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Salvatore's other cousin, Romano, is heading my way. He grins at me, and I smile back. Romano is very easy on the eye, so I'm happy to hang out with him for a bit.
"Since you're the maid of honor and I'm Salvo's best man, well, one of them, it's tradition that we have sex," he remarks when he sidles up next to me.
I'm momentarily speechless. Guys aren't usually so forward in my experience.
"Say what?" I eventually manage to choke out.
He runs a finger down my cheek and leans in. I can smell the liquor on his breath and the faint scent of something spicy. He's hot, making it very clear he's interested, and yet...I don't feel anything.
Zilch.
Maybe I've had too much to drink? I do a quick internal check. Nope, I'm buzzed but not drunk. So, it's not that.
"How about you and I head over to the terrace, carina, and chat a little, yeah?"
He's so close I could kiss him if I was inclined, but nothing about his seductive little routine is doing it for me, although I have no doubt it works on 99% of other women. I'm just not one of them.
I lean back and try to extricate myself without causing a scene.
"Thanks, but--"
Christiano stalks over, pushing his way between us ,and I breathe a sigh of relief. The last thing I want to do is offend Romano. He's done nothing wrong other than misread the signals.
"ZioAroldo wants a word, bro," he says to his brother, making it clear he has no choice about leaving.
"Later,carina," Romano says with a grin before sauntering away.
"Thanks." I look up through my lashes at Christiano, grateful he intervened before things got ugly. Then I look around to see where the supermodel is.
"Where's your girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend?" He tilts his head to one side in puzzlement.
"Yeah, the supermodel with the red lips."
"Ah, Alessandra." He snorts. "She's not my girlfriend."
"Oh, you two looked...close."
He smiles and it's dazzling. "Jealous,tesoro?"
"No, just didn't want some woman bitch-slapping me for talking to her man," I huff.
"I assure you, that's not going to happen. You're under the family's protection here. Alessandra knows better than to upset you."
"Guessing Romano didn't get the memo then," I laugh.
All traces of amusement fall from Christiano's face. "Did he upset you?" he asks. I get the feeling he'd beat his brother to a pulp if I said yes.
"No." I sigh. "He was just flirting with me. Nothing I can't handle. He's obviously too used to women falling at his feet to recognize when one isn't into him."
Christiano relaxes. "Yeah, he is usually a hit with the ladies."
I sense an undercurrent of irritation but decide not to pick at whatever scab he's nursing.
"I'll tell him to back off," he continues. "That should persuade him to stop hitting on you."
"It's fine. I can handle idiots like him."
