Chapter 52
We held hands and kissed repeatedly on the walk to Emilia’s work.
We reached the café at a quarter to ten – early enough to have breakfast together.
As we approached, I glanced warily over at the dress shop.
A black Mercedes was out front… which meant there was a good chance Adriano was inside.
It’s not that I was afraid of seeing my boss. But if I could avoid having him bust my balls about my wrinkled clothes, I would prefer it that way.
Emilia and I each got an espresso and a cornetto – an Italian sweet croissant filled with chocolate.
As we ordered, Emilia’s co-worker gave us a smirk like What did YOU get up to last night?
Emilia just ignored her, and we took our breakfast over to a table in the corner and chatted until time was up.
At 10:59, she said, “Well, I hate for this to end, but – ”
“When do I get to see you again?”
“I have to close tonight… but you could come get me at nine,” she said coquettishly.
“I want to, but I might have to work late to make up for coming in at noon.”
“Oh,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment.
“I said I might have to. I’ll text you when I know.”
“Maybe it’s best if we just get a good night’s sleep,” she suggested.
“NO,” I said, then kissed her forcefully.
She giggled and batted me away. “I don’t want to get you in trouble with your boss.”
“You won’t.”
We stood up, and I gave her a long, lingering kiss…
Until she pushed me away.
“Go!” she whispered. “I’ve got to work!”
“See you later,” I said with a wink.
She was grinning like the Cheshire cat as I walked out of the café.
As I exited the café, I glanced over at the shop.
The black Mercedes was there, but the coast was otherwise clear.
I was about to walk off when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“What the fuck?!”
I turned to see Adriano standing outside the shop, frowning, his hands out to the side like What the fuck are you DOING?!
“I – ”
“Bianca gives you till noon, you come in early, but now you’re leaving again? What the fuck!”
“My clothes are all wrinkled,” I said as I walked over to him. “I didn’t get to change since last night.”
“Yeah, well, you’re gonna have to wait – you’ve got a couple of soap opera fans who want to hear about last night’s episode.
All I’ve been hearing for the last couple of hours is ‘What do you think happened? Did she invite him up for drinks? Do you think it was romaaaaantic?’” he said, speaking the last word in a falsetto voice.
“I didn’t know you cared, boss,” I joked.
“I don’t, but I’m gonna lose my fuckin’ mind if I have to listen to this shit for another hour. Come in the shop and give them a quick rundown before you go home.”
I walked into the shop behind Adriano.
As soon as I did, Bianca and Lucia turned around from what they were doing at the counter.
“Somebody got LAIIIIIID!” Lucia yelled happily.
“Oh my god,” I said, laughing and blushing at the same time.
“Lucia,” Bianca scolded her.
“Excuse me,” Lucia said. “They made sweet, sweet looooove.”
“That’s even worse,” I told her.
“Oh, I’m just getting started.”
“NOW you see what I’ve been dealing with,” Adriano grumbled.
“Hush, Grumpy,” Lucia said, then turned to me with shining eyes. “Tell us everything.”
“Yes,” Bianca agreed, her eyes shining expectantly. “Everything.”
“No, not ‘everything’ – make it quick,” Adriano ordered, then told his wife and sister-in-law, “He’s gotta go home and change.”
“Why, does he smell like pussy?” Lucia asked as she sniffed the air.
“NO!” I shouted in embarrassment.
“Lucia!” Bianca cried out.
“I told you I was just getting started,” Lucia replied sweetly. “So why do you have to go change?”
Adriano glowered at her. “Look at him – his suit’s wrinkled all to hell.”
“So?”
“So we can’t go around with our guys looking like a bunch of bums!”
“Wait – so you didn’t go home, then!” Lucia said, putting two and two together.
“No, I didn’t.”
“And you stayed all night!”
“…yes,” I admitted.
“Did you go straight to her place and fuck?”
“Lucia!” Bianca exclaimed.
“Sorry – did you go straight to her place and make sweet, sweet looooooove?”
“No, I took care of her stalker first,” I answered.
“Ooooooh, how romantic!” Bianca squealed, and I realized just how accurate Adriano’s imitation had been.
“Is that why Emilia got it on with you?” Lucia asked excitedly. “You fucked her stalker up, and then she fucked you up?”
“Oh my god, please stop,” I begged her.
“Fuck this,” Adriano interjected. “I can tell this is gonna take forever, so we’re leaving now. You can tell them on the way to the house.”
Adriano always referred to his family’s mansion in Tuscany as ‘the house.’
I looked at him in surprise. “Why are we going there?”
“Because Niccolo wants you with him when he talks to Milan, and he’s recalling everybody until it gets cleared up.”
Oh shit.
‘Recalling everybody’ meant Niccolo wanted every single person at the estate where they were safe…
Which meant he was expecting Don Camerota to try to take revenge.
Adriano saw my face and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. You had my permission to do what you did. And if the dipshit hadn’t been here in Florence, he wouldn’t have gotten his ass kicked. So come on, let’s go.”
“All of us?” Bianca asked, startled.
“Yes – let’s go.”
“But we have work to do today!”
“Take it up with Niccolo,” Adriano said as he ushered us all out the front door.
“What about changing my clothes?” I asked.
“We’ll drop by your place on the way,” Adriano said.
“When are you going to fuck at your place?” Lucia asked.
“Lucia!” Bianca fumed.
“Sorry – when are you going to make sweet, sweet looooove at your place? Tonight?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“You see?” Adriano asked as he tossed me the car keys. “Now it’s your turn to suffer.”