Page 80 of Christmas with the Mafia
“I’ve got you a present too.”
He appears surprised at that.
“How?”
“When I was shopping for the gifts for your family I paid for this one myself with cash.”
With a sly wink, I move out of his arms and head into the dressing room where my purse is.
“It’s nothing much!” I yell from inside the room, and as I locate the small package, a moment’s apprehension catches me unaware.
What was I thinking when I bought this?
I’m hesitant as I picture what’s inside, and my throat dries as I consider how much he must have spent on my gift.
With a sigh, I head back inside the room, my heart racing as he faces me, dressed all in black, impossibly handsome, his dark eyes glittering with unbridled lust.
“It’s um silly really. I mean, not really a present at all, just a joke, something I hoped you would like—perhaps, um maybe, I didn’t really know youback then.”
“Back then?” He half smiles. “It’s been three days, Regina, and not even three complete ones.”
“I know, mad, isn’t it?”
I giggle to deflect my anxiety, and his voice softens. “I will love it becauseit came from you.”
“Okay.”
I hand him the small box and drag my lower lip between my teeth as he carefully unwraps it. To fill the awkward silence, my words trip over themselves.
“I would have made you a gift basket of course, because well, that is what I do best but there wasn’t time and well, I saw this and thought of you.”
He opens the box and retrieves the black leather braid held together by a silver clasp, with a heart engraved on it.
“I’m sorry, it’s not fancy or worth much, you probably hate it and I, well, I wouldn’t blame you really, in fact, I wouldn’t blame you if you chucked it in the trash, um, where it belongs.”
“I love it.”
His eyes burn as he fastens it around his wrist, the impossibly expensive gold watch beside it enhancing how cheap my gift really is.
His eyes gleam as he steps forward and, with one hand around the back of my head, pulls me close, his lips finding mine like a heat-seeking missile.
The kiss is soft, lazy even, sweeter than normal, and my lips tingle as he whispers, “Thank you. This means everything to me, and I will never take it off.”
“Now you’re mocking me.”
I giggle nervously, and he presses his forehead against mine and stares into my eyes, whispering, “I mean every word. I love it, and I will wear it always because this gift came from your heart to mine. It may not have been as expensive as the diamonds you will wear today, but it is way more valuable to me.”
“Nico, I–” My eyes glisten with tears and he kisses mesoftly, then deeper, taking his time, reassuring me that I am the most important person in his life right now. It’s a powerful weapon against my fear, and when he pulls away, I bemoan the fact that he took my heart with him.
Forty-One
NICO
I have never liked Christmas.It’s always been a demonstration of meaningless gifts and uninteresting conversation. Going through the motions of enjoying family, while wishing it was over already.
After breakfast, we meet in the living room where the gifts are heaped under the tree, and as Mom dishes them out to everyone; we unwrap boxes and packages selected by the personal shoppers at Bergdorf Goodman.
None of it means anything, and yet as I sit beside Regina, her gift catches my eye, and a warm feeling spreads through me. This gift deserves its name because she chose it—for me. It wasn’t selected by anyone else, and she bought it because she thought I would like it. I do. I love it, in fact. It’s black, which suits me, and the silver heart represents our situation. We are engaged, will be married in the new year and what started as an arrangement is turning out to be a different future from what I imagined.
