I just hoped I was making the right call instead of setting myself up for more disappointment.
CHAPTER 5
FABIANA
My brother’sbackyard had been transformed into a glittering backdrop for my engagement party. The sun glinted off sweating glasses of Tuscany’s finest rosé, tuxedo-clad servers passed by with trays of delicate canapés, and smooth jazz played by a live band weaved through the air.
“I just can’t get enough of him.” Cosimo’s Aunt Lisa was a burst of color in a flower-patterned jumpsuit. From the moment she’d introduced herself, she hadn’t stopped fawning over the tiny cream-colored Pomeranian in Cleo’s arms—the newest addition to the Messero family. “I might just steal him away. How old is he?”
Cleo adjusted her grip on the pup. She wore a sleek green cocktail dress that looked sensational on her and made her thick red hair look even more fiery than usual. “Yeti’s three months old.”
“He looks just like the dog we had when I was a child. Have you started training him?”
I let my attention drift from their conversation and scanned the crowd for Cosimo. Again.
You really think he won’t show up to his own engagement party?
He couldn’t not show up. He wasn’t even that late. The guests had only started to arrive. Still, anxiety churned in the pit of my belly. I was resolved to make sure our second meeting went better than the first.
The engagement photoshoot was happening today. I hated getting my pictures taken. I never liked how I turned out in them. These photos would be going out to hundreds of people on our wedding invitations, which only made me dread them more.
Feigning romance for the camera? I let out a tense sigh. Cosimo had been a jerk back at the gallery, but my body hadn’t gotten the memo. I hadn’t forgotten the way it reacted when he’d invaded my personal space to give me the engagement ring.
Today, we were going to get a lot more hands-on. I didn’t want to embarrass myself by getting flustered in front of a man who clearly wasn’t affected by me in any way, and I was far from confident in my ability to keep my cool.
Aunt Lisa patted Yeti’s head. “Look how calm he is. Could I hold him?”
Cleo handed the puppy over to her, then she caught my eye and nodded toward the far end of the garden. “Your future in-laws have arrived.”
Gino and Vita had just walked through the gate. I waved to get Vita’s attention. I hadn’t met Gino in person yet.
“Actually, I just remembered I need to make a quick phone call.” Lisa handed the pup back to Cleo. “So sorry. It was nice to meet you, Fabiana,” she said with a smile that seemed a little tense.
“You too,” I said.
She plucked a flute of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and hurried away.
Gino held Vita’s hand as they moved across the lawn toward us. She leaned into him slightly, as if her body was tuned to seek his closeness. They were a striking pair. Vita looked immaculate as always, and Gino, despite being in his sixties, was in great shape.
You could tell he adored his wife just by the way he looked at her.
Vita greeted me with a hug and a dazzling smile. “That dress becomes you.”
“Thank you.” I brushed my palm over the satin bodice. It was a little too tight—probably due to all the stress eating I’d indulged in last week.
Gino stepped forward once his wife had released me. “It’s about time we finally met, don’t you think?” he said warmly.
Rafe was supposed to be here to introduce us, but he’d stepped away to do something inside the house and still hadn’t come back out. At least Cleo was standing here with me.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Ferraro.”
He took the hand I offered and brought it to his lips. “Please, call me Gino. We’re about to become family.”
Family. The Ferraros and the Messeros. That was going to take some getting used to. Growing up, I lost count of how manyangry rants I heard from my father about the man in front of me now.
“Would you like a drink?” Cleo asked, glancing around. “I don’t know where the waiters went. They were just here.”
“I wouldn’t mind a little stroll to the bar,” Vita said, offering Cleo her arm. “Would you two like to join us?”
