Page 28 of His Playground (Owning Vegas #2)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

I ’m wondering why Antonia wanted to do this dinner party thing if all it’s done is stress her out. Why do something that you clearly don’t enjoy?

I’ve tried to help her. But every time I offer my assistance, she looks at me with disappointment. Almost like I’ve just told her she’s useless and can’t do anything. I hate feeling like I can’t help her without making her doubt herself.

It’s my fault she has that doubt. I know I fucked up, and I’m only just now learning how much. I’ve watched her from a distance over the years, and she seemed like she was doing fine. I should have looked fucking harder. I can’t undo what I did. I just have to figure out how to fix it.

Maybe I should ask Charlotte? She seems emotionally equipped for this sort of shit. It’s not like I can ask the guys. They’re hopeless at realizing their own fucking feelings, let alone figuring out someone else’s.

“Babe, this looks amazing,” I say, gesturing to the overdone dining table.

“Are you sure?” Antonia asks, chewing her bottom lip.

“I’ve literally never seen a better-looking table,” I tell her. “Although there is one way it could improve.”

“How? What did I miss?”

“You, spread naked on top of it.” I smirk.

“If you play your cards right, that could happen,” she says, and my cock instantly hardens.

“Don’t you know? I never lose at card games.” I follow her into Jazzy’s room.

“Hey, sweetheart, you ready to be my cohost?” Antonia asks my daughter, who’s wearing a big puffy light-blue dress.

“Look, Daddy, I’m Cinderella,” Jazzy says. “And I’ve got glass slippers too.”

“Amazing. Don’t go losing those shoes, though.

We don’t want any princes knocking on the door looking for you,” I tell her.

“I’d have to shoot them all if they did.

” I mumble that last part under my breath, so only Antonia can hear it.

“You both look beautiful by the way. How did I get so lucky to have two gorgeous girls?”

“Daddy, Antonia is a lady. Not a girl,” Jazzy corrects me.

“You’re right. She is a lady, my lady, which is why I can do this.” Swinging my arm around Antonia’s waist, I dip her backwards and fuse my lips with hers. Jazzy squeals and then laughs. I love hearing her laughter. It’s a joy I’ve never experienced before.

When I tug Antonia upright, she has a huge smile on her face. “Okay, let’s do this. The first Bianchi dinner party.”

“Is my name going to be Jasmine Bianchi now?” Jazzy asks, and I pause. Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?

“It is,” I tell her.

“You should let her choose, Carlo. Or at least hyphenate her mother’s name and yours,” Antonia whispers to me.

She’s right.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I tell my wife before turning back to my daughter. “We can talk about it later, Jazzy. Your name can be whatever you want it to be.” Truth is, I have every intention of having my lawyer add Bianchi to her name.

At the sound of the elevator doors opening, Antonia’s eyes widen.

“You’ve got this,” I assure her. “There is nothing you can’t do.”

“I can’t be blonde. I tried that once. It wasn’t a good look,” she grumbles as she walks out, and I recognize the hidden meaning in her words. She thinks I prefer blondes, because that’s what I made her think for years. I keep reminding myself that it’s going to take time, but we will get there.

Louie and Charlotte are the first to arrive. I’m not surprised. Louie is all about punctuality.

“Hey, thanks for coming.” I shake hands with him, and then hug Charlotte, kissing her cheek. Only to have Louie drag her away from me.

“Come in. Do you want a drink? Anything?” Antonia asks.

“Whiskey?” Louie questions.

“Sure, of course.” Antonia nods. “Charlotte?”

“Ah, water, please,” she says while looking at Louie.

“You okay?” I ask Charlotte.

“Fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” she throws back at me.

“No reason.” I shrug. It’s not like her to drink water when there’s plenty of wine to choose from. “Come in, sit down.” I lead them into the dining room.

The elevator doors open as we’re walking away. Turning back, I find Sammie. He’s not alone. He’s brought Lailani with him. I raise a brow at him in silent question, to which he shakes his head.

No, my ass. If they’re not together, why does he keep bringing her to these things?

“Jazzy, take everyone through to the dining room. I’m going to help Antonia,” I tell my daughter.

