Page 60 of The Proposal

“Lucia Gabriella Rossi! What on earth are you reading?” I ask as I use my free hand to do the sign of the cross. “Is this porn?”

“No, it’s a romance novel … there’s a distinct difference.”

“She’s lapping at his …” I feel my cheeks heat, unable to finish that sentence.

“The pre-cum on his salami stick?”

I gasp, and my husband barks out a laugh. “Let me see that,” he says, extending his hand and wiggling his fingers.

“No!” I snap, cradling it to my chest. The last thing my sister needs is his encouragement.

“Do they actually refer to his dick as a salami stick?” Dante asks.

“No,” Lucia chimes in. “Cock, dick, member, shaft, erection … stuff like that.”

This has Dante chuckling again.

“Lucia,” I snap.

“What? I just answered Dante’s question. Did you expect me to spell out the dirty words? I’m an adult now; I’m allowed to swear.”

“Your sister refers to it as a thing or a penis.”

My eyes narrow as they flick to my husband. Lucia just giggles.

“Where did you get this book from? And why are you reading it?” I grumble.

“Pepi’s wife.”

“Pepi, our driver?”

“Yes.”

“Does Papa know you are reading these kinds of books? And why is Pepi giving them to you? Is something going on between the two of you?”

“Me and Pepi … eww. No! He’s married. They are his wife’s books. I was bored after you left, so he brought me some reading material … something to help occupy my time.”

“Did he know what kind of books they were?”

“Probably not. There were only a few romances in there that were stuffed at the bottom of the box. There was a variety of genres. Thrillers, historical, paranormal … stuff like that.”

“I … I have no words.”

Lucia raises her eyebrows and flashes one of her mischievous grins, looking like the cat that got the canary. “They’re very educational.”

“Maybe you should let your sister read them,” Dante chimes in, and my eyes narrow further.

“Papa will kill you, as well as Pepi, if he finds out you’re reading this kind of thing.”

“Relax,” she replies. “I’ve hidden the juicy ones.”

“Lucia …”

“At least when Papa marries me off, I’m going to be somewhat experienced.”

My eyes widen again. “What if he makes you marry someone past their used-by date like you fear?”

She casually lifts one shoulder. “Then I’ll ride his old, wrinkly salami stick so hard he keels over and dies.”

---