She kept staring at my face, though, and every so often, she would tilt her head. “Have you ever considered acting?” she asked me.
“No.” But I hadn’t considered much. I had no clue what to do with my life ever since it became my own, except fall in love with Matteo Fausti. Having a passion of my own was on my to do list, though, something I got to decide on, whether it be dance or not. Matteo had nodded and said, “Whatever you want to do.”
“A…brain surgeon,” I’d said, just kidding around.
His face had become serious. “Whatever you want to do, I can see it. We always need doctors in the family.”
I’d laughed so hard, I’d almost peed myself. Then I’d laughed even harder at the look on Matteo’s face. It had been all tooserious, but then he’d smiled. “Keep laughing like that, baby. Never stop.”
“Why?” I’d said between fits.
“Because it makes my heart healthy.”
“You should really think about it,” Noemi said, cutting through my thoughts. “If you can deliver a line and make people believe it, I think you’d be wonderful. I’m starting a series, completely based in Italy, and you’d be perfect for the role of Valentina.”
“That’s my middle name!”
“See!” Her response was just as charged as mine. “I knew this was meant to be!” She looked at Matteo. “Call me.”
“No kissing,” he said.
She made apfffnoise. “I know the drill. You can stand in like Marzio used to do. No one got close to, especially kissed, Grazia Angeli, but Marzio Fausti after they got together.”
“As it should be. His wife.” Matteo’s grip on my hip became heavier, and I could feel the heat from his palm burning through the fabric of the dress.
“Excellent!” Noemi balled her fist and acted like she punched the air. “If I don’t hear from you, I’ll be callingyou,Matteo Fausti.”
Matteo muttered something into his drink in Italian, and then his father called him over to the grill. Brando was grilling in an expensive suit, his jacket off, his sleeves rolled up. A steady stream of smoke made the air cloudy, and it smelled so good, my mouth watered. Matteo looked around, and finding a woman, brought me over to her.
“Stella,” he said, presenting me like a queen, like he’d done ever since introductions started. “This is Chloe. We went to school together in Natchitoches. She’s marrying my cousin, Massimo.”
“I must have been in my personal zone when introductions were made,” she said. “Hi, Stella!”
“Oh!” I took her outstretched hand and shook it, almost shaking her. “You’re the reason Matteo found me.”
Matteo kissed me on the cheek and whispered that he was going to help his father, leaving us together.
“I’ll take care of her, Teo!” Chloe called after him. She looked at me. “To be honest, that…scum is the reason Matteo found you.”
“Ivan,” I breathed.
“Yeah, I guess that’s his name.” Her blue eyes seemed to cloud over, and she looked away from me, toward where Massimo was talking to his brothers.
When she looked away from me, I studied her. Her hair was so light, it was almost white, and the color of her eyebrows matched. Even her lashes were blonde. Her cheeks were rosy, and so were her lips. She had paint stains underneath her nails. Mostly, a vibrant red color with gold patches here and there.
“I’m glad that what he did to me led Matteo to you,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine being close to anyone…Ivan was associated with. He really did a number on me.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She looked me in the eyes. “I’m sorry too.” Then she smiled, but the corners of her mouth trembled a bit. “But we’re in a totally different place now, and it’s safe here. Want to help us in the kitchen? The women usually gravitate that way sooner or later. Sorry I missed you earlier. I was painting the fields! Gorgeous, aren’t they?”
“Gorgeous,” I agreed, following behind her.
Laughter met me before a room full of women did. Scarlett was the lead, it seemed, as she directed the other women around the kitchen, unless they were doing their own thing. When she noticed me, she pulled me in and asked how I was doing.
“Okay,” I said, feeling secure next to her. “Just a lot of people.”
“I know,bebe,” she said, “But it won’t take long to remember.”
