Or maybe I should just refuse to ever let her out of bed, then she might start to get the idea.
“Casey, you were wrong about a lot of things, but your words made me think. We do come from different worlds.”
She swipes under her eyes with her sleeve. “We really do.”
I walk to the window and peer outside. She follows and looks over my shoulder. All I can see is the side of another dingy building and the rusted stairs of a fire escape. “My Milan flat has a much better view. It’s on the Piazza del Duomo.”
She flinches. “Really? Isn’t that the famous town square in Milan?”
Her lack of money and social status doesn’t matter to me but it obviously bothers her so what I say in this moment is pivotal. I’ll never again allow the cruel words of others to hurt her. Where I come from, a man takes pride in protecting and providing for his wife.
I close my eyes and let the word roll through me.
My wife. Mi amore.
I take her hand and squeeze. “Yes. It’s really a beautiful building, too. With marble floors and the most exquisite architectural details. It’s such a shame that I won’t be keeping it.”
I pull out my phone and hit the second speed dial. “Ciao, Philippe. I’m giving you my flat in Milan. Ask Mamma for the…”
The phone is snatched from my hand mid-sentence.
“Are you crazy? You can’t just give away a condo.” She taps hurriedly at the screen of the phone. “Sorry, Philippe,” she calls out before finally disconnecting the call.
“I was going to give him the car I keep in Milan as well.” I tuck my hands innocently in my pockets as she stares. “If my family is not accepting then we probably won’t go there too often. Besides, maybe you will feel more comfortable with me if I am less rich, no?”
She laughs then, a full throaty sound. “I’m starting to think I’ll never be comfortable with you. Perhaps that’s a good thing. I’ll never be bored.”
“If I was a poor man, I couldn’t love you any more than I do. Does any of the rest really matter?”
She rests her head against my chest. “You make it seem so easy. Nothing in my life has ever been easy. I’m afraid to believe in this.”
I tip her chin up and kiss her softly. “Did it ever occur to you that I too am afraid? You might decide to love someone else and break my heart.”
Casey snorts and gives me her first genuine smile. “Not happening. I can’t imagine loving anyone else.”
I lean down until our noses touch. “It’s going to be a transition but I believe in us. And there are things we can do to make the transition easier.”
“What’s that?” She reaches up and threads her fingers through my hair. She’s touching me all over. I think she’s missed this almost as much as I have.
“Well, you could move back into the penthouse like we’d originally planned. My personal security will be able to protect both of us better if we’re in the same place.”
She nods. “Moving back in is a definite yes. Because all my clothes are there and I’m not packing all that stuff back up. What else?”
“I can turn off the comments on my Instagram posts. It won’t stop all the trolls but at least we won’t have to see it.”
“You don’t have to do that. Let them rage. As Ariana pointed out, they’re just jealous. And it’s not like I can blame them. I would be jealous, too.”
I bury my face in her hair. “There’s one more thing that would really shut up the haters. Something that would show the world that I love you and I’ll never stop.”
Her breath catches as she finally realizes what I’m leading up to.
“Marry me, Cassandra.”
She puts a hand on my cheek. “You don’t have to marry me to keep people from talking. I’m not running away anymore. Let them talk. As long as I have you, I’m happy.”
“You think that’s why I’m asking you?”
“You’re worried about me. You’re very sweet.”