Page 19 of Tall, Dark, and Grumpy

“Wait, what should I call you?” she hisses as we get near.

Husband. “Vito.”

Cassie’s so-called friends turn curious and slightly fearful stares at us as soon as we’re within range. I ignore them.

“On your phone again, Sev?” I greet my brother. “I thought you didn’t approve.”

“Vaffanculo,” he says ironically, flicking the screen blank and shoving it into his pocket.

“Is that Italian? What does that mean?” Cassie asks.

“It’s a brotherly expression of love,” I say dryly.

“The closest translation is ‘go fuck yourself,’” Sev tells her.

Cassie’s friends greet her at a pitch thankfully not audible because I’m too old and not a dog.

Joking, sadly it is. I internally debate whether it would be unacceptable to kill them, and decide that unfortunately, it’s Cassie’s decision, not mine. I’ll offer to get rid of them as a wedding present.

“So how long have you two been together?” One of her friends asks.

“I uh.” Cassie looks terrified. “About… I mean…”

“A month.” My tone is firm.

“And where did you meet?” Sev looks as innocent as the choir girl he lost his virginity to many years ago. He knows something is up, and is tormenting me.

Cassie looks up at me in panic.

We really should have discussed this instead of flirting, and I clench my jaw. “Looking for dating tips, Sev?”

“I’m just interested in my big brother’s life.” He’s practically polishing his halo. “You’ve never had any woman you talked about while you were in Milan. Then, the minute you’re back in London, you’re engaged.”

“It is very odd you’ve never mentioned your boyfriend before,” Cassie’s friend adds. That bitch looks far too happy that Cassie is shrinking down.

Fine. They want evidence? That suits me.

“They don’t believe us, amore mio dolce,” I murmur. “It’s time for show, not tell.”

I slip my arm around Cassie’s waist and pull her to me. My instinct is to pause and look into her eyes before I lower my head.

I don’t. If we were engaged, this wouldn’t be our first kiss. I would kiss Cassie often, thoroughly, and until her lower leg kicked up like in a black-and-white movie. I’d kiss her until her lips were plump and red, and then I’d kiss her everywhere else.

But for now, one kiss.

I’ll take the kiss I’m surely owed.

After all, Cassie Meadows is my fiancée.

7

CASSIE

The moment Vito’s lips touch mine, all my bones go to jelly. I never realised a kiss would be like this, or I’d have tried it earlier. His mouth is warm and firm, and sending little zings in all directions. Up into my overwhelmed mind, and down to my fluttery belly. And beyond. Between my legs a coil slowly, slowly tightens.

He holds my neck, caressing it gently and probably holding me up, too, because I’ve melted into him. His tongue plunders my mouth, stroking, invading. It’s carnal and hot and I hang onto him, trying to look like I’m doing something I’ve done a million times as my world turns inside out from one fake kiss.

Dancing with Mr Blackwood was magic.