by Fiona Murphy
“He said he prefers the house and honestly, I do too.”
“I think it’s adorable the way he bought the house for you, then gave you free rein to do whatever you want with it. I’m fighting with Dante on the colors for our kitchen. He wants too much boring brown wood, and I’m in love with your stove. I want one and to make the blue a color to build off. In case you weren’t aware, I’ve been checking out your remodel for ideas. Ray is nice, his guys are breaking their humps to finish in under eight weeks for the bonus Enzo promised. Is the mold thing going to hit them on the bonus?”
“I have no idea. Enzo plays fair with everyone but me, so probably not.”
Bethany laughs. “Yeah, Sabatinis don’t play fair when it’s not in their best interest.”
“How is that funny?”
“Okay, I guess it’s only funny when it’s not happening to you. But I mean it’s kind of endearing. Think of the reverse, it would mean they don’t care. It’s not just what they want, though; they will turn their world inside out for you if you’re important to them, all of them without a doubt from Dante, to Cesare, to Dominic, and even Tony. Dominic spent two hours helping me pick out our master bath and the rest of the bathrooms in the house. While we were doing it, he got me a vanilla shake, a bottle of water, French fries, and turned the A/C down so low the lady in the office put on a sweater. Tony spends hours with Alicia, helping with Matteo and Sophia, and was incredibly patient teaching her Italian.” I wince at the idea of Tony and Dominic. “What?”
I tell her about Tony and what Dominic said.
“Hmm...he wasn’t wrong.” It’s a slap across the face all over again. “I wondered myself if you would unplug from all of that to give Enzo a chance. What changed?”
“That Dominic wasn’t wrong, as much as it hurt. When Enzo walked away after I said no, I had it in my head I would make him grovel until he went hoarse before I said yes. I never doubted he would ask me again. I mean, I told him not yet. Except I was also planning all these ways to make him pay, not even considering the fact that Enzo had done what I wasn’t willing to do: be vulnerable.
“I wasn’t willing to lay myself on the line for him. On one hand he’s this massive, made-of-muscle billionaire, bigger, stronger than me who doesn’t look like a city bus could put a dent in him, but Dominic then Russell made me realize he could be hurt too. His pride had to take my no hard, no matter if I was saying not yet. I wanted to be as brave as him, to be what he deserved. Then he was standing there, waiting for me to push him away, yet not walking away. I couldn’t let him doubt for even another minute I wanted him. And he is offering a marriage, not some casual hookup, even if ten years feels like a limit not forever.”
“I’ll bet you a billion dollars Enzo won’t let you go when you hit ten years.”
“I don’t have a billion dollars and I won’t anytime soon. I’ll bet you a weekend of babysitting.”
“You’re on! Come on, let’s go take a look at the house to see how it can be laid out.”
“We don’t have time, we have to be at the dressmaker’s in twenty minutes. Lydia is meeting us there and my bestie Russell might be late.”
“Okie dokie, wedding dresses are more fun anyway. I’m sorry Alicia couldn’t come, she’s sad but she’s miserable. She swears if the baby doesn’t come on his own this week she’s taking desperate action.”
“I understand, poor thing.”
“Yeah, her ankles are twice their normal size. She’s so uncomfortable walking she’s been in bed all week long.”
We’ve barely walked through the door of the exclusive bridal salon of the most sought-after wedding dressmakers in Chicago when Enzo calls. “The wedding planner is expecting you at four thirty today. Warning, she’s got an attitude, but she’s being paid well so don’t take any of her shit.”
“Enzo, I don’t want to meet a wedding planner without you there.”
“Why not?”
“Because I—there are...” I’m annoyed I’m on the verge of tears at the idea of planning a wedding all by myself. Swallowing down the stupid lump in my throat “Never mind, forget it. Can you text me her address?”
“Sending it now.” Then he’s gone.
“What’s the matter, love?” Lydia hugs me.
“Nothing, just Enzo being Enzo. Thank you for coming.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Russell is almost a half hour late and can only stay for an hour, but he agrees with Lydia and Bethany on the A-line lace and sheer long lace-covered sleeves in antique ivory.
