Page 22 of Doll's Eye

My eyes widen. “Five.”

“Four.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Four from now or from the wedding?”

He tries fighting the humor he finds in this. “From the wedding.”

Damnit. His negotiating skills are annoying as fuck. “Fine. Four years from the wedding, we’ll start trying for a baby.”

“We’ll have a baby. Four years from the wedding, I want a baby.”

Hearing Massimo say, ‘I want a baby,’ makes my uterus quiver. “Let’s compromise.”

“We already have.”

“No, we negotiated. Now, we compromise.” He dips his chin, telling me to go on, and I hate how endearing I find his smirk. “Four years fromnow, we starttryingfor a baby.”

Chuckling, he rubs a palm along his perfectly groomed facial hair. “Alright,cara. Four years fromnow, we willtryfor a baby.”

“Agreed.” I grin in victory. “You know, I kind of like negotiating with you.” It’s refreshing. Usually, it’s way too easy in getting my own way.

“You’re the only one who would ever say that.”

“You’re not as scary as everyone thinks you are, too.”

“You found me scary?”

“No, but I was unsure how much of the rumors could be true. It’s only been a couple of months getting to know you, but something tells me you are above abusing women.”

“You thought that I abuse women?” His head cocks to one side.

I shrug. “Rumors say you’re a little rough with them.” I don’t elaborate.

“I don’t harm women,” he says gravely, and I believe him.

I believed him before he even spoke the words.

Chapter twelve

Alessia

Massimo left town and was very evasive about his agenda.

Not only was I slightly offended when he didn’t invite me to join him, but when he wouldn’t give me any straight answers, it immediately had paranoia peaking.

“Business,” he said. And when I asked, “Where?” he said, “Out of the country.” After, he looked at me like I was this pestering child he couldn’t be bothered with. He has yet to discover how pertinacious I can genuinely be. Once we’re married, I will demand to knoweverything.

Not at all able to sit around the vapid and dull estate, I go to my family’s to have lunch with Mamma and Monte in tow.

Thankfully, he gives us privacy as we sit in the tearoom overlooking the grounds at the back of the property. “There aren’t any gardens at Massimo’s,” I say, staring outside. It’s warming up, and I’m looking forward to the summer. I absolutely love the warm weather and basking in the hot sun.

“You could ask him if you can get some plants put in,” Mamma suggests.

Sighing, I sip my tea as I obsessively ruminate about where Massimo is. He’s been gone over a day and has yet to call or text. I keep reminding myself that this isn’t a normal relationship where we can’t stand to be away from each other.

“What’s wrong,piccolina? You seem a bit forlorn. Talk to me.”

Mamma always knows when something is plaguing us. I hope to be a wonderful mother like her someday. “I’m afraid, Mamma.” She is the one and only person in the world I would splay my heart for. To admit my doubts and fears so openly. Let her see my vulnerability and see me at my weakest and lowest.