Page 101 of The One
“Women,” Rom mutters as he throws open the car door and gets out, grumbling under his breath. I smirk.
Speaking of women, I wonder if Mari opened her present.
I wish I’d been there to see her face, to witness that flash of joy and surprise.
I pull out my cell and text her on her brand-new phone, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Me: I’m going to one of our clubs tonight. Come with me.
I stare at the screen, waiting.
Within seconds, it’s marked as read, and before I can stop myself, I’m grinning. She opened it. Then those three little dots appear.
Dolcezza: Thank you for my new phone. It’s beautiful!
I knew she’d like it. It’s a dark moss green. She uses that color in her designs a lot, so I had Uberto track one down and then had the case engraved.
Me: The club tonight? Will you come with me?
I really want her to.
Dolcezza: I’ve never been to a club. I have nothing to wear.
Me: I’ll take care of it.
I remember her eyeing that silver Gucci dress on Via dei Condotti. She’ll look stunning in it.
Me: See you tonight.
Hmm, who could I get to collect it?
My tailor is a couple of streets away from the shop. He can send someone.
I shoot off a text to him when my car door flies open. Rom is scowling at me.
“You coming? Or am I the only one working today?”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Mariella
Ienter my room with a goofy grin and fall on my bed.
Wow, I kissed Mateo De Marco!
And what a kiss it was! So all-consuming and raw, like he wanted to eat me!
It’s on a continuous loop in my mind, and my body is buzzing.
I grab my pillow and let out a long, muffled squeal into the fabric as laughter bubbles uncontrollably from my chest. My feet tap rapidly against the mattress, the chaotic rhythm matching the surge of my giddy energy.
Are all kisses like that?
I imagined my first kiss alot.
And, of course, Mateo always starred in those daydreams. But reality rarely measures up to fantasy, right?
Except this time, it did.
