Page 30 of Gilded Princess

“I said that Russel called. He’s open to a meeting tonight.”

I feel Dante’s gaze on the side of my face, but I keep my focus on the direction Maddie’s car drove off in.

“Good. Tell him I’ll meet him in three hours,” I say as I start walking down the block.

“Where?”

“Louisa’s. I’ll call my aunt ahead of time and make sure she saves us a table.”

“Are you sure that’s the best move? Remember what happened to Mama Rosa’s?”

He’s right to be worried. It’s a risk to take another meeting at one of my family’s places of business. But the problem is that I don’t trust anyone or anywhere else. At least at my family’s places, I know that the recording devices are for our benefit not our downfall.

He keeps pace with me, the two of us taking up a lot of space on the sidewalk. “Yeah. Set it up and meet me there. I have a few things I need to take care of first.”

“Got it. I’ll see you then.” He turns at the corner, but I don’t bother watching where he’s headed. My mind is stuck on something else—one very alluring redhead.

Chapter Twelve

MADDIE

It takes some effort to banish the hazel eyes from my mind, but after thirty minutes or so, I feel myself finally relaxing. Seeing him again is messing with my mind, and I’ll be damned if I let it completely ruin the first enjoyable date I’ve been on in years.

We’re seated in the back corner booth at Louisa’s. It’s a cozy Italian restaurant with a new take on traditional dishes. I’ve never eaten here before, but I have a feeling it’s going to become a favorite of mine before the night is through.

The plush leather cushions stick to my skin as I adjust my legs, crossing one over the other at my ankles. No matter how much air conditioning they pump through the vents, every time someone opens the door to enter or leave, a billow of humidity fills the room.

Ornate sconces set the mood with pools of soft yellow light against the exposed brick walls. Rows of wine racks cover the back wall of the restaurant, the rich mahogany of the wood creating a warmth in the restaurant.

Modern touches like mini fairy lights curl around a slimline wrought-iron chandelier over a few different tables, and cream-colored distressed tapestries hang on a few walls.

I like it here. It feels welcoming and inviting, like I’d spend an entire night here just drinking and eating and enjoying my company.

I sip my ice water, looking out at the different couples seated around the restaurant before bringing my gaze back to Leo.

“Ah, there she is,” he murmurs with a smile playing around his lips.

I cock my head to the side as I set my water down. I thought I was doing a good job of covering up my preoccupation. A light flush warms my cheekbones at the idea that I wasn’t as stealthy as I thought.

It’s not fair to him, and I genuinely enjoyed his company at the coffee shop, enough that I said yes to this date—not that he realizes how rare that is.

I clear my throat. “I’m sorry I was a little distracted.”

“Everything okay?” Concern lines his face and lowers his brows.

“Yes. It was nothing.” The words feel like a lie on my tongue. I don’t think Matteo could ever be nothing—not in this life or any other.

He nods a few times without pressing.

Our server stands at the end of the table to collect our dishes. “And how was everything?”

“Delicious, thank you.” I slide my napkin off my lap and fold it, setting it on the table next to my glass. I ordered a grilled chicken salad. I thought about splurging and ordering the oven-fired margherita pizza, but then I heard my mother’s voice in my head drilling archaic dating tips. No matter how much I tried to drown her out, in the end, I opted for a safe bet—her go-to, something light.

“Excellent. Any dessert tonight?” our server, Marcus, asks as he stacks our dishes along his forearm with practiced ease.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to decline when Leo beats me to it. “We’ll have the crème brûlée. Two spoons. Thanks.”

“Of course, I’ll bring that right out.” Marcus leaves the table and I stare at Leo with a raised brow.

---