Page 54 of Enzo's Vow
The woman blinked, flute glass hovering near her lips. Then she burst out laughing, her gaze snapping to mine. “You sure found one with a sense of humor.”
Gemma’s triumphant smirk had my teeth grinding. She enjoyed this a little too much. “That’s my little wife…” I forced a teeth-flashing smile. “Hilarious.”
“All right, Psycho.” She tilted her glass, the light catching the crimson stain of her lipstick. “You tell the story.”
“Psycho?” Cassandra’s gaze darted between us, her smile faltering.
“It’s our… thing.” Gemma wrinkled her nose and rubbed my arm. “He calls me his little wife. I call him Psycho. Keeps things interesting.”
Cassandra nodded in agreement, although her wide eyes didn’t seem to agree at all. “Oh… how sweet.”
Time for damage control. “The reason Gemma loves to exaggerate my proposal is that I was unoriginal. We were at Gemma’s favorite restaurant, and she had one too many...” I gestured, mimicking drinking.
Gemma stabbed her heel into my foot and laughed aloud. The sound strained.
I cleared my throat, ignoring the throbbing in my toe, and continued my fabricated proposal. “Anyway, she spaced out in the middle of dinner. Not a cute spacing out, either. Have you ever seen a person zone out like some vampire-zombie hybrid?”
Cassandra frowned, but nodded out of politeness, no doubt.
“Not the prettiest sight, if you ever see her do it in person.” I extended my hands, capturing both Cassandra’s and Sergio’s full attention. “I pulled out the ring and snapped her out of her dazeby professing I wanted to spend my life with her. The rest, as they say, is history.”
Gemma worked her jaw back and forth as if a bone sat lodged in her tooth. “You’ll be history,mate,” she muttered under her breath.
Since we were in public, I seized this opportunity to act like a real husband. I kissed her cheek, letting my lips linger as I breathed in her frangipani scent. “Did you say something, my little wife?”
“Ahem.” The pinched muscle between her brows proved she faked her sweetness. “No, Psycho.”
Cassandra deposited her empty glass on a passing tray. “Well?” She waved her hands as if hurrying us. “Where’s your ring?”
“What?” We asked in unison.
Cassandra beamed, shaking her head in a playful manner. “The engagement ring? I see Gemma is wearing a wedding band, but where’sthering?”
“You’ll have to excuse my wife, Enzo.” Sergio leaned forward and slapped me on the back. “She’s a hopeless romantic.”
No such ring existed, but a strange ache settled in my chest. For the first time, I imagined it: me, on one knee, Gemma’s surprised face. I wanted that.With her. The realization hit me hard, followed by a sudden sense of loss. I robbed myself of the opportunity, robbed her as well.
“At the jewelers… being refitted.” Gemma rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. “Turns out Enzo has no idea about ring sizes.”
I playfully snatched her hand. “Hey, can you blame me? Look at these spindly fingers!”
She chuckled, swatting at my chest. I secured her hand, preventing her from whacking me again.
Cassandra leaned into her husband’s shoulder and hummed. “I must say, you two make an adorable couple. Don’t you agree, Sergio?”
Sergio winked and raised his glass. “Congratulations to you both.”
“I am curious, though.” Cassandra placed a finger to her lips. “Whatever happened to the gorgeous blonde? What was her name… ah, Valentina.”
Valentina. Her name alone stirred nothing, not even a lick of desire. But what could I expect from someone who was no more than a casual fling? I’d ended things with her months ago, long before Gemma entered the picture.
A pink hue stained Gemma’s cheeks. Embarrassment? No need. Valentina, though a stunning model, couldn’t rival Gemma’s strong-willed persona, especially given the pretty package of pale skin, espresso hair, and rich amber eyes. Gemma was captivating. Rare.Mine.
Sergio cringed, snagged his wife by the elbow and shot me an apologetic smile. He turned to his nosy wife. “Let’s go to the buffet and put something in that mouth of yours.”
“What? What did I say…” Cassandra mumbled as they stormed off.
“Interesting couple.” She sipped from her glass.
