Page 69 of Roman

I had a feeling I was going to need it.

Nonna made her risotto with garlic and shrimp for lunch. It was one of my favorites. There was also salad and a pasta. Some cold meats and breads. Antipasto. She had gone all out.

I watched Effie carefully, often leaning over to add something to her plate or whisper how well she was doing. She appeared to love the risotto, taking a second helping. She nibbled on the bread and some cheese, making me laugh and tease her about her mouse tendencies. She sipped the white wine, asking quietly if it came from my vineyard.

I relaxed back in my chair, running a finger down her cheek. “It does, Little Tiger. You like it?”

“It’s delicious.”

“I’ll make sure to bring a couple of bottles back with us.”

She turned and kissed my finger that lingered on her skin. “Thank you.”

Without thinking, I brought my finger to my mouth and tapped it on my lips. I looked up and saw Nonna watching us, a delighted smile now on her face. Vi was chuckling, and Aldo dared to start humming again.

I glared and then began to laugh. This entire lunch was amusing. Effie and I were being graded, and so far, we passed.

Before lunch, I’d shown Effie the house. She marveled at the size of it, looking around in wonder at my side of the large home. “All this space for you and you stay at the hotel?”

“At the moment.”

“It is so lovely, Roman.”

I had to agree. It was a great house, although I rarely seemed to be there. Nonna loved it, and that was all that really mattered. We returned to the group, both of us smiling.

“How did you meet?” Nonna asked Effie.

“Um, Roman didn’t tell you?”

Nonna scoffed. “He never tells me anything.”

“Oh. Well, at my diner. Bagels and Bites.”

“We had to take a detour one day. We were stopped by the diner, and I was hungry. I went in to get a sandwich,” I interjected. “Effie came out of the kitchen and”—I spread my hands in a voilà! gesture—“the rest is history. I mean, how could I resist those eyes?”

“Ah, that is where the bagels came from,” Nonna mused. “And what did you think of Roman?”

Effie swallowed the mouthful of risotto. She cleared her throat and took a sip of wine. “I thought he was arrogant and didn’t belong in my diner,” she stated honestly. “But he kept coming back. Kind of like a stray cat. Finally, I took pity on him.”

Nonna laughed loudly, Vi and Aldo chuckled, and I grinned. I loved it when she was lippy.

“She loved me right away, Nonna. I could tell.”

Nonna rolled her eyes. “Ego. Such a male thing.”

Now Effie laughed. “He has a big one.”

I bent close to her ear. “Are we talking about my ego now, Little Tiger?”

She blushed and pushed me away. I chuckled and picked up my wine. Nonna beamed.

After we ate, Effie and Vi went for a walk, and I helped Nonna in the kitchen getting dessert and coffees.

“She is a delight,” Nonna mused.

“She makes him different,” Aldo added.

I scowled at him, and Nonna smacked my arm. “He is right.”