Chapter Twenty Five
Carly
It had been almost a week since the last time I saw Gio. I’d had a lot of time to think about, well, everything, and I was still scared about letting him in and getting my heart broken. Still, I was going to take that leap.
“Well, this is mostly liquor so it’s okay. It’s a Green Haze. It’s made with aged dark rum, coconut rum, blue curacao liqueur, Midori liqueur, pineapple juice, and sweet and sour mix. It’s more liquor than fruit. You look like you’ve been through the ringer. You okay?”
“Si. Justfamigliaproblems. My younger brother did a stupid thing and I had to fix it.”
Gio waved his hand as if dismissing it and I decided to not press him for more information. “That explains why you haven’t been around most of the last week.”
“Si, Tesoro. I wanted to be here but I had to take care of that first. It’s nice to know you missed me.”
His wink made me roll my eyes at him. “What can I say, I like eye candy and you make excellent eye candy.” I flashed a wicked smile.
“Careful,Bella. You might get yourself into trouble.” There was a pause before he leaned close. “I do have a proposition for you. Let’s talk in your office.”
I frowned at him. Proposition? What was he up to? “All right.”
I took my drink with me and lead the way to the back of the club, and my office. “What’s on your mind, Gio?”
“You. Always.”
I snorted at that. “Right. Be serious.”
“I am,Bella. To answer your question, do you have plans Saturday night?”
“It’s my night off, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I am aware. You didn’t answer my question.”
I huffed a breath and leaned against my desk. “Fine. No, I don’t have any plans. Happy?”
“Bene. Saturday my Mama and Pop are celebrating their 50thwedding anniversary. I would like you to go with me, as my date.”
“Come again? Did you just ask me to be your date to a party that your entire family will be at?”
“I did.”
“You’re kidding, right? Please tell me…you’re not. You’re serious. Gio, we’ve been on one date. I don’t think we’re at the ‘meet the family’ stage yet.”
“This isn’t about you meeting myfamiglia, Carly. It’s about me wanting to take the woman I am interested in to a party that just happens to be celebrating my parent’s long marriage.”
I shook my head at him. “I can’t.”
“Why? Because you’re scared? I didn’t take you for a coward,Bella.”
The words were a slap in the face and I growled. “I’m not a coward. Fine. I’ll go with you Saturday.” The smirk on his face when I agreed made me want to hit him. “You bastard. You did that on purpose. You knew it would piss me off enough to say yes.”
“Si. I did. And no, I am not ashamed of myself for it.”
“So, what should I wear? I mean, if its a formal thing I need to go shopping.”
“Non, it’s not formal. What you have on tonight would be perfect.”
I looked down at myself. I’d put on a pair of black jeans with a dark green sleeveless top. “Okay then. At least I don’t have to raid Risa’s closet or go shopping, I guess I’ll see you Saturday then.” It was only two days away. I just hoped Risa was free to watch Eli. “Wait. I might not be able to get a sitter for Eli. I don’t know if Risa is free.”
“You don’t need to,Tesoro. He is invited as well. There will be children his own age to play with and keep him company.”
I swallowed. I wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea to introduce Eli to them. Then I remembered he was their kin. Shit. He deserved to meet them anyway. “Okay.”
“I will pick you both up at 2. See you Saturday,Bella.”
He gave me a toe curling kiss that left me breathless and walked out of the office. I was in so much trouble with him.
