Page 78 of Empire of Temptation

When he hung up he started texting rapidly, his mouth turned into a frown. I zipped up my suitcase, asking, “Who are you mad at?”

I didn’t expect him to answer, so I was surprised when he said, “Gabriele. He is a pain in my ass.”

“He looks exactly like you.”

“I know.” Luca put his phone in his pocket and came closer. “He’s nothing like how I was at his age, though.”

“How so?”

He took my hand and we started for the door. “Let’s go. The boys will bring your things to the car.”

“Wait, my purse!”

“You will not need it.”

“But—”

“Basta, Valentina.” Luca opened the door and tugged me through. We went to the elevator, which was being held open by Aldo.

“Good morning,” I said to Luca’s man.

Aldo gave me a polite nod. “Buongiorno, signorina.”

All three of us stepped into the elevator and it began descending. In the silence I peeked at Luca, who was frowning at the doors. Was he still mad at his son? “What were you like at Gabriele’s age?” I asked him, returning to our earlier conversation.

“Serious.”

“Like, you never went out and had fun?”

“No.”

I stared at his hard profile. He was angry, and maybe before last night I would’ve kept quiet. But honestly, who was this man fooling? I poked his ribs. “Come on. You’ve had two kids by two different women. I think you had alittlebit of fun.”

Aldo made a sound like he was trying not to laugh, while Luca turned toward me. The side of his mouth lifted arrogantly as he slid his hand over my hip to cup my waist. “And last night I was doing my best to make it three.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Thank god for birth control. “Don’t forget this morning.”

He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss. “I will never forget this morning. It’s my new favorite way to shower.”

My face heated. Did he always talk like this in front of his men?

Luckily, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Luca took my hand and we strode through the hotel lobby and onto the street. A big SUV waited at the curb. Aldo opened the rear door and Luca helped me inside.

When Luca came around and got in next to me, I asked, “Why aren’t we taking your car?”

“This one is safer. It also has more room.”

We pulled into traffic. I watched the people hurrying on the sidewalk, everyone moving with a sense of purpose. I used to think, before my mom got sick, that I would move here. I imagined having an important nine-to-five job where I made lots of money and lived in a fabulous apartment.

But when mom was diagnosed I learned what really mattered in life. Like family and roots. I started to appreciate feeding people and running the restaurant. Money was nice, but it wasn’t the end all, be all.

The car turned a corner and slowed. Luca finished texting on his phone and put it away. “We’re here.”

I looked past him and saw where we were going. The Hermès store. My eyes grew wide. This was one of the most famous brands on earth.

He opened the door and got out, then reached for me. I slid across and took his hand. Once on the ground I adjusted the dress Luca had packed for me. “Are we buying scarves?”

“Do you need scarves?”

---