Page 65 of Her Cruel Bodyguard

I will be driving under a spell.

EPILOGUE

EVA

One Month Later…

“I cannot believe you are getting married, Eva,” Gloria squeaks into the phone. “And to Fabio,” I hear her hands flapping against each other, and I mentally picture her dancing her funny dance and clapping in excitement. “You inspire me to go for what I want or anyone I want.”

I flip the lingerie Chris, the store owner, has picked for me, courtesy of Vittoria. “Gloria, you can’t force love…”

“But, if the person feels the same way, even if it’s a spark, you pump it until it consumes you both,” she intersects.

I cannot disagree with her, but I won’t agree with her either. I don’t want to be the one to fuel her and make her do crazy things in the name of trying to get a love story. To each their own.

“Have you started what I asked you to do?” I drop the white lingerie on the armchair in the corner and struggle out of my beige cargo pants and yellow T-shirt.

“I have; it will go as planned, trust me,” she reassures me, the same way she has been doing for days every time I ask about what I asked her to do for me.

I have a surprise for Fabio, and I only trust Gloria to understand the gravity of it. Plus, she is the one person he cannot easily access, and Vittoria is busy trying to return the favor of me planning her wedding by planning mine. She is going a little over the moon with this one, though. She has the reputation of best friend and stepmom to maintain.

“Remember, no one can know about this,” I stress. Not like I don’t trust her to keep her mouth shut when she is around Fabio or Vittoria, but I know how excited Gloria can get.

“Lips sealed,” she whispers. “I give you my word.”

I roll my eyes, “I will see you at the wedding.” Even though it’s a month from now. I know I will see her before then but I just need to use those lines.

“The wedding?” She scoffs. “How dare you! You will see me at your wedding, emphasis Eva, emphasis on the word your.” She squeaks, and this time, I take my phone away from my ear and smile at it, picturing her excitement.

“I will see you at my wedding,” I stress, smiling at the engagement ring on my finger. I can’t wait to add my wedding ring to it.

“Good,” she claps some more, and I end the call when she starts to hum my walking-in song.

I plop on the armchair and let my head fall back to stare at the ceiling, thinking about the good things in life.

I am getting married to Fabio. My Fabio.

I smile, the curve of my lips stretching to my ears and threatening to tear through.

I will be his wife. I will get a chance to love him for the rest of our lives. I will be with him and call him mine.

I drag the white silk lingerie I’m sitting on and run the fabric through my fingers. My eyes fall on the other colors on the trolley, waiting for me to try them. Vittoria is outside patiently waiting to scrutinize and see which fits her plans.

I like it. I get a little shy about these things, and I want to be anything but shy on my wedding night. I doubt I would be able to be that confident, though. One look from Fabio, and I’m torn between wanting to show him what I’ve got and wanting him to teach me things.

I stand, unclasp my bra, slide out of my underwear, and as I start to shimmy into the lingerie, the curtain opens slightly, Vittoria poking her head in.

“You were taking forever,” she invites herself in. “Try the red first,” she struts to the trolley and pulls out red lace lingerie.

“I was on a call with Gloria.”

“What does she want?” She makes a face and I shake my head, chuckling. Vittoria is not one to let people in quickly, and Gloria has been removed from her list of people because she was part of the reason we had to go through what Salvatore did.

“Nothing you should worry yourself with,” I shimmy into the crimson lace lingerie, which is basically a lace dress that leaves everything out in the open.

“There is something erotic about creating the illusion of covering up when they can see everything,” Vittoria leads me to the mirror and tilts me to face it, taking myself in.

“I look…” I blink. “Wow,” I smile, my face heating up as I imagine Fabio’s face when he sees me in this.

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