“Stubborn as always.” He sighed. “I had last-minute business to attend to. I’m sorry I didn’t accompany you on the way here. But you look beautiful.”
I tossed my curled hair for effect.
“Flattery always works.”
“Well, it’s true.”
I fidgeted with my new necklace. It really was a stunning piece of jewelry, and he’d obviously put effort into it, even if his intention was just to convince me into a fake marriage. Maybe I was overthinking this. Maybe Julius Dimakos’ reservation tonight at this same restaurant was all just a coincidence.
My hope of that lasted all through the first two dinner courses. I had his full attention. Conversation was stilted at first, but once a few details we’d previously disclosed in our letters were mentioned, it picked up and never ceased. We spoke like old friends, teasing with some seriousness in between. This waswhat we’d been missing the last three days, and I was here for it. Every. Single. Second. His laughter swept me up and held me tight. His eyes pulled me in so hard, I wished we had more than one date. It felt real.
He asked a waiter to take a picture of us, going so far as joining our hands and kissing my fingers. When he looked back up, the way our eyes met had my heart racing. His lips were right there, and all I had to do was lean forward a little to capture them. I really was a fool for him, completely smitten. For his mind when he’d been behind bars. For his looks, despite his arrogance and shrewd attitude, now that I’d seen him again.
But he didn’t meet me halfway for a kiss. In fact, he turned his head away, more and more, until I could see the hair on the back of his neck. I followed his gaze. My stomach dropped.
Julius Dimakos wasn’t hard to pick out as he made his way across the restaurant to a table of five—four men and one woman with black hair, wearing a flashy red dress. Julius looked exactly like the photograph Bee sent me earlier in the day—darkly tanned skin, short wavy hair swept back at the front, a crooked nose bridge, deep-set eyes with a prominent brow, and a mole below his left eye.
Renzo tried to pretend his attention remained focused on us, but the conversation kept dropping after Julius’ arrival. His eyes couldn’t help but flick toward the Dimakos table over and over.
Just as Bee and I suspected, Renzo used our date to hook Dimakos in. None of this was to work on us as a potential couple. It wasn’t about giving us a chance or trying to work things out. It was as fake as the marriage he wanted, and I’d fallen for the illusion. Again.
We finished dessert just as the Dimakos table received their appetizer, raising their glasses and toasting, “Yamas!”
“You need to powder your nose,” Renzo told me.
“Funny.” I took a sip of my red wine. The least he could do on a shitty date was provide a good show. “I didn’t think you were that aware of women’s facial products.”
“I wasn’t asking. Go.”
“I think the view will be quite nice from here. Thank you very much.”
For the first time since Julius arrived, I finally had Renzo’s complete attention.
“What?” I licked the last bit of chocolate mousse off my spoon. “Afraid I’ll upset your plans onourdate.”
“So stubborn you don’t know what’s good for you.”
“So overbearing you don’t recognize a good thing when it’s right in front of you.”
“I’d rather not waste time on frivolities.”
That hit hard, right in the chest…probably exactly the way he wanted it to. His nonchalance was unchanged. Not even a twitch of regret in his features. My face went lax with hurt, and my eyes started to prickle.
I aimlessly scanned the tables for something else to focus on, only to see a familiar face at one nearby. Then someone else at another table, and then another. Natale, Ettore, Massimo, Alfie, Jac, and many more. They were all capos and enforcers belonging to the Iannellis. Actually, now that I was really looking, all the tables with couples had cleared out. The only women left were the waitresses and me. Even the woman from Dimakos’ table was nowhere to be seen.
I nodded. “You’re right. What’s the point of enjoying the time we have when you obviously don’t want or need my company?”
I tossed my napkin down and slid my phone into my clutch.
“Let us all be grim and callous like you. You get your way. I’ll get out of yours. Thanks for the food. And just so we’re clear, there won’t be a wedding.”
As I stood up, a goon at the nearest table got up too.
“He’ll escort you to the bathroom,” Renzo said dismissively.
I balled my fists in my dress and controlled my breathing. If I stayed any longer, I’d end up smacking him.
“No need. I’m leaving.”
