Page 30 of The Marriage Contract

“Are you complaining?” I quip back.

I smirk, sitting down and running a hand through my hair. There might be a war with the Romanos on the horizon. Any second, Father or one of his men could barge in here and tell me he knows the truth about my scam, but right now, it’s just Elena and me.

“I know nothing about dresses,” I say, “but I’ll ask anyway. Have you seen anything you like?”

“What do you think of this one?” she says, turning the magazine and pointing to a modern dress with a short cut.

“Is that a wedding dress?” I ask.

She laughs. I could get used to that sound and the flutter it causes in my chest. “If you wore that, I’d have to kick the asses of half the guests. Everybody would stare at your legs.”

“Ha ha,” she mutters. “Yeah, right …”

“I’m serious. Look how much is on show.”

“Yeah, but this model ispretty.”

“You’re beautiful,” I snap. “Don’t talk down on yourself, Elena.”

“Whoa. Okay. Sorry.”

I try to laugh it off. “I don’t want to snap, but hell, do you not know how attractive you are?”

“Do you remember what I told you in the limo?”

“That you’re a virgin?” When she flinches, I say, “That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe you’ve been saving yourself for marriage.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never wanted one. Ever since the fire, I’ve just wanted to act and be somebody else. Forget the girl who lost everything. Just act but never grow attached to anyone. I never even wanted to be an actor before the fire. After, it’s the only thing I wanted.”

Tears crystalize in her eyes. I pull my chair around the table, putting my arm around her and gently wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she sobs.

“You don’t have to be.”It would be far better if she knew which cutlery to use, son.Damn. Why am I replaying my father’s words now? “It can’t be easy.”

“I was doing a good job of stuffing it all down until Aunt Rosa went off earlier today.”

“Went off?”

“She said the fire wasn’t an accident. She said it was her fault, but she’s ill. The other week, she believed she could fly.” She laughs bravely through a sob, then flicks back through the magazine. “What about this one?” She points to a traditional dress.

I look at it, imagining it wrapped around Elena’s curvy body.

“I take it that smile means you like it?”

“I think it would suit you,” I say.

She smooths her hand down my arm and takes my hand. It’s all an act, but it doesn’t feel that way. If my father knew … but he doesn’t. If the Romano problem escalates, she’ll be in danger, but here and now, she’s safe. She’s with me.

“Can you imagine standing at the altar as I walk up the aisle in it?”

I close my eyes and picture the scene. Unexpected emotion grips me: joy, desire, excitement, and expectation. “Yes,” I admit huskily. “I can.”

“I’ll put a big circle around that one, then.”

I open my eyes, let her hand go, then stand up. I do it too fast, causing my chair to fall backward. I get a sudden image of the Romano man we tortured when his chair fell over after Allessio hit him. It’s like the two worlds are crashing together.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, looking up at me with still-glistening eyes.

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