Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Amaranthe loved the feel of the breeze on her face. The sun was out and kept the temperature from being too cold as they moved together in silence along the sidewalk. There were several little squares with shops. The high-rises boasted well-known famous names, but Geno bypassed those and went straight to one of the smaller boutiques sandwiched between a jewelry store and a wine shop. Both buildings were quaint and small, but beautifully appointed.
Leonardo was already in Miranda’s Miracles, checking the store before they allowed Geno and Amaranthe to walk in. Amaranthe didn’t understand how an enemy would guess ahead of time where they would go. Why would a bodyguard have to check a store out before they went inside? She could understand them checking the street before they left the store, but it hardly made sense for him to go inside first.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to this, Geno,” she admitted, breaking the silence between them.
His hand tightened around hers. “You will.”
Geno felt and sounded sad. She moved closer to him. “Families have fights, Geno. They argue. But they get over it.”
He didn’t respond. Stefano had gutted him. Maybe Stefano didn’t realize what he’d done, but then Stefano was too intelligent not to know. He had to be hurting, too. She couldn’t imagine how they were going to repair the damage, but she knew it had to be fixed. She just wasn’t equipped to do it. She had no family and no knowledge of how they worked.
She looked up at Geno’s set mask as they entered the little boutique. He had withdrawn from her the moment she brought up families fighting. It occurred to her that she was new. Their relationship was new. Both were counting on the intimacy of their telepathic communication to allow them to have a fast and deep bond. Sadly, Geno had a telepathic connection with Stefano, and he’d counted on that to know they were always solid and close. She had been the one questioning their relationship, now she feared Geno would, and she couldn’t blame him.
Geno’s hand tightened around hers as the clerk hurried to greet them. “Geno, how lovely to see you.”
Geno nodded his head at the woman. She looked to be about fifty, but Amaranthe recognized her as a former model and knew she was much older than that by a good fifteen years. She had great skin and a genuine smile when her gaze rested on Amaranthe and their linked hands.
“My fiancée, Amaranthe. We need a warm coat for her.”
“I’m Miranda.” The owner of the boutique smiled at her. “At last. A woman courageous enough to take on Geno Ferraro. I’m so happy to meet you.”
“Amara, I need to make a couple of phone calls. I’m going to step outside. Miranda will take you around. Get anything you need or want. We can have everything other than the coat sent to the house.” He bent down to brush a kiss on top of her head. “And don’t give me any trouble about who is paying again. I don’t like those kinds of arguments.”
Miranda laughed as he walked out, Fiero and Dante moving fast, exiting first, with Bravo behind him. “He’s a force to be reckoned with. We’re cousins a couple of times removed. I’ve known him since he was a boy. Even then, once he made up his mind, no one could dissuade him.” The smile faded. “None of us understood when his parents abandoned the boys. They just opted out after Eugene’s accident. Margo and Eugene retreated so far from all of us, no one could reach them. It was sad to watch those boys go from fun-loving, happy children to very sober youngsters in a matter of months. Everything fell on Geno.”
Miranda glanced toward the door, her beautiful face showing genuine affection. “He stepped up immediately, taking responsibility for his younger brothers. He always takes responsibility for everyone. He’s a really good man, Amaranthe.”
“Yes, he is,” Amaranthe agreed, following Miranda to the rack of coats.
The boutique might be small, but every item had been chosen with care. They were unique, bought from artists Miranda had discovered in her travels and wanted to support. Amaranthe caught glimpses of hand-painted silk scarves and several flowing dresses that were gorgeous and far too long for someone as short as she was.
The boutique smelled subtly of fresh citrus and vanilla. There was a soothing quality to the aroma that appealed to Amaranthe and helped to allow her nerves to settle. She hadn’t realized she’d been coiled so tightly.
“Have you had any items go missing recently? Little things? I’ve heard from some of the other store owners there has been a spate of robberies lately. Small things, but valuable. You have such unique, beautiful treasures, I would think the thieves would want to target you, but you also have a state-of-the-art security system.”