Page 23 of Crimson Fate

“God, that’s so good,” Gia murmurs, her eyes meeting mine, mirroring my contentment.

“I appreciate you agreeing to come here tonight,” I say after taking a deep breath. “I’m not sure what your father has shared with you about our discussion yesterday.”

“He told me everything,” she states before setting down her fork, her gaze unwavering.

“Everything?”

She nods. “He asked how I felt about the idea before he ever went to see you.”

“And how do you feel about it?”

She lifts her eyebrows. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I mean, I’ve known you since I was a little girl, but you were always off with your father and the other men while I hung out with your sister. I don’t feel like we actually know each other.”

I offer her a soft smile. “I would like to change that,” I state.

A hint of a smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she stares back at me. “I’d like that too.”

The dessert arrives, and I claim a forkful of tiramisu. The creamy mascarpone and coffee-soaked ladyfingers combine to make one of the best bites of food I have ever tasted. We both moan in delight before laughing at each other’s response.

She leans back, her fingers tracing the stem of her wineglass. “Maybe it’s the wine talking, but you should know some things about me before you commit to this.”

Her words hang in the air, and I nod, encouraging her to continue. The restaurant’s ambiance feels intimate as if it’s just the two of us in this hidden corner of the world.

Gia takes a deep breath, her eyes searching mine for any sign of judgment. “I know how this will make me sound, but I need to be completely upfront with you. If you’re looking for the good Italian Catholic wife who has saved herself for marriage, then you should know I’m probably not the woman for you.”

A flicker of surprise passes through me.

I take a moment to process her words, feeling a mixture of intrigue and admiration for her candidness. “I’m not exactly a choir boy.”

She laughs. “No, I assumed not. But also, it’s not only that I’m not a virgin. I’ve been in love before.”

“Oh—” I feel more shocked by this confession than the initial one. “Things didn’t work out?”

Gia’s gaze softens, and a hint of sadness lingers in her eyes. “No, they didn’t. It was a long time ago, but it was intense. We were young and foolish.”

“What happened?”

“What always happens in our world. He couldn’t deal with where I come from.”

I reach across the table and gently place my hand over hers in an offering of silent support. “Well, he sounds like an asshole.”

Gia smiles gratefully, the weight of her past momentarily lifting. “Thank you for not freaking out about any of this. It’s important to me that we be open and honest with each other.”

“Of course,” I reply sincerely. “And in all honesty, I’ve never been in love. I haven’t even come close. I’m also not close to being a virgin.” I laugh after I make the last statement, and she smiles at me again.

As the last bite of tiramisu disappears from our plates, Gia takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine with newfound determination. “If we are going to make this arrangement work, I think we should probably both be realistic about what this would look like.”

“What do you mean?”

“We can enjoy each other’s company and respect each other, but love isn’t required to make a strong union.”

I blink repeatedly as I process her statement. “Wow, that’s not really something you hear from a woman too often.”

Gia chuckles softly, her laughter like a melody in the air. “Well, we’re not living in a fairy tale, are we? It’s better to be practical and honest about our expectations. If love eventually happens between us, I say that’s just a bonus.”

Her words resonate with me. She’s right. Love may not be a prerequisite for a successful marriage, but mutual understanding and respect certainly are.

“It’s refreshing to hear a woman speak so frankly about marriage. After tonight, I have to say I can definitely see us building a strong partnership together. What do you think?”

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