When I spied the town car waiting for me, I waved at the driver I recognized from before and the vehicle slid in front of our building.
No parking zones didn’t matter when you were a Capo,clearly.
The door opened and Stan climbed out, so he could hold it for me.
Stomach fluttering at his chivalry, I watched as he tucked my hand into his then stared at me over his shades. “Well, don’t you look like a peasant girl in need of a thorough debauching,bedda mia.”
Refusing to blush, I chuckled. “I can’t say that was my end goal, but I won’t say no to a debauching if you’re doing it.”
Smirking, he kissed my knuckles, then helped me into the car before shuffling onto the seat beside me.
Relieved now that we were alone, I turned to him with a frown. “What’s with the sunglasses?”
“Slight headache,gattaredda. It helps with the car headlights.”
My brow furrowed. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine. Busy day since I left you.”
“We could have rescheduled?—”
“And disappoint you again?” He tutted.How did he make that sound Sicilian?“Never. I have to honor my promises, Kitty, or you’ll start to think I’m unreliable.” He made that sound like the worst sin imaginable. “Anyway, I missed you—” I could feel my eyes bug. “—and I thought you might like to see my home, so it was a win-win all round.”
“Really?”
“To which part?”
I licked my lips. “That you missed me.”
“Oh,bedda mia.” He curved his arm around my shoulders. “I’ve been waiting for you a lifetime. Why would I waste time now that I’ve met you?”
I squeaked.
Again.
“I’d enjoy that.” He arched a brow as I blurted out in a rush: “Um. I mean. Yes. That sounds… Wow. Um. Great. I missed you too.”
He peered at me over his shades again. “Are you sure? That outfit is wasted on my house. We can go out?—”
“No! I didn’t wear it for your house or for anyone in the restaurant you might have taken me to. I wore it for meandfor you.”
His smile danced around both corners of his mouth. “That is a superlative answer.”
“I aim to please.”
He snatched my hand. “You succeed.” Fingers locked together now, he sagged into his seat. That he showed me his exhaustion didn’t offend me. If anything, it made this whole experience seem real. Raw. “How was your day?”
“I’m going to kill my sisters.”
The smile didn’t just flicker, it flared to life. “Again?”
“Yes. I forgot, you see.”
“What did you forget?”
“Stomach upsets in my house are solved by Liver Salts.Theydidn’t forget. I saw Raisin smirk when Mom force-fed me the stuff.”
“She doesn’t trust easily, does she?”
