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“Is that okay?” Maria asks as I tug at the T-shirt.
“Yeah, it’s fine. Just a little baggy.”
We walk down a wide marble hallway, with paintings of nature and animals and life watching us from the walls. Maria’s heels click on the floor, in the spaces between the rugs, as she struts. Click-click-click, echoing all around us.
“He sent some of his men down to the store, I’d wager. Once we’ve got your measurements I’ll have my stylist make something truly lovely for you. A whole new wardrobe.”
I smooth my hands over my belly, an instinct I can’t fight. “Measurements? Um, I’m okay.”
“Don’t be silly, dear. You have a lovely figure.”
She wraps her arm around me and gives me a squeeze, with more affection in the gesture than I’ve ever received, that I ever believed an older woman would show me. I’ve never had an older sister, a mom, an aunt, a mentor. It’s always been just me, the ignored loser in high school, the girl who didn’t quite fit…
And now I’m crying, tears choking me.
“Oh, sweet girl,” Maria says, hugging me to her chest. “What did I say? I’m sorry.”
“No,” I hiccup, praying I’m not humiliating myself. “I’m sorry. I’m tired. It’s just I’ve never been complimented before, and now you and Luca have both done it… It’s a lot to take in.”
“Let’s go and have some breakfast,” she says, stroking a tear from my cheek. “We’ll sit on the balcony and I’ll introduce you to Toto.”
Toto perches in Maria’s lap, curled into a tight fluffy orange ball. He’s a Chihuahua crossed with a poodle, and he has the most orange hair on any dog I’ve ever seen.
“Quite a little specimen, isn’t he?” Maria says, smiling fondly down at him as he yawns and stretches in his sleep. “He’ll be three this year, and I’m already grieving at the thought of him growing old. That’s why I never needed children of my own. I’ve got my son right here.”
I smile as I take a sip of orange juice, looking out over Luca’s estate. We’re on the rear balcony – there are five balconies apparently – which looks over his acres of land. There’s a luscious green lawn and then a park at the back, and a pond behind that, and a tennis court and three golf holes. Finally, beyond all of that, I can vaguely make out the wall of his perimeter.
“The only thing you’re missing is a helipad,” I murmur, awe lacing my voice.
“We have one,” Maria says with a smirk that’s all Luca.
“Of course you do,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief. “This is crazy.”
“Not as crazy as this sudden romance. I’ve never heard Luca do anything like this before. He called me sounding like when he was a boy, overexcited about something. He couldn’t even get all his words out as he explained it to me.”
“Really?” I say, my cheeks glowing at the thought of making Luca behave like that.
“Really,” she says firmly. “And then he explained. He was choosing you. How you’re going to have children together. I had to come and meet you… if only to make sure you felt the same.”
I clasp my hands in my lap. “I know I shouldn’t feel the same.”
“What do you mean by that?”
I sigh. “Because the chances of this being true – of this not being a trick – are so low. Look at him and look at me. I’ll be even more upset once I’ve gotten my hopes up.”
“Oh, dear girl,” Maria says. “Is that how you think, imagining that everything and everybody is out to hurt you?”
“Yes,” I say, with a humorless laugh. “It’s what the world’s taught me, I guess.”
“Luca is not tricking you. I am not tricking you. This is how Luca feels. I’ve never seen him so...intense, even when it comes to his work. I need to know if you feel the same.”
“Yes,” I cry, unable to reign in my words. “I feel everything he’s described to me. I want a family. I want children. I know it makes no sense. I know it probably makes me mad, then fine… I’m mad. I’m crazy because the man of my dreams – an older man who can protect and take care of me – has chosen me, and I believe him.”
Emotion threatens to crack my voice again, but I contain it.
“This is amazing,” Maria says. “Love at first sight. I thought it was a myth.”
I swallow, my throat burning with emotion.
I need to get ahold of myself.
Or am I allowed to cry if I feel like it will help?
“Me too,” I say. “I don’t know anything about him. All I know is he’s the leader of the Lioni Family, but that’s it.”
Maria spreads her hands. “What do you want to know? I’ve known him all his life. Ask away.”
