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His dark eyes flick to mine.
“With her business,” I quickly add, hoping I didn’t just make her sound like a two-dollar hooker. “It’s some highfalutin shindig, you know what they’re like.”
“Could be good for her,” Marco says. “She just landed a new boutique account after the casino, so my sources say.”
Angelo considers this for a moment. What he does for her, he does out of love, I know that. But they have to let the reins go a bit. She’s like a wild cat wanting to break out, but maybe that’s what they’re afraid of. “She’s impressed me so far with the casino, but that’s far from over. We’ve still got a long way to go,” he says.
“You know I think she’s feeling a bit of pressure,” I say as tactfully as I can.
They both look at me.
I shrug. “You might want to tell her she’s at least doing a good job. Women are different creatures. I think it’d do her confidence wonders.”
Marco laughs and shakes his head. “Son of all wisdom, are we, Enzo?”
“It can’t be easy for her sometimes. She really wants to make it on her own, and she’s afraid of fucking up,” I say, trying to not make it obvious that she’s just discussed this with me, but sometimes they can be assholes for no good reason.
“You know, Enzo is probably right,” Angelo says, completely taking me off guard. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him start a sentence with that before. “She’s been particularly moody lately. Maybe a bit of praise might boost her spirits and get us over the finish line. She looks stressed, as much as she says she isn’t.”
“Exactly. Maybe the wedding might be good for her, to actually take a weekend off and get out of town,” I agree.
“As long as you keep that fuckface Toby away from her,” Marco tells me firmly. “I’m good with that. My sister may never learn that she’s better than anything he had to offer.”
“I think we can all agree on that,” I reply.
“I can’t think of anyone I’d trust her with more,” Angelo agrees, his eyes on me. “Make sure she has a good time, but keep her out of trouble.”
I nod and swallow down the memory of checking her out earlier, feeling uneasy. That isn’t what Angelo would want, not from me.
I’ve managed to keep my hands off her for this long; I can do it for one fucking weekend.
4
VALENTINA
Enzo picksme up Friday afternoon at my office, driving his favorite car.
I shake my head as the passenger window rolls down. “You brought the Alfa Romeo?”
He grins, his sunglasses tilted down his nose. “Why not? You are trying to impress a bunch of shallow friends, right? I’m sure this will help in your quest.”
It annoys me that he thinks I’m so shallow.
“Very funny.”
He looks hot. Relaxed. Sexy as fuck with his short-sleeved dress shirt open at the nape.
I swallow hard, my mouth going dry as I take in his scent when he exits the car to haul my bags in the trunk, ever the gentleman. He smells so goddamn good.
“You know you’re not supposed to outdo the groom, right?” I say playfully.
In order to get him on my side about fake dating me, I have to pull out all the stops… starting with flattery.
He shakes his head at my luggage. “Remember when I told you to pack light?” He gestures to the tiny trunk that wouldn't even hold my purse, let alone my two suitcases. “This is why.”
“I can’t condense. I need all that stuff! You should’ve brought a bigger car.”
“Valentina,” he scolds. “Two suitcases, a carry all, and a purse bigger than Australia, isn’t packing light. I can’t fit both in. What do you have in there anyway?”