I’m forever grateful when Lydia and Bethany tag along with me to the wedding planner. Apparently she’s one of the top wedding planners in Chicago; Lydia has heard she’s a bitch and is dying to find out if it’s true. As we pile out of the car, I stop in shock to find Enzo waiting outside the building. “What are you doing here?”
A casual shrug. “You wanted me here.”
“Hey Enzo, look at you not being an asshole. I’m so proud of you.” With a giggle, Bethany gives Enzo a hug as she stands on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Since you have to be out of your place, you’re staying with me and Dante. You’ll stay in Cesare’s old bedroom, we never completed the renovation. All we did was knock down a wall to join them together, there’s still a kitchen with all the bells and whistles. I called Karen and she’s already packed up your stuff and sent it over. Me and Lydia will bail on you, I’m dying for mozzarella sticks. What about you, Lydia?
Lydia nods. “Sounds good, but I was daydreaming about gelato a few hours ago.”
With a wave they climb into a cab.
Opening the door for me, he cocks his head. “Coming?”
17
Chloe
A harried young woman points us to the back. I’m grateful Enzo came. Candice is combative, not happy we don’t have a guest list and that it will be so small. As I calculate everyone, we come up to around thirty people. I also can’t say for sure what I want my wedding colors or flowers to be. There’s also the fact we’re planning a wedding from scratch to happen the same weekend as at least a thousand other brides are getting married who have been planning for upward of two years. A florist is willing to meet with me tomorrow, and the cake will be made by an up-and-coming baker; Candice has heard good things, and it’s good it won’t be a big cake. Enzo doesn’t like the sound of that until Candice shows him the woman’s portfolio.
“I think they look great and she’s willing to meet with us today.” I plead for Enzo to drop it.
“If it’s what you want.”
“Yes, please.”
“All right.”
“You really don’t even have an idea for your colors?”
“You like pink,” Enzo murmurs.
I blush; I feel silly for admitting it. “Pink is an extremely popular color, nothing wrong with pink. Now we need at least one more color,” Candice urges.
“You like gray, so gray or silver and pink would look good together.”
Enzo nods. For the first time Candice smiles. “Great, let’s go with silver, there aren’t as many grays out there. This will move things right along.”
It takes exactly five minutes to select the plates, silverware, and linen. Finally, Candice smiles as she crosses things off a long list. “As far as catering, my top three are booked solid. Since you have a smaller party it will work to our advantage. Is there someone you’re thinking of?”
A nod and Enzo pulls out his phone. “Hey, you’re catering the wedding.”
I can hear a groan on the other end. “How many people?” It’s Dominic.
“About thirty, tops.”
“All right, no family discount.”
“The thought never crossed my mind.”
Enzo switches to Italian as he tells Dominic the name of the wedding planner and that he’ll give her the name of the head chef, and he asks what number to give her. Confirming the number for the club, he ends the call.
“My cousin’s club will do the
catering. Here’s the number of the chef, Stefano. Tonight we’ll go over and do a tasting.”
The wedding favors are made easy by Enzo suggesting a bottle of Macallan whisky and Krug champagne. Candice suggests also doing a small gift basket of macarons and chocolate truffles the baker we’re using is popular for.
We take Enzo’s car, with Everett driving us to the bakery a few miles away. The baker is a sweet younger woman named Eleanor who doesn’t look a day over twenty-one. Her chubby face is red with excitement as she takes us through a book filled with pictures of cakes.
“Their colors are silver and pink.”
“How pretty. Favorite cake flavor?”
Without hesitation I say, “Red velvet,” At the same time Enzo says it too. For the first time in what feels like forever, we share a smile. This crazy, insane day feels better with him here now, us going through all of this together like a real couple.
“I also don’t want any fondant. The stuff tastes like crap, I want a real cream cheese frosting.” Enzo frowns.
Eleanor smiles weakly as she nods. “Okay, I, um, I understand, not everyone is a fan of fondant. We bakers like it because it’s easy to work with, but I can do cream cheese icing.”
