We sit on the edge of the tub and look at the pictures. I take a moment of silence to commemorate the life of the woman who birthed such a lovely boy.
I clear my throat. “Do you remember her?”
“A little.”
“You must miss her, huh?”
“Sometimes.” He shrugs. “I like to look at her.”
I clear my throat. “I miss my mom, too.”
He looks up, eyes wide. “Your mom is also in heaven?”
I nod.
“Hm. When is her birthday?”
I frown at the strange question. “In May.”
Leo explains, “On my mom’s birthday, we bake a cake.”
“Oh, that’s really nice.”
Leo’s quiet for a while, and then kicks his feet. “I’ll sit in the bath, Val.” He emulates a grown man’s voice. “Bring me a cigar when you get back, would you?”
I frown. This doesn’t sound like Alessio. “Who are you imitating?”
“My uncle Miro.”
That could be the name I heard on the other line. M for Miro.
“Hey,” I say as Alessio leans against the doorjamb. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“My two best friends are my brothers.” Alessio hands Leo a remote. “There’s a televised chess tournament that just started.”
“No way!” Leo snatches the remote and runs to watch from his bedroom TV.
“Is Miro meeting us in Paris?” I ask as I follow Alessio back to the sitting room.
“Doubt it. He’s taken up gardening. Maybe he’ll choke on a fresh carrot from his new garden and die a tragic death.”
Damn. “I take it he’s out of your favor.”
“Certainly. I’m interested in how you’re doing more than I’m interested in talking about Miro.”
“Much better now that I heard from the nurse at the hospital, thank you.” The sadist said he’ll leave him alone for as long as I do what he wants. I will do what he wants.
Alessio nods. “Did you see the credit card inside the leather pouch with the phone and the passport?”
“I did.” It’s a sleek black credit card with Alessio’s name written in gold on it.
“I have a meeting this evening, but after that, I’m taking you out to dinner. I’d like you to go downstairs to a boutique and buy a short black dress with a deep opening in the back. And whatever else you want that complements it, besides jewelry. I’ll take care of that.”
I scoot away from Leo’s bedroom. When Alessio doesn’t follow me, I grab his hand and pull. Shock registers on his face when I yank him, but he obliges me, even dips his head when I grab the lapels of his suit and rise on my toes.
I kiss him. On the mouth. “Thank you for bringing me to Paris. It was on my bucket list, and I could never have afforded a suite on this majestic, historically significant square. I must also thank you ahead of time for the dress I intend to buy.” Of course, Alessiotoldme he was taking me out to dinner, instead ofaskingme if I wanted to go.
Alessio presses his palm to the small of my back and brings me flush against his body, where I can feel he’s hard between his legs. He dips, then tilts his head, blue eyes searching for something in mine. It’s not permission, because he knows he has it since I initiated this contact, but it’s something else. Something I’m unsure I understand.
