I like her more and more, especially because she’s married to his brother and not with Niccolò. “I can’t believe he let me sleep.”
“You needed it.” I’m sure that wasn’t meant as a dig, but I felt the sting. There’s not enough makeup in the world to hide the dark circles under my eyes. I open my purse which is on the nightstand.
“My phone?” I ask, since it’s not in my purse or my alarm would have gone off.
“It’s on the charger in the kitchen… powered off. He said he didn’t want your alarms to wake you.”
“So who opened the café?”
“Your employees and Nico. He brought in two additional girls to work.” My temper rages as I wonder if he’s banging them. He just knew two females to work there doesn’t make any sense.
“You’re not supposed to work today. His orders, but you—” The baby fusses in her arms. “Listen, mister, you better behave,” she says in a singsong voice. The little baby smiles at her, and I’m floored while my ovaries scream for a baby. I’ve always wanted children, but with my life such a disaster I didn’t think it would be possible.
“Wow. He’s adorable.”
“Thank you. Luca, say hi to your zia,” Aria tells him with a sweet tone. He smiles and babbles, bubbles forming from his lips.
“Zia?” I ask.
“It’s ‘aunt’ in Italian.”
“I’m not… I mean, Niccolò and I aren’t…” I protest, attempting to find the words to explain our relationship. She’s got the wrong idea when it comes to our relationship.
“Okay…” She rolls her eyes while bouncing the baby on her hip. “Whatever you say.”
Unwilling to argue about it, I change the subject. “What am I supposed to do with a day off?”
“Relax. You could use some retail therapy, or read a book. I’d say we harass Mariana because we have some last-minute wedding plans to work on.”
“Who?” Please tell me she’s related to them.
She huffs, throwing up her free hand in frustration. “Nico didn’t tell you? This weekend, Mariana and Nero are getting married.”
“Who?” I haven’t the faintest idea who these people are.
“Did you two actually speak at all? Come.” She takes my hand, and with her power heels on and with the baby in one arm, she leads me to the fireplace mantel. “This is from my wedding to Domani.”
It’s a group of handsome people. Damn, Niccolò was right. He and his brother look a lot alike. “This is Nero.”
“Wow, everyone is so damned good looking.” I put the frame back on the mantel, feeling extremely out of my element, not that I had one to begin with.
“I know, right?”
“Amore.” A growl comes from behind us.
“Domani, what are you doing here?” We turn around as he approaches.
“I came to make sure you were safe.” He takes his son and then pulls Aria in for a deep, long kiss. My eyes widen and I gasp, a bit confused because if I didn’t know better, I’d say it was Niccolò kissing her. “You must be Ivy. I’m Domani Bianchi.” He doesn’t shake my hand but he does give me a smile, clinging to his wife like she’s going to escape. These men are lady killers for sure.
“You’ll have to excuse my husband. He can be insanely protective of me.” Her eyes do another lap as she explains about the man beside her.
He shrugs and then kisses her cheek. “That’s true, but you must understand that without you, I’m nothing.” Seriously, they are too much to handle.
“I thought you were working.” She raises her brow, questioning his actions.
“I was, but I had some matters that needed to be handled, and now I’m headed into the office.”
“Okay. Give me Luca so you can go to work.”
“One more kiss, amore.” He kisses her again and then hands over his son, who he kisses on the top of his head.
“Pa-pa,” Luca says, stretching his arms out for his daddy. It’s too freaking adorable and clearly pulls at Domani’s heartstrings.
“Do you want to come with Papa?” he asks, taking him back.
“Sucker,” Aria teases.
“For the two of you,” he says, looking at her while holding his baby close. Thoughts of Niccolò treasuring our baby go to my head. Where that image came from is foolish. It’s not that I haven’t had fantasies of him before, but now I’m his payment for a debt. I’m at his bidding and not the love of his life. Their relationship seems enviable.
“You don’t have to take him with.”
“I’ll be in the office, so it’s fine. He has his play yard thing there, anyway.”
“Are you sure?” He tilts his head, pointedly letting her know that he’s more than sure. “Fine, but call me if he’s too much trouble and I’ll get him.”
“My son? Trouble?” He swats his hand in the air and shakes his head.
She rolls her eyes at him and then they kiss again.