Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
I locked the car then we walked up to the front door.
“This should be fun…” Carmen spoke under her breath, showing her restless nerves.
“The fact that he’s invited me to his home is a big step. That’s the biggest gesture of a truce.”
“Yeah…that’s a good point.”
The door opened, revealing Carmen’s mom. She wore a long-sleeved red dress with tights underneath. She had the same brown hair Carmen possessed, but different colored eyes. I saw so many similarities that they seemed more like sisters than mother and daughter.
She hugged Carmen tightly before she turned to me. “Please come in, Bosco. I’m Adelina.” Instead of giving me a handshake, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me the way she’d hugged her daughter.
The way my mother used to hug me.
She rubbed my back before she pulled away. “It’s so nice to meet you. Can I take your coat?”
“It’s lovely to meet you as well, Mrs. Barsetti.” I stripped off my coat. “And thank you.”
She hung it on the coatrack before she turned back to me. “Please call me Adelina. There are so many Mrs. Barsettis now that it’s just confusing. I share that name with three other women.”
I chuckled. “That is a lot.”
Adelina pulled Carmen to her side and kissed her on the temple. “You look beautiful, honey. I like this sweater.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Carmen said, hugging her mother back.
I already adored Adelina far more than Cane. I wasn’t even sure how a cold man like Cane landed such a warm wife.
“Your father is setting the table in the dining room. Let’s join him.” She walked with me beside her. “Red or white wine, Bosco?”
“I like both,” I answered. “So whatever Carmen is having.”
“Her favorite is red.” Adelina guided us to the dining room.
Cane was there, the table set and a decanter of scotch open in the middle. His short glass was empty because he’d started drinking long before we got there. He didn’t look at me. He looked at his daughter first and gave her a smile that was so forced it look odd. He hugged her and kissed her on the temple. “Hey, sweetheart. Thanks for coming over.”
“We’re glad to be here.” Carmen stepped away then darted her eyes back and forth between us, noticing the tension as the two of us stared at each other.
Cane looked at me, but no hand was extended. He seemed to retain his calmness until he actually had to make eye contact with me. Now that we were looking directly at one another, all of his courage seemed to evaporate—replaced by the same anger he showed me the last time we met.
I didn’t want to put up with his hypocritical bullshit, but I knew it would mean the world to Carmen if we could work this out. I wanted this woman more than anything, and I was going to do anything to keep her—even swallow my pride and make the first gesture. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Mr. Barsetti.” I extended my right hand to shake his.
Cane didn’t even look at it.
Carmen sighed under her breath, but it was so quiet in the room that we could all hear it.
Cane couldn’t bring himself to do it, still seeing me as the enemy. He turned away and approached the table. “I’m glad you could join us, Bosco.” His tone was ice-cold, like he didn’t mean a word he said.
Adelina watched him with daggers of disappointment in her eyes. “Ignore him, Bosco.” She said it loud enough so Cane could hear. “He’ll come around. Have a seat, and we’ll get started.”
I wasn’t offended by his aloofness, but I knew his frosty greeting would rip Carmen apart. I pulled out the chair for her like I always did and then sat down.
Cane watched my movements. “I’m not impressed by your little show.”
Carmen glared at her father.
I unfolded the napkin and placed it in my lap. “I don’t care what you think, Mr. Barsetti. I pull out the chair for Carmen everywhere we go because she’s my lady, and I put my lady first. How else would you explain my visit here tonight? I’m one of the richest men in the country, so I could be doing absolutely anything else in the world right now. But I’m here—with you. I understand this is hard for you, sir. But your coldness doesn’t hurt me. It hurts Carmen.” I grabbed the bottle of wine and filled her glass before I filled mine.
Cane stared at me with the same hostile glare, not saying a word but conveying all his feelings and thoughts in just his expression. “Arrogant. Pompous. Asshole.”
Adelina shook her head slightly. “Oh dear. We haven’t even served the food, and you’re acting like wolves.”
Cane repeated the words he’d just said, but this time slower. “Arrogant. Pompous. Asshole.”
Carmen sighed beside me, covering half of her face with her fingers.