“That sounds like he was flirting with you.”
“So it’s not terrible, but he could wink at lots of girls.”
“Was that one of your first thoughts? That he might wink at other girls?”
“Yes.”
“And what do you think about this man winking at other girls?”
“That a person with one eye can no longer wink.” Bonte almost falls over the couch in a fit of laughter. I can’t stop a tiny smile.
I always enjoy spending time with her. We bonded over her father being a serial killer. She also has a sense of fashion that I rather like. It’s dark and quirky. Basically, the opposite of how I dress. I always wear slacks and a simple buttoned-up shirt. I find it very functional.
“How hot was he? I need every single detail of what this man looks like. I’ve got to know your type.”
“I don’t have a type.” Even though I say the words, I don’t believe them. I would have before the wink, but post-wink itseems I very much have a type. One that is soon to be my husband, but I don’t need to get into any of those details yet.
“Sure,” she says sarcastically. “You got pissy about him winking at other girls.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her he shouldn’t be if he plans to marry me.
He came with the intent to marry me. He made it clear it was only to be me. I am my father’s only daughter but not the only female in our tight-knit Marino family. There is also Mac, who is my age, and Nix, but she is still in high school, so she’s out.
“He was very handsome. Too handsome.”
“Too handsome?”
I nod. “Yes, like he could be on one of those shiny magazine covers. He is as tall and broad as my father, but his face is both smooth and has these hard lines. A perfect nose and all that. He wasverysymmetrical.”
“Symmetrical!” Bonte falls into another fit of laughter.
“I only mean it’s clear he is not for our world. He’s got deep green eyes, and his hair is brown but with a bit of blond too. His suit made him appear as though he should be working on Wall Street or a fancy lawyer.” Clean cut.
“Like he works in finance with a trust fund, 6’5”, blue eyes.”
“Green eyes,” I correct her. I just said that. “I would guess his height to be that, but I was on the stairs, so with the angle, I could be off. I don’t know about trust funds. I suppose. I think most families of such wealth have them.” We all do.
“It was a joke.” She waves me off. “It’s a song. This is all so interesting to me.”
“I agree.” I give the kitty a few more scratches. “Eros, he’s with Mac at the main warehouse?”
“Yeah, he left about an hour ago. He said he’s got a surprise for me later. Even picked out an outfit.”
“He picked it out for you?” She nods. Why do I find that alluring?
“I should probably go. I need to handle a few things, and then family dinner.”
Bonte pops up and gives me a kiss on the cheek. If it were anyone else besides my mom or dad, they would probably catch an elbow for invading my personal space, but Bonte is the exception. I head out to touch base with Mac and Eros. The three of us have always been close. I want to fill them in on the new developments of my dad’s meeting.
I realize my mistake when they start asking me a million questions I don’t have answers for, so I abort and go back home and start pulling up everything that Mac had already dug up on Paxton and start to go through it more thoroughly.
I get so engrossed in it that I almost miss dinner, but Mom comes and drags me downstairs.
“You okay?” my father asks me after dinner. I nod.
“Still thinking about things.” I’m going in circles here. I am not normally so indecisive. I make a choice and move forward. I should do that in this situation as well.
Everyone is mingling in the living room area, and a few people have already left. My little brothers have taken off too.
I stand up and simply say it. That is what I always do when I make decisions. Once my mind is made up, I don’t waver, and I put the information out into the world.