“I like that one.” I stop at a simple two-tier circle cake in a pale lavender on the bottom cake, with a smaller white cake on top. I look up to Enzo. He nods.
“We can do the bottom in pink and the top in white, but what kind of pink soft, bright?” She flips the book to the back, where there’s a long line of variations of pink I wouldn’t have thought of. I pick a color.
“I don’t like the ribbon though that separates the two layers.”
“How about silver sugar balls instead?” she asks as she flips to a cake that has what she’s talking about. I nod. “Okay. How about on the top for interest? Maybe roses?” Another cake with roses on top.
“I’ve never been into roses.”
“Hmm...how about...” She flips to another page with nothing but flowers.
“What are those? I really like those.”
“Those are peonies. They are popular wedding flowers and they smell amazing.”
I look to Candice. “I definitely want those.” She nods and makes a note.
“How about a small bouquet of three in pink and silver?”
“I like it.” Enzo, who smiles and nods.
“Okay, let’s start tasting some cake truffles so you can decide which ones you want in the gift bag.”
Almost an hour later, we leave with a bag full of goodies. I learned Enzo loves chocolate; he smiled more in that hour than I have ever seen him smile.
We drop Candice at her office. “I know we just had way too much sugar, but I’m hungry for real food. Want to grab dinner at the club so we can taste test our way through the menu?”
“Yes, please. I’m actually feeling a little queasy.”
“You need protein and plenty of water to get the sugar out of your system. Come on.”
I’ve seen the private club often, but I’ve never been inside. The rumor is it’s one of the best restaurants in the city. And that there’s gambling in the basement.
We’re shown to a quiet table in the back. Dominic arrives at our table almost ten minutes after we’re seated. I’m not surprised when Dominic and Enzo hug; I am surprised when Dominic offers me one. “Are you going to forgive me?”
I nod and hug him back. “You weren’t saying anything I didn’t need to hear.”
Enzo raises an eyebrow at me. “What did he say?”
Dominic slaps Enzo on the back. “It’s what she needed to hear, not you, cousin. You two came right on time. I’m starving.”
The next few hours pass so quickly I can’t believe it when I yawn, then see it’s almost ten o’clock. Enzo nods. “Yeah, it’s time to get you home.”
We say our goodbyes. Dominic whispers in my ear, “I am sincerely happy you will soon be my cousin. Have no doubt about that.”
I thank him with a kiss on the cheek.
Enzo’s hand goes around my arm, then pulls me tight against him. Dominic laughs. “Cousin, you are too funny.”
“It’s not funny,” Enzo growls.
Pushing up against Enzo, I insist, “Yes, it is. Come on, take me home.”
Once we’re out on the street, Everett opens the car door for me. “Has Everett been waiting this whole time?”
Chuckling, Enzo shakes his head. “Only you have ever asked that question. He took your car home, grabbed his own dinner and he’s only been waiting a half hour or so.”
“Thank you for getting my car home, I wasn’t even thinking of it”
“No problem.”
When we pull up to my place, I’m out of the car before Everett can open my door. Enzo follows me up the stairs. “Pack enough clothes for a few days, we can come and get your stuff later.”
“What?” I whisper as I realize Russell is in bed already. I pull Enzo with me into my room and close the door.
“You’re coming home with me.” He glances around the room. “Where are the carriers for Pepe and Cetta? I’ll get them while you pack.”
“I—we.” I’m flabbergasted. “You’re staying with Bethany and Dante.”
“In Che’s old condo on the other side. They knocked the wall down but it’s still a separate space complete with front door.” His hands go down on my hips, pulling me up against his hard, hot body. Like flipping a switch, I instantly melt into him. “We were rudely interrupted this morning. I want you in my bed tonight and every night. I can’t take another night of jacking off to the memory of the taste of you.”
Lord, he’s making me tingle there at his words. “You’re so dirty.”
“Angel, you haven’t heard anything yet. I’ve been planning what I’m going to do you since the first damn night I met you. I have so many much, much dirtier things in store for you.”
