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“Nothing I would ever say about you would be negative. I happen to find you fascinating. So smart for a young woman. And put together like a classic feminine woman too.”
Any man would be lucky to call her his wife. Not that just any man will get to do that.
Chapter 2
Isabella
Setting the table, I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my lips. Not only am I working on the wedding of my dreams, but I’m also making a killing doing it. Plus, hanging out with Carlo was kind of spectacular.
The sound of dress shoes clicking against the tile floor prompts me to turn to see who is coming. “So, how was it today?” my stepbrother asks as he enters the dining room.
I try not to gush but fail miserably. “It was great! So much fun! And the mansion is gorgeous. I can’t believe you got me the job of my dreams.” He’s already taken a seat at the small table, so I lean over his shoulder to kiss his bearded cheek. “Thank you so much!”
Grabbing my arms, he pulls me down and then kisses my cheek. “You are very welcome. I love seeing you happy.”
John has always wanted me to be happy. He tried everything he could to make me laugh when I was a kid. I can’t imagine my life without him in it.
Going to the kitchen, I come back with the roast beef, complete with baby carrots and sliced potatoes. “I made a roast after I got home today.”
We’d made a habit of eating dinner together. When our parents were alive, it was a mandatory thing Mom made us do. After their deaths, John and I kept it up. It felt like a little bit of normalcy in a world that had been turned upside down.
“It smells and looks delicious. Tomorrow, I’ll bring something home so you won’t have to cook.” John fills his plate. He’s always been a voracious eater. “Did you get to meet Carlo?”
I nod, trying not to let my attraction for his best friend show on my face. “Yes. He’s all man, isn’t he?”
With a half grin, he nods. “I suppose he is. The man has his hands in all sorts of business dealings. He was born into money, but he’s made his own money too. He’s confident in every way imaginable. I guess you ladies would see him as all man.”
“I know I shouldn’t even think of him like that. He’s not only about to get married, but he’s my boss or client or whatever you call the person who pays you for work you do.”
He nods before stabbing a forkful of roast and shoving it into his mouth. Picking up the glass of red wine I brought home from Carlo’s cellar, he takes a large gulp to wash down the food. “Oh yeah, this is some of the good stuff. He let you bring some wine home, then?”
I find it odd that he can immediately tell the wine is from Carlo’s collection. “How’d you know?”
“He and I have been best friends forever. I know my best friend’s wine when I taste it. How much did he give you?”
“A case of red and a case of white, and then another case of burgundy because I mentioned that I enjoy a glass of that every now and then. He’s very generous.” As I sip the wine, I can’t stop smiling as I think about how well Carlo’s suit fit him. “He works out a lot, huh?”
“You lookin’ at that man’s body?” Winking at me, he nods. “Yeah, he works out like a demon.” Patting his round stomach, he laughs. “That is something I do as little of as I can. But Carlo loves the gym. He’s got one at his place. When you get right down to it, he’s got everything at his place. I wonder why he ever goes anywhere with all he’s got right under his very large roof.”
“Did you know that he doesn’t have a plan for their honeymoon?” I still can’t wrap my head around that fact. “And what about his fiancée? Who is she? Where’s she from? And is she someone who deserves a man like him?”
His dark brows raise as he smirks at me. “You sound a little jealous, Bella.”
“I’m just asking about the woman I’m designing a wedding for,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “Like, why doesn’t she want anything to do with planning her wedding? What kind of woman cares nothing about her own wedding? I have to wonder if I’ll even like her.”
“Not that you need to.” He shakes his head and then stabs more meat with his fork. “Where do you think a good honeymoon destination would be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. It all depends on what the couple has in common. What they like. What they hate. It should be all about them—not that Carlo wants anything to be about them. It’s weird, to be honest.”
“Just do what he says, and things will go fine.” After gulping the remainder of the wine from his glass, he grabs the bottle to refill it.
Nibbling on a carrot, I can’t stop thinking about the bride and if she’s really the right woman for a man like Carlo Vietti. “I know he’s way older than I am, but he’s super attractive. And I’m not normally attracted to men that age.”
“You mean men my age.” Looking at me over the rim of the wineglass, he eyes me.
“Well, yeah. But Carlo’s different from you. Like way different.”
“Anyway . . .” It’s obvious that he doesn’t want to talk about his friend.And I shouldn’t either. But here I am, wanting to talk about him.
