Page 18 of Devious Vows

My teeth bite into my cheek at his question, the weight of his gaze on my face as I continue to stare forward, another handful of feed tossed into the water. “It’s to be decided.”

When my eyes finally meet his, I find his face far closer than it was before. “If I hadn’t pulled you back that night, you would have fallen in that pond and frozen to death.”

Shrugging, I look away, the heat of his gaze making me uncomfortable. We’ve never really talked about that night. It always felt like a topic better left unremembered. “I’m surprised you cared enough to even come looking for me.”

His arm shifts against mine as he adjusts, moving to kneel more comfortably next to me.“Saresti sorpresa da molte cose, futura moglie.” You would be surprised by many things, wife-to-be.

I bump him, smiling to myself when he nearly tips over. Standing, I brush the dust from my fingers, eyeing Remy as he rises from the grass. “Tell me something then.”

He chuckles, folding his arms over his chest as he watches the swans. “You are shamelessly you in every aspect of your life.” Honey browns find my hazel eyes. “I envy that about you.”

“What else?” I ask, almost breathlessly, surprised he actually told me something that didn’t feel like a lie.

His eyes drop to my lips, a dimple marking his cheek before he looks away again. I almost don’t think he’s going to say anything else he’s quiet for so long. “You are stubborn. You have a smart-ass mouth. And you don’t follow the rules.” My mouth gapes at the turn of things, an insult on the end of my tongue when his eyes clash with mine. “But I respect the fuck out of you.”

I blink at his profile when he looks away again, heart thumping against my ribs. I don’t know how to process this side of Remy, but his kind words have sunk into my pores, curling like smoke around my beating heart. “Tell me more about how you envy me. I liked that part the most.”

He chuckles and my chest warms at the sound. “I envy you, my sweet, humble woman, because you do exactly what you want to do all of the time.” His jaw tics, looking away. “I don’t have that luxury.”

My feet shift on the soggy ground, a light scoff breaking the silence. “You’re always doing what you want, Remy.”

“Not in the same extent that you are able to,” he finally says, bringing my attention from the swans to him. “I still have rules to follow. I still have the Famiglia to answer to. If I break the rules, I don’t get a slap on the wrist, I get a coffin. When I take on the role as Capo Famiglia, those same rules apply, even if slightly more transparent.” His fingers rise, rubbing over his jaw. “Even if I don’t agree with what I have to do, I have to do it. You don’t go against the Famiglia.”

“The Famiglia always does what’s best for the Famiglia… Good thing we’re stuck in it for life.” He just smirks at my sarcasm, but I smile, knowing my joke helped ease the effect the conversation was starting to have on him. After a pause, I swallow, feeling brave enough to ask, “You said you’re free for the afternoon?”

He eyes me, honey browns swiping over my features, probably trying to see if I’m setting him up for something. “I did.”

Biting my lip, I look at the swans, his gaze too intense for me to speak directly to him. “Would you want to come to the library with me?” Gaze dropping to inspect the burgundy fingernail polish on my nails, I add, “Gavino usually comes with me, but I doubt he’ll care if you join.”

I hear the smile in Remy’s voice, can already see his dimples winking at me without having to look. “Are you inviting me out with you, future wife?”

My gaze locks with his, the bergamot on his skin teasing my nostrils in the breeze. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

One of his large palms settles on the back of my neck, leaning over to kiss the top of my hair before he lets me go, pushing me away just a tad harder than necessary.“Non amerei altro.” I would love nothing more.

Chapter Seven

The sun is warm on my skin as I sit on the sidewalk outside of my condo, waiting for my brother to pick me up. Another one of the Lucianos’ famous parties, tonight is the annual barbecue. I’m picking at the edge of my soft pink nail polish when Julian pulls up to the curb, honking obnoxiously despite seeing me looking right at him through the window. Standing up, I hear the click of the lock before I even reach for the handle and I suppress my smile with a purse of my lips, watching him chuckle silently inside of the car.

“Ha, Ha. Now open the door, Julian.” Hearing it unlock I try the handle, only to have him lock it the second I pull. My eyes narrow, a finger pointed at him through the glass in warning. “I will break your window. I swear I will, Julian.”

His loud cackling leaks through the glass, the click of the door unlocking with it. He laughs even harder when I jerk the door open with a little more aggression than necessary, expecting it to get locked again. Giving him a look, I drop into the seat, clicking the belt in place while ignoring my brother’s continuing giggles.

He lets out a contented sigh. “You know Mom is going to comment on your outfit, right? Do you do that on purpose or do you really have no idea how to dress for anything?”

Rolling my eyes at his comment I look over at his outfit, blowing an annoyed raspberry through my lips. Our mother does seem to hate my outfits more times than not these days. But it’s only because I’ve started branching out of what she picks out for me.

“It’s a barbecue, that is literally the most casual kind of party.” Julian is wearing dark denim and a simple red-and-white plaid button-up left open over a simple white tee shirt. Looking away from him, I comment, “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? It’s no worse than yours.”

He laughs like I’ve made some kind of joke. “You’re wearing a laced crop top, that alone will send Mom over the edge.”

I huff, looking down to tie a double knot in the strings holding my top together. The last thing I need is for that to come undone. My mother would lose her damn head.Well, that might actually get me home sooner.I take out the extra knot I just did and look out the window.

My outfit isn’t nearly as awful as Julian seems to think it is. “My outfit is comfortable and cute.” Looking down at my black leggings and at the tops of my clean white sneakers, I continue the conversation, “What should I have worn? Mom would have lost it if I’d have worn another pair of shorts.”

He eyes me at the light stoplight with a smirk. “That’s true. She hates your shorts more than anything.”

“She hates everything I do,” I mutter, making Julian chuckle.

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