Page 39 of Tailored for You

I went over to each area, heart pounding, tears pressing against my eyes. Reverently, I touched the table, the expensive sewing machine. Everything.

It was like someone had picked out my dream studio and created it here.

“Do you like it?” Enzo asked.

I whipped around. I forgot that he was there. Afraid of what my voice would sound like, I merely nodded.

Swallowing, I tried to get a handle on the riot of emotions.

“How is all this here?” I asked.

“You need a place to work.” Enzo shrugged, putting a hand in his pocket. “Now, you have a place to work.”

I covered my face, trying to think of the next question I wanted to ask. “When did all this happen? I’ve been here for what? Three days? I didn’t see anyone carrying anything like this outside.”

“The men knew not to be spotted.” Enzo went to a table, leaning back against it. “So, tell me, bellisima, will this do? Is there something missing? All you have to do is say it. I’ll give it to you. Anything you want, it’s yours.”

“This is a lot,” I said, my voice wavering. “I can’t even...” I stopped and tried again. “Lorenzo, this is more than anyone has ever done for me. As much as I don’t want to take advantage⁠—”

“Take advantage,” he said, cutting me off. It sounded more like an order, but I let it slide. “Take whatever you need from me, whenever you need it.”

I could dive into that request, give it a thousand more meanings, but those thoughts were out of place.

I spun around the room, trying to find something to focus on, but I couldn’t. Everywhere I looked was perfect. It was a struggle to wrap my head around the idea that someone, anyone, would go this far for me.

How did he get this so right?

“I thought you were going to tell me it was time for us to go,” I said.

Enzo barked a laugh. The laugh was so surprising, I almost jumped. It was rough, like he didn’t use it often.

I’d never heard him laugh before. It was a wonderful sound. One I wanted to hear more of.

As he laughed, he transformed before my eyes. Laugh lines bracketed his mouth. His eyes twinkled, and his face softened.

He became younger, less intimidating, and more carefree. I didn’t know that side of him, and I desperately wanted to. What was fun Enzo like?

“We can leave. I appreciate everything you've done for us, but spending money on all this,” I waved my finger around the room, “wasn’t necessary.”

“You aren’t leaving. I have money and nowhere to spend it. If I want to spend my money giving you and Harper whatever you need to get through the next day, week, year, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

I opened and immediately closed my mouth. Was he offended? That wasn’t my intention, so I started backtracking, realizing I wasn’t going about this right.

“I’m only saying that this goes beyond being nice and giving us a safe place to be. This is,” I had no idea how to say what I was feeling. How did I tell someone that I’ve never had anyone be as thoughtful as this? As considerate of my needs? “So much to take in.”

I went to the sewing machine. One I knew cost an arm and a leg, which was why I couldn’t justify getting it for myself.

Yet Enzo got it for me without blinking an eye.

“I’m not used to anybody coming in and helping.” I thrummed my finger on the table, keeping my eyes glued to it. “We’re in your home, wrecking it with pillow forts, sleeping in your rooms, and taking up your time. You created a space for me to work.

“I just don’t want you to do this because you feel some sort of obligation because you saved us that night, and it switched on some caveman protectiveness you don’t know how to turn off.” I buried my face in my hands. “None of this is coming out right. The studio is amazing, and I’m overwhelmed by it.”

Fingers wrapped around my wrists, pulling my hands from my face. Tilting my chin up and to the right, Enzo was staring down at me.

“I like the chaos you, and particularly Harper, bring to my home. Nothing about having both of you here is an inconvenience. If I didn’t want you here, I’d get you a hotel room.” His head dipped closer to mine. “You’re here because I want you here. I like you here. I like the way you say my full name.”

His mouth was close to mine. All it would take would be for me to rock up onto my toes, and I’d be there.