Page 100 of Claimed By the Possessive Mafia Prince
I wink. “Was what me?”
“Hey…” She grabs my shirt, pulls herself in. I love when she does that. “Mom said that someone contacted her and wants to be a silent partner in her catering business. They’ve offered generous terms… honestly, absurdly generous. Like they’re shooting themselves in the foot sort of generous.”
“If I said it was me, would you be mad?”
“You said you’d never lie to me, so does it matter?”
“Touché. It was me, angel.”
She gasps. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s a no-strings-attached offer,” I say. A dark feeling pools in my stomach. I don’t want to cut the strings between us, but I mean it. “Whatever you say when we go up on the ridge, that money is yours. It’s hers. It’s time you and your mom gave it another shot.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certain. Don’t tell me you’re too proud to accept it.”
“Proud?” she says, shaking her head. “We need all the help we can get.” She wraps her arms gently around me, being careful with my bandage. “Thank you. And what did you mean up on the ridge?”
“Take a walk with me.”
“But the party?—”
“It’s going amazingly well, because of you. Veronica can handle it alone for a few minutes. I want to talk with you.”
She links arms with me. “Then let’s go.”
We split off from the party, walking up the ridge, the sun cascading down upon us. We cross to the other side, where the pumps push the water over the edge, the artificial waterfall flowing into the pool below.
I slip my hands onto her hips. My favorite place.
“I’m thinking about my mother’s vows,” I say.
“About fate and love at first sight?” She asks, her expression difficult to read.
“She gave me a look when she mentioned that. She was not-so-slyly trying to tell me she thinks I should accept the whole love-at-first-sight deal.”
Siena swallows. “It seems… immature.” She sighs at my exasperated look. “I’m sorry, Dario, but that’s just how I feel. I don’t think the world works like that. Your parents are happy and clearly in love, so maybe for them, that’s the case. But for us? I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I agree.”
“Oh.”
“It wasn’t fate that brought me to your boat that night. And the moment I laid eyes on you, I didn’t love you. But I knew you were different. I knew you made me feel something no one else has. I knew I was curious to know you more than I’ve ever been with anyone.”
“I felt the same,” she says, smiling.
“And now I know I can’t let you go,” I tell her. “I’m not saying to sign your life away to me, or that you belong to me. I’m not even going to use the L-word, Siena, because we’re grownups and this is the real world and, hell, we both know that life can throw more than a few curveballs.”
She laughs, but it’s a sob too, her eyes welling with tears. “Amen to that. So whatareyou saying, huh?”
“I’m saying it’s a two-hour drive between Atlantic City and New York, and that I’m willing to make that drive twice a day, every day, if it means seeing you. I’m saying that we’d be fools to take what we have and forget about it when we get home. I’m saying…” I lean down for a kiss. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
She grabs my face, stands on her tiptoes, and crashes her lips against mine. I hold her tightly, savoring the kiss, the texture of her lips.
“That was the best thing you could’ve said,” she whispers, her mouth hovering against mine, sounding excited.
I smile. “Yeah?”
