Page 14 of The Mafia's Surprise Gift

“Yes, when I was getting my allergy meds,” I shot back in the same tone. “There’s too many fucking trees around here.”

“Weak.” Dino snorted.

“Fuck you. Anyway, she was stunning. I didn’t know small-town women could look like that.”

“Who was she?” Dino drained his glass, then he braced both hands on the bar and hopped over to the other side. Bottle in hand, he poured himself another.

“No idea. Mae, she said her name was.” I sighed, thinking back to how surprised she’d looked when I’d calmed down her son. “She was gorgeous, though. I’m talking like real, down to the earth beautiful. Like the kind of woman you’d be able to get freaky with and take to tea with your ma.”

“Details.” Dino slid along the bar toward me and shook the bottle in offering. “I need details.”

I nodded for another drink and continued. “She smelled beautiful, like flowers and vanilla all mixed together.”

“Surprised it didn’t trigger your allergies,” Dino quipped.

“I will shoot you.” I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, she smelled so fucking good, and she had those fucking amazing green eyes. Like gemstones, but a deep green like the forest, y’know? And this sweet smile that was kinda crooked. All these freckles all over.” I waved my hand over my face. “And gorgeous long red hair that was all curly, like messy? I don’t know how girls do that, but she was…” I sucked on my teeth and then whistled. “Skinny thing, but fuck, she was hot.”

“What did you say her name was?” Rocco’s attention was suddenly locked onto me and a deep frown crossed his brow.

“Mae? Why?”

“She sounds an awful lot like Mary,” Dino murmured, his eyes darting back and forth between Rocco and me.

“Mary?” I repeated, trying to make the connection. As Rocco’s face softened for the first time since news of his father’s death arrived, I realized exactly who she was. “The Mary? My small town hottie is your Mary?”

Rocco nodded slowly, then glanced at Dino. “Sounds like her, doesn’t it?”

“The one that got away,” Dino groaned.

“She didn’t get away,” Rocco grumbled. “She was taken away.”

“By your father?” I knew very little about the details, only that a woman called Mary had haunted Rocco for about seven years now. She was the love of his life, apparently, and he had harbored years of resentment toward his father because of her.

“Yes.” Rocco straightened up and slid his glass toward Dino for more, not caring about the mixing of drinks. “She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen, so gentle and yet so spunky. She gave me the best night of my life, and then I had to leave everything behind because my father got us involved in a fucking feud.”

“He did bring about peace, though,” I pointed out. “So it was sort of worth it.”

“He didn’t let me say goodbye,” Rocco snapped, and his grip tightened so much on his glass that veins bulged out of his forearm. “Family became the top and only priority.”

“Rocco’s little crush didn’t matter,” Dino agreed. “Man, she was the hottest, sweetest thing. You know one time, I was so fucking sick I actually thought I was dying. We didn’t really know each other. I just admired her from afar like Rocco. She brought soup to my dorm. Fucking sweetheart.”

“She brought soup for her friend.” Rocco snorted. “You just happened to be there.”

“Same thing.” Dino laughed. “Either way, it was fucking good soup.”

“Damn. Well, I hate to break both of your hearts, but since you’ve just crushed mine by telling me my crush is your old flame, she’s definitely moved on from your sorry ass,” I said, drinking deeply.

“Married?” Rocco asked with a look on his face similar to that of a kicked puppy.

“I didn’t see a ring, but she’s got a kid.”

Whatever plan Rocco was building shattered immediately right before my eyes. “A kid?”

“Yeah, a boy. Sweet thing, if a bit shy. And she’s got a dog, some old thing.”

“Dozer,” Rocco said softly. “That old mutt is still alive?”

“Yup. So she might have rocked your world for a night, but she’s clearly got a new life all worked out for her, with a kid and a dog and some hot guy at home. I bet he’s fucking her right this second,” I teased.

---