Chapter 2 #2
A table for two was surrounded by flowers and dozens of candles set aglow.
Romantic instrumental music played. Prosecco was on ice, instead of champagne.
Not that Italians didn’t enjoy a good French champagne, but we were proud people.
And for an intimate dinner like this, we traditionally served Prosecco, which my family produced.
We had many income streams in Italy, but my dream was to own luxury casinos around the world.
“I’m without words.” The soft feminine voice came from behind me.
“I hope in a good way.” I turned around and tried not to drink her in from head to two. Her plain appearance from earlier had been replaced by an elegant dress that made me hold my breath.
“In a very good way. Did you plan all this?” She smiled as she approached me.
“Of course,” I lied. Not sure why I had done that, but it was too late to take it back. “Are you impressed?”
“Very.” Her piercing brown eyes bounced from left to right as she took in the room. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I didn’t take you for a romantic. I must say, I’m pleasantly surprises.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“But you didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me. I’m marrying you regardless.”
“It was no trouble at all.” I hadn’t done a damn thing for this dinner, and oddly, I felt guilty now. “It was my pleasure.” I pulled out her chair. Chivalry was not lost in the Remotti household.
“Thank you.” She sat down and exhaled a soft breath.
As I sat across from her, I noticed her cheeks had turned pink. She couldn’t be warm. The solarium maintained the perfect temperature year-round. In fact, it might be a little cold for her in that orange strapless dress.
“I want to apologize for earlier,” she said, as I poured the Prosecco.
“What for?” As if I didn’t know. Then again, it was possible I didn’t know. Giovanna hadn’t been predictable like other women I knew. It was rather refreshing to feel something different with my wife-to-be. However, was that a good or a bad thing?
“Stop teasing me. I was rude and outspoken earlier, and we both know it.” The pink in her cheeks darkened as she held my gaze. Most women would have looked away, but not Giovanna.
“And you’re not normally rude and outspoken?”
She smiled sheepishly. “Outspoken yes. Rude, only sometimes.”
“I appreciate your honesty. But I wasn’t on my best behavior either,” I replied, honestly.
“What? You don’t normally grope women to intimidate them?” She covered her mouth, feigning shock.
“No, I do.” I winked and put the bottle in the ice bucket.
“Bummer, and here I thought that performance was only for me.” She twisted her full lips, and I couldn’t help but stare at her mouth. “Guess you needed to exam the goods before sealing the deal. But I’ll tell you this much, I won’t have them enhanced.”
“Excuse me?” What was she talking about? Enhanced what?
“Good, Lord. I didn’t think I’d have to explain my meaning. But make these bigger.” She put her hands on her chest. “I won’t have surgery just to please you.”
“Don’t I feel like an idiot.”
“You should.”
“I would never make you do something so extreme.” I raised my glass. “Shall we make toast and change the subject?”
“Yes, please do.” She raised her flute.
“To you, Giovanna. May you find the Remotti family tolerable and pleasing.”
“And to us,” she said before clinking her glass to mine. “May this be the beginning of a friendship filled with mutual respect.”
“To mutual respect.” I took a drink and watched her do the same. The more I scrutinized her up close, the more I found her attractive. She appeared genuine and kind. If I wanted to have a good relationship with my wife, I needed to meet her halfway.
“Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?”
I chuckled to myself. “Free time? What is that?”
“My father would say the same thing.” She smiled and took another drink.
“I mean, is there anything you like to do when you’re not working?
I’m hoping you say reading, given the many books on my shelf that are my favorite.
How did you know what I liked?” Her brown depths glittered with mirth as she waited for my reply.
“Naturally, we asked your mother what you liked.” I hoped she dialed into the we part.
“I figured as much. It was very considerate of you.”
“Of course.” I hated how she assumed I’d done everything for her. She should have known it was my mamma. When would I have the time to speak to her mother, much less, set up her room with her favorite things?
“If I’m honest, I didn’t imagine you’d put forth much effort for me. It’s not lost on me that you were also forced into marrying me. I was prepared for you to hate me. But I’m relieved. Maybe we can be friends.”
