Page 96 of Empire of Temptation

“True, but appearances are important. Especially in a small town such as this.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, suddenly nervous. Roberto had become like an uncle to me since we started working together. I respected his opinion and trusted his guidance. He was very smart and good with people. So I needed to ask. “Do you think I’m crazy for getting involved with him?”

He placed his forearm on the stand and met my gaze. “He will not hurt you, if that is what you’re asking.”

“That isn’t what I mean. I’m not worried he’ll hurt me physically. I’m worried about everything else. He’s a lot older than me—and not exactly on the right side of the law.”

“I think,” Roberto said after a beat, “that life is short and you should do what makes you happy. But you must remember a tiger is still a tiger, no matter where he resides.”

“And Luca is a tiger.”

“Sì, and he will never change. And his life is there, not here.”

Which was fine. Whatever was going on between us was temporary. A hot, yet brief, fling. Because when Luca’s business in New York concluded, he’d head back to Italy and we would never see each other again. The idea sat like a stone in my throat, but I needed to go into this with my eyes wide open, just as Gia had warned.

“No one has taken care of me in a long time.”

“I know. Which is why I want to do it. No one is more deserving than you.”

Ugh. If only he weren’t so damn sweet. But I couldn’t allow myself to fall for him. No matter what else happened, I had to guard my heart around him because he’d break it without thinking twice.

I bumped his shoulder with mine. “Thanks, Roberto. You’re pretty wise.”

“Many years of experience, signorina. I hope you avoid some of the bad choices I made along the way.”

This was new. He hadn’t opened up about his past before, despite my repeated attempts to get information out of him. “Like?”

“No, those are conversations for another day. We’ll sit down with a bottle of wine and I’ll tell you all my dark secrets.”

“I’m holding you to that promise. Though I think one of them is how you secretly like Maggie’s red table wine.”

He made a sound in his throat that resembled a scoff. “That is definitely not one of my secrets.”

Two lines on the phone lit up at the same time. “Time to go to work,” Roberto said.

I patted his shoulder. “I’ll take line two fromthe office.”

Luca

Bodies were packed tightly into the trattoria’s entrance. I had to squeeze past several couples to reach the hostess stand. When I did, I found a young woman there. “Buona sera,” I said. “I am?—”

“Mr. DiMarco. I know. I remember you from book club night.”

Ah, so a friend of Valentina’s. “I am here to have dinner with?—”

“Val, I know. Roberto has your table reserved. Follow me.”

The girl talked fast and clearly liked to finish sentences. I didn’t mind, if it got me closer to Valentina any quicker. I trailed the hostess through the dining room, which was full of diners and busy wait staff. A few people had their phones out, taking photos of Giovanni’s cuisine. Good. The more publicity for the trattoria, the better.

Wisely, Roberto had given me a table against the wall. It was my habit never to sit with my back to a crowded room, which was even more important with Segreto lurking around. My brothers were still searching for signs of the former underboss, as well as John Natale.

I lowered myself into a chair where I could see the entire dining room. “How is she doing?”

“Hovering like a nervous mother. It will be good to get her out of the kitchen and into a chair. While I tell her you’re here, what may we bring you to drink?”

“A bottle of the Ravazzani cirò, I think.”

“Good choice. And Giovanni is making something special for you both, so no menus.”

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