Page 153 of Empire of Temptation

“Still, you don’t need any reminders of that giant dick hole. Do you want your usual?”

“Yes, please.”

As Sam went behind the espresso machine, I asked, “Where’s Bev?”

“Running late.” She lifted her eyebrows meaningfully.

Bev had a date with Roberto last night, which could only mean one thing. “Stop. Are you serious?”

“Girl, this is the third time this week.”

“What! How did I miss this?”

“Maybe because I don’t want to talk about how my grandmother is getting laid more than me these days.”

That was fair. “But Roberto hasn’t said anything either, that dog.”

The door blew open and Bev hurried in, her hair wild. “I’m here! I’m so sorry I’m late. My alarm didn’t go off.”

Sam and I exchanged an amused look over the alarm excuse. “No worries, Gram,” Sam said. “We’ve been pretty slow this morning anyway.”

Bev darted into the back and when she returned I could see that the buttons on her shirt didn’t line up. “Did you get dressed in the dark?” I asked, pointing to her shirt.

The older woman glanced down. “Oh, shoot.” She quickly refastened the buttons correctly. “Mercury must be in retrograde right now. I just cannot keep up.”

I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh, as Sam rolled her eyes. “Yep, it’s Mercury alright.”

“What did I miss?” Bev’s head swiveled between the two of us as she wrapped an apron around her waist.

“Not much,” Sam said as she sprayed whipped cream on my icedcoffee. “We’re still not mentioning you-know-who and Val isn’t sure if she’s going to book club.”

“Oh, Val. Honey.” Bev grabbed my wrist and squeezed. “Just give it time. I know you probably don’t want advice, but my mother used to say men are like the bus. If you miss one, another is coming along right behind it.”

None of them were like Luca, though. Every man I knew paled in comparison. The pressure behind my sternum increased, making it hard to breathe. I missed him so badly. I couldn’t allow myself to cry anymore, though. This had been my choice. “Thanks, Bev. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I still think you should’ve moved to Italy,” Sam said.

“Move to Italy?” Bev’s eyebrows climbed. “He asked you to move there?”

Only Sam and Maggie knew of my final conversation with Luca. Well, now Bev knew too. “Yes, he asked me to marry him and move there.”

Sam put my drink on the counter. “Sorry, Val. I have a big mouth.”

“You turned him down?” Bev waved away my attempt to pay for my drink. “Tell me why.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Not to me.” Bev looked at her granddaughter. “Do you understand it?”

Sam shook her head. “Not even a little. A man like that—rich and handsome—who wants to marry me and take me to an estate in Italy? Y’all would definitely never see the likes of me ever again.”

“Hello?” I interrupted. “I have a business here. A life, friends. My mother’s house. I can’t just up and go.”

Bev’s smile was soft as she reached for my hand. She started walking around the counter. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

“Bev, I have to get to the restaurant.”

“No, you don’t,” she said, leading me toward the far wall. “Roberto wasn’t even dressed when I left. You have time.”

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