Page 37 of Romeo
Did it just get hot in here?
When I got to the door to the kitchen, I realized what I was doing. Not just enjoying having his eyes on me, but I had enjoyed a lot more of him. I spent the night in bed with him then took a shower with him this morning. Not a regular shower either. I scoffed to myself. I had done the opposite of what I had vowed. I had told myself so many times over the last two weeks or so. Do not date Romeo Descalia. Especially on one particular day when we were having lunch, he just looked so hot. Dressed in Armani and smelling like heaven’s door. My fingers itched to reach out and rake themselves through his silky looking hair. I of course didn’t give in, but it had been a fight as he made me laugh and kept using thatdazzling-drop-your-panitessmile of his.
So after fighting off the feeling and being proud of myself for resisting…What did I do? I leapt past dating and jumped into bed with him. I was the one that made it happen too. Locking him in my room? I know it was far too late now but…
The fuck was I thinking?
I halted when I almost ran into someone.
“Holy cannoli!” Zia exclaimed as she placed her hand on her chest.
Gasping, I reached out with my free hand to pat her arm. “Covolo, Zia. I am so sorry!”
She smiled at me. “I can see something is on your mind. Let me take those dishes.”
I paused. “I wanted to help with the cleanup.”
She chuckled as she managed to remove the plates from my grasp without me even realizing it. “No worries, I don't do a lot of dishes, dolce ragazza.”Sweet girl. “We have several maids and a housekeeper. I am sure they can handle it.” She smiled at me. “I wanted to tell you that you and Romeo sure look good together.”
My head shot up…Together.I tried to fight the panic. I’d never been the kind of person to lie. Although this was more like hiding something, not lying. I needed to tell Romeo and his family the truth about V. The truth about me. “I-I…”
At my senseless rambling, she chuckled and took my arm. “Come into the kitchen. I made some espresso. It is deliciosa.” She dragged me along, not giving me a choice.
I already knew Zia Maria was aforce of her ownas Romeo had phrased it. But she also seemed so wise and sweet to me. I admired the way she spoke out. I especially loved the way she handled Mr. Descalia. She knew how to do that for sure.
“Have a seat, dolce ragazza.” Zia waved her hand to a chair. Grabbing a tray with a few cups, she then sat a carafe and the cream-sugar pots onto it. Turning, she brought the whole thing over to set it down. Taking a seat across from me, she poured our espressos into tiny cups or what the Italians call demitasse, just like they used in Italy. Handing a cup to me, she smiled. “Have a sip. You will feel bene.
I did as she told me and took a small sip of it. The flavor was fantastic, warm, semi sweet and a bit frothy. I smacked my lips and said, “Così buono! So good.”
Raising her cup up to her lips, she blew on it to cool hers a bit. “Si, it’ll make you sit up and notice!” She chuckled.
I took another sip and hummed my enjoyment.
“So, why are you troubled?” she asked.
I set my cup down and asked, “Troubled?”
“Yes, even I can see that you are nervous. You looked very happy when you first came down this morning.”
I stared at her in confusion. “What?”
She chuckled and took a sip, then set her cup down. “ You looked like you were floating on a cloud. Then suddenly you became inquieta?”
“Uneasy?” I repeated.
Nodding, she sighed. “Non essere pazzo. I’m not the goomah for nuthin’, ya know? I can see you are scared of something. I know it might not be my preoccupazione, but there are plenty of people here that care about you.”
I lowered my head. “It's like a long story with short notice.” That was the way I saw it. My past history hadn’t made a difference here. It was just that in my past. Then it suddenly came up when they asked me about Deacon. Now it was my reality and very current.
Zia laughed. “Now that is a wonderful answer! A long story with short notice. Maybe I can help? I know by the look in your eyes that it’s something you are troubled about.”
I sipped my espresso shot then realized I’d drunk it all. I laughed nervously as I noticed my hand shook, so I set the cup down again. “It’s my past.”
“Oh?” she asked. “You got secrets then?”
I nodded and kept my head down as I replied, “Doesn’t everyone?”
The room went quiet, so I looked up at her. I cocked my head at her. “So, you do know about keeping secrets.”
