CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“H ello, Gorgeous,” I said, answering Cassidy’s call after my morning run.
“Finally, you’ve called,” she said. Her tone was curt and it caught me off guard.
My brows lowered and an uneasiness knotted my stomach. “Uhm. Give me a second.” I walked over and closed the bedroom door for privacy, then leaned against the back of it. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t you miss me, Lina? We talked every day for years, and now I can barely get you on the phone. I called you right back when I missed your call, but it’s been a week, and you didn’t call me back. What’s up with that?”
Cassidy wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t meant to not call her, but I’d had to consider Rocco’s privacy. Still, I did miss her. “Sorry. I’ve wanted to talk to you and tell you what’s going on, but we became busy here. But honestly I didn’t know what I could share.”
“I’m your best friend. Your feelings matter, too. You know I studied law and understand confidentiality. Heck, my parents are high profile lawyers with many famous clients. You know me. I may gossip about silly things, but never something important. I’d never tell anything you told me in confidence.”
“Yes, I know,” I rasped and pulled my hair over my shoulder.
“You also know I’ve signed NDA’s for Rocco, your family, and the Cranes. Their lawyer was very clear that he’d sacrifice me if I said anything—”
“Rocco’s lawyer threatened you? What’s his name?” I snapped, furrowing my brows.
“Gunnar,” she said in a light tone. “Actually, his ruthlessness turned me on.”
I let out a laugh despite everything. “You joke, but he had no right to treat you badly.”
“He wasn’t left without scars either, babe. He’s in the celebrity law business, my parents know him. A bit too good looking for my taste, but I’ll still fuck him. I feel a need to break him.” She let out a chuckle.
“Cass,” I scolded while laughing. How sex would break this Gunnar guy I didn’t know, but he’d attracted her attention. It also made us laugh together and the tension inside of me eased. I loved Cassidy dearly and didn’t want to hurt her, ever.
“But seriously, Gunnar said the same thing I’d say on behalf of my clients. It’s always been hard to get close to you, but I love you. I’m asking you to trust me and our friendship.”
Cassidy never gave me a reason to doubt her, and honestly I missed her and needed her advice. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better. Gosh, so much has happened.”
“Well, I’m here right now. Talk to me.” Her voice was sincere and she was supportive, as she’d always been. Despite being so different, there had always been this ease in our friendship. Hopefully once life settled, and we’d find some sort of routine and be able to talk more regularly. I had definitely missed being able to talk to her daily. So, I sat on the bed and told her everything. It was cathartic if I was honest. She didn’t interrupt me, but waited until I stopped speaking.
“I wish I’d been there for you. Especially when you had your first sexual experience, but I’m happy you had Nadia to help you.”
My heart constricted at the hurt I could hear in her voice. “I’m sorry, Cass. I called and left a message, but I should have tried you again. She shared some personal experiences that I could relate to. But honestly, I hoped I’d tell you in person.”
“We could FaceTime. Just putting it out there,” she said in a light tone. “Anyway, I believe Nadia gave you good advice. Rocco sounds thoughtful and patient. A good lover—”
“A great lover,” I teased.
“Great? I love you and I hate you, Lina.”
I laughed.
“Seriously. It’s what I hoped for you. He gave you space to think about having children without pressing you to be a mother. He’s not old fashioned and you’ll have a career. I love what I’m hearing.”
I smiled and my insides warmed. “He’s been great. I really like him. He’s taken me around Italy, and I love it here.”
“Are you falling in love?” she asked.
My skin heated, and I fidgeted with a button on my shirt. “We’re just getting to know each other. We’re friends.”
“So, Adelina is keeping her shield in place,” Cassidy deadpanned.
I rolled my eyes and huffed down the line. “I’m being cautious.”
“Sure you are,” she chided. “Does he open up to share with you?”
“He…he does,” I said and bit my bottom lip. Rocco had told me a lot about his life and his family. He’d shared his work, and ideas for the future. I know more about him than he probably knows about me. I admitted as much to Cassidy.
“See? He’s trying and I’m glad you’re dating, but you’ll need to drop your guard and let yourself be vulnerable with him. It could open up your relationship so much more. The sex will even be better. Best of all, you could fall in love.”
“Geez, Cass. You sound very sappy. Are you with someone new?” I teased her.
“No, I’m trying to be serious and help you. You deserve love, Adelina. I want that for you.”
