Page 47 of Contempt

Now was not the right time.

Lucian had a treatment today at the hospital, and since Jordyn had something else she needed to take care of, that meant her father would have to go it alone. Lucia didn’t like the thought of that, and while sometimes, the treatments made her father sick and moody, she would rather be there to give him someone to talk to while he did the chemo.

Hence, the waiting driver outside.

Probably a Marcello enforcer.

It would have to be someone she recognized—they wouldn’t send someone random. Once she finished her breakfast, she would go out and meet the driver, then, head to the hospital to sit with her father during his treatment.

Lucia was half done with the waffles when a familiar voice had her lifting her head. Instantly, her gaze landed on the tall, handsome man walking her way. He grinned at the sight of her—showing off perfect rows of white teeth with an easy, charming smile. His three-piece suit looked tailored to his fit form, and covered his broad shoulders well. His cropped hair had been slicked back, and his brown eyes lit up with his happiness.

She, on the other hand, froze.

Christian Savino.

“Lucia, dolcezza, what are the chances you would be at this hotel, too?” he asked, coming closer to her table with every single word. His stride was easy, and confident. If he noticed her discomfort at seeing him there—in New York, at the same hotel as her like it had to be a coincidence—then he didn’t show it. “The Astoria does have the best of the best, doesn’t it?”

She took entirely too long to respond, which was a fucking mistake. Mostly because her hesitance gave Christian more than enough time to get to her table, and sit down across from her. You know, without being invited to do so.

Sitting across from her, he let out a laugh, and reached over to pick up her hand. He brought her knuckles to his lips, and pressed a quick kiss to her skin. She resisted the urge to tug her hand back, but only because she didn’t want to purposely be rude to this man. Sure, she didn’t share the interest he seemed to have in her, but that didn’t mean she needed to kick his ego while she was at it, too.

That seemed like a bit much.

Besides, Italians always did want to get close. That was how they expressed everything in life. Quite literally. From their anger, to their joy, or love. It was all expressed through physical actions. Like a kiss to the cheek, or a smack to the back of the head.

Or even a kiss to someone’s knuckles. It didn’t have to mean something specific—it just was. Except … she knew this man had an interest in her, so she was inclined to believe that for him, it meant more than just a sweet gesture.

“Christian,” Lucia said, keeping her tone pleasant. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

Not a lie.

Had he just come to New York because that’s where Kelly told him Lucia had gone? Because if so, that was a little creepy.

Christian smiled, and waved a hand. Finally, he let go of her hand, too, and she took the chance to hide her hand under the table where she wiped off the feeling of his lips on her knuckles against the skirt of her spring dress.

“Business,” he said. “The deal I was trying to make with someone in Cali—separate from the art print I brought along with me—almost fell through, and I figured coming right to his home territory might … well, change things. Or that’s my hope.”

Huh.

“And what is your business?” Lucia asked.

Christian shrugged. “A little of this, and a little of that. I import and export, essentially. Someone needs something specific, and I have the means to get it to them.”

She didn’t think he was telling her the entire truth considering the sly smile he sported, but Lucia opted not to press. She had learned over her life not to ask too many questions about someone’s business because like her family … well, it might not be all legal. She didn’t need the details.

“But lucky me,” Christian said, “because I get to see you again. I would like to do that more often, Lucia. See you, I mean.”

She blinked.

Wow.

That was … forward.

She gave him points for his confidence and arrogance, anyway. Not that it was going to make a difference to the news she was about to deliver to him.

“Not even beating around the bush, huh?” Lucia asked, half joking.

Christian flashed her with a another charming smile, and even tossed in a wink for good measure. For another woman, that alone might have been more than enough to have her agreeing to whatever he wanted. Truth was, this man wasn’t bad looking. He didn’t give her a bad vibe, either. He clearly had wealth, status, and class.