Page 213 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

“I can’t see anything,” Cara grumbled.

Gian’s hands rubbed her shoulders, his dark chuckles echoing in her ear. He kissed the spot behind her ear and then said, “That’s the point, mon ange. It’s a surprise.”

She reached up to try and readjust the blindfold over her eyes, but Gian quickly rerouted her arms back to her sides.

“Nope, hands stay down.”

“But—”

“Little ledge here, and then some steps, love, so be careful.”

Cara rolled her eyes behind the blindfold, but managed to get up whatever stairs were there with Gian’s help. “Can you at least give me a hint?”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“Where’s the fun in being told you’re going to have a nice night with ice cream and a back rub, only to be made to dress up and be taken out. In kitten heels, Gian. I couldn’t even wear my comfy shoes!”

“You will be happy that I made you wear the kitten heels. Someone might take pictures, and those shoes you wear do not look nice with a dress.”

“Says you.”

“And you, when you’re not thirty-four weeks pregnant, Cara.”

She huffed under her breath, hating that he was probably right. Then, she had another thought. “Why would anyone take pictures?”

“You’ll see,” her lover replied vaguely. “Gilles will drive you back to the penthouse once this is all done and over with, as it’s not the kind of event men are usually invited to and I have something to pick up across the city.”

“What happened to Chris?” Cara asked about her previous enforcer, who still refused to call her by her name.

“Chris has other things to look after at the moment. Sometimes, it’s better to put people where they get the best business done. Chris happens to be very good at getting information from people, and I need that right now.”

“Because of the cops?”

“Amongst other things,” Gian muttered. “We’re not talking about that tonight. This is all for you. And I thought you liked Gilles?”

“I do, he just …”

“What?”

“Talks a lot,” Cara said.

Gian laughed, his hands tightening on her as he directed her around a corner, or so she assumed. “He is a talker.”

“Chris barely talks at all, except to repeat orders or something.”

“Okay, enough of this, smile, bella.”

Cara didn’t know what he was talking about, but the blindfold was suddenly pulled from her face, allowing her vision to clear. It took Cara a couple of seconds of blinking, and a few shouts of “Surprise!” from the people standing around one of Gian’s restaurants for her to realize what was happening.

Pretty, pale-blue and green decorations littered the restaurant. Each table held different items—a spot for gifts, one for a massive cake decorated in similar colors, and the like. A banner hanging from one chandelier to another read Baby Shower!

Cara took in the people around her. Women she worked with at the shelter and the women from the shelter. Her few friends from university, and the professor she enjoyed spending time with and who had helped her through her difficult moments. And surprisingly, nearing the front of the guests, Cara found Gian’s mother and another woman, who, guessing by her features and how she kept close to Celeste, was probably his sister.

Crystal, Cara thought her name was. Gian didn’t talk about her a lot.

“You’ve been busy,” Gian said. “And working far too hard, mon ange. Ma asked about a shower for you, because she wanted to—at least—send something over. And then a couple of weeks ago, Jenny contacted me about helping with something like this to surprise you. You’re not too angry, right?”

Cara just blinked.