To walk next to this man.
I also knew that over the years, his face would drain of color, like it had when he looked over my counter in the bathroom, or when I suggested pasta at midnight, or when he watched me standing outon the balcony, like a cold ghost had touched his heart—memories passing that I couldn’t steal from him. But I’d be there to warm him, to pull him back to this island, into the sunshine, with me.
At the crest of the hill, he took my hands in his, pressing the new ring into my finger. Wind whipped around us and pushed against our bodies as a remarkable voice, one that belonged to Luca Fausti, serenaded us from thecastello.
“He is in a good mood.” He sighed.
I closed my eyes, letting the sound of Luca Fausti’s deep tenor run through me. Goosebumps puckered my skin. Music frisson. “He’s really good,” I whispered.
“Look at me,amore.”
I opened my eyes.
“Right back to me.”
“I know.”
Rocco had reminded me of this all morning. He’d requested a meeting with Luca before everyone left the island—we wanted to get married in two weeks, on the island. The church was peaceful, and any other spot would do for a reception. Luca had accepted his request and sent one back—he requested my presence for a meeting.
Rocco didn’t like it. He never said as much, but I thought the real issue was how I had barged in on their private meeting, prepared to face Luca Fausti if he hurtmine.Maybe he didn’t trust my temper.
“If I can handleyou,Rocco,” I whispered, giving him a faint smile, “I can handle this.”
He kissed my hand, closing his eyes, breathing me in and lingering, before he led me to thecastello. Rocco had told me he might have to wait on Luca, but Luca would make it a point to wait on me.Late but not too latewas what he’d told me. For him, it wasearly but not too early.
Okay, this family ran like the bus system in Italy. Never exactly on time.
That was life, ah?
I smiled to myself as we entered thecastello. Rocco glanced at me, his eyebrows furrowing, before his features relaxed. My smile turned into a lingering grin. I wasn’t sure if Rocco Piero Fausti knew exactly what to do with me yet—except in the bedroom. He excelled at reading my body’s desires because he had written the manuscript of it himself. But with my mind and behavior outside of the bedroom? I seemed to…enthrall him, like I was an enigma. A soft creature that had lured the beast from his territory and swore to protecthisheart in a fierce whisper, all the while giving him doe eyes.
It was those types of thoughts that would perplex him. I was not cut and dry, or one shade, and he demanded to know me as much as I demanded to know him.
The deep voice grew in tenor as we entered thecastello,the huge place crawling with people—members of the Fausti family, soldiers, and workers. Rocco brought me to the kitchen where Maggie Beautiful, Scarlett, Mia, Mari, Juliette, Carmen, Aunt Lola, Stella, and a woman I hadn’t met before sat at the table, drinking cups of whatever and talking.
Rocco placed his hands on my face, kissing me softly, before he turned and left. It was like he had to force his feet to move. I had to do the same. The kiss lingered—tingled all the way down to my uterus.
“Another Fausti strikes again,” Maggie Beautiful said on a laugh. “And another woman down. Our very own Ari Alluring has succumbed to the Fausti charms!”
I blinked at her, bringing her into focus.
They all laughed this time.
“You’re a part of our club now.” Juliette stood from the table, coming to squeeze my shoulder, before she breezed deeper into the kitchen and refilled her cup from the moka pot. She offered me a cappuccino.
“That’d be great,” I said. “Thank you.” I usuallykept away from caffeine unless I really needed it. My need for it had amped up since last night.
“It’s called the…Dazed and Confused Wife of a Fausti Afterthe KissClub.”
“Oh, Ari!” Stella’s face was bright when she turned and faced me. “You haven’t met my mama, Nola! She just got here with Niccolo, her husband, who is also Nonno’s brother.”
Nonno—Luca. Sometimes I had to connect the names that way to remind myself who was who to everyone. Sometimes one person went by more than one title.
“Ma, this is Ari, she’sZioRocco’s…er…”
“Judging by that shiny new rock on her finger…” Aunt Lola started to say.
Maggie Beautiful flew up from her chair, taking my hand in hers, showing the room my engagement ring.
