Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
She made one filled with lemon custard and citrus when Bella and Barrett got married, and the chocolate cream and berry one she created for my cousin Rocco’s wedding was pure bliss.
Daniel is on his feet instantly, rounding the table to help me as I cough through a sip of water. “Gina, are you all right? Gina!”
I nod. “I’m okay.”
Daniel rests a hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure?”
My grandma runs her fingers through my hair. “You have to take smaller bites, sweetheart.”
I glance up and into her face. “I will.”
How the hell does she know that we got married in Las Vegas? Who else knows? Did someone from the chapel post an image of Daniel and me exchanging vows to social media?
I take another drink before I glance at Daniel. When our gazes meet, I only see calmness in his eyes.
“You want us to test the cake you’re baking for Dominick and Arietta’s wedding?” he asks my grandma. “I’d be honored to do that, Marti. Very honored.”
“Good.” She pats his cheek. “Sit down and take care of my granddaughter while I get you each a slice.”
As soon as she disappears into the kitchen, he kisses the top of my head. “Marti doesn’t know. No one knows. I made sure that no one would ever know.”
“How?” I question.
“I tipped very well at the chapel in exchange for their promise to keep our wedding under wraps,” he explains.
I smile faintly. “Exactly how much did you tip?”
“Enough that Angel and Destiny are planning the honeymoon to Maui that they couldn’t afford before last night.” He drags his chair next to mine before he takes a seat again. “No one will ever find out you married me, Gina.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“No problem, wife.” He flashes me a wicked grin. “You can’t blame me. Being Gina Calvetti’s husband is a pretty big deal, even if it is temporary.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Daniel
I walk into the offices of Modica Wealth Management and immediately marvel at how little has changed in my absence.
Years ago, I started this firm with Dominick and our mutual friend, Judd Corning. Back then, we were three guys in their twenties hoping to make a mark in the world of New York City finance. We’ve far surpassed that now. Collectively, we manage the portfolios of wealthy individuals from countless countries around the globe.
“Daniel?”
I glance to my left and spot a familiar face that has grown up since the last time I saw her. “Lia?”
Lia Calvetti is a cousin of my wife and her brother.
The last time I saw Lia, she was headed to Illinois to study at Northwestern University after graduating with honors from high school. That was six years ago.
She rushes toward me for a hug.
I take her in my arms. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Laughing, she steps back from our embrace. “What are you doing here? Are you here to see Dominick?”
“No,” I answer immediately. “Are you?”
She tugs on the lanyard around her neck. My gaze drops to the security badge hanging from it with a small picture of her front and center. “I’m his executive assistant.”
“You’re what?” Surprise seeps through my tone.
“It’s a temporary gig,” she explains. “Arietta dashed off to law school, and Dominick hasn’t put in the effort to vet the candidates who applied to be his assistant, so while he slowly does that, I’m filling in.”
I stand back and look her over. Even though she’s related to Bella and Gina, she sports a stylish mane of blonde hair. Her blue eyes are the same shade as Marti’s and many of the family, but her smile matches the one I’ve seen in pictures of Marti’s late husband.
“Are you back for good?” she questions.
“I’m temporary, too,” I joke. “I have a meeting in an hour with a potential new client. Is the main conference room clear?”
Her gaze drops to the tablet in her hands as her fingers skip over the screen. “All clear until late this afternoon. Do you want coffee and something sweet to eat brought in?”
“I can handle that.”
She shakes her head. “Allow me. I have the time, and besides, I could use a cheese croissant. Don’t tell Marti, though. She’ll have a word or two with me if she knows I’m indulging. She wanted me to stop by her brownstone on the way to work to sample a batch of muffins she baked.”
I smile. “You passed on that?”
Her hand falls to the collar of her light blue dress. “It wouldn’t just be a muffin. Grandma lures me in with that, and by the time I left, I would have eaten a five course breakfast.”
I glance down the corridor toward where Dominick’s office is. “Did he come in today? I know Arietta’s grandfather is being released from the hospital this morning.”
“He’ll be discharged at eleven,” she confirms. “Dominick said he’d be in tomorrow, but if you need me to get a message to him, I can do that.”