Ruined Secrets (Perfectly Imperfect #4)

“I’m texting Damian. There are some people here we didn’t expect, and I need him to let me know if there’s any important information you should know.”

“My little scheme master.” I drop a kiss on her exposed skin.

Isabella goes still. “You shouldn’t do that, Luca.”

“Kiss you?” I let my mouth travel upward to her neck and kiss her again. “Why?”

“You’re not exactly known for displaying affection around other people. Especially not at the Family gatherings.”

“Too bad. I enjoy showing everyone you’re mine.”

“Everybody already knows that, Luca. Most of them were at our wedding.”

“They might know,”—I turn her so she’s facing me—“but I want them to see as well.”

Holding her around the middle, I lift her off the ground and press my mouth to hers, as a surprised little yelp leaves her lips.She doesn’t kiss me back right away. I’ve probably shocked her. The thing is, I find myself rather surprised by my act as well. I never intended to make a scene, which is exactly what I’m doing based on the dumbfounded looks on the faces around us, but I couldn’t resist this unexplainable urge to claim her in front of everyone. Maybe because I saw other men watching her, their eyes skimming every part of her that’s on display in that skin-tight burgundy dress.

I bite her lower lip lightly, and Isabella finally starts kissing me back, slowly at first, but then, her hands wrap around my shoulders and the nape of my neck, and her kiss becomes greedy. That’s much better. I feel something wet on my face and open my eyes to find Isabella’s eyes still closed but tears rolling down her cheeks.

I gently lower her back down and take her chin between my finger and thumb. “Tesoro? What’s wrong?”

She presses her lips together tightly and shakes her head, her eyes still closed. More tears fall from them.

“Too much pressure. Stress,” she says. “Don’t mind me.”

She sounds sincere. I don’t believe a word. “I’m taking you home.”

“Yeah. Let’s go through the garden.” She opens her eyes but avoids looking at me. Instead, she nods toward the balcony door. “I don’t want anyone witnessing my breakdown.”

“Okay,” I say and take her hand in mine, leading her outside.

Something’s wrong. I might have lost my memories, but I haven’t lost my mind. She will tell me what the fuck I did to make her cry in front of fifty people. Because, even though I can’t say I’ve known her long, one thing I’m completely sure about is thefact Isabella would never let the members of the Family see her cry.

I sag into the passenger seat and exhale. Shit. Luca walks around the front, sits behind the wheel, and starts the car.

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah.” I nod, open my clutch and retrieve a small mirror and tissues to clean the mascara marks from under my eyes. Waterproof, my ass.

“Care to tell me what just happened there, Isabella?”

“I already told you. Stress overload.” I keep wiping my cheek with the tissue but the black stains just won’t come off, damn it. “Just forget it.”

The road ahead of us is free of other vehicles, but Luca slows down and then turns into a gas station parking lot. In the rearview mirror, I notice the car with our security detail make the same turn, and park a few spots away.

“Why did you stop?” I ask.

Luca doesn’t say anything, just leaves the car and heads toward the building. One of the security guys exits the other car, but Luca motions with his hand for him to get back inside. A couple of minutes later, he returns and drops a package of wet wipes onto my lap.

I look at the package, then up at my husband, who sits with his elbows on the wheel, staring through the windshield. Slowly,I take a wipe and proceed with cleaning my face. “Are we waiting for someone?”

“Yes. For you to start talking, Isabella.”

“Jesus Christ.” I throw the used wipe into my purse and close the small bag. Why won’t he just leave it alone?

As far as I’m concerned, we can stay here all night because there’s no way I’m telling him I was so fucking affected and happy to have him kiss me in front of everyone. Like I matter. Like I have dreamed of him doing for so long. Like… he’s in love with me. Just to realize that he probably did that only because he believes we’re a couple happily in love. Before, he didn’t even find it fitting to kiss me on our wedding day.

“I have nothing else to say. Can we please go home?”