“Okay, I helped with dinner, Uncle Louie, so you gotta like it,” she announces.

I don’t stick around to hear what else is said. I find Antonia in the kitchen. “Hey, Sammie turned up with Lailani. Did you know she was coming? Need me to call down to the kitchen for an extra plate?”

“Oh, I invited her,” Antonia replies. “Jazzy wanted her here. I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s your home. You can invite whomever you want, babe.”

“I’m glad you said that, because Professor George is stopping over tomorrow for a private tutoring session,” she tells me as she pours a few glasses of whiskey.

Private tutoring?

“Great, I’ll get my lesson plan ready. I’ve been waiting to teach someone this medieval torturing technique I read up on. It’ll be the hands-on kind of lesson.” I smirk.

“I was joking, and you can’t kill my professors,” Antonia huffs.

“Actually, I can. But because you asked so nicely, I won’t. Unless he gives me a reason to.” I pick up the tray of drinks. “I love you. This dinner, whatever you’re stressed about, it’s going to be fine.”

“I just want it to be perfect. I don’t want to embarrass you,” she says.

“Antonia, you are one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. Having you as my wife is an honor. I’d never be embarrassed of you.”

“Thank you. I know it’s a me problem and not a you thing. It’s just… I don’t know… My self-esteem took a blow and it’s hard to move on from that sometimes,” she explains.

“It is my problem. It’s my fault. I did this to you. And I’m sorry. I really am. Whenever you doubt anything, just ask, Antonia. I will never lie to you again. I promise.”

“Okay.”

“Now, are you ready to throw the best damn dinner party Vegas has ever seen?” I ask her.

“I am.” She smiles. “Oh, Charlotte mentioned that Evie’s in town. I invited her too. I thought she would have tagged along with Charlotte and Louie, though.”

“We’re going to need an extra place setting.” I groan, already knowing that if Evie is going to be here, then Emmanuel likely isn’t too far behind her.

“Why?”

“Trust me. You’ll see.”

By the time we get out to the dining room, Jazzy is telling everyone about her new school and how she gets to wear a uniform.

“Is it an all-girls school?” Louie asks.

“What does that mean?” I hear Jazzy say.

“It means boys aren’t allowed to go there,” Louie tells her.

“Nope, there were boys. But it’s okay. Antonia told me that boys don’t have germs,” Jazzy proclaims.

“Antonia told you that, did she?” Louie looks at my wife.

“Louie, stop telling my daughter bullshit.” I set the tray of drinks down on the table. Which is now almost full. Antonia’s friends Luna and Georgia are sitting at one end, talking to Charlotte and Lailani.

“It’s not bullshit. Boys do have germs. But you don’t need to worry, princess, because I have guns.” Louie smiles. “Any boy who goes near you has to get through me first.”

“Charlotte, give this one his own kid already, please,” I groan.

“Sure, I’ll get right onto making that happen.” Charlotte rolls her eyes at me.

“I’m not opposed to making it happen,” Louie says. “Jazzy could use some cousins.”

“I could,” my daughter agrees.

“Did Evie decide not to come?” Antonia asks Charlotte.

“She should be here soon. She was finishing up a call with the girl looking after her store when we left.” As Charlotte says this, the elevator opens.

“I’ll go get her,” I tell Antonia. “Sit down.”

“Thank you.” Antonia sits next to Jazzy while I head out to the foyer.

“Hey. You’re alone?” I ask when I find Evie walking towards me.

“Ah, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” she replies.

“No reason.” I smirk. I give it five minutes.

Pulling out my phone, I text Sammie and Louie.

Me:

Ten grand says E turns up within the next five minutes.

Sammie:

My bet is three.

Louie:

Ten.

I laugh as I pocket my phone and show Charlotte’s friend to the table. A staff member is arranging an extra place setting next to Evie’s seat.

“Are you expecting someone else?” Georgia asks Antonia.

“Without a doubt,” I answer for her. “Who’s hungry? I’m starving, and how fucking amazing is this table my wife and daughter put together?”

“It does look great,” Charlotte agrees.

“Thank you. I had a lot of help,” Antonia says as blush colors her cheeks.