Page 204 of Valentino

He smiles as he looks around as if trying to see it through my eyes. “Too Italian?”

“Too everything,” I whisper. “Who even are you?”

“I’m the same guy you’ve always known.” He throws me a playful wink, and something tells me that Ferrara has hit a new level since I was last in town.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” a waitress carrying a silver tray asks me.

“Um.” I shrug, unsure what I even want. “Perhaps a margarita?”

“Of course.” Her eyes flick to Giuliano. “The usual, sir?”

“Thank you, Marjori, and another margarita for my wife,” he replies. “Top shelf.”

“Yes, sir.” She disappears.

My wife.

“Still spins me out that you’re married,” I whisper as he leads me through the crowd.

His eyes dance with mischief. “Me too.” He leads me through the house to the back where there’s a large ballroom, music is playing and disco balls are spinning overhead.

“Here she is.” He presents me to Francesca.

“Anna,” she cries as she pulls me into a hug. “Thank God you’re home!” I laugh as we hug and as she holds me I look over her shoulder and into the gaze of big blue eyes.

Oh….

I snap my gaze back to Francesca. “It’s so good to see you.”

“I’ve missed you so much.” She laughs. “My God, how I’ve missed you.”

“Same.” My eyes well with tears but not at seeing Francesca, it’s an unwanted visceral reaction to seeing him.

Valentino is standing with a group of people across the room, he has a drink in his hand and looks every bit as beautiful as I remember he did. He’s wearing all black and his dark hair has that sun-kissed glow to it, his big red lips still stop me in my tracks.

Fuck.

Don’t look back.

Whatever you do…do not look back at him.

Francesca leads me around and introduces me to the girls she’s standing with, I make a mental note that not one of the girlfriends that I knew before are still around.

Did everyone break up?

“And this is Luna,” Chesk gushes.

“Hello.” I smile to beautiful woman number twenty-five, she has long dark hair and a body to die for, she looks like a total knockout. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’ve heard so much about you, Anna.” She smiles.

“Luna is Romeo’s girlfriend,” Chesk continues.

Oh.

“How….” I fake a smile. “Great.”

That fucker…he’s on my hit list.