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“Oh,oh, another one I almost forgot.” Dad snaps his fingers. “We have to include Benny and Janice Skillmen. Remember them? They visited you all the time when you were a little girl, bringing you presents and helping around the house when Mom ran off.”

“Already got ’em.” I frame my face.

“See? You don’t need me here. You got this under control.”

I sneak over and wrap my arms around his big belly, laying my head over his back. He smells warm and lovable, like he always has. Sure, I should be mad at him for putting my life in jeopardy, but it also led me to the best thing in my life. Trino.

Which reminds me. “You still keep in touch with Stanzo?” I pat his back twice.

“We’re actually quite close now. He’s a good man… when he’s not taking hit jobs from the mob. All he wants is for his kid to be happy. Does he say it like that? No.”

“Yeah, he’d be like, ‘get your mouth out of that stripper’s kitty and onto the lips of a nice woman.’”

“Capri.”

“What?”

Little does he know I wasthat stripper, and now his golden woman.

“How am I going to dress you in white with a mouth like that?” He presents me, and we both start chuckling. “But seriously. I’m glad you and Trino worked out in the end. That glove of Stanzo’s must give him special premonition or something.”

“Yeah, he’s the Italian matchmaker. We’re giving him a show on Netflix.” I giggle to myself. “Why don’t you invite him over to help? I’m sure Trino will love to see all of us when he gets home.” I pretend to pace around with his mean mug. Then I stop. “Oh, I’m inviting Jacky to help us, too. Hope that’s okay.”

“Of course. She’s lovely. I’ll never understand the colorful tails in her hair, but otherwise she’s a peach.”

“Mhm.”

“Is she seeing anyone? Maybe we can get Stanzo to point out the next great couple.”

“You can ask her yourself when you get here. Usually she’s seeing ten.” I head back to the couch with my wedding catalog, my father following me with his fresh brew.

“Thank heaven we can erase that dingy little Pennsylvania wedding from our memory soon.” He shakes his head.

“I know it was awkward at first, Daddy, but it turned out to be cute.”

He pushes his lips to one side. “Not how I imagined marrying my daughter off.”

“Well, break open your checkbook.” I point to a floral arrangement that’swaytoo expensive. “’Cause I have exquisite taste.”

xxx

The weeksflyby. I can’t believe tomorrow is the eve before the eve of my wedding. This is it. The big shebang.

Oh Jesus.

I’m pacing around the kitchen shaking my hands like I touched something hot. I’m a mess. What if the photographer calls out sick? Or the florist gets the centerpieces all wrong?Oh, oh, oh.What if two of the mobsters get into a fight?

No, that wouldn’t happen. We were careful.

But… it could—

I’m staring at my pedicured bare feet pacing over the tile, hands still shaking to the point of pins and needles, whenboof! I walk right into a muscular statue.

I look up slowly, from his popping bare calves to the muscular thighs strangled by boxer-briefs. Before I can even get to his bulge, his fingers slip right under my skirt.

“Trino,” I gasp, spreading my legs slightly to enjoy the wet heat racing to my slit. Before I can say anything else, a white tie presses into my mouth. No. Not a tie. It’s my freakin’ garter! Where’d he even get that?

“Mph,”I groan as his index finger pushes my panties aside and slips into the tight space between my lips.