Filed to story: Falling for My Ex's Mafia Dad Novel Free PDF (Fay Alden & Kent Lippert)
“I like you jealous,” Janeen says, bursting into a grin and tugging him closer. “Finally, some heat!”
I laugh too, looking around the garden as I lean close to Daniel’s side, taking in the incredible roses and wild, rambling plants that seem to grow with abandon in the golden light of the sunset. “Seriously, Daniel,” I sigh, looking up at him. “How could you have ever left this?”
He shrugs a little before tracing his knuckles lightly down my cheek. “It’s beautiful, but it’s confining, Fay,” he replies softly. “Dad will say the same. There’s a price to pay for this.”
“Well then,” I reply softly. “Let’s just enjoy it for a night.”
Daniel smiles at me and then does a double take, his face bursting into a mischievous little grin. “Looks like we’re not the only ones looking to enjoy something for a night,” he murmurs, nudging me and then jerking his chin towards the large crowd surrounding Kent.
I frown for a moment, not getting it, but then I see who has taken Nonna’s place pressed to Kent’s side.
“Fucking Natalia,” I grumble, narrowing my eyes as she tilts her head back and laughs at something Kent has said, letting her long hair fall back over her shoulders and pressing her hips and stomach more closely into Kent’s side, her arm wrapped around his back. “If she doesn’t stop touching him, I’m going to order her execution. Swim with the fishes, or whatever.”
Daniel laughs, turning me away. “Let her throw herself at him,” he says with a shrug. “We’ll make a drinking game out of it. Every time Natalia embarrasses herself throwing herself at dad, drink!”
“Fun for you,” I grumble as Daniel snags a glass of prosecco off a passing tray.
“Damn straight it is,” he says, winking at me and taking a sip. “And trust me, I’m going to need every last drop.”
I sigh, jealous, kind of wanting a drink too
But honestly? Even if I could, I probably wouldn’t take it.
Because as much as this is a gorgeous party and everyone’s pretending it’s all arranged to finally welcome Kent home?
Me? I’m well aware that this is business.
And as I look around and realize that Bianci himself isn’t here yet?
I know that we’ve got to keep sharp, because something big is coming.
And I, for one, am going to be ready for it.
When night truly falls and the garden becomes too dark to be practical, we all troop back to the front of the house, heading indoors. Kent takes the opportunity to dislodge Natalia from his side, somehow, and is waiting for us at the entrance to the garden.
“How did that go,” he murmurs, looking us over as we walk towards the house, his hands behind his back.
“Fine,” Daniel says, giving his dad a nod and a reassuring smile. “We weren’t the feature item, anyway most everyone met us yesterday.”
“Excuse you,” Janeen says dryly from behind us, “I am always the feature item.”
Kent sends her an appreciative smirk over his shoulder but returns his focus to Daniel and I.
“You’ve got a little something, I think a little lipstick” I say wiping my own thumb over my cheekbone, indicating that Kent has something in the same spot. When he frowns, raising his hand and wiping at his own cheek, I continue. “It’s a light shade of berry pink I think the shade Natalia was wearing tonight.”
Kent smirks, grinning at me, I think liking a little bit to see me jealous again. But he drops his hand, ignoring my joke.
“Where’s nonno?” Daniel asks.
“I don’t know,” Kent says seriously as we pass into the house and make our way to a gigantic formal dining room that can probably seat fifty people. “But I have a feeling we’re going to find out.”
Nonna is waiting for us by the door, reaching out to take Kent’s hand and leading him to a place of honor at the right hand of the chair at the head of the table, clearly reserved for Don Bianci but as-yet vacant. She murmurs something warm to Kent before coming and tugging at my hand, obliging me to lean down so she can kiss me on the cheek. She then kisses Daniel and presses Janeen and Jerome’s hands, welcoming them, before bustling off.
“Where is she going?” I ask Daniel, confused as to why she’s not sitting down with her guests.
“She’s got to get the food ready,” he says, pulling out my chair and gesturing towards it.
“What?” I gasp, staring after the tiny woman. “She cooked for everyone!?”
“She’s an Italian wife,” Daniel says, laughing and guiding me to the chair to sit. “This is her super bowl trust me, she’s in heaven.”
“I would like,” I say, staring wide-eyed at my husband, “you to always remember that I am an American wife. Because this?” I say, twirling my finger around to encompass the massive feast about to be fed to fifty guests, “this is not in my wheelhouse.”
“No worries, Fay,” Daniel murmurs, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek as he takes his own chair. “No one would eat what you cooked anyway, for fear of food poisoning.”
I scoff at him, turning to my other side and looking for Kent to step in at my defense, but to my surprise he’s staring down at his plate, smiling and blushing of all things.
“What?” I ask, completely shocked as I stare at him. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” he murmurs, clearing his throat and sitting up straight.
“Tell me,” I insist, dying to know because never, ever have I seen Kent Lippert blush. I didn’t think he was capable of it.
“It’s just something mamma said,” he says, the little smirk still on his face as he pulls his napkin into his lap.
“Tell me!” I push, using my fingers to give him a little shove on the shoulder, forgetting for just a second that he’s supposed to be my father-in-law tonight.
Kent turns to me, I think a little unable to help himself. He lowers his voice. “She said you were very pretty, Fay,” he murmurs.
“So?” I say, leaning in, my eyes flicking over him. “It was more than that, I know it was ”
He blushes again, laughing and my jaw drops open to see him like this. “She said,” Kent says, giving in and making me lean so close that I almost tip out of my chair to hear him, “that you were very pretty, Fay, but that she was surprised that you married Daniel, because you seem more like my kind of girl than his.”
My eyes flare wide as Kent laughs, shaking his head.
“Oh my god,” I say, sitting up and looking around, glad suddenly that no one is yet sitting across from us and that everyone seems to be wrapped up in their own conversations. “Do you do you think she knows!?”
“No, Fay,” Kent murmurs, taking a deep breath as the food starts to come through the doors, carried by a series of servants and aunts who surely helped nonna prepare it all. “I think she’s just a very perceptive old woman who knows me very well.”
I relax back in my chair a little bit, smiling at him, touched. “I’m glad I get to see you with her, Kent,” I say quietly.
“Me too,” he says fast, and then nods towards Daniel. “But pay attention to your husband now.”
I turn, intending to do just that, and as I do I see Kent’s reason for the change as Alessi and Valentina move to their seats across from us, Natalia on Valentina’s other side. Natalia slips into her chair across from Daniel as Alessi comes around the table to give Kent a big hug, slapping him on the back like he hasn’t seen him in years instead of months.
The two speak cheerfully to each other in rapid Italian as Valentina leans across the table, greeting us and helping servants set out plates and plates of food that all smells delicious. His greeting finished, Alessi moves to his seat and the room quickly fills with chatter as wine is passed around, though nobody touches the steaming food or fills their plates.
Because we’re all waiting.
A hush falls on the room when the doors bang open again and Don Bianci strides in. He smiles at his family, his hands tucked into his pants, and many call greetings to him as he crosses to the head of the room. Bianci gives paternal nods to those who greet him, but his eyes quickly focus on Kent, who stands.