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“Sort of.”
“It was Nonno’s one request before I married. He wanted me to spend two years traveling the world with Dario. We immersed ourselves in so many different cultures. The food, the spices, the music. All of it. If Dario cooks you a curry, believe me, it will be authentic to whatever region it’s from.
“The food stuck with him. The music and vibes stuck with me.”
“That’s cool,” I say goofily.
The song changes to one with a similar vibe. I think it’s Rema too. He spins me and turns my back to his front. Banding his arms around me, he rocks our bodies to the beat of the music some more. My cheeks heat and my body hums. His warm breath fans my ear and my nipples tighten.
I look over my shoulder and smile up at him. This is fun—a whole new side of Dante I never thought existed, let alone that I’d get to see.
“I guess you’re single, single now,” Dante says as he stares down at my lips.
I shrug. “Do you think you’ll get back out there?”
I don’t know what makes me ask. Blame it on the alcohol. A spark fills his eyes, and he pulls my arms up around his neck.
“I’m considering it.”
I feel a pang in my heart and turn away from him. He spins me back to face him, but I keep my eyes on his chest. He clicks his tongue, bringing my attention back to his face.
“You really don’t get it,” he says with a grin.
“Get what?” I say as I look up at him in confusion.
“Nothing, Liz.”
Dante
Her laugh is like music. I’m glad she’s having a good time after the way I found her earlier. If I weren’t contemplating murder, I would have fucked her on this roof tonight.
Jacob may make me money, but I can find a ton of chefs to replace him. However, as my mind sobers, I know I need to find out how Gio’s hand played in this before I fly off the handle.
“This has been fun, thank you,” she says.
“It’s the least I can do. I’ve been having fun too. You helped me get my mind off the bullshit.”
She has. In the last three hours, we have danced, talked, and finished two bottles of grappa. Lizzy is definitely drunk. She is an adorable drunk.
She narrows her eyes as she gives me a drunken smile. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were as dangerous as your brother,” she says in a teasing tone.
I wink at her. “You have no idea, gorgeous.”
“Me gorgeous, nope, that would be you,” she says and taps my nose.
I catch her hand and bring her fingers to my lips. I kiss them and she bites her lip as she watches the action. I smile at her as her mouth falls open. God, she’s so cute. I’m tempted to pull her into me to taste her plump lips.
“Okay, sweetheart. I think I should get you downstairs.”
I stand from the outdoor sofa on the rooftop and hold out my hand. She places her palm in mine. When she stands, she’s unsteady.
I wrap an arm around her waist and guide her to the stairs. We get halfway down when she groans and looks up at me.
“Oh God, Dante, I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Hold on a sec, baby. I’ll get you to your room.” I lift her in my arms and clear the rest of the stairs before I push through the exit and let the door close behind me. She has her arms wrapped tightly around my neck.
When we make it into her room, she leaps from my arms and races for the bathroom. I follow behind her and reach for her braids as she retches into the toilet. I hold her hair with one hand and rub her back with the other.
I feel bad. Grappa would put me on my ass if I drank enough of it. Lizzy consumed almost as much as I did. I’m a lot bigger than she is.
She’s sniffling for an entirely different reason this time. I don’t know how long we’re in here, but I know her stomach has to be empty when I get up and wet a towel for her to clean her face. Releasing a deep breath, she turns to look over her shoulder at me.
She has a little smile on her lips and tears in her eyes. I can’t help wondering what’s going on in her head.
“Good thing you’re not thinking about dating me. I think I just royally Lizzyed this night,” she says with that smile.
I look at her, I mean, really look at her and I think I start to sober up. Images of the time we’ve spent together—like the night I painted her toes and all the moments we spent in my office. Flashes of all the moments she’s been with Bella—like the time she gave Bella the necklace and how Lizzy was the one Bella ran to when her own mother made her cry.
