Page 30 of Mafia Star

“Fine. I’ll say it. It was damn well perfect.”

“It really was. Thank you. It exceeded what I expected.”

“Good.”

He smirks at me before he gives me a soft kiss. I lean against his chest, wishing we had our masks. If we did, I would suggest going back to our original plan. We ride in silence for the next five minutes, and I don’t mind. He sounds casual when he speaks first.

“Do you have plans to see Chelle and Enzo when they get back?”

“Not right away. Laura’s taking the top of the wedding cake and the gown back to Chelle the day after tomorrow. I figured I’ll let them settle in and get over their jetlag.”

They went to the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia for their honeymoon. The photos I saw online look amazing. Apparently, Gabriele has a house there that they used. I suspect their family has houses all over the world. I know they have a family jet.

I think about what my sister said their plans are when they get back.

“Chelle said Enzo wants them to live in her place. Did he tell you that?”

“Yeah. He says her place is way homier than his.”

“My sister’s place has to be way smaller than his. She mentioned a penthouse.”

“True. But Enzo is a bit of a minimalist when it comes to his place. His furniture is comfy, but he never made it feel like a home. He has nothing on the walls. He has plenty of books, but half of them are about accounting and shit. He said Chelle’s place is more welcoming.”

“It is.”

I want to ask if his place is like Enzo’s. He thinks of something to say before I do.

“Did you bring your work home with you?”

“Do you mean do I have work to do tonight?”

He laughs and shakes his head ruefully.

“I meant did you bring your interior design skills to your own place? Is it showroom perfect?”

“Hardly. I’m way more frugal than my clients. I don’t feel the need to have name brand everything when I can get almost equal quality somewhere else. But I did knock out a couple walls. A man must have designed the place. Too much wasted space.”

I shoot him a teasing grin and waggle my eyebrows.

“I’ll be sure to let Matteo know.”

My smile falters for a moment.

“He didn’t design my building. It’s been around since before any of us were born.”

“I know. But Maria complained the house he designed for them has too many nooks for dust to collect with no practical purpose. He said she has too many ornaments that need to be out of sight. I’m pretty sure she bruised a couple ribs with her elbow. It’s super pointy.”

I love hearing how they tease one another. My family was like that before Sam died. We’re slowly getting back there, but it’s not the same. He was the jokester. Hearing Marco makes me miss Sam, but it also fills a hole that’s been there since the day the Marine and Navy chaplain showed up at my parents’ door. The Doyles were over, and we were watching the Super Bowl. I haven’t watched that game since.

“What’s your aesthetic? That’s what it’s called, right?”

“Or just style. I like Cape Cod meets Miami. Mostly soft colors with a lot of white, but a few punches of bright color here and there. I have a balcony with two white Adirondack chairs on it. They have neon green pillows. I have coral Havana shutters on the bedroom windows. I don’t know if you can picture it, but it works.”

“I’m sure it does. I saw all of the loft. You have impeccable taste.”

“Thanks. It’s easy to do with the budget I had.”

“From the sounds of it, it could have been completely gaudy and gauche. But you made it very elegant.”

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