Mateo decides to interject before Gino can. Great. My future husband, or do I call him my fiancé?
“We didn’t know. At least, I didn’t until Sunday. Gino didn’t know before then either.”
Gino steps in. “Listen, this is the best option. Yeah, it’s not something any of us were expecting. And yeah, I was going to keep it from you for a while so you wouldn’t think that’s the only reason you’re here. But there have been some offers, and it’s just easier to do this than wait.”
“Offers for what?” I ask.
“Offers to marry you,” Gino says. That makes me cringe. “So, I’m thinking Saturday afternoon we get you two hitched. Hopefully that’ll get these fuckers to shut up. That also means you’re moving in with Mateo, and people will be watching. So you both need to act like you know each other at least a little.”
Mateo gives me a sly smile, and I roll my eyes internally. At least I’m marrying a hot Italian. That’s a perk, I guess.
“Why Saturday afternoon? I work that night.” I push back.
“Well, it’s the earliest weekend day. Can you get someone to cover for you?” he presses.
“It’s hard to ask this last minute after taking days off. Normally, you’re supposed to ask two to three weeks in advance. Luckily, I’ve gotten away with it so far,” I say, frowning.
“Hmm. It might actually be better if you work. That way no one knows right away. I’ve been pushing them off, saying you’re taken, but I haven’t said by who,” he says, contemplating his words.
I roll my eyes again, honestly pissed, but also relieved they’re trying to keep me safe.
“Don’t worry. This won’t be a big wedding. Just a small group of us. We don’t want anyone getting any ideas,” Gino says. “I’m going to leave you two alone for a minute. I’ve got some things to take care of. Come downstairs when you’re done talking.”
Clearly, Gino thinks he’s some kind of a matchmaker, leaving us alone like this. I always thought mafia guys were protective as hell over the women in their families. But sure. You do you.
Gino leaves the office, and the door barely closes before Mateo takes that as his cue to start talking. Great. We’re starting this engagement with apologies already.
“Vanessa, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything,” Mateo says quietly.
“Is that why you fucked me last night?” I ask, anger dripping from my tone.
“What? No. I wanted to have sex with you.” He exhales. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, but we wanted to keep it from you until we figured out a plan of telling you and not making it too much of a surprise.”
“Well,” I say flatly, “that didn’t work out too well for you, did it?”
He doesn’t react the way I expect. Instead, he stays quiet,moving around the office to open a drawer. He pulls out a small box.
Oh shit. They weren’t kidding. This is actually happening.
This is not how I imagined getting proposed to—standing in my brother’s office, by a man I met two weeks ago. My chest tightens as panic creeps in. I scan the room, anxiety spiking as I seriously debate bolting for the door.
“Vanessa Esposito,” he says calmly. “I know we just met two weeks ago, but will you marry me?”
He stands in front of me, leaning against Gino’s desk, waiting.
I stay silent for a few seconds, then snort. “You know most guys would be on one knee. But beggars can’t be choosers, so yes, I’ll marry you. Just know I’m getting payback for, one, not telling me, and two, not even trying for a decent proposal.”
He laughs, loud and genuine, and the sound warms something deep inside me. “I’ll hold you to it.”
He opens the box, revealing a beautiful radiant-cut diamond on a silver band lined with smaller diamonds. “I can’t take credit for getting this,” he adds. “Your dad planned it, apparently. He already had it purchased.”
As he puts it on my left hand, I ask a question I’ve wanted to know the answer to. “I just have one thing I need to know. This whole bodyguard thing, it was really about us getting to know each other, wasn’t it? There wasn’t actually some huge security issue?”
“There is a security issue,” he says honestly. “Normally, I wouldn’t be the one handling it. But Gino wanted us to spend time together, make sure this marriage thing made sense. I guess now we won’t really know until we’re married.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Okay. I have one more question.”
He raises a brow.
