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“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it my way, K.”

“No. We’re doing itourway, E. And that sure as fuck doesn’t include you going out in public where anyone can see you and report back to your father before it’s time.”

“You might have hired that lady for the wedding planning, but there’s a lot more that goes into an engagement party. At least one like I’m planning.”

I smirk at him.

He simply stares back at me.

After a few seconds, he tilts his head, and a slow smile stretches across his face. “I already had one planned. What did you do?”

I finally drop my arms from across my chest and shrug. “Nothing. Yet. But I think we need to up the ante. That’s all.”

He sucks his teeth and studies me, his gaze roaming me from head to toe and back up again.

It has been three days since Flora came over, learned I was not only back in town but hadn’t run off willingly, and that I was officially marrying Kato and in those three days, very little planning has gone into the engagement gala I envision for my reintroduction to Cedar Springs.

Kato turns his chair and jerks his head for me to come closer. A wry smile quirks up my mouth as I cross the room.

“When did you get so bossy?” I ask as I lower onto one of his thighs and throw my legs over the other.

“Since I took over as Don. Now, tell me your ideas and let’s see how I can make your vision come true without you going into public and getting killed. Wouldn’t want to have to destroy the entirety of Cedar Springs because you wanted to go on a shopping spree with your girlfriend.”

“You could always send some of your big, bad guards with us,” I offer, batting my lashes in an effort to appeal to his softer side.

“My guards can’t make you invisible. Tell me what you need, and I’ll have people I trust and have vetted come here,” he says, wrapping his arms tightly around me and burying his face in my neck. “Fuck, you smell good,” he mutters against my shoulder.

A shiver runs down my spine at the feeling of his lips grazing my skin and his breath warming me.

"I want to invite as many people as possible. So whatever you had planned…it has to be bigger. Flashier. More public.”

He pulls back and frowns at me.

“I want as many eyes on me as possible. I want photographers, the press, local and world recognized celebrities, and as many made men as you can get to agree to attend without starting a full out war.”

It takes him a second, but I see the moment my reason dawns on him, and a wide smile stretches across his handsome face.

“You want to make a different kind of spectacle.”

“Yep, and I want to make sure my father is as close to the stage as possible when I’m introduced and appear. I want cameras on him. I want reporters to interview him, ask him how he feels about his daughter marrying into the Antoniou family.”

He huffs a sound. “You’re diabolical, and a little nutty. This…your whole plan could be extremely risky.”

“Oh, please. You really think anyone will start shit with the press there? No one will want their names or faces attached to anything illegal. Make sure there’s someone at the door checking for weapons. Discreetly, of course.”

It’s no secret the Antoniou and Sidorov families are in organized crime, but no reason to put that shit directly in everyone’s faces. It’s hard enough to keep the cops and judges from going after everyone. Takes a lot of money, a lot of bribing and blackmailing to keep the authorities from paying too much attention to all of us.

He leans against the chairback and stares at me, his gaze bouncing between my eyes. “You sure about this?”

“It was your idea.”

“That was when I thought…”

When he thought I was evil and intentionally hurt them before running off to marry some Russian asshole.

“Well, nothing has changed. We’re still getting married…aren’t we?”

“Fuck yeah, we are. You’re already my wife. I’m ready to make it legal.”