32. Anna
Anna
I swear this man is going to be the death of me. I’m going to die from sheer desire alone if he doesn’t quit teasing me with his kinks. Vincenzo takes mercy on me as we reach the dining room, but I have no doubt my face is as red as it feels.
Lanah rushes over to me and gives me a big hug.
“I hope you don’t mind that we let ourselves in and got comfortable and that I invited everyone.
” I give her a squeeze. “Our home is your home,” I tell her which wins me a gentle smile from his mother who they have seated next to Lanah.
Vincenzo goes to the bar and pours us both a glass of wine.
“I see they’ve helped themselves to my special scotch, too,” Vincenzo says.
Agosto, Gianni and Nicolo all raise their crystal glasses into the air. “Salute.”
Lanah and their mother laugh as Lanah settles back in by her mom and Vincenzo places our glasses on the table and pulls the chair out for me and then slides it in for me. “Thank you,” I murmur.
Lanah elbows her mom gently. “Aren’t they cute?”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrow at his little sister. “How’s online school going?” he asks.
She takes a sip of her wine. “Ma said it was a special occasion.”
Vincenzo nods. “Indeed, it is. It’s been a minute since we had everyone around the table, but you didn’t answer my question.”
Lanah gives me a set of wide eyes and then turns those dark brown eyes on her brother. “It’s boring with a capital B but hopefully it’s not for too much longer. Besides, it’s better that I’m here now anyway with Mom recovering.”
Her mother takes a sip of her own wine. “How many times do I need to tell all of you that I’m completely fine. The doctor gave me an excellent report, a handful of pills to take every day and that’s it. Finito.”
Vincenzo gestures to the wine in her hand. “And does that mix with the meds?”
She rolls her eyes at her son dramatically. “I told you I’m fine. I’ll let you know if there is anything to worry about, until then you have far greater things to worry about now, Vincenzo.”
Vincenzo lets it go but he looks far from convinced. He gestures to the men. “Help me bring in the platters. Anna made a meal fit for kings tonight.”
Their mother gives me a warm smile. “It smells absolutely delicious.” My thoughts go immediately to heart diets, kicking myself for not thinking of the get together sooner and not having enough time to make a red sauce instead of the heavy cream base that I used for the pasta. “I hope the meal is okay.”
All of a sudden, the vibration starts. I can feel my cheeks heating.
It’s slow and subtle this time but it’s almost more arousing than the setting he used upstairs.
I find it difficult to pay attention to what Vincenzo’s mother is saying, but I try really hard not to squirm and to follow the conversation.
I’m sure I’ve missed something but manage to catch her exclaiming that the meal will be fabulous as she takes another sip of her wine.
The guys walk back in each carrying something.
Vincenzo is carrying the heavy platter laden with pasta, cream, and seafood, his eyes never leaving mine as he walks to the table, while Gianni carries a large platter of salad, Nicolo brings the basket with assorted breads and Agosto brings up the rear holding up two more bottles of red.
Vincenzo takes a seat next to me and brings my hand up to his lips. He kisses my skin and the vibration mercifully stops. “My wife is excited to have company this evening. I’m glad you could all make it. We need to get back to our Sunday evening meals.”
His mother looks up. “I’d like that very much.”
Everyone around the table agrees. “We’ll make it a priority,” Nicolo says, taking a serving of the pasta and passing the dish to his younger brother before picking up the salad platter.
The guys keep the conversation light, nothing about the Gallinis or any of the trouble that now circles the family.
I wonder if Vincenzo asked them not to mention it or if this is just the norm when they’re seated at a family meal.
My father seldom let anyone talk about anything like that when Sophia and I were around.
We learned most of what we know by sneaking around and listening to the soldiers when we should have been tucked away safely in our beds.
I turn to his mother. “Vincenzo tells me you have a beautiful home and that until recently the family met there for dinner each week. It sounds like a lovely tradition. I’m looking forward to more meals together.”
His mother takes a bite of salad, and then a drink of wine. “I’m glad you married her before she got away, Vincenzo.”
I blush as she turns those deep brown eyes on me. “I thought my son would never marry or give us a grandchild.” His ma crosses her heart with a finger. “My heart is full now.”
Vincenzo takes my hand beneath the table and squeezes once and then drags a finger along the inside of my palm, calming me with just the simple touch. She doesn’t know, how could she know, and of course Vincenzo wouldn’t have said anything. And of course she would want grandchildren.
I finish the rest of the meal listening to the boys rib each other and tease their little sister. It is a comforting meal but the thought of being unable to have a child, the most natural thing on earth, a gift so special between two people, sits heavily on my heart.
When we’re finished with dinner I stand and begin to clear the table. Vincenzo’s ma looks at me and then Vincenzo with curiosity. “Where are the house staff?”
He shakes his head. “Anna wanted some time to get used to the penthouse without them and to make some meals of her own in the kitchen. We should have brought them back already but she’s been dragging her feet for some reason.”
Lanah pushes back her seat and takes the empty bread basket and an empty platter, following me to the kitchen. “What’s up with the staff? Are you worried they can’t be trusted,” she asks as I begin loading the dishwasher.
“No, not at all. I trust all security measures are in place. It’s just, I wanted to do something special for Vincenzo and it’s not like I can do many other things while we’re here in the condo.”
Her eyebrows raise. “Aside from that. Get your little mind out of the gutter.”
She grins. “Well, far be it from me to butt my nose in but you can still cook and do all things you want to and keep them on too? They’ve been with Vincenzo for years.
I’m sure they’re going stir crazy. He sent them to one of our villas in Italy for an extended vacation but I’m sure they’re wondering what the hell is going on. ”
I remember back to our own staff growing up and they were like family too. “Alright, I’ll tell him they can come back from exile. Although a trip to a villa in Italy doesn’t sound so bad at all.”
Lanah laughs. “We’ll all go when things settle down. It’s beautiful, and you will love the vineyards, the coast, the sea. And most of all the company.”
I grind coffee beans in the new coffee machine Nicolo purchased for us as a wedding gift, and after hitting a few wrong buttons the strong aroma of his favorite brew begins to permeate the house. “Finally figured that thing out. It seriously has more bells and whistles than anything around.”
Lanah looks up from slicing the Tiramisu while I bring small plates down from the cupboard.
She puts a generous slice on each of the plates, and we place them on a big silver platter I find in the pantry.
Lanah takes a big bite from the piece she holds and then flips the end around for me to do the same. “Sinfully delicious,” she says.
I couldn’t agree more. “This may be the best tiramisu I’ve ever had in my life.
” She takes the platter out to the table while I fill a carafe with the strong black coffee and follow her back to the dining room just as the vibrator in my rear lets me know that Vincenzo has more than the Tiramisu for dessert on his mind.