Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
With a cheesy grin on her face, she nods. “My freaking toes curled.”
Only then do I think to look down at her hand, but not seeing a ring, I frown. “I’m going to slap that man upside the head if he proposed without a ring.”
Gianna lets out a soft giggle. “It was a size too big. Riccardo has it, so he can take it in to get it adjusted.”
Before I can respond, we hear footsteps and Riccardo and Enzo’s voices.
We peek around the island toward the doorway, and the moment the men enter the kitchen, we pull back. Gianna presses a finger to her lips, signaling for me to keep quiet.
Staying hidden behind the island, we listen as Riccardo says, “Your father put the fear of God in me when I asked him for his blessing.”
Enzo lets out a burst of laughter, the sound deep and a little dark. “What did you expect? Gianna’s the baby in the family.” There’s movement by the fridge, and we duck even lower while covering our mouths with our hands. “Damn, brother. You’re getting married soon.”
“I can’t fucking wait.” There’s so much love in Riccardo’s voice, I swear my best friend melts right beside me. “I hope you find someone who’ll make you feel the way I feel about Gianna.”
Enzo’s tone is dead serious when he mutters, “Not gonna happen. You know I don’t do relationships. Besides, look at where that got Christiano. He was willing to give Sienna everything, and now he’s stuck loving someone who doesn’t feel the same about him.”
Riccardo sighs heavily. “Let’s not get into the shit show that’s your brother and my sister. Fuck knows what’s going on there.” He clears his throat, then says, “Going to Paradiso to get off will only satisfy you for so long, Enzo. At some point, it will lose its appeal, and you’ll start thinking about settling down like the rest of us.”
“I’m perfectly happy with no names, no faces, and no getting to know some fucking woman just to get laid.”
Enzo sounds so cold and clinical about sex, it reaffirms that my dream of being with him is just that… a futile dream.
“Have you seen Gianna?” Riccardo asks.
“No.”
“She’s probably somewhere with Rosie.”
When the men leave the kitchen, I exhale a sigh as I climb to my feet.
Gianna knows all about my crush on her brother, and giving my hand a squeeze, she whispers, “How are you holding up?”
I shake my head and force a smile to my face. “Don’t stress. Enzo didn’t say anything we didn’t already know. I’m not holding out for a miracle.” Wanting to make my point, I don’t think it through before saying, “In fact, I’m going to take a page out of his book and make an appointment at Paradiso for my twenty-first to lose my virginity.”
Gianna’s lips part as shock ripples over her face. “Say what now?”
“With all the overprotective men in the family, I’ll never get to date, and I don’t plan on dying a virgin. If it works for Enzo, why not me? I’ll go to Paradiso and request no names, no faces, no talking.”
“That’s insane, Rosie!” Gianna shakes her head wildly. “Your first time can’t be with some random stranger.”
“Why not? If we’re being honest, I already lost my virginity to a vibrator. I just want to know what sex is like with something that isn’t battery-operated.”
She keeps shaking her head while grabbing my forearms. “It’s going to be cold and emotionless. It won’t mean anything.”
Not wanting her to worry, I lie and say, “You’re right.” Walking to the doorway, I see Riccardo coming down the stairs and heading outside, where everyone is socializing. “Go put your man out of his misery, Gianna. He’s still looking for you.”
Chapter 2
Rosie
When we step out onto the veranda, Riccardo instantly spots Gianna, and with a wide grin on his face, he makes a beeline for her.
I watch as he sweeps her up into his arms before shouting, “We have an announcement.” Everyone turns to look at the happy couple. “I’ve asked Gianna to marry me, and she said yes.”
Cheers break out, and I smile happily.
I feel Enzo before he stops beside me. He hooks his arm around my neck, and while my heart sets off at a crazy pace and I practically melt into his side, he takes a sip of his drink before saying, “You know what this means, right?”
Because of the kaleidoscope of butterflies he sets loose in me, I can’t form a single word and end up shaking my head.
“As the maid of honor and best man, we’re going to work our asses off.”
That will probably be the closest I’ll ever get to standing in front of an altar with Enzo.
Riccardo waves his hand in our direction. “Enzo, will you be my best man?”