Page 53 of Mafia Darling

* * *

Over the next three days I dragged my tired ass to the vineyards to help with the harvest. It was nice to be outside, working in the dirt again. Emilia hadn’t returned—she was doing something for Fausto at work—but I did convince Giulio to come with me once. He spent most of the time bitching about how the dirt and grapes would ruin his new custom sneakers.

I didn’t mind the time alone. I had a very big decision hanging over my head, but the choice had basically been made the moment I decided to keep the baby.

Still, I couldn’t put the ring on.

Fausto didn’t push it. Nor did he try to have sex with me again. In fact, I was back in his bed, except he was never there. The only time I saw him was at dinner with Zia and Giulio. I hated to admit it, but I missed him. Yes, I’d asked for space but I hadn’t expected him to really give it to me. Fausto liked getting his own way and he also liked to push my buttons. I wasn’t used to this patient side of him.

You do belong to me. And if you agree to this then I belong to you, as well.

When I told Giulio about Fausto’s proposal, I cried—and they weren’t happy tears. Giulio’s face had softened, his eyes understanding and kind. “I get this,” he’d said, hugging me hard. “You’ve been through a lot. My father, he loves you. Marriage is inevitable, but sometimes the inevitable is a hard pill to swallow.”

Exactly. God knew that Giulio understood my dilemma. If anyone could relate to having one’s choices stripped away, it was him.

There were no answers, so I avoided the castello and stayed outside as much as possible. I clipped clusters of grapes, inhaled the salty Calabrian air, and pretended everything was okay.

The women around me began to whisper, tittering like schoolgirls, and I glanced up. Fausto was coming up the row, looking every inch the wealthy Italian businessman in a three-piece suit as he headed straight for me. My stomach fluttered. What did he want? Was he going to press me for an answer?

I’m not ready.

He nodded to the women, offering greetings and charming smiles, and thanking them for their hard work. I watched unabashedly, admiring the view. I figured I’d more than earned the right by putting up with his controlling ass.

When he reached me, he frowned. “Where is your hat?”

Really? I turned my attention back to the vines. “Hello, Fausto. Nice to see you, too.”

Sighing, he took the small clippers from my hand. “Come with me.”

“Is there a please in there somewhere?”

“Please,” Fausto said, surprising me.

We gave my basket and shears to Vincenzo, then Fausto’s hand wrapped around mine. The villagers stared as we passed, but the estate workers ignored us. I guess they were used to seeing Fausto drag me around.

When we reached the path to the castello, I yanked my hand out of his grip. That was enough touching for one day. My heart was already racing, his nearness conjuring wicked thoughts—like how much I wanted to pull him into the stables and peel that suit off his body.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “Why did you come and get me?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

My chest squeezed, excitement and nerves at war inside me. Instead of asking about the surprise, I blurted the question that had been on my mind. “Where have you been sleeping?”

He stopped abruptly and stared down at me, his brows raised. “You asked for time. I am giving you time.”

“I didn’t mean to kick you out of your room.”

A familiar twist of his lips sent a bolt of heat through my veins. “I see,” he said, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. “You have been missing me.”

“Only when I get cold.”

“Liar.”

I turned and started for the castello, my boots kicking up dust as I walked. He caught up easily. “Put on the ring and I’ll come back to our bed.”

Our bed. I shouldn’t like the sound of that, but it made me feel all squishy inside. “We’ll see. I’m still thinking about it,” I lied.

He didn’t say anything more. As we came up the small hill that led to the house, I noticed two figures sitting in chairs on the patio. They stood up as Fausto and I approached. Two girls, both in t-shirts and jean shorts. They were the same height and looked almost identical.

---