Page 49 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

He stood as well. “You goddamn fucking like the bastard.”

She took a step toward him and prodded him in the chest. “None of your business.”

His face took on his pompous head-of-the-family expression, a little incongruous with the long hair, tattoos, and the earring. “You’re family. Of course it’s my business.”

“We’re not related.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re still family.”

In some ways his words made her feel all warm and fuzzy. Growing up it was all she had ever longed for, to belong, to be an accepted part of the Scarlesi family.

He took a deep breath. “Okay, we’ll leave it for now, but you still have my apology—I should never have involved you.”

“Never mind involving me. You should never have done it anyway. It was totally dishonest, and sleazy, and not fitting a Scarlesi. Not to mention childish.”

He grinned. “Again you’re right. But I did it for my grandfather’s memory. And I’d heard D’Ascensio was vulnerable and the opportunity seemed too good to miss.”

“Well, you’ll never get it again, so get over it.”

“No, maybe not.”

She picked up her bag. Time to go. She had a matinee that afternoon; maybe she could get a couple of hours sleep first.

She was heading for the door when Luca spoke again. “Gabby?”

“Yes?”

“I thought we might have dinner one night.”

She stopped and turned, and then looked at him. He appeared serious. “Did Theresa put you up to this?”

A smile twitched his lips. “No. But maybe it’s time.”

“Time?”

“Six years ago you were too young, and I had other plans.”

She was too tired for this. “And now I’m not too young and your plans have turned tits up.”

“That’s one way to describe my farce of a marriage.”

Her brows drew together. “Let me get this straight. You’re asking me out on a date?”

“Is that so strange?”

“It’s fucking surreal.” She shook her head and walked away.

He spoke as she opened the door. “Think about it.”

Not in this lifetime.

She learned her lessons. She might make a lot of mistakes, but never the same one twice. Falling for Luca was not something she planned to repeat.

“We’d make Theresa very happy.”

The words followed her out the door.

She was across the street when a dark car pulled up outside the building and Vito stepped out. She ducked into a doorway so he wouldn’t see her. It looked like Luca was getting that visit after all.

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