Page 35 of The Mafia's Surprise Gift

“Well,” I replied carefully, “it depends on what fight you’re in the middle of. Is it dust? Pollen? Are you getting beat down by perfume chemicals or nature?”

“Like perfume?” Mae lifted her hand and pressed it to her chest just above the fabric of her chest, which clung to the swell of her breasts. “Are you allergic to me?”

“No.” I laughed softly. “You smell amazing. I’m allergic to nature. These pine trees around here, specifically, are particularly harsh.”

“I smell amazing?” Mae tossed her head as she laughed. “Thank you.”

Had I really let that slip? Fuck, I had.

Mae was… complicated. She’d been on my mind ever since I first saw her, and knowing she nearly became a victim at the cemetery killed me a little inside. In such a short time, she had invaded my thoughts with her soft smile and gentle laugh. I didn’t want to stop thinking about her, but I found myself trying to. She’d kissed Dino, and Rocco was basically in love with her. That wasn’t something I wanted to get in the middle of.

And yet, at the same time, I did. I wanted to make her laugh. I wanted her eyes to linger on me and that smile to widen just at my presence. I wanted to taste what Dino tasted, feel what Rocco felt. Just two minutes in her presence, and I completely understood how infatuated they were.

And all she’d done was tease me.

“What about you?” I asked finally before the silence between us could drag on too long. “In the market for allergy meds?”

“Me? Oh, no.” Mae smiled brightly. “Thankfully, I’m as strong as they come in that regard. I’m actually here for some fresh makeup because my adorable six-year-old decided that our dog could use a makeover. Let me tell you, if anyone tells you that Sweet Apple Rouge is the perfect color for an aging dog, they would be right. He did look rather dashing.”

“Oh, wow.” I laughed. “A budding makeup artist?”

“I’d like to hope so,” she mused, moving over to the other side of the aisle where rows of makeup were lit up by bright white lights. “Zack just likes to get creative with things, and my mother isn’t the best at discouraging him.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Mae waved one hand. “They’re just things at the end of the day. In a few months, I’ll look back and laugh, and it’ll make a great work story in a few years.”

“What do you do for work, if you don’t mind me asking?” Gone was the urgency to return to Rocco. He was safe with Dino. I knew that much. This was the first time I’d seen Mae since we first met, and I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to soak up her presence for as long as she would grant me it.

All the while, wrestling with the urge to lean down and see if her peachy lips were as soft as they looked.

“I work in a lawyer’s office,” Mae replied.

My heart skipped a beat. “You’re a lawyer?” Wouldn’t that just be the kicker? Rocco and Dino fell for someone who could send us all to prison.

“Oh, no.” Mae laughed and her hand landed on my forearm. “Not even close. I’m just an assistant. My best friend is training to be a lawyer, though, so if you’re in need of some legal advice, I could hook you up. You’d need to wait until after her wedding, though.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

With her basket full, we moved from aisle to aisle. It was strange how comfortable I was being next to her and how easily the conversation flowed. It was as if we’d known each other for years and were simply catching up after a long time apart.

“I heard you threw quite the birthday party,” I said, curious as to how she had reacted to Rocco’s floral apology. It had looked good on paper until I’d driven past and seen just how many flowers he'd ordered.

“You heard about that?” Mae flashed me a warm smile and her cheeks flared red and warm.

“It was the talk of the town.”

“Fair. It was a really good turnout, actually. My mother’s birthday. She’s getting on a bit now, so I think having something like that was a good way to remind her what sort of community she has here, y’know?”

Mae spoke with such deep honesty that I found myself unable to look away. I didn’t want to miss a second. “That’s pretty sweet of you to do.”

“Oh, she doesn’t think so.” Mae snorted, and her adorable nose scrunched up. “At the time, she loved it. The day after, it was all complaints about the food and the music and too much dancing. And the flowers. I got these…” She paused, and the flush on her cheeks darkened.

“Flowers?” I prompted, following her down to the next aisle where the sharp scents of soap and chemicals invaded my lungs.

“There was just a large delivery of flowers and it was pretty sweet. We gave them to each person as a party favor, but there were so many left over. Now they’re in the garden, and she hates them.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

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