However, before I can make any decisions about him, I must figure out whoIam. Because everything about him goes against what I think I want out of life. Or rather, what I thought I wanted.
That future version of myself as the carefree writer far from the dangers of mafia life fades with each passing day. Do I still want to be her? I can’t be both that version of myself and the onewho will stay in New York, married to a don. So who am I in this city? What is my actual identity?
A sister. An aunt. A wife?
My self-exploration drifts and weaves as we head north, toward upstate New York. Maximo, thankfully, leaves me to my thoughts. Though he does occasionally sweep his gaze across my face, as if my expression will give him insight to my inner churnings.
What on earth do I do now?
Eventually, we land in a clearing, in what appears to be the middle of nowhere. Tall evergreens surround the space, and mountains loom in the distance. Dusk threatens to consume the remaining slivers of daylight.
We disembark with our luggage. The helicopter flies away, leaving us stranded. This doesn’t look like a honeymoon destination. My guesses had included a private island, a decadent lodge in the mountains, even Paris or London. Not… the wilderness. This makes no sense.
Maximo sweeps in and grabs my suitcase, taking it from me. He always does that—insists on carrying my bag. Which has my heart skipping a beat.
I follow after him. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t pack for camping in the woods.”
“Neither did I.” He shoots me a reassuring grin. “Follow me.”
As daylight dims, we venture into the even darker area beneath the towering trees. There’s a narrow pathway that leads deeper into the forest. My heartbeat hammers as I continue to follow Maximo, who looks completely out of place navigating the woods in a suit.
Our surroundings grow dark and quiet. No hum of traffic. No city lights. Nothing.
A twig snaps and I swallow down my startled cry. What caused that? No doubt a wild animal. Oh God, are we going toget eaten alive? Surely there are bears and packs of wolves in this area.
Scurrying, I catch up with Maximo. He at least has a gun beneath his jacket. So we have a weapon if needed.
Just when I’m beginning to suspect we’re lost, the treeline ends, opening to a narrow bank that slopes toward a stunning lake. Its dark waters span out before us. Small bubbles pop on the surface.
As I admire the beautiful view, no longer as concerned about predators hunting us, Maximo leads us onto a wooden walkway toward a glowing cottage. Finally, an ounce of civilization. Small, flickering lanterns illuminate our path. As we get closer to the lake house, I notice it twinkles with strands of fairy lights. The effect’s magical.
Maximo opens the front door and I step inside. My breath catches in my throat. While the outside was beautiful, inside the place resembles my idea of heaven. A whimsical fantasy brought to life.
Soft lighting washes the interior in a warm glow. It’s rustic, but it looks like the setting for a fairytale. Candles scent the air with pine and vanilla. The entire living room is set up as a library with walls of books and cozy reading spots.
Like a moth to flame, I venture further into the space to explore. At first, I’m thrilled that whoever owns this cottage has the same taste in books as me, until I realize that every shelf houses titles grabbed straight from my TBR list that I keep in a notebook. But how is that possible? It’s quite literally all here, manifested in physical form. Paperbacks, some hardcovers, and a few special editions.
My awareness drifts to Maximo, who’s quietly watching me. And I realize there’s only one explanation for this place. For the perfection of it.
“Did—” I clear my throat. “Did you do all of this?”
“Yes. Well, technically I had some people set it all up, but the idea is mine.” He glances away, suddenly seeming boyish and unsure.
“I see… And what exactly is the idea?” I ask, even though the answer’s pretty obvious. I guess I just want to hear him say it, because honestly it’s too good to be true. He can’t possibly be this perfect. Can he? My chest swells with anticipation.
He comes closer, though doesn’t crowd me, instead carefully watching my reactions. “I thought our honeymoon would best be spent reading. Quietly, if you like, but together in this tranquil setting.”
A cage of butterflies opens in my stomach. Never in a million years would I guess that Maximo’s idea of a romantic getaway would be to fill a cottage with hundreds of romance books so we could read together. It’s…perfect.
My heart flutters as I stare back at Maximo, really seeing him. Gazing beneath the expensive suit, the pretty face, and the fact that he’s a mafia don. Underneath he’s just a man. One who looks at me like I’m the center of his universe. That he would do all of this,for me, has my thoughts whirling. Every judgement I’ve made about him, I’m now questioning.
CHAPTER 30
Maximo
“Wait. Don’t go in there,” I call to Elena as she heads toward the bedroom. Stalking toward her, our gazes lock, and she stands frozen in place until I’m standing in front of her. Her eyes reflect her curiosity and uncertainty. One day I want her to look at me with only affection and desire. But I need to earn that.
“What..?”
