Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“That isn’t a small surprise. It’s huge!” she said. She reached for my hand and squeezed, her eyes emotional. “For being such a bad deal, you’re doing lots of thoughtful things. It’s misleading.”
I cleared my throat. “It’s nothing.”
She shook her head and released me, then moved down the ramp to take a closer look at the pool. “I wish I could take a dip right away.”
“It’s still two hours before our families arrive. Plenty of time.”
“Not if I have to shower, then style my hair afterward and put on fresh makeup.”
I made a clueless face. Emma giggled and allowed her eyes to take in the rest of the garden: an immaculate lawn, a few perfectly round bushes, a paved path, and a few flower beds with white flowers.
“I can’t wait to have a garden being lived in, played in. This looks like an exhibition garden.”
For a moment, longing reflected on Emma’s face, but then she turned to me with a smile. “Can you show me the rest? Even the kitchen?”
I nodded and led her back inside. We ended our tour in the kitchen, where Azzurra was busy cooking up a feast for lunch. I took a deep breath, taking in the delicious scents. Emma did the same and let out a sigh. “That smells delicious. What is it?”
Azzurra pointed at the pots. “As primi, tortelli al ragú will be served.” Emma wheeled closer to the stove.
“What’s the filling?”
On the counter, freshly made tortellini were lined up. “Ricotta and spinach.”
“Could I try the meat sauce?”
“Of course!” Azzurra dipped a spoon into the sauce and handed it to Emma, who pushed it into her mouth and licked it clean, sending images of a very different nature through my head. She moaned, and the images became even more explicit.
“This is delicious!”
Azzurra beamed and opened the oven. “Secondi will be cinghiale alla cacciatore.”
“My father loves wild boar stew,” I said.
“I do too,” Emma said delightedly.
“What about you, Mr. Mione?”
“Samuel,” I corrected as I’d done a few times before. “I love it too but not with the same childhood fervor as my father.”
Emma wheeled past Azzurra toward a chocolate cake. “Torta al cioccolato!”
Her excited expression made me laugh. “I assume you like chocolate?”
“I love chocolate. In any shape and form.”
I made a mental note to add chocolate truffles to the list of gifts Emma would receive—not just for special days but also when I messed up.
The lunch with our families was relaxed. Even Danilo and Samuel managed civilized conversation throughout the entire meal. Of course, Danilo kept throwing me searching looks. The moment we were alone, he would definitely inquire whether Samuel was treating me right.
I hadn’t eaten as much of the first two courses as I could have because I wanted to leave some room for the dessert.
When Azzurra served the cake, I could barely restrain myself. Luckily, she had more manners than me and served our guests first. Samuel sent me a knowing look, and I flushed.
The cake was as delicious as I’d expected. Azzurra had sprinkled pine nuts on top, and if I wasn’t mistaken, she’d even added some ground pine nut to the dough. I closed my eyes to really savor the richness of the chocolate. When I opened my eyes, Samuel watched me with an intense look that made me blush hard.
After lunch, Ines, Sofia, and I moved out to the porch. I turned on the gas fireplace. We looked out over the lake and allowed the silence to settle around us for a few minutes. The men had retreated to Samuel’s office, a big room with a desk, cozy leather couches, and a fireplace, to discuss business and probably have a drink.
Azzurra came out. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Could you ask my husband to make me a hanky-panky? I’m sure Samuel has everything it needs in his office.”
My eyebrows shot up. I had a very different image in mind when I thought about hanky-panky.
Azzurra nodded, then glanced at us.
“Amaretto sour for me. Samuel can make it,” Sofia said without missing a beat despite Ines’s curious look.
I had drunk two glasses of wine for lunch, so I definitely couldn’t have anything else. However, I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t order anything. “Uhh…what would you recommend?”
Azzurra looked like a deer in the headlights. “Espresso martini?”
I nodded, even if I’d never had one before, and it sounded like a combination for sleepless nights.
Azzurra disappeared.
Ines sighed. “You’re both under twenty-one. I’m pretty sure I should stop you from drinking.”
Sofia huffed. “We can be married off to men ten years our senior who kill for fun and work, and we can bear their babies. I think it’s fine, Mom.” She hadn’t said it meanly, but I didn’t miss the bitter note in her tone.
What was Danilo doing? Sofia was such a sweet and kind girl. They had seemed to get along better yesterday and today.