Page 8 of Roman

“The only thing that is going to appease her is a ring and some babies, brother.”

“You work on the babies. I have no interest in that. Or a wife. Nonna is going to have to give up on that dream.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “You know she won’t. And you are her favorite, so she’s not going to let this go. If I fail in my mission, she’ll make it hers.”

I groaned. “Maybe I should send her on a trip for a while. Home to see her sister for a few months. Get her thinking about something else.”

He shook his head. “Not going to work.”

“Fine. I’ll speak to her myself.”

“That’s another thing. She says she is lonely in that big house of yours and you’re never there.”

“I’ve been busy with Aldo away and the new build. Plus overseeing the casinos.”

“She would tell you to reprioritize and hire more people. She wants company—aka great-grandbabies.”

A smile pulled on my lips. “So she wants me to marry someone and knock her up so she has company? I could just hire another companion for her, although I’ve lost count of the number I’ve gone through.”

“We tried that. She scares them all away.”

I laughed. She did. Gemma Volare suffered no fools. If she liked you, you were accepted. If not…

“She stays busy with the vineyard and overseeing the house and grounds. She bustles around there like she is fifty, not seventy-six.”

“You are still her favorite, Roman. Nothing makes her happier than spending time with you.”

His statement was true. I was Nonna’s favorite, yet it caused no bitterness between us. She loved us fiercely, but Nonna and I had a bond that was strong and unbreakable. She lived with me for that reason. I would never allow her to be on her own. She’d looked after us as children, and it was my job to do so as she aged.

“I’ll talk to her. I’ll go see her tomorrow.”

I hadn’t been home in a week, except to see her quickly. I had been living in the suite beside my office because my hours were so erratic. I’d been on the floor more than usual and busy with the plans for the new casino in Ottawa and some other projects. I would have to do better for Nonna.

And I would.

But the wife and kid thing… That wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t in the cards for me. Now, I would just have to figure out how to convince her of that.

I was back at the casino early—before five the next morning. I went through numbers, checked reports, and once satisfied, decided to head to the house and see Nonna. I felt badly that I had been neglecting her, but with my right hand, Aldo, away on his honeymoon, problems with the build in Ottawa, and the general craziness of running the businesses, I had been too busy. Much to Carlo’s chagrin, I had him stay at the casino and I drove myself. My personal car was bulletproof, and I wanted to be alone. Due to the roadwork, I ended up driving past the small diner again. Without thinking, I pulled over and parked, heading inside. It was busier, the breakfast crowd getting their morning nourishment and coffee. I sat down at one of the few tables, waiting.

Effie walked out of the kitchen, carrying a tray. She served the customers, refilled their coffees, then turned to me, her smile fading a little when she saw who it was.

“Oh. You.”

I smiled at her. “Me. Not happy to see me?”

“Not really.”

“Shame. You look very pretty today.”

She snorted. “Yeah. Right. Now why are you back again?”

“I enjoyed my bagel.”

“I see. You know, there are lots of bagel places. I can recommend one a little more upscale for you.”

I shook my head. “No. Your coffee is excellent. So was the bagel. I would like a dozen to go.”

“Whole wheat?”