Page 36 of Mafia’s Dirty Secret

“Thank you, Matteo,” she said softly, but loud enough that he could hear her.

“It was my pleasure, Marie.” He took her hand, kissed the back of it, and then frowned. “You don’t have any jewelry?”

“No. Costs too much, even for the cheap stuff.” She looked down at her hand. “Besides, your hand on mine is decoration enough.”

“Maybe so,” he said and kissed her hand again. He let go to change gears and then pulled off an exit.

He drove easily through the streets, as if he’d grown up in the area, and came to a stop at a restaurant overlooking Lake Pontchartrain.

They walked in together, her arm laced through his, into one of the fanciest restaurants she’d ever seen. The smell of seafood, herbs, and spices filled the air and made her stomach rumble. She hadn’t eaten all day, she realized and laughed softly at herself.

They were seated, brought a bottle of wine, and menus. Marie looked at the menu, saw there were no prices, and knew what that meant. She frowned, but Matteo had brought her here, so she wouldn’t say anything.

They ordered starters and their mains, and then they were left alone. He took her hand and Marie looked at him. There was a band playing soft jazz in a corner, where they could dance, but Marie had never learned to dance.

“I’d ask you to dance, but I have a feeling you don’t know how?” he whispered to her as he leaned over the table.

She leaned back a resigned look on her face. “I don’t, no. But I could try?”

“That’s my girl, always brave.” He smiled happily and they went together to the dance floor. He swayed with her softly and told her how to move her feet as they moved around the dance floor. Nothing too in-depth, just a nice, safe dance that became much more enjoyable when she relaxed. She put her head on his chest as the song ended and sighed with happiness.

“You’re too good to me, do you know that?” She looked up at him, still a head taller than her, even in the heels. His eyes grinned down at her, just as happy as she was.

He didn’t get to say what he wanted to say because his phone rang. He led her back to the table as he spoke into the phone.

“I don’t care what Jeffrey wants, we do things my way down here, you get me?” His voice changed, became rougher, a little more menacing. He spoke quietly, so nobody would overhear him, except her perhaps. Marie pretended to gaze out at the lake beyond the wall of glass beside them, but she heard the exchange.

“No, Tommy. You do as I say. Move the shipment, get back to the docks, and stay out of trouble, you hear me?” Matteo waited and must have gotten the answer he wanted. He put the phone away, and then looked at her with an apology on his face. “Sorry, Marie. Business. That should be the last interruption, I hope.”

“It’s alright. Regina could call me at any time. We both have lives. Don’t worry about it.”

She didn’t run, she didn’t wonder what the shipment was that this Tommy was supposed to be moving. She just wondered what kind of excitement she was in for, the deeper she got into this relationship with Matteo.

20

The date night ended earlier than they expected. They’d had dinner, danced a few more times, and walked through the city for a little while. The shoes began to hurt her feet, so they went back to the car and started on their way home.

“It was a lovely night, Matteo. Thank you.” She turned towards him and put her hand on his thigh.

She felt him tense beneath her fingers, but he didn’t jerk away, so she left it there. His thigh was like a rock, and she flattened her hand out on it to learn the curves of his leg.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. You should have nights like that every night.” He put his hand down, over hers, and left it there until he had to move it to change gears again. His hand brushed hers up a little higher, and she was the one that tensed.

He’d never let her touch him there, even though she wanted to. He always brushed her hands away or distracted her by moving away. She wondered if he took care of himself a lot because he never got off in front of her. He’d done it over the phone, yes, but not with her there.

“Matteo, can I ask you something?” She waited quietly, her breath held. Was she brave enough to ask?

“Of course, Marie, what is it?” His brows were lowered when he glanced at her, concerned.

“Well, you never… you know. When we’re together. You never let me touch you. You never… get off.” She felt like an idiot, but she got it out anyway.

“Of all the things I thought you’d ask, that wasn’t it.” He chuckled and then took a deep breath. “You’re a virgin, Marie. I want you to enjoy what comes before the act of sex for as long as you can before you take that next step.”

He stunned her with that. Not because he knew she was a virgin, it was obvious that she was with the things she’d said, but that he wanted her to wait.

“It’s not like I was saving myself or anything, Matteo. I just, well, I never had the opportunity to lose it. I’m not sentimental or anything like that, or religious and waiting for a husband. I’ve just never had a boyfriend.”

“Until now,” he said and made his claim on her real. He took her hand, kissed her knuckles, and looked at her like she was the only woman on earth that could make him whole. It took her breath away, but he often did that.