“I’m sure she’ll be there. She’s still visiting family in Italy and trying to figure out what she wants in life. Overall, I think she’s feeling better.” I take a sip of my Earl Grey latte.
In truth, to my knowledge, she hasn’t left our great aunt’s house for any length of time. Though she does seem less depressed these days when we chat on the phone.
“Lucky girl,” Ginevra sips her tea, her blond curls framing her face. “I wish I could go live with family in Italy and do whatever I want with my life.”
Arianna chides her, “It’s not like she’s partying all the time, Gin. She’s recovering from the loss of her parents. She’s grieving in Italy, not having fun.”
Guilt slithers through my stomach. Elena has been grieving. While I’ve been having the time of my life with Cian this past year. My parents' deaths feel like they happened years ago instead of months.
Sophia reaches across the table where we’re sitting in a coffee shop on the Upper East Side. “How are you doing with it all? You always seem so pulled together, I sometimes forget that you lost your parents too.”
“I’m okay. I think we all grieve in our own ways and my sister and I are very different people. I’ve really been occupying myself with this renovation.”
“Oh, that’s right. How’s it going?” Arianna leans forward, her expression expectant.
I’m more than happy to change the subject. Since Cian gave me the go-ahead to find us a forever home, we spent the rest of the summer viewing places all over Upper Manhattan. We finally settled on a gorgeous old brownstone in desperate need of repair. The up side being that we can renovate it to be perfect for us and our lifestyle. As well as our future family. So that’s what we’re doing.
“That designer Aunt Rosa recommended is a miracle worker. We just heard back from the city and our design plans have been approved. Construction starts next week. I’m so excited to finally see some progress. The sooner we get started, the sooner the work will be done and we can move in.”
“I think it’s smart not to live there while construction is happening,” Gin says. “It’s so loud and dusty. Plus all those strangers going in and out of your house.” She pulls a face.
“I completely agree.” Fishing my phone from my purse, I announce, “I wanted to show you all some photos. The designer texted me some mood boards this morning. I’d like your opinions.”
We go down the interior design rabbit hole for the next hour. I’m glad they want to be part of the process since I value their feedback. Especially Arianna’s. She has an amazing eye for design. I wouldn’t be surprised if she decides to go into sometype of work that involves aesthetics.Ifher future husband will let her work. That’s not always a guarantee in our world.
When I’m finished visiting with my cousins, a grouchy Wolfe drives me back home. Every time I have to go somewhere, he’s my assigned driver and bodyguard, or as he refers to itbabysitter, which is way below his pay grade. But he’s the only one Cian trusts enough to leave him alone with me.
With the drive being over an hour each way, he’s always exceptionally grumpy when we go into the city from the compound. He should be much happier once I live closer to my cousins.
“Fucking asshole, where’d you learn how to drive!” he shouts out the window, flipping off a driver at the busy intersection.
Groaning, I do my best to ignore him. He’s never any fun when he’s in one of his moods. Which means he’s never any fun.
“This is why I hate driving in the city,” he grumbles. “Too many fucking people everywhere.”
That’s Cian’s lament too. I’m still shocked at how well my husband managed to tour Rome and all the crowds on our honeymoon, especially during the summer season. The fact that he wants to move into the city where the houses are jammed together, with all the hustle and bustle, still has me in a state of shock. He really has changed since we’ve been married.
Maybe Wolfe could use a woman in his life to cheer him up. Some men need a partner to make them happy. He’s certainly not enjoying life as a bachelor.
I glance up at the rearview mirror. “Wolfe, do you have a girlfriend?”
His gaze snaps to mine in the reflective glass. “What the hell kind of question is that? You’re not looking to set me up with one of your Italian cousins are you?”
I snicker. “Of course not. You’re much too old for any of them.”
He scowls, grumbling under his breath.
“What did you say? I didn’t catch that.” I lean forward.
“Isaid, I’m in my forties, that’s hardly ancient.”
“True,” I agree with him. “So why don’t you have a girlfriend or a wife? Or even… a boyfriend? If that’s your preference.”
I don’t know what it is about Wolfe, but I absolutely love getting a rise out of him—when I’m not busy avoiding his sour moods. If I’m not careful it might turn into a hobby. He’s much too easy to provoke, and I’m ninety percent sure he won’t murder me for annoying him.
He scoffs. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m too damn busy to have a woman in my life right now.”
“Cian’s just as busy and he’s married,” I point out.