“Friends?” I asked, feeling offended. “You want to be my friend?”
“It’s a good start, don’t you think? Until today, we have never met. My father rarely mentioned you, and when he did, it wasn’t positive.”
I hiked my brow. “What did he say?”
“Oh.” She bit her bottom lip, once again, drawing my attention to her mouth. “Mostly about your many conquests. But I’m not upset about it.”
“You’re not?”
“No.” She shook her head. “You’re older and a man. I know you have… needs.”
This seemed like the perfect moment to mention my ideas about having a lover. “Do you think you can take care of my needs?”
“Right now?” Her eyes nearly popped out of her sockets.
“Yes.” I found myself wanting to play with her. Test her a little to see how much or how little she wanted to please me.
“We’re not married yet.” She sat taller in her chair as if on guard.
“The ceremony is just a technicality.” I waved my hand in the air. “You and I both know it’s a done deal. Next weekend we’ll vow to love and honor each other in front of our family and friends.”
“Love? I doubt either of us will fall in love before next Saturday.” She laughed and rolled her eyes.
“Don’t speak for me.” I leaned forward and reached my hand out toward hers, wanting to hold it.
“What are you doing?” She narrowed her eyes.
“Give me your hand. I want to hold it.”
“Why?”
“Giovanna. Give me your hand,” I told her in a stern voice.
“Fine.” She reluctantly placed her left hand on mine. “Are you going to read my fortune or something?”
“Maybe.” I admired her long, thin fingers and light pink nails. They were short and pristinely manicured. I liked them more than I probably should. “Do you feel anything?”
“Like what?”
“Anything. Sparks. Tingles. Flutters in your belly.” I interlaced our fingers together. While she may not be feeling anything, I was getting aroused.
“I’m not sure.”
“Not sure? I don’t understand. Are you numb to my touch?” I stood and went to her side, while keeping our fingers locked. Kneeling next to her, I inhaled her scent and moved in for a kiss.
“Alessio. I’m. I’m. I just. I just…” She stuttered in the cutest way I’d ever heard, clearly affected by me as I was by her.
“Shh.” I brushed my lips across her cheek. “We’re allowed to be intimate like this.”
“I didn’t think you’d want to.”
“Honestly, I didn’t an hour ago.” I placed a soft kiss on her satin skin. “Even considered having a mistress.” I kissed her again.
“A mistress?” She tugged her hand out of mine and flew off the chair, putting several feet between us. “Then why get married?”
“Because it’s my duty as it is yours.”
She gaped, wholly offended. “But unlike you, I would never dream of being with another man after we took our vows. If you want a mistress, by all means, have one.” She turned on her heels and quickly made her way to the exit.
“Giovanna, don’t overreact. I’ve changed my mind.” I stood and followed her.
“I’ve also changed my mind about you. You’re not who I thought you were. Or rather, you’re exactly who I thought you were.” She ran up the stairs.
“That’s not fair! You’re not letting me explain.” I chased after her, getting angrier and angrier with every step. “I command you to stop!”
“You don’t own me yet!” She picked up her speed. I had a feeling if she made it to her bedroom before I caught her, she’d lock me out.
“Stop!” I pounded the wooden floors, narrowing the gap between us.
She burst through her door and attempted to close it. Of course, she failed when I blocked her.
“Get out!” she yelled in my face. “If you don’t leave, I will scream.”
“Then scream and get it over with because I’m not leaving.” I slammed the door behind me and locked it. Turning to face her, I gasped for air as my blood boiled. “Don’t you ever run from me again.”
“You’re crazy if you think I will take your shit. My brothers taught me to never let a man mistreat me.”
“How did I mistreat you? We’ve only known each other for one day.” I moved toward her, and she backed up.
“Precisely! We haven’t even tried to be a couple and you’re already wanting to bring another woman between us.”
“It’s not like I just met her. She’s been my lover for years.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
“Oh. I see.” Giovanna collapsed on the bed with a shellshocked look on her face. “Go to her. I won’t stand in your way or cause you problems.”