“Tell me more.” I moan into his mouth. Savage, hungry, I fall headlong into his kiss. Enough isn’t enough, I want more, need more.
Enzo’s head comes up, and I can’t swallow my moan of need. “No, angel, you only have a queen bed. I don’t fit in them, they’re too small. And by the time I’m done, we’re both going to be too exhausted to do anything but go comatose.”
“Promises.” I groan as he gently pushes me toward my closet.
“A Sabatini keeps his promise. Pack, where are the carriers?”
“In the laundry room, their carriers and litter box are in there.”
“Fuck, I forgot about litter boxes. Will they be okay here tonight?”
“Yes, they’ll be fine. Russell feeds them in the morning so they don’t claw me awake. I’ll come by and get them after work.” I grab a change of clothes and underwear and toss it into a carryall. In less than five minutes I have everything I need and we’re back downstairs in the car.
Enzo has been working his cell phone since we got into the car. I’m wondering what’s so important as we make it into the elevators with him barely looking up. He mutters, “Asshole.”
“What?”
“Dante being a dick as usual. He thinks he’s so damn funny.”
Uneasiness lingers. “Does he know I’m spending the night?”
A large hand wraps around my wrist, tugging me into his arms. “You aren’t spending the night. You’re with me until we move into the house when it’s finished. And yeah, he knows. I’m not leaving you alone until I get the ring on your finger.”
I jump as his hand glides over my ass and he squeezes. I’m blushing as my knees go weak and I sag into him, the asshole chuckles. “So, what? I’m handcuffed to your side for the next six weeks?”
“I think I can make it so you’ll want to be in bed with me every damn night. No cuffs necessary.”
Holy crap, he presses his hard cock against my stomach and whoosh, my legs go out from under me. Laughing, he catches me, lifting me off my feet. His mouth goes down on mine, but he’s so mean, merely brushing his lips against mine. “Enzo,” I mo
an as I try to tug him down to me.
“In about three seconds the doors are going to open. If I kiss you we’ll never make it out of here.”
The doors open, we make it into the condo and into the bedroom without me noticing it happening. His arms tighten a second before I find myself on the edge of a high bed. Using the hand in my hair, he guides me down off the bed. “On your knees, open wide.”
He doesn’t have to command me twice. My mouth is as wet as the core of me wanting to taste him all over again. This afternoon, I couldn’t believe what came over me; now I know the answer is Enzo. With one hand I grasp the base of him while I fight the urge to try once again to swallow him whole. Careful, I suck deep as my tongue tastes the weeping slit at the tip of his thick cock. How can he taste so sweet to me when I never liked this before? Why am I soaking wet, my thighs slick with desire for him, desperate for him to fill me and make me whole? I stroke him up, then down, remembering to squeeze him tight at the base.
“I’m not going to last. Chloe, fuck.” Enzo groans.
Once again, he tries to pull away. I refuse to let him go, sucking harder as I take him deeper. A curse word is his warning, then he swells in my mouth and seconds later he comes. This time nothing escapes; satisfaction fills me as he groans my name. I blink and he’s tossing me onto the bed then following me down, his mouth on mine again.
Breathless, I gasp as he moves above me. “I swear I can last a fuck load longer than I do when your mouth is on me.”
“You might be able to, but I can’t.” I moan.
He grasps my pants and panties together as he yanks them off me. His mouth is on me seconds later, devouring me. I tear my own blouse off this time, my fingers fumbling with the buttons. Oh god, my hips jerk up of their own volition as a high-pitched cry escapes me. He’s all tongue, teasing, probing, licking deep, so deep except where I need him most. Please, please, I’m begging.
Strong hands grip my hips, then roll me over onto my stomach. What? The question has barely formed before oh fuck yes, Enzo enters me in one powerful thrust. Every bone in my body turns liquid as, burying my face into the comforter, I release a scream that leaves my throat raw. An orgasm slams into me without warning, breaking me apart, pulling me under, leaving me gasping for air.