Delucca's Marriage Contract

He looked down and saw the sheaf of papers and the wedding ring on top. It had happened. That uniquely floral scent on the air wasn’t a mirage. Mocking him like the torrid dreams he was having whenever he closed his eyes for more than five minutes.

He sank down into his seat, feeling as if someone had just punched him in the belly. Her words came back to him as if through a fog: I know this marriage was only ever a business contract to you, but it became something else for me when we were in Umbria.

For the past three weeks Gianni had been hauled over the coals and roasted alive by his peers and clients and future clients. A dozen deals had fallen through. People looked and whispered in public. People mentioned Mafia, and sins of the fathers. Even his mother had been concerned enough to come to visit him. It was his worst nightmare come to life. But did he care a whit about that?

No.

He’d been consumed by something else. And that something else was five foot eight with red hair and curves that had looked dramatically less just now. And she was walking away from him because she believed he never wanted to see her again.

And he’d told himself he hadn’t. But it wasn’t the truth. Because suddenly everything was crystal clear and Gianni found himself taking his first proper breath in weeks. And it was so heady that it hurt.

Galvanised far too late, he left his office and went down to the street, heart banging against his chest. But of course she was gone.

* * *

‘Lamb for table one, ready to go.’

‘I’ve got it,’ Keelin said, shoving her order book back into the pocket at the front of her apron and stabbing the pen into the bun on the top of her head. She reached for the plate and deftly balanced it with another one for the same table.

When she was walking back to the hatch area she rolled her neck tiredly. Every muscle was screaming with fatigue but she welcomed it because it kept her brain numb and she needed to feel numb. Because if the numbness went, then she’d fall apart.

The manager called her over and handed her a menu, ‘A guy just sat down on table three without waiting to be seated. If we weren’t having a slow night I’d say something but he’s so gorgeous that we’ll forgive him.’

Keelin smiled at her old college friend who had happened to be looking for waiters for her new business when Keelin had bumped into her two days ago when she’d arrived back from Rome.

‘Leave it with me. I’ll try not to scare him off.’

Keelin walked over, taking the menu with her, her mouth open and ready to list off the specials for the evening, when she stopped in her tracks and her mouth stayed open.

Gianni Delucca was sitting at the table, dominating the space around him and standing out effortlessly in the small hipster Temple Bar eaterie. For a second she felt so light-headed she thought she might faint. But Gianni must have seen something on her face and was half standing as if to help her.

She rushed over, grating through the waves of shock, ‘What are you doing here?’

He sat back down looking entirely unrepentant. ‘Looking for you.’ Now he was grating, ‘Why the hell didn’t you let your solicitor know where you’re staying?’

Keelin flushed. ‘Because I’m in a hostel until I can afford somewhere of my own.’

If Gianni had come to crow, then now would be a really good time. Keelin was hot, sweaty and making a pittance an hour and living in a hostel. He should feel that justice had been served.

‘We need to talk.’

Keelin blinked. She noted that he looked more like himself than he had the last time she’d seen him. His hair was neat again, he was clean-shaven. Even if he still had a more lean look than usual.

Angry that she was noticing him, when evidently Gianni wanted to punish her some more, she snapped, ‘Well, I can’t just leave. My shift doesn’t end for at least two hours.’

She turned to go, taking the menus with her, but Gianni caught her arm, and the seismic reaction to his touch in her body made her stop. She turned back. ‘Let me go.’

‘No. Not unless you agree to come with me. Now.’

Keelin opened her mouth to argue but something in his eyes stopped her. She recognised that steely look too well.

‘Fine, I’ll ask. But if she can’t let me go, then you’ll just have to wait.’

He finally released her arm and Keelin had to fight the urge to rub where he’d touched her as if he’d burnt her skin. Damn him.

She went back over to Susan and explained the situation reluctantly. Her friend’s eyes widened. ‘He’s your husband?’

‘Soon to be ex,’ Keelin said hastily, thinking of the divorce papers she’d signed just yesterday.