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)
“What do you think about?”
I pondered her question and decided to be honest. “Sometimes I would think about walking away. Concentrating on the wine and estate. Letting Luca have it all. Or I would be planning the future in my head. Other times, I wouldn’t think at all. The dark and the quiet gave me a place to not think.” I tightened my arms. “Those were the good nights.”
She traced a pattern on my hands. “Would you?”
“Would I what?”
“Walk away?”
“I don’t know.”
She didn’t comment. There were no platitudes about doing better or finding a different path. She simply hummed. “You’ll figure it out.”
We sat quietly, our legs in the water, the silence surrounding us. I felt her tension drain away, and I lowered my head to her ear. “Ready to come back to bed?”
“Yes.”
I stood and helped her up, scooping her into my arms.
“I can walk.”
“But you don’t have to.”
In our room, I pushed her robe off her shoulders and held up the comforter. “In.”
I dropped my robe to the floor and slid in next to her. “Stay this time,” I ordered. “If you need me, I’m right here.”
“I like that.”
Her words made me smile. “Me too.”
CHAPTER 25
ROMAN
Over the next couple of weeks, I found being a husband extremely easy. Or perhaps it was who I married that made it easy. Effie was a constant delight, surprising me at every turn. I found myself thinking of her all the time. Planning ways to make her smile. I texted her during the hours I was gone. Called to check in. Sent flowers. I took her and Nonna out to dinner. I brought her here to the casino to stay a couple of nights when I was taking the overnight shift. I snuck upstairs to fuck her, leaving the room regretfully, shocked at how much I wanted to stay with her.
She loved to cook and bake, and Nonna enjoyed having her company. The two of them became close quickly, and Nonna smiled all the time. They gardened and strolled the vineyards. Had lunch with Vi. Went shopping one day, well guarded and protected, but I worried the entire time. Effie bought a few things but nothing big. I had given her a credit card with her new name and opened a bank account, depositing a large chunk of cash in it. When I checked the balance, wondering if I needed to replenish it, I was amused at her purchases. Some candy, a sock shop where it appeared she’d invested in half a dozen fuzzy pairs of socks, and a menswear place. When I arrived home that night, she waited in our room, wearing nothing but the silk tie she had picked out for me. She let me bind her to the bed, and she blushed the next day when I wore the tie, declaring it my favorite. Effie was an enthusiastic lover, wanting to learn, eager to please. I loved watching her discover her sexuality, and the caveman in me liked knowing I was the only man to ever know her. That I would be the only one to ever have the pleasure of her body.
Aldo cleared his throat, bringing me out of my musings. “Sorry,” I muttered.
“Should I ask what has you staring out the window? Or whom?” he asked with a smirk.
I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it with him. With anyone. I hadn’t expected to feel this way about Effie. I hadn’t expected to feel anything aside from the lust that raged through me whenever she was close. But I couldn’t get her out of my mind. My day wasn’t complete until she was close. There was no denying I missed her when I was away from her.
I was beginning to think I was obsessed with my little tiger.
“I think you are.”
I shut my eyes. I had spoken out loud again. It kept happening when I was thinking of Effie.
“It’s all right, Roman. I’m obsessed with Vi. Luca is with Justine. That’s what happens when you’re in love.”
I was about to deny his words, but I stopped. On some level, I admitted I had feelings for Effie. More than I expected. What exactly they were, I wasn’t ready to discuss, so I remained silent.
He grinned, glancing at the file open on his lap. “This is very detailed.”
I flipped open a copy of what he was looking at. “It would have to be if we hand over the reins. Have you talked to Vi?”
He nodded. “She is torn. She loves the city, but she has grown inordinately fond of Effie. She hates the thought of not seeing her every few days.”
I waved my hand. “We’ll arrange a car anytime she wants.” I paused. “Or I was thinking of getting a chopper. Fast trip between the estate and downtown.”