Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
And that he’d been staring at me.
“Good morning, Miss Allegra.”
I jumped at the sound of a woman’s voice, partly because I’d been looking out the window with my back to the bedroom door, and also because I hadn’t encountered another woman since I got here.
Turning, I saw a middle-aged woman with graying hair pulled back in a bun in the doorway to Massimo’s bedroom. “Hi.”
“I’m Jana,” she said.
“Nice to meet you.” Massimo had mentioned her, but he’d pronounced her name with a J sound. When she said it herself, it sounded more like a Y.
“You, too.” She gave me a smile that was kind but a bit reserved. Thus far, I’d only considered the ramifications of things between Massimo and me. I hadn’t thought about how the staff might feel about Massimo taking a bride. “Breakfast is ready, Miss, if you’ll follow me.”
“Thank you.”
I followed her down the hallway, grateful that she was leading the way. I’d been up for about an hour, using the time to take a shower in Massimo’s bathroom, dress, and put on makeup. I was wearing a pale rose dress that gathered at the waist and flared out since I wasn’t sure how formal I should dress in the house. If this is what my fiancé expected every day, I’d quickly run out of dresses.
Massimo had been gone when I woke. I must’ve been sleeping like the dead because I hadn’t heard him get up. As per his orders, I’d left the door between us open.
As I followed Jana, I took in a bit more about the house. This hallway had maroon wallpaper and family portraits in gilded frames. The décor and furnishings looked expensive and of high quality, just… old. As if no one had bothered to update it in quite some time.
Through my father, I’d learned that Massimo’s mother had died about ten years ago. His father passed away just a couple of years ago. That’s when Massimo became the head of the family.
My heart quickened as I heard his voice. Jana rounded a corner and led me into a formal dining room. All three brothers were at the table, and they appeared to be halfway through their meal. Well, Massimo and Stefano were. Carmine’s plate was empty, which didn’t seem surprising, given that he was such a big man.
He stood when I entered, which made me flush. But I soon found out it wasn’t just out of courtesy.
“I’ll call you after I talk to them,” he told Massimo, who nodded. Then the big man spotted me. “Good morning, Allegra.”
“Good morning.” I glanced at Massimo and Stefano to include them in my greeting.
“Did you sleep well?” Carmine asked.
“Yes.” It was true—mostly. It had taken me forever to stop crying. And then when I’d heard Massimo in the main room getting ready for bed, I’d frozen under the covers, not relaxing my grip on them until he finally went to sleep. But after that, I’d slept deeply—perhaps because yesterday had been such an emotional day.
“I have to go, but I’ll see you this evening.”
Feeling somewhat shy, I nodded at the big man as he left the room. Then I surveyed the dining room table. Massimo was at the head of it, of course. He was staring at his phone screen, which allowed me to stare a bit longer than otherwise. He had on a steel-gray button-down shirt that was tight across his chest. Though he wasn’t as massive as Carmine, he was still extremely fit.
Stefano was on his left, and Carmine had just abandoned the place setting on his right. I hesitated, not sure where I should sit.
Massimo’s younger brother noticed. “Morning, Leila. Have a seat.” To my relief, he pointed to the spot opposite him, the place next to the one Carmine had just left. I sank down, grateful not to be sitting right next to my fiancé. There was no getting around the fact that he intimidated me. But still, I knew my role.
“Good morning, Massimo.”
He glanced up, his eyes sweeping briefly over my dress. “You should’ve been down here earlier.”
I bit the inside of my lip as embarrassment flooded me. I’d known this man for less than twenty-four hours, and everything I did seemed to annoy him. Still, underneath the hurt was a flash of irritation. If he’d wanted me here at a certain time, he could’ve said something. Or woken me up. He’d been gone by the time the sun rose this morning.
Jana reappeared with a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast. “Would you like coffee, Miss Allegra?” She gave me a friendly smile. “Or juice?”
“Orange juice, if you have it.”
Stefano gave me a friendly smile after she went to get it. “Why Leila? I’ve never heard that as a nickname for Allegra before.”
Automatically, my hand went to my throat before I remembered that I hadn’t yet unpacked my locket. “My, uh, sister, when she was little, couldn’t say my name correctly, so that’s what she called me.”