Page 38 of Unworthy Ties
“I’m not sure how it got unlocked,” Rocco’s voice said from behind me.
“Eep!” I jumped and turned, my heart racing. Rocco leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed and an indifferent expression on his face.
“You should have just asked for a key.”
“I thought there might be…illegal things in here,” I stammered, still half in awe of the room. “Official Mafia business.”
Rocco pushed off the doorframe and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the empty pots before landing on me. “Hardly. I’d never take that home. We’re on the top floor; it came with the penthouse.”
“And you just,” I said, my arms flailing around. “Ignore it? It could be amazing!”
I sighed, thinking about all the photos I could take of the plants if they existed.
Rocco shrugged, the flicker of amusement in his eyes betraying his usual stoic demeanor. “I prefer the view from the balcony. No maintenance required.”
“That’s a shame,” I murmured, kneeling beside a pot that held the remnants of what might have once been a flourishing fern.
“I thought you’d comment on how I was home early,” he mused as he leaned against a nearby table, arms still folded.
“Right,” I said. I dropped the subject of the greenhouse as he was clearly not interested in it. “What’s the special occasion?”
“Just thought I’d surprise you with dinner. I know you had a long day with Fiorella.”
The corners of my mouth turned upward. “Dinner? What did you order?”
He shrugged casually. “Let’s just say the finest chef in the city is in our kitchen right now.”
The mention of a chef stirred excitement in my chest, but it was the way Rocco looked at me that truly captured myattention. There was something tender beneath his brusque exterior, something meant only for me.
“Figured you deserved a treat after all that thrift store digging,” he replied, his lips curling into a faint smile. “What’d Fiorella put you through?” His hand wrapped around my waist, and he guided me out of the greenhouse.
“Oh my God,” I said as he pulled me closer, warmth radiating from his body. “You have no idea. She goes through those racks like there’s a guarantee of finding a pirate’s treasure.”
“She has always been… different.”
“That’s a very politically correct way of saying it,” I said, stifling a laugh. “Oh, and persuasive. She even got me to buy something.”
“You? You’re the biggest clothes snob I’ve ever met,” he teased me, giving me a light pinch on my side.
“That’s the second time I’ve been called a snob today,” I whined.
Rocco chuckled as he led me out of the greenhouse and back into the expanse of our penthouse. “Well, maybe you’re evolving,” he said, his voice teasing yet warm. “The princess of the Marchioni family embracing the wonders of vintage fashion.”
As we made our way out of the greenhouse and through the warmly lit dining room, the aroma of herbs and spices filled the air, teasing my senses and making my stomach growl in anticipation. Rocco released his hold on my waist but stayed close, his presence comforting and familiar.
“Fiorella has a way of making even the most skeptical shopper believe they’ve struck gold in a pile of rags,” I defended, moving to the table where an array of appetizers awaited us.
“She’s a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.”
I nodded, reaching out to touch his hand lightly. “Thank you for this,” I said, feeling a rush of gratitude for his thoughtfulness after a hectic day. “It’s the perfect end to a crazy day.”
His gaze softened even more, and he stepped closer, closing the distance between us. “Anything for you,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. And in that moment, surrounded by the warmth of the kitchen and the scent of our meal, I knew that even in the midst of chaos, there was a sense of peace when I was with him.
As we sat down to enjoy the meal prepared by the elusive chef, the evening unfolded into a moment of connection and quiet joy, a reminder that even amid life’s challenges, there were pockets of happiness waiting to be savored. And so, in the glow of the kitchen lights and the company of the man who had found his way into my heart, I knew that no matter what the world threw at us, we would face it together, with laughter, love, and a good meal to fortify us.
Chapter 19
Rocco
