of us.

I had no idea how I’d make it happen.