My feet stopped moving. I didn’t know what to do or say. She was giving me permission to be with Cara. I should be relieved and grateful, but I felt none of that.
“Please leave. It’s been a long day and I’m tired.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“Oh, you didn’t.” She smiled but it didn’t reach the corners of her eyes. Her whole personality changed in an instant. “Now that I know your expectations, I can relax. There’s no need for me to try and impress you when you already have someone. What a relief.” She wiped her brow.
But I could tell she was faking her relief, which confirmed in my mind that she’d felt the same sparks I’d felt.
“Someone my family would never approve of.”
“I understand stand. You don’t need to explain anything to me.”
“She’s a commoner.”
“Stop!” she snapped and jumped off the bed. Grabbing my bicep, she nudged me toward the door. “I mean, please. I don’t want to know the details. You don’t want me to hate you, do you?”
“No.”
“Good. Then let’s not speak of this again.” She unlocked the door and opened it. “I really am quite fatigued and would like to retire early.”
I couldn’t read her expression. Indifference radiated off her, along with something else… Perhaps she already hated me.
“We’re supposed to be getting acquainted with each other tonight.
You didn’t even have dinner.” Why was I trying to convince her to let me stay?
She’d just given me my freedom to be with Cara and probably any other woman I chose.
I should be thrilled, but my feelings for her had started to change and now it felt like she had friend zoned me.
“Tomorrow would be better. Today was a lot, don’t you agree?”
I nodded and stepped out of her suite. “Very well. Tomorrow. Good night, Giovanna.”
“Good night, Alessio.” The door closed and I heard the clicking of the lock.
I stood there staring at the dark abyss that would soon be my future. She would probably want to have separate bedrooms, which my parents would hate. We’d be mocked in public for not being a real couple.
What would happen when we had children? Would they notice how icy Giovanna was to me? They wouldn’t see us being affectionate like I had seen my parents when I was a child.
What if they found out about Cara? They would hate me…
Dammit! I dragged my hand down the side of my face.
In a matter of hours, Giovanna Amano had me rethinking all my plans. I had no intention of falling for her but here I was doing just that… falling for her.
Except, she rejected me.
I would never forget the disgust on her face and contempt in her eyes. She thought very little of me now that she knew I had a lover, and rightly so. What the hell had I been thinking?
“What happened?” my father asked from behind me. “If you’ve fucked this up, I will make you pay.”
“I didn’t. She’s tired and I insisted she get some rest,” I told him, lying directly to his face. He’d never know the truth. Disappointing my father was far more dangerous than a small lie.
“She’s not getting sick, is she?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“No. Tomorrow we’re spending the day together.”
He smiled. “Good. Don’t let me down.”
“Never, Papà. I think she likes me.”
“Really?” Joy burst from his pores.
“I believe so.” I adjusted my collar. “You have nothing to worry about. We’ll be very happy together.”
He embraced me firmly. “I’m very happy to hear this. By this time next year, we’ll have a bambino in the house. Mamma will be over the moon.” He released me.
“If we’re lucky, we’ll have one before the end of the year. I want to get started right away.” If she hadn’t locked the door, I would march back into her room and get her under me. I would possess her all night, until she screamed my name like a prayer.
What had come over me was baffling. No woman had ever rejected me. Perhaps it was the feeling of loss that had me spinning out of control.
“Eccellente! I see no reason for waiting until your wedding night. The documents will be signed tomorrow, then you’ll be legally married. Just not in the eyes of the church, but that’s okay.” He winked and gripped my arm. “Make me a grandson.”
“Yes, Papà.” But there was one thing I needed to do and that was break it off with Cara. “Since my fiancée has retired for the night, I’m going out for a bit.”
“Why?” He furrowed his brow. “Or should I ask to see who?”
“I have some business, but don’t worry. I’ll be discreet.”
My father growled and left.
We both knew who I was going to see but he didn’t need to know all the details, like I was ending things with Cara so I could focus my attention on my new wife.