Page 155 of Empire of Temptation

God, the universe hated me.

They were both staring at me oddly. I blurted, “Congrats on the commission, Chuck. See you around.”

And I got the hell out of there before I started cryingagain.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Valentina

Book Club was in full swing.

Nearly every single man in town was packed into the trattoria’s bar, hungry gazes watching the women in the corner. Instead of drinking with my friends, though, I poured drinks for customers and helped behind the bar. It kept me busy, as well as prevented my friends from grilling me about Luca.

The new bartender, Quincy—who was Anne Marie’s son—didn’t know a Manhattan from a Long Island Iced Tea, but I couldn’t complain. Quincy had stepped in after Gabi returned to Italy to go be a mafia prince. I missed Gabi, but he and I texted regularly. He sounded busy, but happy. He never mentioned his father and I never asked.

Had Luca started sleeping with his mistress again?

The thought caused my empty stomach to turn over, so I popped an olive in my mouth and looked around. Roberto hovered near the front, even though I told him to go home ages ago. There was no reason for both of us to be here, and I’d close down after my friendsleft. Giovanni’s team was almost done with dinner service, and then we’d only have the bar to worry about.

A few minutes later I made change for a beer. When I turned, Maggie was at the bar, frowning at me. I gave the customer his money. “Thanks, Carl. Let me know when you need a refill.” He turned toward his buddies and I rested on the bar closer to Maggie. “Need anything?”

My friend’s response was instant. “Yes. You.”

“I’m right here.”

“Val, god dammit. This is pissing me off. Come sit with us.”

“I don’t want to. They’re all looking at me with sad, pitying eyes. The second I sit down, they’ll want to hear what happened. Honestly, I don’t have the energy.”

“It’s only because they care about you. And I’ll tell them to not raise the topic of Luca Benetti tonight, I promise.” She put her hand over her heart.

“Maybe later. Let me help Quincy a little longer. Okay?”

Maggie pointed at me. “I’m coming back in thirty minutes and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“But—”

“If you refuse, I will tell Carl about the crush you had on him in seventh grade and how you used to walk by his house every day after school even though he wasn’t on your way. At all.”

Horrified, I watched Carl spin at the sound of his name. “What?”

“Nothing,” I said at the same time Maggie said, “Oh hey, Carl.”

“Were you guys talking about me?” He appeared adorably confused.

“I don’t know.” Maggie raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Were we?”

“You are the worst.” To Carl, I said, “Ignore her. She’s stuck in middle school.”

Carl rejoined his friends and I waved Maggie away. “Get lost, Fiorentino.”

A few minutes later the computer froze and needed to berebooted. I was standing with my back to the bar, entering in the information to restart the computer, when I noticed everything had gone quiet. I glanced into the mirror to see what was going on.

I jerked in surprise and my elbow bumped the computer. No, this couldn’t be. Was I imagining him?

Luca.

Luca was here, at the bar. A now empty bar.

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