Page 73 of His Vow
“Hmm, eccellente.” I turn to Antonio on my right. “Why is this the first time you’ve brought me to Leo’s restaurant? This spinach and mushroom fettucine is delicious.”
With a twist of my fork, another strand of pasta twirls around it, and I bring it to my mouth.Hmm, my tastebuds explode when the creamy richness hits them.
“What? Better than my cooking?” Ant asks, pretending to be offended, but his teasing grin is a giveaway.
“You cooked?” Leo asks, turning fully in his chair to stare at his brother beside him. Tonight, he’s eating at the table with us instead of being in the kitchen, a rarity according to Ant.
Antonio tips his head and dares to glare at his brother, a Michelin star chef. “Yes I cooked. And my wife liked my fettucine … more than yours.”
“It’s not a competition,” I reprimand them, but fail to keep the laughter from my voice as I prepare another forkful.
Tonight is the first time we’ve all been together since the wedding in Vegas, which feels like many months ago but was only a couple. So much has happened that I still don’t feel like I’ve been able to catch my breath. My gaze travels around the table, at the faces of family and friends.
On the other side of Leo is Rose. She’s flown over from London to spend the week with me, and we plan on filling our time together with some serious shopping. A perfect distraction I hope from the nightmares I’m having most nights since Bruno tried to attack us. Though, it helps to have Ant’s protective arms comforting me when the images fill my head in the early hours. Between him, my therapist, and Bruno finally locked up and paying for his crimes, I’m hopeful of a future without night terrors.
I send Rose a smile across the table and her attempt to return it is only half the usual wattage. Whatever this feud is between her and Nico, it’s time it stopped—especially when their icy glares and general grumpiness is becoming obvious to others, not just me.
Antonio throws an arm across the back of my chair to pull it and me closer. “What’s up with Rose tonight?” he asks, leaning toward me so only I can hear. He obviously caught her weak attempt at a smile too.
“I’m not sure but I think your brother might know.”
“Leo?”
“No, Nico,” I say with a shake of my head. My husband may be an expert at picking up my social cues but he’s hopeless with his brothers.
Ant looks around me at his younger brother sitting to my left. Nico has his head bent, intently focused on his phone. He’s been subdued and disengaged ever since he arrived. And those aren’t words you’d normally associate with the youngest Barbieri. Wild and unpredictable would be more appropriate.
Antonio’s gaze returns to mine before he leans in close again. But this time, he doesn’t speak; instead, he places a soft kiss on the sensitive skin beneath my earlobe sending goose bumps skittering across every inch of exposed skin. My mind goes completely blank of all thoughts but one.I wish we were alone.
I bite down on my bottom lip and Ant chuckles knowing exactly what his sexy little move just did to me. Pregnancy hormones have turned up the heat to scorching between us, so that the slightest touch feels like an intimate caress. I’m in a constant heightened state of horniness around my husband, and he likes to use it to his advantage.
“Please stop,” I whisper against his neck, just above the crisp open collar of his shirt. “Until later.”
“I’ll take that as a promise.” His grin stretches from one cheek to the other, and I melt into his side.
“Nico, is that news from the dock?” Gio’s firm voice pierces our steamy interlude. A stark reminder of exactly where we are, and I sit bolt upright in the chair. Ant’s shoulders shake with silent laughter, and I do my best to ignore him.
Instead, I focus my attention on Gio sitting to the right of Rose, his new girlfriend, Tori, by his side. And like Ant, his arm is slung over her shoulders. They’re finally together, after facing some tough times too. And though I don’t have all the details of exactly what happened, it’s good to see Gio smiling again. Even if currently a scowl is pulling his brows low as he looks at Nico.
“No, it’s personal.” He turns off his cell and places it facedown on the table in front of him. “Just an acquaintance making an impossible request,” he grumbles, flicking a glance at Rose before landing on Gio.
“How are things going with Father? Now that you’re part of the family business,” Leo asks Nico.
“Not part of the business, bro. I’m a consultant and still my own boss.” He directs his trademark grin at Gio. And it’s good to see his cheekiness return.
“A consultant? Is that what we’re calling you?” Gio raises his glass to Nico, then takes a sip. “All I know is that next time we have trouble in Naples, we’re coming straight to you.”
“Good to know that you no longer see me as the fuckup in the family.” Nico says but this time the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
Does he really believe that? Or is there something else behind that look?
Apart from Ant, Nico was the Barbieri brother I knew best from our summers in Capri. He and Dante were closest in age and spent a lot of time together. And if Ant and I were going somewhere that wasn’t the cove, we liked having them tag along. I remember Nico as a quiet boy. But when the boys’ mother died, he changed, becoming almost reckless.
“Never thought of you as a fuckup.” Gio’s gaze narrows on his youngest brother, like he’s trying to solve a problem.
“Me neither,” Ant adds, offering his support.
“Not a total fuckup anyway,” Leo says, but his grin is broad. “Now who wants more wine?”
