Page 93 of Roman

CHAPTER 21

ROMAN

Two hours later, I entered the suite, not surprised to find Effie waiting for me. She was always punctual. I stopped, smiling at her.

She wore a pink dress. Lacy, frilly, diaphanous. Girly and feminine, it suited her, the hem falling below her knees, the short sleeves covering the last of the bruising. She had her hair loose, a long dark swath of silk over her shoulders. Her makeup was light—just enough to hide the faded marks but show off her luminous eyes.

I lifted her hand to my mouth, kissing the ring that resided there now. “Beautiful,” I murmured. “Thank you.”

She blushed, running a hand down the skirt in what I had come to recognize as a nervous gesture with her.

“All will be well.”

She nodded, and I crooked my arm. “Let’s go see Nonna.”

She let me lead her to the elevator. In the car, she was quiet, and I racked my brain for something to distract her.

“I saw Margi and Anne earlier.”

Effie frowned. “Where?”

“At the hotel. They were applying for jobs. I made sure they both got one. Bill, too. Your weekend staff were hired as servers at the deli restaurant by the casino entrance. That worked best with their schedules. Margi and Anne will be working in the main dining room. Bill is in the kitchen. So your staff are all employed.”

She looked surprised.

“What?”

“You think of everything.”

I shrugged, then pulled out a set of papers from my inside pocket. “I need you to sign these.”

She took them, peering at the pages. I chuckled.

“It’s a marriage license, Effie. Nothing else. Make sure I have all the information correct.”

She scanned them, glancing up but not saying anything. She took the pen I offered her and signed her name. “I’m not even going to ask how you got all my information.”

I took the papers back and returned them to my pocket. “Best not to.”

“Am I allowed to know when the nuptials will be held?” she asked, lifting her eyebrow in a silent challenge.

“A week Friday.”

She looked shocked. “But a license takes three weeks.”

“Not when you’re me. I’ll have it this week. We’re only waiting until next week so my event coordinator didn’t quit on the spot when I informed her I wanted the Cascade room and to move whoever was in it.”

Judith’s face had been amusing.

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Costas?”

“Cancel whoever is in the room and move them.”

“To where?”

I waved my hand. “Another hotel. I’ll cover all the costs. I want the room for something else.”

“What, may I ask?”