Page 48 of Claimed At First Sight

I throw my head back against the sofa with a groan.

“Why can’t this man leave me alone?”

“He seems pretty committed to doing the opposite,” Isa remarks.

I grimace at her, making her laugh.

“Is there another present with it?” Ari asks, her eyes sparkling. She’s loving every second of this.

Right on cue, one of the delivery guys steps forward and holds out a black box tied with another perfect ribbon.

I stare at it for a second before taking it from him.

“Thank you,” I tell them.

The men nod politely and disappear as silently as they arrived. I eye the box in my hands like it might contain a live grenade.

“More dandelion root tea?” Isa suggests.

“Or a cookbook called One Hundred Ways to Please Your Husband,” Sienna adds helpfully.

Ari gasps. “Or baby names.”

“Hilarious.” I regret ever showing them Maximo’s card.

My sisters grin at me while I place the new gift on top of the unopened Christmas one.

“Please send these back to Maximo Marco in Chicago,” I tell the maid when she enters the room, handing her the boxes.

My heart is suddenly hammering in my chest, which is ludicrous. I’m sending back a couple of presents, not declaring war.

The maid looks surprised for a second before her expression smooths. “Of course, Signorina Accardi.”

I watch the boxes disappear from the room and exhale slowly. Fingers crossed returning them puts an end to this.

Somehow, though, I doubt it.

Maximo Marco doesn’t strike me as a man who takes a hint. He probably views my rejection as a mere suggestion to try harder next week.

Fine. He can send flowers until every florist on this island runs out of stock.

I’m still not opening the damn presents.

Chapter Fifteen

Mialina

The clink of cutlery fades as everyone finishes dinner. Mamma folds her napkin and places it beside her empty plate, smiling as she looks around the table.

“I have some news to share,” she says with a soft smile. “We will all be going to Chicago in ten days. Aldo invited us. He’s arranged for Don Maximo’s jet to pick us up.”

My spoon slips from my fingers, and I blink at Mamma.

Please let me have misheard her.

Sienna and I exchange a look. Her brows lift, and when I glance at Isa, she’s gone unnaturally still.

“Chicago?” I repeat, my voice coming out higher than usual. A strange tightness starts to build beneath my ribs.