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"I'm just as turned on as you are,tesoro."
There's only one thing I can do when I hear that—-
Don't fall for his trap!
My gaze immediately swerves down, and is it just my imagination...or has his package gotten evenbiggerin the past five minutes?
"Ahem."
I quickly whirl around as soon as I hearLa Strega'svoice, and I see her witchy gaze narrow when her grandson also turns to face her...while casually placing a hand on the small of my back like he's already claiming me as his property.
I try to pull away and fail, with Cesare this time refusing to let go.
"How disappointing." The older woman's tone is dry. "I thought you'd have charmed her by now."
"You must have me confused with Massimo,Nonna," Cesare returns mockingly. "I've always gotten what I wanted...while being the opposite of charming."
"Hmph."
La Stregawalks past us, and Cesare firmly keeps me by his side as we follow behind her.
"Please let go of me," I mutter under my breath.
Cesare bends his head, and I don't even have a chance to gasp as he takes a punishing bite of my ear before whispering—-
"Never."
I trip over my own feet after that, and of course this gives Cesare another opportunity to play the gallant knight as he easily yanks me back and saves me from my clumsiness.
Grrr.
Cesare only lets go of me when we finally reach what I can only assume is the Blue Room at the end of the hallway, and beingfamigliamust pay really,reallywell because the room apparently borrows its name from theblueporcelain dinnerware sparkling from a Rococo-style dining table that can comfortably seat a dozen guests.
Agnes from earlier starts handing out menu cards when we're all seated, and I guess that makes it official: it really pays to befamiglia,andooooooh...
My stomach rumbles as soon as the mouthwatering smell of our first course hits my nostrils. It's the creamiest soup with the freshest slices of mushroom, and I feel like crying when I finally have a taste. It's really, really,reallygood...and the last time I had anything as good as this was back when my parents were still alive.
Just focus on the food, Penny!
I grab the menu card to distract myself, and it certainly does the job.
Wow.
I have to read the menu card twice just to make sure I'm not imagining anything. Everything listed here isplant-based,and I guess that means the Marchettis don't see anything wrong with harming fellow human beings...but are choosing to draw the line on consuming animals?
"Is anything wrong,tesoro?"
I realize both Cesare and his grandmother have heard me choke back a laugh, and I quickly shake my head. "Just, um, something stuck in my throat." My life right now may be in shambles, but I'm still far from suicidal, sothanks, but no thanks,I have absolutely no plans on sharing my thoughts about their dietary choices.
Theirfamiglia,their rules.
Agnes and two other maids come back to take away our soup bowls, and the other starters that follow include three-cheese cigar rolls (non-dairy, of course) and edamame tartelettes. The real star of the night is, of course, the main entrée, and it's only when I'm halfway done with my cauliflower truffle risotto that I hearCesarebite my name out while talking to his grandmother in Italian.
"Are you guys talking about me?" I ask suspiciously.
"Sì," the two Marchettis confirm at the same time, and without any hesitation at all.
Err...ouch?
