Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Lucca groaned. “You have to keep Nicoletta away from Emme, Taviano. Already, she’s rubbing off on her.”
Taviano burst out laughing. “That isn’t going to happen, and you know it. Emme’s too much fun.”
“Valentino was supposed to tame her.”
Amaranthe rolled her eyes. “You persist in thinking women need to be tamed. That’s where you go wrong, Lucca. Has he always been so bullheaded, Geno?”
“He gets worse,” Salvatore volunteered. “He has antiquated ideas about women.”
Amaranthe looked up at Geno. “I wonder where he got those ideas.”
Another round of laughter, and Francesca pushed back as if she were going to excuse herself.
Geno shook his head slightly. “Don’t go yet, Francesca. I’d like to revisit a couple of the things you brought up if you don’t mind. I think it’s important.”
Beneath the table he wrapped his fingers around Amaranthe’s wrist, sliding his thumb along the back of her hand in long caresses.
Francesca subsided immediately, her large eyes fixing on his. “What is it, Geno?”
“You know I’m not like Stefano. I’m not smooth or sophisticated when it comes to saying the right things, especially to a woman. I’m going to give this my best shot because there isn’t another woman who has helped me more when it comes to learning about relationships.”
He hesitated. “It’s far more than that, Francesca. I’m going to make an ass out of myself, but some things need to be said. I love you. Feel like a damn fool saying it right out loud in front of everyone, but I don’t love that many people.”
Tears glittered in Francesca’s eyes, and she gave Geno a watery smile.
He held up his hand before she could speak. “You need to let me try to get this out. Men think very differently from women. You obviously don’t view yourself the way we see you. Or at least the way I see you or Stefano does. I know how he thinks and feels about you because, for one, he tells me, and we’re both men. I can see it every time he looks at you.”
Geno looked down at Amaranthe. “You give to all of us, Francesca. Just tonight, I would have made so many big mistakes in my relationship with Amara that would have hurt her. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt the woman I love. And it would cost us valuable time in our relationship when we need to be completely in sync to survive. You did that for me. Gave me guidance when I needed it most. You do it all the time.”
Francesca shook her head to deny what he said.
“You do,” Salvatore confirmed. Lucca echoed him.
Taviano and Nicoletta added their endorsement to their New York cousins.
“Why do you think I went to you, Francesca?” Taviano asked. “I trusted you to give me good advice, and you immediately came up with the right answer. We flew here together and told Geno everything. We’re sorting it out, thanks to you.”
“You’re the heart of the family,” Geno continued. “You think you don’t have worth because you can’t carry babies in your body for Stefano. I’m a man. I can tell you, Stefano has never even considered that you would think that way. He doesn’t think that way. The thought would never enter his mind, and he would be horrified that it has ever entered yours. His entire world is Francesca Ferraro. Keeping you healthy, happy and safe is what he focuses on. Not having children, Francesca. You. He focuses on you. How do I know? Because I would never think about having children over Amaranthe. Not one time. You have to trust me on this.”
“But . . .” Francesca started to protest.
Geno stopped her again by holding up his hand. “You’re not really listening, honey, which isn’t like you. You need to hear me because what I’m saying is the absolute truth. Just for one moment, don’t have rebuttals in your head. Just listen to me. I’m telling you how men think. How Stefano thinks. Stefano wouldn’t trade you for one child. Not one. He wouldn’t consider it, and he’d never regret his choice.”
He brought Amaranthe’s hand from under the table and pressed her palm against his chest over his heart. “I never once, not for a single moment, believed I would find a woman who could accept me, let alone love me. I thought I’d either have to marry someone who would never care for me but would have my children, or I’d be alone for the rest of my life. I knew I would choose to be alone. Stefano felt the same way. He didn’t believe a woman could ever love him. Then you came along, Francesca. You, with your compassionate heart and your kindness and your wisdom and patience. You were willing to take all of us on. We’re all fucked up, but that doesn’t seem to matter to you. No matter how bad it gets, you stand with us.”