Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“You’re a good brother,” she says suddenly. “And a really good son.”
“You say that like you’re surprised.”
“Honestly? I kind of am.”
“Thank you. Feels good.”
“I’m just saying, I never would’ve guessed you were dealing with all this. From my perspective, you’re just another pissed-off, rich asshole.”
“That’s how you thought of me?”
“Well, yeah, a really good-looking asshole though.”
“I’ll accept that.”
“I’m just saying, I know how hard family stuff can be. I went through something—” She stops herself, chewing on her lip. “Well, I went through something, and it messed up my relationship with my parents. I wish I could fix it, but I can’t go back.”
“Whatever happened, I’m sure it didn’t ruin everything. Are your parents still alive?”
“Yes, but they don’t live around here. I barely see them anymore.”
“That’s okay. I’ve found that family’s always there, at least the family that matters, no matter how long it’s been.”
She gives me a sad smile. Whatever she’s talking about, I have a feeling it’s the reason she’s always hiding. Whatever happened to her isn’t in the past. It’s woven into the armor she keeps pulled up around her tiny little world. It’s the reason she’s always hiding.
We finish our meal. I pay, leave a good tip, and when we get up to leave, I take her hand on impulse. She seems surprised, but doesn’t pull away, and we walk out to the sidewalk together. The car’s still coming around the block and we’re alone in the darkness. The townhouses spread out into the distance, red-brick facades with clean windows and black shutters, and a couple of young friends laugh on the other side of the block. She shifts closer to me, and I put my arm around her, turning my chin.
I don’t think about it. If I pause to consider what I’m doing, I might stop, and I don’t want to stop. I lean down and kiss her chin softly. She turns to me, surprised, and I kiss her lips. One small, chaste kiss, but it doesn’t stop there.
Her mouth opens as I pull her against me. That small kiss turns into something more, something deeper. Inside, during dinner, I let her get a glimpse of the man I want to be, the man I keep hidden from the rest of the world. If my enemies knew how sick my mother is, if they understood how important she is to me, then I’d have to worry every day about her safety.
Which is why I keep it hidden. I try to pretend like everything’s normal.
But it’s not, not even close.
Which is why it feels so good to kiss Maddie. It’s simple, beautiful, right. Her lips are plush, her tongue soft, and the little whimper she makes drives a spike of need straight into my spine. I’m half-hard just holding onto her. The kiss lasts longer than I expected, but it’s a good kiss, an incredible kiss, and when I finally break away, her cheeks are flushed and the car’s waiting.
“Thanks for dinner,” she says, breathing hard.
“You’re welcome.” I squeeze her hand, unwilling to let this moment end. But it has to. “There’s another surprise waiting at home.”
“Oh, yeah?” Her lips quirk. “Is that what the kids are calling it now, a surprise?”
“No, baby, I don’t mean sex. I didn’t want to warn you because I didn’t want you to be worried, but when I present you to the other families tomorrow, I’m going to present you as my wife.”
She laughs. “That’s okay, I don’t mind.” But she stares at my face and her laughter fades away. “But we’re not actually married yet.”
“No, we aren’t, and I can’t lie to them.”
“Renzo—”
“It’s okay, bella topo,” I whisper, lips brushing her cheek. “Kiss me like that again when the priest says it’s okay and I’ll be your man forever.”
Chapter 19
Maddie
My stomach’s a wreck on the drive back to the house. I shouldn’t have had that third glass of wine. I’m tipsy, not drunk, but I can’t believe I’m going to my own wedding without a perfectly clear head.
I knew this was coming. It’s the reason we’re doing this. A couple years of being his wife, one baby, and I get the payday of my life. I’ll be taken care of. No more work, no more risks. I can do whatever I want.
But now that it’s happening, I’m terrified. My knees are shaking. My palms tremble. The only thing keeping me sane is Renzo.
He’s so solid. Nothing seems to break past that emotionless exterior. I know there’s a lot going on inside—that’s obvious. He showed me a little glimpse of the man he really is during dinner. He takes care of his family, loves his mother, sacrifices for his brothers and his sister, wants his organization to prosper more than anything. And he puts all that before himself.
I’m still a nervous wreck.