Page 24 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“I know I can.” Say it with confidence; it works every time.

“And you’ll find my brother too?”

“Your brother?” It’s my turn to be confused.

“Mason. Abigail’s dad.”

Mason Callahan. I was so taken aback when Victoria walked in with Abigail that I didn’t even register the name when she said it. The brother who got into a sidewalk brawl is Abigail’s father. I don’t know how that happened, or where her mom is, but I’m guessing Victoria is the one who cares for her much of the time as well as working God knows how many jobs to pay the bills.

And suddenly, I realize that I’m not even fazed by the kid’s presence in this relationship.Fakerelationship I remind myself.

“Yes, I’ll find Mason. Now, who wants ice cream?”

7

VICTORIA

We sitat a table in the restaurant that I’m guessing is usually reserved for Caleb and his guests. He sits facing the other tables with an unobstructed view of the entrance, while Abigail and I sit with our back to the room. No one comes over to greet him—perhaps the staff are under orders to ensure that he isn’t interrupted—but I sense that he knows every time a customer moves, exactly what each table ordered, and how much their bill came to.

All while paying attention to me and Abigail.

For a short time, he makes me feel like we’re the only people who exist in the entire world, ordering a second helping of pistachio ice cream for Abigail when she proudly declares that her first dish is empty.

“Victoria and I need to discuss something important.”

He looks her directly in the eye when he speaks, and I find myself wondering if he has nieces and nephews too. For a billionaire businessman, he seems to know how to be on her level so that she trusts him, and my heart does that funny,fluttery thing that only belongs in romance novels and rom coms.

“Is it Auntie Vicky’s new job?” Abigail scrapes the bottom of the dish with a silver spoon and only peers at him when she’s quite satisfied that the only way she’ll get any more is by licking the bowl.

Caleb smiles and sets my heart off all over again. Perfect green eyes, perfect hair, perfect smile; did anything even remotely flawed ever land in his lap?

Yeah, me. The thought pops into my head unbidden, and I hide my face behind my perfect glass of iced water.

“Yes, it is.” A server appears at the table even though I never saw Caleb gesture for her to come. “Would you like to go with Frankie and bake cookies?”

“Where?”

It’s something I’ve noticed more and more frequently with Abigail as she gets older, she likes to know the order of events so that she knows what to expect. Caleb has saved the day by giving her the pistachio ice cream I promised her earlier, but she won’t forget that I told her she’d meet Denise at the hotel. I’ll have to deal with that one later.

“In the kitchen.” Caleb lowers his head so that he’s on a level with her and points at the swinging doors through which another server is backing into the restaurant balancing a tray of food on one shoulder. “Just through there. Our cookie chef makes the best cookies in the world.”

“How do you know they’re the best?”

“Because I’ve tried all the other cookies, and believe me, they’re not as good.” He pauses, shoots me a look to ask if he’s doing okay, and I nod. “Would you like that?”

“Can I eat the cookies I make?”

“Sure, so long as you save some for me and Victoria.”

Abigail frowns at him. “Why do you call her Victoria?”

“Because that’s her name.” He sits back in his seat.

“Everyone else calls her Vicky or Vic.”

Caleb smiles at me. “What do you think I should call her then?”

Abigail ponders the question for several moments. “Vicky.” She stands up and walks around the table to the server. “My name is Abigail. Pleased to meet you, Frankie.”

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