“At the very far end,” Nicole added, sliding into the booth.
“Okay.” He chuckled as we all took the right seats, right where we fucking belonged. “Obviously, there’s a lot of air to clear here.”
“Not really,” Nicole said. “There isn’t much to do here, Leo. You stalk my sister, creep your way into making her like you, while you’re fucking engaged? The only thing we expect from you is an apology and a goodbye. Then we’ll say congratulations and wish you all the best with your new position and the wedding.”
I poured myself some wine, a smirk on my lips. I loved this girl. We always saw eye to eye.
“Lina, is that your opinion, too?” he asked.
My ears perked up.
She opened her mouth, but the servers interrupted her, bringing our plates and bread before she spoke.
“We should eat first,” Angel said. “It’s my first Valentine’s Day…event. I’d like to enjoy it to the max,” her eyes traveled among the three of us, “if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure.” Leo smiled, while Nicole apologized. Angel glanced at me, waiting for me to say something, too. I only took a sip of the wine and placed a napkin on her lap for her.
The little jerk of her thighs as I touched her amused me. Would she jerk the same way when my hand was on her pussy? I bet she’d come all over my hand in less than ten seconds.
T-minus eight and a half months.
If I could wait that long.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Leo said, pushing a narrow rectangular leather box in her direction. “I hope you like it.”
Angel laughed under her breath as she opened it. He got her a fucking necklace. “Leo, it’s beautiful. I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Just put it on. I’d help if you weren’t guarded like an army secret.”
She giggled. Since when did she giggle for anyone but me?
“She can’t accept it.” Nicky intervened before I’d rip the fucking thing off Angel’s neck if she decided to wear it and kick Leo’s stinky ass out. Thank fuck.
“Why not?” Stronzo exclaimed.
“You can’t buy your way into an apology with your expensive gift.”
“I’m not trying to say sorry with this. It’s a Valentine’s gift.”
“Only couples exchange gifts on V-Day. You’re not a couple.”
Lina dropped a fork. “Enough, Nicky. I’m right here. You don’t have to speak for me.” She directed her gaze toward Leo. “Thank you for your gift. It’s a beautiful gesture. Whether I can accept it or not is up to me and only me to decide.” She snapped the box closed and placed it next to her on the table. “Now, can you guys promise not to talk about anything until we finish dinner? I’d like to eat in peace, if that’s not too much to ask.”
I patted her thigh, and she jerked again. “You got it. No more talking. For now.”
When the food arrived, and she saw I ordered salmon pasta for her, she blinked. “How did you know that’s what I was gonna order?”
“I didn’t. It’s the best pasta dish in the house, that and the pineapple ravioli, but I know you’re not a fan. You don’t want the salmon pasta?”
“I do. It’s my favorite. Thank you, Tino.”
“No need to thank me.” I dipped a fork in the truffle gnocchi and moved it to her mouth. “You should try this, too.”
“Oh, okay.” Her lips wrapped around the fork, and I pictured them on something else entirely. Her tongue licked the creamy sauce off her lip, sending a big twitch in my cock. “It’s so delicious.”
Yes. That’s what you’re gonna say. “More?”
“Yes, please.”
That too.
As promised, we finished the meal without bringing anything up—except my territorial cock. I exercised self-control around her more than I ever did around anything or anyone else. When there was another male dying to sniff her, to snatch her away from me, that was a different story.
“Can we talk alone, please?” Leo asked.
“Not happening,” I uttered. “Angelina only agreed to this meeting if I chaperoned. She doesn’t trust you alone with her. Neither do I.”
“It’s okay, Tino. You shouldn’t waste the rest of the evening for me. I can take care of myself. The live band has started. You should take Nicky and continue your dance.”
I shifted on the couch, my knee brushing hers, but I didn’t move it away. I pressed it further so that the sides of our thighs touched too. “Not. Happening.”
“Fine. I don’t mind saying what I came here to say in front of you. I don’t mind saying it in front of the whole world,” he said. “Lina, I’m sorry if I scared you before. Everything I did was because I really like you and wanted to get to know you. I should’ve asked you out earlier to find out about all the things I wanted to know instead of…finding out on my own. I also should’ve given you the choice whether to see me or not instead of following you around, forcing myself in your way like this.
“I admit I was, still am, obsessed with you, not like your actual stalker, but in the way any boy feels about the girl he likes this much. I think there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Nicole was about to say something, but Angel lifted a finger, silencing her. “You’re right. My reaction was a little exaggerated because of my…situation.”
Fury rumbled inside of me. Che cazzo?
“That doesn’t change the facts that I can’t be with you or anyone until he is caught and you’re engaged, Leo,” she added.
“I’m not afraid of him, and I’m not engaged.”
“What the fuck? Of course you are,” I spat.
“A girl was promised to me when we were kids. I never had a say in it or agreed to that engagement. Not once. I’m not a kid anymore. I have the right to choose the person I’m gonna spend the rest of my life with.”
“The only reason you didn’t want to marry Claudia was because you didn’t want anything to do with the family business. That has changed. You’re made. What’s your problem now?”
“I don’t love Claudia.” Il cazzone pinned his gaze to my Angel. “I’m in love with someone else.”
Her chest heaved, her eyes wide. “W-what?”
“It’s hard to believe because we don’t know each other, and I know it makes me sound fucking crazy, but I don’t care. I stopped caring a long time ago. Believe me, I tried when I was away, but fighting it is pointless and only makes me more edgy. I can’t run from the truth.”
“What truth?”
“I’m in love with you, Lina.” He swallowed. “And with your permission, I’d be honored if you’ll let me spend the rest of my life getting to know you.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Nicole grumbled. “Are you out of your mind?”
My fists clenched so hard my knuckles turned white. All my attention went to Angel. I needed to see how she’d react to this bullshit. Tell him to fuck off, Angel. Tell him you can never love him back. Tell him you can never be his. Tell him like you told me, you belong to me.