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I pause, hesitate, rubbing my hand over my face. “I thought you didn’t know any Italian.”
“Obviously I lied. I know enough to know you just insulted me.”
My heart warms a little at the fact that she understands Italian. Although I’m also pissed she tricked me like that. And glad I didn’t slip up in front of her, saying something worse in Italian and thinking she wouldn’t understand.
“I called you a damn puppy. Grow up, I’m sure you’ve been called worse.”
“Oh, really? Like what? Come on, Chris, enlighten me on the type of things I’ve probably being called!”
“I don’t know. I’m pretty sure someone has called you fucking crazy before! You’re unhinged, woman,” I say in exasperation.
She goes quiet. “I’m just trying to talk to you, Christian. There aren’t a lot of options available to us, considering you’re out of the house at the crack of dawn and you only return when it’s late at night.”
Fuck. Now I feel bad. She seems to be the only one trying right now and I’d hate for her efforts to be singularly one-sided.
“I’m sorry,tesoro. I’m ready to talk. What do you need?”
“Where’s your mother?” she asks immediately.
I almost smile. “That’s a question that’s coming only one month too late.”
She shrugs. “I’ve always been curious but I didn’t want to ask in case you weren’t comfortable with answering.”
“There’s no secret. My mom’s in Venice. She left two months ago to recuperate.”
“She was sick?”
“No, grieving,” I correct. “The death of my dad hit her hard. Really hard.”
“Oh,” Daniella says. Her face shifts into that expression she makes when she has something to say.
“Spit it out, Evans,” I prod.
“Your parents loved each other?”
“Their love was disgustingly obvious. I can’t count the number of times I walked in on them swapping spit.” I grimace.
Daniella laughs softly, although there’s some sadness in her eyes. “My parents are co-habituating partners at best. I don’t know if either of them has ever been unfaithful, but their marriage is basically a partnership.”
Just like ours will be.She doesn’t say the words, but the silence at the end of her sentence pretty much insinuates it.
“Don’t worry. I guarantee our marriage won’t be a partnership. I’m the Don, I outrank you.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re so full of it.”
I chuckle. “My mother will be back soon, though. Enjoy your days without her while you still can. She has… a large presence.”
Daniella’s blue eyes twinkle. “She sounds intriguing. Now I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Whatever you say, Evans,” I tell her. “I’m glad you came in here.”
She gives me a look. “After you made such a fuss about me following you.”
“First off, you need to head over to a store and buy something tomorrow. A driver will take you,” I inform her. Reaching into my wallet, I pull out my credit card and hand it over to her.
“What am I buying?” she questions excitedly.
“Your engagement ring. Money is no object.”
