Page 95 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

My woman wasn’t one to pass up a sweet treat, especially if it was being offered by a darling little girl that was nothing but smiles and good cheer.

Julianne walked over to where the girls were and pointed at a new cookie sitting on a cooling tray. “I’ll take a plain one with um…” She pondered the bowls of colored frosting. “White icing.”

“White’s boring!” Penny complained. “Are you sure you don’t want piiiiiiinnnnk,” she drew out the word as though it were far superior to the white.

“You’re right, what was I thinking? Pink is the only way to go.” She tapped Penny on the tip of her nose. “Will you make it for me?”

Penny nodded avidly as she reached for a spoon and plopped a huge glob over one of the plain cookies. The outside of it was covered with multiple-colored smudges, making it a bit soggy from the icing remnants on her hands. I couldn’t help watching the little girl with her tongue in the side of her cheek, trying really hard to cover the entire cookie. Once finished, she presented the ugliest cookie I’d ever seen to Julianne. Penny’s eyes were filled with sparkles and pride as Julianne took the treat. She inspected it and then smiled wide.

“It’s magnificent! The best cookie I’ve ever seen,” she gushed.

“Eat it, eat it, eat it,” Penny and Eden chanted.

Without so much as a thought, she opened her mouth wide and took a huge bite before closing her eyes and humming, confirming that what she was eating was absolutely delicious.

I fell even more in love with her at the sight of her going above and beyond to please two sweet girls.

“It’s perfection,” she cooed and finished chewing.

“Yay!” The girls squealed at the same time.

“Bruno is in the study,” Joel stated, while washing his hands. Once done, he dried them off and removed his apron before setting it on the counter. “Faith, we have a bit of business to tend to with Bruno and then I’ll be back to help clean up.”

She lifted her head from what she was doing and accepted the kiss Joel planted on her lips.

“Okay, honey. Don’t forget, we’re taking the girls to FAO Schwartz and then ice skating. You promised the girls.”

“And I have no intention of missing a moment of our family time,” he assured her.

“I’m sorry if we’re intruding on your Saturday,” Julianne was quick to apologize.

Faith shook her head. “Oh no, I’m not worried about you visiting. I just don’t want my husband to get caught up in something work related. He’s easy to distract. I have to keep him on his toes,” she teased.

“She tells the truth. When I’m in my study, I tend to get caught up. Alas, this meeting isn’t about me; it’s about you, so I’ll just get you settled with Bruno and then I’ll leave you to your meeting.”

“Excellent. Thank you. We’re very grateful for your help.” I reached out and Joel shook my hand.

“Of course. Anything for a friend.” He smiled and clapped me on the back with his free hand. “Be right back, girls,” Joel called out. “Save me the best cookie.”

“Okay, Daddy! Okay, Baba!”Eden responded in English and Penny in Greek.

We followed Joel through the living room and down a long hallway. He opened a door and gestured for us both to enter before him. A tall, dark-haired man in a pristine black suit was standing by the window looking over Central Park, his cell phone pressed to his ear. His hair was similar to mine in that it was overly long around the collar, but his had curling waves that suited him. He wore a beard and mustache combo that was very European, the mustache rather thin and his beard primly following the edge of his jawline meticulously.

“You’re sure? Fifty million dollars?” he clipped, his face contorting into an expression of extreme distaste. “Yes, thank you. Keep looking for a connection,” he barked and ended the call.

“Bruno, this is Giovanni and Julianne Falco,” Joel introduced.

I reached my hand out, and Bruno shook it and then turned fully toward my wife. He scanned her from her face down her body to her sky-high heels and back up again, before accepting her hand, dipping his head, and kissing Julianne’s on the top.

“Oh, wow, such a gentleman,” Julianne preened, her cheeks becoming inflamed.

“Yes, well, when I see a beautiful woman stand before me, my natural instinct is to put my lips on her, take in her alluring scent, and commit it to memory,” Bruno confided.

My instinctwas to grab my wife’s elbow and tug her behind me as I stepped directly into Bruno’s personal space. “You may want to refrain from attempting to seduce a woman right in front of her husband, lest you prefer to accept the consequences of said action,” I growled in warning.

Bruno backed up a step and held his hands in supplication. “I mean no offense. An unearthly beautiful woman like Julianne should be appreciated as any magnificent piece of art,” he said conversationally.

“It’s Mrs. Falco to you, and yes, art should be appreciated…from afar. Touching precious pieces that belong to someone else is a dangerous way to live,” I stated flatly, my nostrils flaring as instant irritation replaced any rational reply I might have had under a different circumstance.

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