Page 39 of Lorenzo

“Darcy is a snob. Darcy is arrogant. Darcy makes demands and expects others to follow. And he proved it today with that ridiculous shopping spree,” Emily continues.

“What do you mean,” the other voice asks.

“Darcy looks and dresses with refinement and expects everyone in his orbit to do the same.”

“Why do you say ‘on the surface?’ the other voice asks.

Emily hesitates for a moment.

“In his heart, Darcy was a good guy. A gentleman who always did the right thing.”

“So Lorenzo fancies himself a bad guy who chooses the bad thing?” the voice quips.

Then I hear both women laugh.

“He’s not ‘bad’ bad. Just so full of himself he can’t see anyone’s point of view. Like last night when we were going to bed …”

“Yes?” the voice asks.

I lean in, eager to hear.

What the fuck did I even do in bed?

I’d like to hear what she has to say.

Just then Biscotti barks and won’t shut the fuck up.

“Look, Anna, I gotta get off now. He’ll be home any minute,” I hear Emily say.

I wait. After a few seconds, the door opens. She strides out cool as a cucumber.

“Lorenzo. You’re home.”

“Damn right I am. Who were you talking to?”

Her green eyes shoot me a none of your business look, before her lips speak the words. “My friend Anna. why do you want to know?”

“I don’t like being talked about.”

“And I don’t like men who eavesdrop.”

“Then we’re even,” I say, taking a long look at her.

The dress Antoine chose is black. Simple, expensive, and exact.

The dress’s shape accentuates her slim but shapely figure.

And though I think it bizarre that a twenty-year-old girl wears her hair so tightly pulled back, the chignon accentuates her graceful neck.

Interestingly, her neck is one of the most erotic necks I’ve seen.

Men talk about boobs and butts, but the neck is the most sensual area of a woman to me.

“Let’s start clean,” I say, turning to signal Ciro in the kitchen. “I need a drink and so do you. Especially you. Come, join me on the terrace.”

When I pull open the sliding glass door, it’s already twilight. The lights of Manhattan sparkle below.

The romantic scene inspires me to pull out her chair for her.