Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
We sat in the sunshine, sipping champagne. I told Nonna the wedding was the following Friday, and she looked at me askance.
“Roman. How?” Her eyes widened. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to wait. Nothing else,” I said firmly. “I want to marry Effie and move us here. She’ll be happier.”
Nonna looked delighted. “I will love that.” She narrowed her eyes. “You will be here more?”
“Yes. I promised Effie I will.”
“Good. You need a life.”
I laughed at her reprimand. I stood, taking Effie’s hand, and we went inside. We went to my wing, and I indicated the rooms. “Look around. Change what you want, but not my office.”
“Oh. Ah, I think I’ll get used to the space first.”
I nodded. “It is rather masculine. Try not to go overboard on the girly stuff.”
She smiled. “Maybe just a little softening.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist, drawing her back to my chest. “I can hardly wait to have you in that bed, Effie. Make it smell like you. Like us.”
“With your nonna down the hall,” she murmured, teasing.
I chuckled, nipping her neck. “The other side of my—our—very large house. And she takes her hearing aids out at night. You can scream as loud as you want, she won’t hear you.” I kissed the soft skin. “And if she did, she’d ignore it, knowing we were trying to make her grandbabies.”
She turned in my arms. “Roman, are you—”
I cut her off. “Yes, Little Tiger. No more questions or doubts. We are getting married.”
I took her hand and went down the hall. “You can have this room. Make it into whatever you want. A reading place. A room where you can be alone. It has a great view.”
She walked to the window. “It is lovely.”
I went behind her, resting my chin on her shoulder. The vineyards looked endless from here. The dense trees on the two sides of the property offered privacy. The sun glinted off the water in the pool to the one side. “Peaceful,” I agreed.
“Can I plant some vegetables?”
“Yes. There is a garden Nonna likes to work in. You can add what you like.” I watched the trees sway in the light breeze. “This will be your home, Effie. You will be the mistress of this house. It is yours to do with what you like.” I paused. “This is Nonna’s home as well.”
“I would never disrespect her.”
“I know,” I replied. “And she will step aside on any decisions.”
“She won’t have to. We can work together.”
Something warm dripped into my chest. Her words were soft, her voice sweet. There was nothing but truth in her words. I spun her, kissing her. When we pulled apart, I rested my forehead to hers. “I can’t wait to marry you. To call you Effie Costas. My wife.”
Her smile made me feel ten feet tall.
Luca was reserved but polite when I introduced him to Effie. Justine was more exuberant, chatting to Effie like an old friend. We sat at my table in Maple II, away from prying eyes.
Aside from my brother’s, that is.
Effie had become decidedly more nervous as we approached the city, her grip on my hand tightening as the hotel came into view. I hadn’t offered her any words of comfort other than to keep my hand clasped with hers and squeeze her fingers. I had no idea how my brother would act, but if he was out of line, I would step in.
By the time the appetizers were done, he seemed warmer toward her. Cordial.
“How did Nonna react to the news?” he asked me quietly, watching his wife and my fiancée interact.
“She cried.”
He gaped at me. “Nonna never cries.”
“She did. She recovered quickly, but there were tears. Then she gave me shit about only having a short time to find a dress and make sure the house was”—I lifted my fingers in quotation marks—“‘in order’ for Effie. As if it wasn’t already pristine.”
“You made her happy, Roman.”
“She likes Effie.”
“I do too.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Such praise, brother. So quickly.”
He pursed his lips, dipping his chin. “You are different with her. Whether you see it or not, you are. She suits you.”
“Vi says the same thing.”
He chuckled. “Vi is a smart woman. I assume she will stand for Effie. Aldo for you?”
“I planned to ask you.”
He smiled. “I will escort Nonna and sit with her and my wife. Have Aldo by your side. He belongs there.”
“You do as well.”
“I am always beside you, Roman. I have your back as well. Let me sit with my wife and Nonna.”
“Are you worried about trouble?”
He smiled so the women didn’t wonder what we were discussing. “I always am. How many will be there?”
“Very few. Only some trusted allies. This is private, much like yours was. Effie has only a few close friends to invite. Most of the room will be my list. I plan to keep it small without upsetting anyone.”