Page 151 of Dirty Husband
That's good.
That's really fucking good.
* * *
After three bars,we call it a day.
Marcus walks us to the door. Hands us gold giftbags filled with cocoa treats. Truffles, soaps, lotions, bars, nibs.
He shakes my hand. Shep's.
Then he looks at Shep knowingly. Like he's offering approval. "You're a lucky man."
Shep turns to me. Smiles like he's madly in love with me. "The luckiest."
I shake my head. Try to find something original. Settle on— "I'm the lucky one."
Diablo and Marcus share a look.
They whisper something. Diablo shakes our hands. Then he nods a goodbye and returns to the factory.
Marcus leans a little closer. Close enough to whisper. "I'm sure you have a lot you'd like to see in Rome. I won't take over your trip. But I do insist on one thing." He pulls something from his pocket. A small red envelope with a gold bow. "Trust me. You'll be glad you did."
I take the envelope. Go to open it.
But Marcus stops me. "Don't let him see it. Make it a surprise." He winks at me. Then he takes a step backward. "Enjoy the wedding. And the honeymoon. I hope everything after will be… peaceful."
What the hell does that mean?
Marcus smiles, turns on his heel, disappears in the building.
I move away from the door, then I open the envelope.
Shep smiles. "Impatient."
"I'm allowed to see it." I hold it to my chest. "You're the one who's supposed to wait."
The crease in his forehead softens. The frustration in his eyes fades. He's feeling better. More present. "You're making me wait?"
I nod.
His voice drops. "Youare going to makemewait."
Ahem. "Yes."
"Is that a dare, princess?"
"Yes," I bluff. No. Not at all. I don't want to wait. I want to jump into his arms and have him right here, in the middle of this quaint cobblestone street.
Well, maybe not the middle.
More against the building.
Him pinning me to the wall as I—
"You won't last five minutes." He brings his hands to my hips. Pulls my body into his. "Besides." His lips find my ear. "I know what's in the envelope."
"Oh?"
