“Maybe I will,” she says, “goodnight.”
I rest my head on his shoulder for a moment. “I’d forgotten how exhausting it is to be social all the time.”
Kissing me, he gestures to Mattia. “Why don’t you go have a drink and dance with Kelli for a moment? I’ll get all my boring shit done and then…” His eyes turn positively feral, “I’ll take you upstairs to our own private room. No one else will ever use it.”
I wonder if my beet-red face can be seen under the club lighting. “Oh… uh, okay. I’ll just… you know, I’ll dance then. Now.”
He’s giving that knowing chuckle as he turns away and I want to punch his pretty face for it.
Marietta sails by as I’m looking for Kelli. “Cora! How are you enjoying the evening?”
“You’ve done an amazing job,” I say honestly, “the place is packed and it looks gorgeous. How are you? Can I get you a drink? A sandwich? A hot guy to give you a foot rub?”
She laughs, her pale blue eyes crinkling in amusement. “All three sound grand, actually. But I’ll wait until closing.”
“Okay,” I pat her arm.
She hesitates for a moment, “Dario was mentioning that your mother has been inundating you with requests and complaints about the reception she’s planning for you two?”
I look down, embarrassed that she knows my ugly history with my family.
“Look, I’m not trying to interfere, but… this is my line of work. If you like, I could take over your responsibilities and report back to you. You won’t have to deal with it.”
What Marietta means is that I won’t have to deal with my parents, and I’m touched by her kindness. “I would be so grateful!” I blurt out, and she smiles again.
“Believe me,” she says, rubbing her hands, “I’ll enjoy it.”
“You are too good to be true,” I sigh.
“Let me get through tonight and we’ll talk next week about the details, all right?” Marietta’s headset beeps and she listens to whoever’s complaining about running out of vodka.
“I know you’re busy,” I said, “I’ll talk to you next week?”
“Absolutely,” she smiles and darts away.
“There you are!” Kelli screams, just heading back from the dance floor with an exhausted-looking Gianni. “About damn time! Let’s order some shots.”
Two Kamikaze shots later and I’m thinking this is the best night ever.
“Okay, you need to spill,” Kelli said, throwing her arm over my shoulders. She’s sent poor Gianni off for more drinks. “Not the whole thing, we don’t have all night. I won’t even ask about that ‘intense questioning and here’s a fistful of cash Kelli see ya later bye-bye’ situation. How the fuck did you two get mazzed?”
I’m just drunk enough to be partly honest. “He had some very compelling arguments.”
“Where did you do this thing?” she said, eyes bright with Tequila and interest.
“It was at his family’s vineyard at the base of Mt. Vesuvius,” I’m giggling a bit, “I couldn’t help myself.”
“What?” Kelli’s practically in my lap.“What?”
“Look, you’ve seen how insanely gorgeous he is, I mean, beautiful in a way regular humans aren’t supposed to be.”
“This is true,” she agreed. “Tall as hell, that body on him, the way he looks in a suit? Fully sick!”
“That’s good, right?” I clarified.
“The best,” she agreed.
“Those eyes,” I said, “that amazing amber shade and his dark lashes and brows. He does this filthy kind of stare and it’s a panty-dropper. I thought I could hold out, but…”