My heart swelled and my throat felt constricted. While I wasn’t sure about opening my heart to Rocco, I was glad for the time we spent together.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Yes?” I called.
“The dinner guests have arrived,” One of the housekeepers named Magda called through the door.
“Thank you. I’ll be right there,” I said. “I have to go, but I’ll call you soon.”
“Please do, I miss you and love you like crazy, Lina.”
“I love you too, Cass. Thank you.”
I felt lighter and freer after our heart-to-heart. Placing my phone in my back pocket, I picked up a brush and quickly fixed my hair, leaving it in loose waves down my back. I then took extra time powdering my face, brushing my brows, and smearing lip gloss on my lips before leaving the bedroom.
“Adelina, is that you? Come in here.” Rocco’s rich voice called out from the kitchen.
He gave me a wave at the archway, then returned to stirring spices into a massive pot on the stove. The sauce’s aroma made my mouth water, as did Rocco. He had a few buttons undone at the collar of his white shirt. Which made him look sexy. He held up a spoon. “Come taste it.”
I went and drank from the spoon he held out. Incredibly delicious . “Not bad.”
He scoffed and swiped my butt. “You’re lying.”
I grinned. “I am.”
An older couple walked in, and Rocco introduced me. “Aunt Rita, Uncle Walter, this is Adelina.”
“Belfiore,” they said almost at the same time. It still shocked me how so many people knew my family. My stomach jittered with nerves, but they hugged me like they’d known me for years.
His aunt held me at arm’s length. “You’re a beautiful woman. You’ll make a lovely bride.”
I dipped my head humbly, but was a little put off. All it takes is looking good to be a wife? On the other hand, she was being kind. “Thank you.”
“You went to college in Massachusetts?” his Uncle Walter asked.
I nodded and smiled. “Yes.”
“Boston is as beautiful as Dublin,” his Aunt Rita said. “I loved walking the bridge over Charles River and having dinner in Harvard Square. Our son, Gino, went there, just like Rocco. And Simone, whom you’ll soon meet, is an artist.”
“Where are they?” Rocco asked.
“Gino’s eating. Simone’s glued to her phone,” his Uncle Walter griped.
Rocco turned to add more spices.
A man around Rocco’s age, who was wearing an ACF Fiorenza shirt tip-toed into the kitchen with a finger over his lips. He opened a drawer, took a spoon, and crept behind Rocco, his hand reaching for the pot.
Rocco hit his hand at lightning speed. “Hey, what are you doing? Go away.”
We all burst into laughter.
Rocco turned and peered at us with a scowl. “You, too, Adelina?”
I covered my laugh.
Aunt Rita side-hugged me. “Let her laugh. It’s funny.”
I placed a finger on my chin. “Is AC Fiorenza a soccer team, just like Manchester United?”
Roars and guffaws erupted from all the Marinis.
Gino held up his palms. “The wedding is off.”
“We just have to make her a fan by making her watch football every day for the rest of her life,” Rocco said. He came over and lifted me up, and I let out a yelp as he carried me off to dinner. His pasta dish was delicious, and the conversation stayed light on ideas about where we could honeymoon.
“Paris,” Simone suggested. “That’s where I’d go.”
“Not anytime soon,” Rita said.
His family had been all over the world, and I felt smaller as I listened. There was so much I hadn’t seen or done, yet the more they talked and included me in Rocco’s future travels, the more hope it gave me.
The door closed, and Rocco pulled me into his arms, He kissed my lips and down my neck, lifting the end of my dress to grab my ass. “Mmm. I haven’t fucked you in here yet.”
“Rocco, come on.” I laughed and pushed his chest, nodding towards his housekeeper who was clearing away the food.
“You’re so shy,” Rocco teased, but let it go. He took my hand, and I followed him out of the dining room to his office. It wasn’t a place I’d been too much, and I didn’t know how much he had changed it from when his grandfather had lived here. It had a lived in feel to it. The leather couches were worn and soft. There were photographs of family members on the walls. One even had on a flapper hat and a fringe gown next to a man with a top hat and tails. I loved the fact that everything was so rich in history. It made me wish I knew more about my own family.
He plopped down in the seat behind the desk and groaned. “All this work is stressing me out. We need a vacation.”
I walked over and closed the door. A wild idea came to mind, but I was shy about doing it. Rocco had, for the most part, initiated sex.
Maybe I can try to seduce him?