Page 66 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

And I definitely wasn’t making that phone call while Giacomo could hear me. I didn’t care how angry that made him. I deserved some privacy while living here.

Sal was in the kitchen, kneading dough, when I walked in. I went to the refrigerator to get a sparkling water. “Hey, Sal.”

“Ciao, signora. How were your classes today?”

“Statistics sucks. Other than that they were good.”

“Would you like some wine? And maybe fruit to go with it?”

I looked down at the bottle of plain sparkling water in my hand. After today, I deserved a treat. “Yes, actually. I would.”

Sal poured us both glasses of white wine. We touched glasses. “Saluti!” Sal said. “I think you’ll like this. It’s a Catarratto.”

I did like it. The wine was dry and crisp, sort of like a pinot grigio. “This is nice.”

“It is the most popular grape in Sicily. Sort of like the Calabrian Gaglioppo your brother-in-law uses.”

I didn’t know anything about the Ravazzani wine. I only knew Fausto and Frankie slept out in the vineyards sometimes, which was both romantic and weird. “Have you tried his wines?”

“No, I haven’t. You?”

“Yes, when I go to visit. They’re very good.”

“Your sister and Ravazzani, they are very much in love, no?”

“Yes.” We drank in silence for a moment. “Has there ever been another woman in your life after your fiancée?”

“Sì, certo,” he said with a laugh. “Dai, do you think an Italian man could remain celibate all these years?”

“I didn’t mean for those reasons. I meant someone you loved.”

A sly smile broke out on his face. “There is someone now.”

“What? Who?” This was fascinating. Propping my chin in my hands, I leaned on the counter. “Tell me everything.”

“I never kiss and tell. But she ismiaanima gemella.”

Twin soul. “That’s beautiful. Why don’t you marry her or have her live here with you?”

“We see each other enough.” He refilled our wine glasses. “Do not worry.”

“But I never see you leave—” I paused, realization dawning. “It’s someone here. On the estate. Oh, my gosh. Who? You have to tell me.”

Before Sal could answer, the back door opened. Giacomo strode inside, his gaze finding mine immediately. He took his time studying me where I sat at the bar. My skin grew hot under his stare and I suddenly felt naked, like he could see straight through me. Had he looked at those photos today? I was a fool for letting him take them.

I glanced away, watching Sal’s hands as he worked the soft dough on the counter. Giacomo edged up next to me, his body nearly touching my elbow. I tried to ignore him, but it was like my cells were electrified, the mitochondria humming with energy. I both wanted to throw myself at him and run away.

He plucked the glass from my hand. “Drinking wine, wife?”

I spun toward him. “Hey! Give that back. I wasn’t done.”

With a smirk, my husband lifted the glass to his mouth and drained the little bit of wine that was left, his throat working as he swallowed. I stared at his soft lips, surrounded by rough whiskers. I realized that we hadn’t ever kissed. What would it feel like? Was he a good kisser? We were close enough that if I angled in slightly, I could discover the answer for myself.

He swept his knuckles back and forth along my jaw. I shivered, the simple touch racing all the way to my toes to curl them. “How many glasses have you had, bambina?” he asked softly.

I pushed my eyeglasses higher on my nose. “Almost two. Why?”

“Are you drunk?”

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