Page 371 of Valentino

I want his family to like me, hell…. Who am I kidding, I want them to love me and demand that he loves me too.

To make matters worse I have teeth marks on my neck and I’ve had to wear a blouse of Allegra’s that I don’t even like, but I figure it’s better than his mom knowing I’m a hoe.

I push through the doors of the restaurant and look around and Dante waves and walks over to me, “Hello.” He smiles.

“Hi.”

He takes my hand and leads me over to the table, “Mama, papa, this is Halle.”

“Hello.” I smile, I shake their hand and he pulls out my chair for me.

“Hello Halle, lovely to meet you. This is Lena and I am Pino.” His father introduces them, his mother gets up and kisses my cheeks, “Thank you for coming, sweet girl.”

If only you knew.

“Thank you for having me.” I nervously sit down. I feel my cheeks heat, damn this blouse I like a boa constrictor, so tight around my neck I can hardly breathe.

“Where are the others?” Dante asks.

“They will be here any moment.”

“The others?” I ask.

“My sister and two brothers.”

Oh no…. It gets worse. “Great.” I fake smile.

Kill me now.

“Here they come.” His mother and father stand and my heart hammers in my chest, Sensing my nerves, Dante squeezes my hand in his, “It’s fine.” He mouths.

A beautiful girl with long dark hair comes into view, “Ciao.” She smiles as she sits down beside Dante.

“This is Halle.” He introduces me.

“Hello Halle.” She shakes my hand. “I’m Aurora. Nice to meet you.”

“Hello, you too.”

“Where are your brothers?”

“Here.” A chair pulls out and a man sits down, he’s dark and handsome, there’s a family resemblance to Dante only a little bit older.”

“Where is your brother.” His mother sighs, “Always late.”

They break into chatter and I sit and listen as I wish the earth would swallow my whole.

What the hell was I thinking, this is a total nightmare.

“Here he is.” Lena sighs, “Why you always late?”

The chair opposite me pulls out and my eyes widen, it’s Dante…..like actually Dante.

“This is Romeo, my twin brother.” Dante introduces us.

He glances up and sees me, surprise flashes across his face before he recovers and hides it.

“Romeo, this is Dante’s new girlfriend Halle.”