I nodded. “It was a bad breakup. Actually, the whole relationship was bad. I was getting my company up and running and he didn’t like that he wasn’t my sole focus, so we broke up. I concentrated on work, then Ria died, and you know the rest.”
“How was it bad?”
“He was just mean. He’d say things about my body... things he wanted me to change.”
“Like?”
I sighed. “He gave me a birthday card once with a check for ten-grand and a breast augmentation brochure.”
“Fuck me. Asshole.”
“Indeed.” I smiled. “But I dumped him, and now I’ve found you.”
He chuckled. “I won’t ever make you get fake titties, baby.”
“I appreciate that.” I leaned against him. “How long has it been for you?”
“I’m not gonna answer that.”
“What? Why? I answered. You have to answer.”
“The night before you showed up at the club.”
I met his eyes. “You were... intimate with someone the night before you met me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why not after?”
“Because I couldn’t get you out of my head,” he said. “It’s been you from the second you elbowed me in the sternum and told me not to call you a bitch.”
“Shut up.”
He chuckled. “You made an impression.”
I grinned, kissing him again. “I like that, Mr. Stonewell.”
“I like it too, Ms. Moretti.”
For the rest of the night, we just snuggled and watched a movie. He ended up crashing on my sofa, then leaving with me Wednesday morning. My resolve was crumbling in regard to sleeping with him, but I was starting to feel comfortable in my discomfort.
* * *
Sunday, I headed tomy parents’ home with Felix. Stoney was meeting us there, so I wanted to make sure we got there early, since he tended to get everywhere early.
“We’re here,” I called, helping Felix with his coat.
“In the kitchen,” Mom called back.
“Go see if Nonna needs help, please,” I said, and hung up Felix’s jacket.
After hanging up my own, I headed back to the kitchen as well and found Mom, Dad, and Luca standing around the kitchen island while Felix told them all about his day. I smiled, joining my family and snagging a deviled egg off the tray. Felix continued to chatter on as Mom cooked, so I poured him a glass of milk and then pitched in to help with the food.
Stoney was due to arrive at six, and of course, he arrived five minutes early.
“Is that Stoney?” Felix asked.
“Probably,” I said.
