Behind me, Matteo let out a snort. I turned and shot him a look. The fucker’s grin only widened.
I focused back on Chiara when I felt her breath on my skin. “You need to take a step back,” I said. “This isn’t appropriate, and if you want your father to be able to find a good match for you, you shouldn’t do anything that could get people talking.”
“I don’t want another match,” she said, her voice lowering. Was that supposed to be sexy? God, this headache was so not worth avoiding Valentino for. “I want you.”
“I told your father no.”
Anger flashed in her brown eyes, and for a moment, her mask slipped, letting me see what was really hidden beneath the girl.
“There’s no reason for you to say no. I would make a good wife for you.”
I frowned. “Why would you think that?”
“Because I trained my whole life for this. I knew I wanted to marry you since I was ten years old. That feeling hasn't changed, and everything I’ve done so far has been for you.”
I shook my head. “You’re delusional.”
She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “No, I’m determined. And that’s exactly the kind of wife you need.”
I laughed then, the sound void of any humor. “Yeah. That’s not happening.”
And I was done with this conversation. I turned to Matteo. “Can you wait here with her for her driver?”
He nodded. “Yeah, man. I’ll do that.”
I was about to walk back inside when she grabbed my arm. I turned, more out of surprise than anything, when I felt her lips on mine.
Fuck.
I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away from me, scowling down at the impertinent girl. “What the fuck was that?”
She looked up at me defiantly.
“Uh, Elio?” Matteo called out.
I shook my head, still focused on the girl. “And what was the point of that?”
“That we belong together. That we have great chemistry.” She leaned up closer to me. “And in case any of the made men are around to see. Pretty soon, the rumors will begin. You’ll have to marry me then.”
I didn’t say anything for a long second.
Then I laughed. “Was that a threat, girl?”
She looked too fucking smug with herself. “You can look at it any way you want.”
“You miscalculated.”
Her expression stuttered. “Matteo is my witness. And there are cameras at every angle to capture the fact that you kissed me.I didn’t kiss you back. You better hope the rumors don’t start to circulate. Maybe then, you’ll have a better chance of marrying some poor bastard who will put up with you for the rest of his life. But it won’t be me.”
Her family car pulled up to the curb. I held my hand up, indicating for the driver to stay put, and moved her toward the car. Her face had lost all its color.
I opened the door and gently shoved her inside. Bending down so that she could see my face, I said, “Have a good day, Miss Valachi. You’re banned from every De Luca establishment. Don’t ever show up here again.”
I shut the door before she could say anything.
I turned to look at Matteo, who was now wearing a pensive expression on his face. “What?”
“Did you know Valentino took Isa out for lunch today?” he asked.
