“And are you going to act like a man engaged?” I sneered. I had eavesdropped on enough conversations to know these mafia jerks liked to have their cake and eat it too. They put their wives on a pedestal while having a woman on the side, a goomah, or whatever those assholes called it.
“That’s only fair.”
“Perfect.”
“So we’re on the same page?”
“Yes.” I shrugged. I’d be gone in a month’s time. Once we were out of here, Sal and I would have all the time in the world to be together.
“Good. Now come here and give me a kiss.”
My eyes widened. “A what?”
“A kiss.”
My mouth dropped open and I shuffled backward. “No.”
His thick brows dropped over his glittering sapphire eyes. “I’d prefer to get the awkwardness of our first kiss out of the way in private, but have it your way. We can do it in front of a hundred or so people.”
“We’re not kissing in private or in front of anyone. We’re announcing our engagement, eating a few appetizers, and that’s it.”
He tugged my hand, hauling me flush against him. I smelled his spicy citrus scent, and his body heat burned me through the layers of his fitted suit. “We’re definitely kissing after the engagement toast. It’s up to you whether that’ll be our first kiss.”
“Kissing’s definitely not necessary. Everyone knows we’ve never met before. They don’t expect us to do anything except smile, pretend to be happy, and accept this arrangement without complaint.”
His arms curved around my waist, holding me firmly, his fingers tapping a mindless beat against the curve of my waist. “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. It’s very necessary. I need to send a clear message.”
“To who? The guests? They’re only here to gossip about us later.”
“I’m only interested in one guest. Salvatore needs to see firsthand that you’re mine so he remembers to keep his fucking hands off my property before I cut them off.”
With that warning, he bent and his lips pressed against mine, moving back and forth, demanding something I didn’t want to give. Something I wasn’t free to give, or at least in my mind. I tensed, making no move to retreat or reciprocate.
When he pulled back, my shoulders slumped with relief. His kiss was warm and pleasant, but it didn’t set me on fire like Sal’s did, and that realization vindicated my decision to run away. I was doing the right thing. Our letters were simply a bunch of sentences that didn’t mean anything.
He eyed me for a few uncomfortable beats, rubbed a hand down the side of his face. “You’ll do better next time.”
“No, I won’t. I’m not interested in kissing you to make Sal jealous. It’s stupid and immature, and it won’t prove a damn thing. Sal knows what’s expected of me.”
“I gave you a pass on whatever happened with Salvatore in the past, but if you make a fool of me today, you and Sal will not like the consequences, and I promise you, I’m a helluva lot more powerful than Salvatore. He can’t protect you. In fact, neither can your father, not without pissing off all of the wrong people.”
I swallowed hard, knowing he meant what he said. “No, you’re right. I’ll play along.” For now, I silently added.
Marcello reached into his pocket, pulled out a dark blue velvet box, and popped it open. A ring with a square cut white diamond surround by tiny black diamonds perched between the folds of silk. My throat squeezed in on itself. I couldn’t have found something I liked more if I went to the jewelry store myself, and it matched the bracelet he got me. The same one I wore every single day, keeping it tucked under the sleeves of my shirt, except today. I didn’t want him to know how much I loved it.
“I’d like this to be on your finger during our announcement.”
My hand came to my mouth. “I can’t, Marcello. I don’t feel comfortable. We barely know each other and—”
“Of course you’re going to wear it. We’re engaged.” He slid the ring on my finger, not giving me a choice. “And I refuse to stand in front of a room full of people and announce our engagement while you have a bare finger. It’ll set a precedent that I don’t give a shit about my future wife and people will get it in their head that they don’t have to respect you.”
Resigned, I lifted one shoulder. His words made sense, or they would have if I actually intended to go marry him. “Okay, whatever you think is best.”
Eyeing me with more than a little suspicion, he laced his fingers through mine. While my knee jerk reaction was to pull away, I didn’t do it. Marcello could make my life a living hell if he didn’t trust me or if he had any indication I planned to renege on this archaic plan he had hatched with my father. “Are you ready to face everyone?”