Storm's Cage by Mary Stone (uplifting novels .TXT) 📕

Maybe he should have commissioned a private driver so he could throw back a few shots of bourbon to chase away all the lingering uncertainty. As much as he hated relying on another person to cart him around the city, he’d be willing to sacrifice the independence of using his own vehicle for a stiff drink.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted a flicker of movement as the front door of the house swung inward. A gust of wind caught the woman’s long, caramel hair and rustled the burgundy fabric of a dress that peeked out from beneath her gray peacoat. Hugging the jacket tighter around herself, she pulled the door closed and stepped out onto the covered porch.

As her gaze fell on Alex’s car, she raised her free hand for a quick wave. Though he wasn’t sure if she could see him through the tinted window, Alex returned the gesture.

The closer she drew, the more and more certain he became of one simple fact…Liliana D’Amato was a woman. Not an awkward, chunky teenager, but a woman who’d grown into her own skin. Her mother, Mariana D’Amato, was a beautiful woman by almost anyone’s standards. Though Liliana had inherited her father’s hazel eyes, Alex realized she was a carbon copy of Mariana in every other way.

His gaze had wandered down to her shapely legs by the time he remembered why he was parked in front of the sorority house on the edge of the Chicago University campus. If Sal could see his only daughter strolling around the front fender of the gunmetal Audi to open her own door, the man would give him an earful, and then some.

“Shit,” Alex spat. He undid the seat belt with a click and shoved open the driver’s side door just before she’d reached the end of the sloped sidewalk.

The unseasonable chill cut through the finely made fabric of Alex’s black suit jacket, and he wondered how Liliana—with her legs exposed from just above the knee on down—wasn’t frozen stiff.

Her red-soled pumps clacked against the concrete with each step as she approached. When she reached his car, Liliana demurely glanced up to meet Alex’s gaze. She batted impossibly long eyelashes, highlighting the contrast of green and brown in her gemlike hazel eyes, and smiled at him.

“Hey. I’m, uh…I’m sorry.” He stumbled over his words as he gestured to his car. “I must’ve spaced off or something. Let me get that door for you.”

Liliana shook her head, sending a wave of caramel hair fanning out over her shoulders. “It’s fine, Alex.” Her smile was dazzling as she stepped off the curb to follow him. “Honestly, I’ve always felt weird when dudes went out of their way to open doors and shit for me. Makes me feel like they’re going to expect something in return.”

He opened and closed his mouth a few times before turning to face her. As his fingers brushed the door handle, he met her gaze. Alex had grown up in the mafia lifestyle, and he’d known Sal D’Amato since he was a toddler. The Passarelli family had always been close with the D’Amatos, and though Sal was of no blood relation to Alex or his parents, he’d always looked at the man as an uncle figure.

Throughout the D’Amato family, Sal was notorious for his crass remarks and never-ending sarcasm. To be sure, Sal wouldn’t hesitate to bring down an iron fist when he needed to knock someone in line, but the guy had a hell of a sense of humor. All three of Sal’s sons had inherited their father’s jovial personality, but Alex hadn’t expected the trait to extend to Liliana.

The D’Amatos were ahead of their time in plenty of their business aspects, but gender equality had never been one of their strong suits.

Another gust of wind blasted him like a slap to the face, bringing him back to the moment. He could either continue to exude the stuffy air of a so-called gentleman, or he could take a risk and, well…he could be himself.

What’s the worst that can happen?

Prying open the car door, he nodded to her. “Well, I do want something. I want you to let me pick what we listen to on the way to this restaurant.”

Her lips parted in a grin that revealed a million-dollar smile. That was probably how much Sal had paid to ensure its perfection. “You do know I paid attention to my dad’s work over all these years, right? I know when I’m getting the short end of a deal. If opening my own door meant that I could pick the music we listen to in the car, I would’ve done it.”

Not quite the princess he’d expected, but he admired her snark. Maybe this arranged marriage thing wasn’t going to be as bad as he’d imagined. Alex considered the possibility as she slid into the passenger side seat and decided to give this a fresh start without any of his original preconceived notions. “Sorry, Liliana. Deal’s already done. I hope you like the Bee Gees.”

Before she could reply, he shoved the door closed with a victorious smirk. Covering her mouth with a hand, her shoulders shook with laughter he couldn’t quite hear. He hadn’t thought his remark was that funny, but maybe Liliana was relieved too.

Was he relieved? Or was her unexpected demeanor a new source of trepidation? Had Sal fitted his daughter with a wire so he could test Alex?

Maybe he should have made more of an effort to get to know Liliana after his father had announced the marriage arrangement.

Though he was sure his expression belied none of the anxiety that had seeped into his brain, his heart knocked against his ribs as he circled around the bumper. With one last effort to push the uncertainty out of his head, he pulled open the driver’s side door and dropped down behind the wheel.

Setting her handbag beside her feet, Liliana fixed him with a questioning