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I nodded. I could do this one thing for her. Hell, it wasn’t much.
“Really?”
Her eyes sparkled, and she gave me the biggest smile I’d seen yet.
“Are you sure?” she asked Lambertini.
He nodded.
“Thank you so much. Thank you!”
“We have to go,” I said, heading to the truck.
She stopped me, coming right up to me. “Thank you.”
Flustered, I looked at her for a minute, then nodded, feeling uncomfortable. Awkward, even. It was just a dog. No big deal.
“Just keep the thing under control,” I said, stepping around her to open the passenger door.
“I will.”
She climbed in, her attention fully on the puppy. She waved good-bye as we drove out.
“Lina and I had a brand-new puppy when our parents died. They’d just given him to us three weeks before they’d left. Grandfather wouldn’t let us bring him with us to the new house. It broke Lina’s heart to say good-bye. Mine too.”
I kept my eyes on the road. We all had fucking sob stories.
“Yeah, well, what can I say? Your grandfather’s a jerk.”
She reached out to touch my shoulder, startling me. I looked at her.
“Thank you, really.”
“Don’t be so grateful yet. Nothing comes for nothing. I’ll think of some way for you to repay me later.”
Chapter Seven
Sofia
When I’d woken up this morning with a headache and bad memories of what I may have said last night, I hadn’t expected to be smiling from ear-to-ear later that same day. But here I was, carrying my brand-new puppy into the house. I decided to name him Charlie.
Raphael surprised me. Even if he did end on that cryptic “I’ll think of some way for you to repay me later.” The memory of it made me shiver.
Last night, the whiskey had hit me hard. For one thing, I was an inexperienced drinker, to say the least, and for another, I was jet lagged and exhausted. I remembered almost everything but hoped I’d dreamed parts of it, especially the last part when I’d told him he smelled good, and worky—what kind of word was worky—oh, and like a man. God. How embarrassing. And if that wasn’t enough, I also clearly remembered telling him I was a virgin.
Raphael had said he had work to do and left me at the house to wait for the seamstress.
Maria gave Charlie a little pat on the head, but from the way she jumped when his wet nose touched her hand, I knew she wasn’t used to animals. She gave me a bowl for water, and I set it in the corner for Charlie to drink. The two women who worked for her, Tessa and Nicola, couldn’t get enough of him.
I looked at them while Maria pointed them to some food to give him. They were pretty. Probably around my age, maybe a year or two older. These were the same women who’d tripped over themselves for my soon-to-be husband. I didn’t want to like them, but I had to admit, they were nice to me and fell instantly in love with Charlie, like I had. They were nicer than Maria was, at least. The older woman seemed to stand back and watch. I knew her bond with Raphael was probably like that of a mother. Did she see me as a threat? Did she know anything about our situation?
When the doorbell rang right at noon, I asked if Charlie could stay in the kitchen while I had my fitting, which Maria allowed. I opened the door, and an older woman with white hair stood just outside.
“Hello.”
The seamstress introduced herself in broken English and came inside.
“I’m not sure where the dress is—”
“I was told it would be in your room.”
“Oh.” She knew more than I did. “I guess we should head up. Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you.”
“Okay. This way, then.” She followed me up the stairs, and I admit, my curiosity grew. When we got to my room, I saw the long white garment bag hanging from the closet door. “I haven’t seen it,” I said while she set her things down.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, moving confidently toward the bag and unzipping it. “Raphael’s mother, Renata, wore it.”
His mother had worn the wedding dress he wanted me to wear?
“Terrible how she died,” she continued.
I only nodded and watched her lift the long lace gown out of the bag. She looked it over and smiled approvingly.
“Perfect condition. It was in Renata’s family. Worn by at least four women.”
I touched the delicate, intricate lace, wondering at its age. Wondering why in hell he’d want me to wear this.
“It’s beautiful.” The dress had long sleeves and a deep V-neck with a fitted waist that dropped straight to the floor with a slight train at the back. It looked to be close to my size.
The seamstress looked me over. “It should fit you. Come.”
I undressed, and she helped me step into the gown, then buttoned what seemed to be an endless number of pearl buttons that went from my low back up to my shoulders. Only then did she permit me to look at myself in the mirror.
