Page 126 of Scorned Beauty
It would be amusing to witness your groveling firsthand, but I fear when Natalya sees it, she will think she didn’t make me grovel enough.
I laughed. Luca wouldn’t care to admit such a thing in text, but I had a feeling I had his approval anyway with whatever path I took.
An hour later, I found street parking by the salon. I’d already called ahead of time to make sure that they could accommodate my request.
When I rounded the building, I spotted Matteo and Nico heading the same way. What the fuck?
Matteo smirked at me. “Looks like you found them.”
I’d been ignoring the text messages after Luca’s, so I checked my phone to see a slew of heart and drooling emoji messages thanking me for the lunch spread.
When it came to the women in my family, being pampered with food was the way to their hearts. It didn’t have to be the five-star meal I just planned, it just had to show that it took effort. In a way, Ma had trained me well. Money could buy many things, but it couldn’t replace the thoughtfulness that came from the heart.
And this was from the heart. I wanted to spoil Sloane with everything she deserved.
Nico clapped my back. “Looks like someone is obsessed.”
I didn’t deny it. I simply opened the door for them to walk in. “Since I’m paying for lunch, maybe back me up a bit, yeah?”
The fuckers had the gall to laugh.
The receptionist of the salon greeted us. She was tongue-tied for a while, which was usually the case when women saw the De Lucci men traveling in packs. Thank fuck Sandro and Luca weren’t around. I wanted the focus to be on the women.Although the way some of the staff were tittering behind their palms was telling. Not surprisingly, only one woman’s opinion mattered to me.
“The lunch spread you ordered is being set up in the Camelot room,” the receptionist said.
“Where’s Sloane?”
“Miss Scott is with Mrs. De Lucci and the others in the Corinthian room. Also, Mrs. Rossi requested the guys wait at the Camelot room where lunch is being set up.”
“I don’t mind a beer,” Nico said.
“Same,” Matteo answered and slung an arm around me but addressed the receptionist. “Don’t worry, miss, we’ll keep him company.”
She led us into an ornately appointed lounge room where the caterers had set up a long table covered with white linen.
In one corner, the bartender from my club was already in place.
“The usual, sir?” He grabbed a Macallan 18.
I tipped my chin in confirmation.
Meanwhile, Nico nudged Matteo. “I changed my mind.”
I rolled my eyes. As if they couldn’t afford expensive scotch. But an eighteen-year-old sherry oak single malt beat the best beer for sure, especially if you needed a shot to calm down your over-caffeinated nerves.
“Why not the Macallan 25?” Nico teased.
“I’m reserving it for another occasion.” I accepted the glass of scotch and let the crisp liquor saturate my tongue as I observed the luncheon setup. Easy finger food. Like seared scallops on a stick, a charcuterie board, asparagus spears wrapped in bacon, and, of course, the full caviar service. The caviar was to kiss Sera’s ass since it was a favorite appetizer of hers.
Sloane didn’t seem picky with food, and from our time together, she’d eat anything. Obviously, we didn’t date but ate out of necessity to recharge after vigorous sexual activities.
If she had a favorite dish, then shame on me because I had no clue. That was about to change. As long as she’d give me a second chance, I would find out every single favorite thing of hers, including substitutes.
I stared broodily at the entrance to the room, waiting for Sloane to appear. One server headed our way. Earlier, she had walked by with the girls’ drinks.
“Mr. De Lucci.”
“There’re three of us, ma’am,” Matteo drawled.
