She waves her hands over her body, head to toe.
I couldn’t disagree with her more. She’s a vision, an exquisite jade goddess on my arm tonight, and it was worth every penny to see her like this. She looks better than she did in her wedding dress, and that was pretty hot.
I kiss her cheek and put her hand on my arm, leading her to the door where Carlos stands there with his mouth hanging open.
“Not one more word. You look mesmerizing, Isabella. And I, for one, can’t wait to show you off.”
She snorts and raises her eyebrows at me like I was joking, but I’m not. I just smile back at her, waiting for her to say something smart. She just tilts her head back and then looks at Carlos, who is beaming at her and holding the door open for us.
“Dopo di te, Isabella” He bows at her, waving one hand to the open door.
She picks up one side of her dress and tips her head down in a tiny curtsey. “Perché grazie, gentile signore.”
She giggles as we make our way down the steps to the car. I like this fun side of her. I wish it was for me, but she and Carlos have been like brother and sister since she came into our lives.
He defends her like one as well.
I open the door and she slides in, going to the opposite side of the seats with her back to Carlos. She settles her skirt around her and I climb in and close the door. I can smell her perfume and I want to reach out, grab her by the waist and put her in mylap so I can bury my nose in her hair and hold her tight to my chest.
Carlos climbs into the driver’s side and we take off down the driveway, heading downtown.
She wipes at the top of her thighs and looks out the window as she whispers.
“Thank you for my dress.” She holds her hand over the necklace. “And the jewelry. It’s beautiful.” She drops her hand and holds them together on her lap.
“You’re very welcome. I’d like to say they are dull compared to how stunning you look, but I know you won’t believe me.”
Carlos glowers at me in the rearview mirror, shaking his head and pursing his lips. He mouths, be nice and I take my middle finger and rub my eye back and forth. He outright gives me the finger because Isabella can’t see him, and I shake my head and bite my lip to hide my smile.
Fucker!
I turn to look back at Isabella, a portion of her face partially obscured by the shadow of the dark interior of the car. The streetlights, which act like strobe lights, make her skin glow amber and her one diamond earring sparkles with every streetlamp we pass by.
She looks down at her fingers, and then she looks back up at the window and mumbles.
“I’m done believing in things.”
I raise my eyebrows and cut a look at her. She looks really sad for someone so beautiful.
“You stopped believing in what, exactly?” I nervously adjust my tie as I rub one hand on my thigh.
“Things.” She looks up at me with her sullen eyes, a weak smile playing on her lips.
I don’t understand why I’m trying so hard. I don’t even know what I’m trying to do exactly. Maybe just find a reason for her to like me. Every time I think I’ve taken a step forward with her, I take ten steps back with my mouth.
We drive in silence the rest of the way till we reach the hotel where the event is being held. It’s in the same hotel where we were married, and it brings back a few memories of our wedding day as we pull up to the crowd outside the doors.
Carlos parks the car under the canopy of the hotel’s entrance. He gets out, comes around, and opens my door.
I get out and reach my hand in for Isabella. She puts her icy hand in mine as she slides across the seat, lifting the side of her dress up as she places one foot on the ground, showing off her curvy calf with that jade green high heel on her foot and my dick jerks again.
The red velvet ropes line the entrance to keep everyone back. There’s a lot of press at these events.
Cameras flash. Isabella holds one hand to shield her eyes a little. The masses of reporters are yelling their questions at us.
“How does it feel to be Mrs. Russo?”
“How’s the honeymoon going?”
