Page 126 of Absinthe Minded

She gasped and pressed her hands to her chest. “In the church I married my Joe! We can have the reception at the family villa. It will be beautiful. I’ll go and—”

Gabe raised a brow.

Evelyn glanced between us. “Would either of you mind if I handle the details? Some of the best vendors in Ragusa only speak Italian.”

That she’d thought to ask meant the world to me. “That would be great, thank you.”

“I should get started.” She gave me a quick hug, her son a peck on the cheek, and all but ran for her car.

Standing in the door, Gabe waved, but rather than coming back inside, he frowned. “We have more company. Shanna’s here. Looks like she’s been crying.”

“Really?” I leaped from the couch and regretted it immediately. My head swam, and my right knee felt as if someone had driven a hot poker through it.

Gabe slid his arms around me before I toppled into the coffee table. “Whoa, there!”

“Sorry.” I plopped back down.

Red faced and puffy-eyed, Shanna came through the open door. “Where’s Evelyn going? I thought we were planning a wedding?”

“We’re getting married in Sicily.” Gabe backed his way toward the kitchen.

“Cool. I’ll catch you two later.” She sighed and turned for the door.

“Uh-uh. No way. Not until you tell me why you’re upset.” I motioned for her to sit.

Sinking into a chair, she eyed Gabe. “Have you talked to Enzo lately?”

He muttered something under his breath and shook his head.

What in the world was wrong with him?“Shanna, what’s going on?”

She dipped her chin.

I narrowed my eyes at my fiancé. Judging by his reaction, he had at least a vague idea of what had Shanna so upset. It seemed his promise to tell me what he could didn’t extend to his brothers’ personal lives.

“I’m going to check Ella’s diaper.” He grabbed the baby and hot-footed it out of the room.

Shanna waited until the bedroom door closed. “Enzo and I had amomentat the gala before Gabe told us you were missing. Now, he’s ghosting me.”

“That jerk.” I didn’t know Enzo as well as the other brothers, but he’d never struck me as the type to hit and run.

“It’s ridiculous to get so upset over analmostone night stand, but we texted all day and talked on the phone for hours every night since the gala. I thought…” She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand.

“Maybe he’s busy with work or something’s come up?”

“I saw him with an Italian supermodel-type this morning. She was dripping in designer clothes and jewelry. They seemedclose.”

“Are you sure she was Italian?”

Shanna smirked. “I overheard them talking.”

“Gabe?” I spoke loud enough for him to hear me from the back of the house.

He peeked around the corner as if afraid he’d catch a case of estrogen. “Yeah?”

“Do you have family visiting from Italy? A woman, tall, thin, fancy clothes, and friendly with Enzo?”

“Sounds like Nicolina Lazio.” His jaw tensed. “Definitely not family.”

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