Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
But none of them did, and when he questioned one-armed Ric bluntly about this, the older man looked at him in surprise, asking, "Why would we say anything bad about Ynez? We have not even met her."
"Are you saying she hasn't come here? Not once?"
"They say it is because of Arnoldo. That she never got over her father's death." One-armed Ric shrugged. "But that is all gossip, really. We do not ask, and they do not speak. Life goes on, sì?"
The conversation went no further, since Ysabel had already returned to his side to let him know that she had cooked something for him.
"I was told this was your favorite..."
All eyes were on them as Ysabel took Massimo to one of the diner's corner booths, and she presented her masterpiece with flourish. "Clam chowder for starters, and for the entrée, a triple-layered Philly cheesesteak sandwich made of organically sourced wheat bread, vegan cheese, and plant-based meat. Oh, and double scoops of mashed potato on the side. Made from scratch—-" Her voice then lowered into a whisper as she revealed her secret. "—-using La Strega's very own recipe."
The whole diner burst into laughter at Massimo's visible surprise, and they laughed again when it was Ysabel's turn to gasp in surprise, with Massimo suddenly giving his fidanzata a little tug that had her tumbling into his lap.
"Let's put it to a test then," Massimo murmured.
"Of course." She tried to get to her feet, but he wouldn't let her leave his lap. She offered him a fork, but he only raised a brow.
"You are not going to feed me?"
"Only if you will feed me back."
"Of course."
Ysabel, having expected him to argue like he always did, was surprised at the swiftness of Massimo's concession, and she looked at him suspiciously. "You promise?"
"You have my word as a Marchetti." He then took the fork from her hand and replaced it with a soup spoon. "Since you're feeding me, we should do this properly..."
Ysabel rolled her eyes but took the soup spoon all the same. "Whatever..."
Massimo's expression turned veiled when he saw her give the spoonful of soup a little blow. Had she forgotten he was from one of America's wealthiest and toughest famiglie? So why then was she acting like the mother he never had? Ynez had never displayed such care towards him—-porca miseria! Why did his brain keep making these pointless comparisons between the two sisters? Was it because Ysabel was more and more becoming like what he imagined Ynez could be?
"Here you go, Master." The word had already slipped out before she realized what she was saying, and her heart nearly stopped beating when she saw the way Massimo's gaze suddenly narrowed at her.
"Why did you call me that?"
Because it's what I heard the other girl call you.
And as much as she wanted to say the truth out loud, Ysabel couldn't muster the courage to do so. Today was one of the best days of her life, and she just didn't want to risk ruining it. If another lie would keep Massimo by her side, then so be it.
"Because you're bossy," Ysabel quipped instead, and her heart ached at the way he visibly relaxed. Was he finally starting to suspect the truth?
Massimo finally took a sip of her clam chowder, and she looked at him hopefully. "Well?"
"It's fine."
The dismissive tone had Ysabel bristling. Why was he being unnecessarily rude and hurtful? Would it kill him to—-
Oh!
A gasp escaped her when she finally noticed the amusement gleaming in his dark eyes.
"Jerk!"
Massimo sensed everyone's relief when they saw him merely chuckling as Ysabel hit him on the shoulder. Just a second earlier, he had also seen them holding their breath when they heard what his fidanzata had called him, and it had seemed they were ready to defend her from his wrath—-and die doing so, if that was what it boiled down to.
Could this still be another example of Ysabel's ability to manipulate people...or was it Ysabel being able to win them over simply because she was nice?
Ysabel insisted on taking her seat across him as they each had a slice of her sandwich, and it tasted as good as it looked, too. He saw her take her phone out like Ynez usually did, take pictures of the food also like his ex-girlfriend habitually did, but after this—-
The phone went back into her bag, and Massimo could not help feeling bemused as he watched her take another huge bite of her sandwich. That was it?
Ysabel came back to their table later and saw the way Massimo frowned as she served him coffee. "Are you worried I'm planning to poison you for your wealth?" she asked teasingly.
He tugged her back into his lap before answering, "No."
"I don't believe you—-"
"Because you don't have to." Massimo had finally come to a decision. Ynez might have repeated warned him against falling for her sister's tricks, and he wanted to believe not everyone was like his mother, who had lied over and over about wanting to change but never did.