Page 79 of The Veiling

“Is that so?” He smiled, finishing his glass of red wine, then set it on the table.

Matching his expression, I nodded.

“So, Isabelle, what do you have planned after this lovely dinner?” He leaned back, resting his elbows on the chair’s arms.

I opened my mouth to reply, but the server approached, ready to refill his wine glass.

Valentino lifted his hand. “Just the check, please.”

“Would you like me to prepare the bottle to be taken with you, sir?”

“That would be great, thank you.”

As the server disappeared to seal the wine and grab the check, Valentino bowed his head at me. “Continue, mi amore.”

“Well, I think I have an idea.”

“You’re going to torture me and make me wait?”

“Maybe.”

He shook his head. “I deserve that after taking you to that place.”

I sighed. “Sex work is still work. I wasn’t even weirded out by that. The location was just…wow. It was just—”

“Hadn’t been redecorated since the 70’s?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know.” I rolled my eyes playfully. “You wouldn’t let me even see inside the room.”

“It looked like someone skinned a Muppet inside my Nonna’s bathroom.”

I choked on my water and set the glass down, wiping my lips with the napkin. “Wow, you’ve reallyAmericanedyour jokes, Mr. Italia.”

“Maybe I’ll try stand-up comedy when I retire.”

“You should.” I giggled just as the server returned.

Valentino signed the bill and stood before helping me from my seat. We thanked the staff as we exited. I could still feel eyes staring at our every move but ignored it. People were going to talk for a while, but eventually they would get bored. Or if we were lucky, one of his friends would be involved in a minor scandal again, and people would stop talking about me.Probably Emilio Rovati, I sighed under my breath.

“What’s that?” Valentino inquired as he got into the car.

“I was just thinking out loud.”

“Where to, ma’am? Since my lady is in charge tonight.”

“To the penthouse, but only out front, please.”

Valentino arched a brow.

“You’ll see.”

On the way, he held my hand tightly on the center console before he laid our hands on my lap. “How’s our little one?”

“Great, so far.” I glanced down, resting my other hand on top of his. “I think very happy with the lodging situation.”

“I would hope so.” He grinned with an eye roll before he became serious.

I wanted to ask her how she was feeling about Felipe now, and if him being gone had sunk in yet, but I decided not to ruin the light mood of the evening. Soon, we slowed next to the apartment building. The two valets hurried over to our doors, opening them simultaneously. I took Isabelle’s palm in mine. After smoothing her dress, she paraded past the building instead of going in. I glanced at Joseph and Noah before we hurried to follow her fast pace.

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