Page 109 of Gone With the Wine

I nearly spew chardonnay all over everyone. “Vitto!”

“What?” He turns back to Jansen and tilts his head.

Jansen seems amused. “That’s a bit old-fashioned. Why aren’t you asking Bianca what her intentions are towardme?”

I freakin’ love that, but holy shit, I can’t handle this right now. “Good point.” I shake my head. “It’s just business.”

They all give me skeptical looks. “It doesn’t look like just business,” Gianni says pointedly, his gaze dropping to Jansen’s hand on my hip.

I slide my tongue over my bottom lip, then say, “Okay, fine. I’m using him for sex.”

Now everyone else chokes, including Jansen. I give him a look that says,right?

“You asked,” I tell my cousins.

“True.” Vitto shakes his head. “Okay, then. Are you married, Jansen?”

I roll my eyes.

Jansen laughs. “Not anymore.”

“Ah. Divorced?” Leo arches an eyebrow. “What happened with your marriage?”

“Leo! That’s personal!” I can’t believe they’re doing this!

“She cheated on me,” Jansen says, deadpan.

I gasp, then slap my hand over my mouth. Is that true? I did not know that!

“Oh man. That sucks.” Vitto slaps a hand on Jansen’s shoulder. “Sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah.” Leo shakes his head. “You have any kids?”

“Nope.” He lifts his wineglass to his lips, not looking at me.

His wife cheated on him? Why didn’t he tell me that? I tune out the conversation as I mull all this over, my stomach squeezing. We’ve talked about so many things. I feel stupid that I didn’t know that. I also feel…hurt.

I guess I shouldn’t. We’re not in a serious relationship. He doesn’t have to tell me everything. We’ve both been honest about that. Except…I’ve fallen in love with him. And Idofeel hurt. And, well, sad.

The truth is—he doesn’t really tell me anything about his past life. He told me retirement was hard, but that’s it. He told me he’s divorced, but that’s it. And I’ve been open with him about so much. Damn. Am I not good enough for him to tell me those kinds of personal things?

We’ve been sleeping together and I thought I could do it without catching feelings. I know better than to let someone in like that, someone who’s going to let me down. But I can’t deny the ache in my chest.

I also feel unreasonably pissed at Jansens’ ex-wife. Who would do that to him? She’s clearly an evil bitch and I hurt for Jansen.

People are leaving and I need to focus and find Uncle Geno. I ask Leo where he is and he points toward the fountain where he and Aunt Janet are talking to a couple.

“I’m going to talk to him,” I say to Jansen in a low voice.

“Want me to come with you?”

“No. That’s okay. I can do this.”

Feeling twitchy and irritated, I straighten my shoulders and march across the grass toward him. In perfect timing, he says goodnight to the guests and I pounce. “Uncle Geno.”

He turns, eyebrows raised.

I keep my voice low so others don’t hear us. “Why didn’t you invite us to this dinner?”

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