To Have and to Heist(92)

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Chloe warned. “It’s not over until it’s over. In fact, it’s only just begun.”

Twenty-Six

I dragged everyone out to watch the ceremony. We’d worked hard for this moment, and I wanted the crew to share in our moment of success.

“How long is this going to take?” Anil scrolled through his phone. “The demographic is ten years older than I anticipated and I need to rejig my playlist.”

“I need to get back to the kitchen,” Rose said. “It’s crazy in there. The Italian nonnas are all up in everyone’s business. Apparently, the food isn’t the way they make it in Italy, and they threw away an entire bowl of dijonnaise. Chef Pierre almost got into a fight with one of them over the tiramisu.”

“I had a bad dijonnaise once.” Emma leaned against a low stone retaining wall. “I was on a cruise with my mom and twelve of her best friends. I should have known when I saw it untouched at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some things should not be left unrefrigerated. Thank God I had my own cabin because I owned that toilet for the next three days, and the smell . . . it was so bad, they thought they had a sewage leak.”

Anil looked up from his phone. “Why do your stories always end up with you on a toilet?”

“Why don’t I take you to the nearest portable and stick your head down it so you can see?”

“How about we have a conversation that doesn’t involve things that should stay on the inside coming outside,” Chloe said gently. “This is a wedding. We should be thinking light, happy, beautiful thoughts.”

“I’m thinking about how the bride’s Mafia boss father is forcing her into marriage with a cruel, controlling psycho so their families don’t whack each other,” Cristian said. “There is nothing fun, beautiful, or light about that.”

I had explained to Cristian that Rose had taken his place in the heist, but for old times’ sake he could hang with the crew. I’d updated him on the recent developments and enjoyed watching his face when I told him how we were going to help Bella escape. I hated to admit it because I was still annoyed that he’d blown us off, but it was nice to have him back.

“Bella’s mom is over there,” I said, pointing to the front row of the nearest aisle. “Make sure she doesn’t see you. I still can’t believe you’re even here. I thought you were afraid of her.”

“That’s because I was single,” he said. “Now I’m in a committed relationship with . . .” He trailed off, circling his hand as if we would know the name of his latest conquest.

“You don’t know the bridesmaid’s name,” I sighed. “Do you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m with her. There’s no risk of temptation.”

Emma stared at him, her eyes wide. “Are you saying you gave up over eight hundred grand because you were afraid you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants?”

“Women are attracted to me,” Cristian said, adjusting the cuffs on his shirt. “It’s a gift and a curse. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have this gorgeous face and hot body.”

“Uh-oh. She’s looking this way.” Rose grabbed Cristian’s arm, pulling him back. “Hide in the shadows.”

“Too late. She saw me.” Cristian lifted his hand in a weak wave, his voice rising to a shaky pitch. “I shouldn’t have come. I just felt bad things didn’t work out the first time and I wanted to help. What if she wants a session? I can’t bone a Mafia boss’s wife in his own house.”

“I thought you already boned her,” Emma said. “And from the way her two friends are looking at you, I’m guessing you boned them as well.”

“Could we use a different word?” Chloe asked. “Bone is so . . . well . . . hard.”

Emma snickered, her gaze flicking to Gage, who was standing under the flower bower with Mario, waiting for the bride. She clearly missed her partner in crime.

“I thought you were a life coach,” Anil said.

Cristian tried to pull his front tuft of hair down over his face as if it would make a difference. “Most women want coaching in one particular aspect of life.”

“What aspect?”

“Coitus.” Emma pumped her fists and rocked her hips. “Also known as fornication, doing it, getting laid, knocking boots, doing the Devil’s dance, shagging, screwing, nailing, banging, or doing squat thrusts in the cucumber patch.”

Jack swept my hair away and pressed a kiss to the nape of my neck, sending a wave of heat rippling across my skin. “I have another word,” he whispered. “We can try it out tonight.”

“Stop it. Bad.” I turned to admonish him, and he caught me with a kiss.

“You teach women how to have relations,” Anil said, studiously ignoring us. “It’s a noble and useful profession.”

“Actually, my clients—all women of a certain age—don’t really need lessons,” Cristian said. “They have experience, and they know what they like. It’s very refreshing. There’s no guesswork involved.”

“That’s what all my men say.” Rose gave Chef Pierre an exaggerated wink.

“Shh.” I glared at them. “You’re attracting attention. We’re supposed to be professionals.”