Pleased, she closes the menu. “Will you order for me? I’ll eat anything as long as it never left a slime trail in the garden.”
Chuckling, I promise to honor her wishes. “I have a surprise for you,” I tell her once that’s managed.
“You already gave me the piano today,” she says, suspiciously.
“This is something connected in a way.” Her eyebrows climb up her forehead in the most adorable fashion. “I called about your audition. I can’t pretend I was shocked when they told me you’ve been accepted into their music program for-”
“No!” she gasps, catching me by surprise. She looks as though I told her someone ran over her favorite pet.
“You’re unhappy I called them?”
“I didn’t want to know! Don’t tell me something that’s only going to make me miserable, Carlo,” she whimpers, hanging her head.
My brow furrows, confused, and a strange ache settles in my chest seeing Francesca looking so sad. “You’re miserable because you got in?”
“Of course, I am. If I could pretend I didn’t get in, it wouldn’t hurt not being able to attend.”
“Who the fuck said you couldn’t attend?”
My sharp tone startles the misery out of her. “But…”
“If my wife wants to go, why wouldn’t she get to go?”
True, it will be challenging. Faro has already registered his complaints about the security headaches involved. The more traditional families, mine included, will wonder why I’m allowing her this amount of freedom. That will be doubly true of those who hold deep grudges toward her father. But I don’t want Frankie to see marriage to me as a prison. Especially when my willingness to support her dreams has her eyes widening with joy this way.
She grasps my hand, shooting me a playful grin and asking, “So, what’s it going to cost me?”
I could tell her honestly it will cost her nothing, but, as I enjoy her flirtatious side, I teasingly reply, “Perhaps I’ll get a kiss tonight at the end of our date.”
***
There’s no uncertainty in Francesca’s eyes several hours later as we loop around 42ndStreet so I may take her past Times Square for the third time. Even with the cooler night air, I’m glad I removed the top before we left the garage now. Her head swivels this way and that, determined to see every last twinkling lighted billboard and towering building after dark.
The city streets aren’t as congested this late, but a few pedestrians appear to have a death wish as another one steps out in front of my Ferrari Portofino. I stifle my desire to stomp on the gas because thatwould damage the car and spoil my wife’s fun. “I can’t believe I’m here. I used to sing showtunes in our garden while daydreaming about Broadway.” That beatific smile on her face shines brighter than the millions of watts of electricity surrounding us.
“We’ll see every show you wish to see until you’re the star of one.”
She bites her bottom lip, shaking her head though her smile never wavers. “I don’t know if I’ll ever star in anything but knowing you’d let me try makes me happy.”
“Good.” I want to make her happy. Not sure when a wife’s happiness became a matter of utmost importance to me, but it is. “Ready to go home?”
“Yes, I suppose it is home now. I even have a piece of furniture of my own,” she says, giggling over the piano. “I think I owe my date a kiss, too.”
She gives me a coquettish smile and reaches across the console to fiddle with my belt. Her movements aren’t the slightest bit practiced, but there’s not a drop of blood left in my brain. It’s all headed south when she palms my cock through my trousers. “Frankie, what are you-”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never got it on in a moving car.”
“I have but…FUCK!”I shout, slamming down on the horn a second too late.
25
Carlo
It’s so late it’s early when we return home. The idiotic pedestrian escaped unscathed. The taxicab I collided with to avoid them? Not so much. Crunch instead of squish. I’m tempted to track the drunk bastard down and shoot him. “I amsosorry,” Francesca says, miserably.
“It’s just a car,” I mutter. I fucking loved that car. Thinking of my three vintage sportscars parked in the building’s underground garage, I decide we’ll take a limo next time we go out.
“I guess I took you by surprise,” she says, flushing as we step into the elevator.
