LIANA
When we get to the masquerade ball, it’s filled with expensively dressed people with the most intricate masks on. We make our way into the large ballroom filled with high-top tables surrounding a dance floor.
“You see Mom and Dad?” Massi asks.
We all scan the area until Gui points across the room, and says, “There they are.”
“That’s Ignazio they’re with. Looks like he’s introducing them to some people.” Massi says, then turns to Gui. “Now’s a good time to head to the coat check. Liana and I will stay here and keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t leave this room.”
Gui nods. “Got it. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“What are we going to do?” I ask Massi.
Sliding his hand into mine, he pulls me toward the dance floor. “I’m going to take a moment to enjoy a dance with my wife.”
He wraps my hand around his neck, then glides one arm around my waist while taking my other hand in his own. We sway side to side to the slow beat of the music.
When the song changes, Massi holds me out, then spins me back into him so my back is flush with his chest. One of his hands falls to my waist while the other brushes against my hip where the slit in my dress meets.
Sliding my hand up around the back of his neck, I melt into his embrace, feeling the most comfortable I’ve ever felt.
Lowering his head, he whispers into my ear. “Brings you back to the night we first met, huh?” The smile on my face widens at the memory, and I turn my head to meet his lips with mine. They sear me with an incredible heat that sparks excitement deep in my core.
Someone coughs, getting our attention. “Uh, hate to break up the moment, but everything’s all set,” Gui says. “The apps are installed on both of their phones,”
Massi’s hold tightens on me, but he ultimately lets me go with what sounds like a disapproving groan.
“Alright. Let’s go confront them, then,” he says.
We walk across the room to where they’ve been standing since we got here, and with every step we take, my heart rate picks up a beat.
We’re still about thirty feet away when Massi’s dad makes eye contact with us, and even from here, I see his widened gaze and the stiffness take over his body.
“Mom… Dad…” Massi says as we come to a stand before them. He draws his gaze to the man standing next to his dad, who looks just as surprised to see us. “Ignazio. Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Liana, and my brother Guilherme.”
It takes a few seconds, but Ignazio finally plasters a smile onto his face and extends his hand out to kiss mine and shake Gui’s.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” he says, in an over-the-top charming kind of way. “This is my daughter, Chiara. Chiara,these are two of Andreas and Rosa’s children, Massimo and Guilherme, and this is Massimo’s wife, Liana.”
She gives us a polite smile and says, “Hello.”
“Is everything okay?” Massi says to his parents, who still haven’t been able to get the shocked expressions off their faces. Whatever their hiding from him definitely has to do with this ball.
Ignazio looks over at Andreas and Rosa. “Oh, of course they’re all right,” he says with a chuckle.
“I’m pretty sure I wasn’t asking you,” Massi says, the coldness of his voice lifts through the air between us while he keeps his gaze on his parents.
Andreas clears his throat. “Of course, everything is perfectly fine,” he says, breaking eye contact with Massi.
I’m surprised he’s not calling Massi out on lying to him about going back to New York, but that could have to do with wanting to put on a show for Ignazio and everyone around us.
Andreas looks at Rosa, who still hasn’t been able to speak since seeing us walk in, and puts his arm on the small part of her back. “If you don’t mind us, we just have to grab something quickly,” he says, pushing her in the direction we just came from.
Ignazio looks around the room as if he’s trying to find something. “Chiara, looks like the Beneducis are over there. Why don’t you go check in on them. Make sure they’re enjoying their time.”
Chiara lets out a small sigh but says, “Of course, Papa.”
“And if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure the rest of my guests are attended to,” he says, giving us a nod, then walking away.
