Page 31 of Mafioso's Muse

She searched his eyes. ‘And what are your instincts telling you?’

‘That you should be careful.’

Exhaling, she said, ‘Harrison and I have known each other for years.’

‘I’m aware of that.’

‘But you know better?’

‘Time will tell.’

She raised her chin a little. ‘I’m starting to think that you care.’

Before he could respond to that, his parents walked over and joined them. Vaughn’s tall, very Italian-looking father eyed her with blatant suspicion, while his mother, who was beautiful in an Old Hollywood sort of way, beamed at Willow. Vaughn had his father’s bronze skin and his mother’s startling eyes. A true mix of the two.

‘We had to come over and meet the young lady our eldest boy made a beeline for the second he walked in.’ His mother extended a hand to Willow. ‘I’m Paula, Vaughn’s mother.’

Willow took her hand. ‘Willow Hayes.’

‘What a pretty name.’ She turned to her husband. ‘Isn’t Willow a pretty name?’

Vaughn’s father responded with a grunt before looking accusingly at his son.

‘My father, Salvatore,’ Vaughn said. ‘He normally prefers to skip these kinds of events.’

‘Puts him in a mood,’ Paula explained. Then, looking Willow up and down, she asked, ‘Are you one of the dancers?’

‘Yes. Corps de ballet.’

‘And soloist opening weekend,’ Vaughn added.

Willow thought she caught some pride in his voice.

‘Is that right?’ Paula said, looking between the pair. ‘Good on you. Vaughnlovesthe ballet.’

Willow flicked her gaze to him. ‘He’s a real supporter of the arts, I’m realising.’

Vaughn didn’t respond.

After a moment of silence, Paula asked, ‘Do you like caponata?’

Willow ran the name a few times in her mind, trying to place it. ‘Is he a composer?’

Paula laughed lightly, and Vaughn cleared his throat.

‘Caponata’s a Sicilian dish,’ he said quietly.

Paula nodded. ‘Aubergines, pine nuts, raisins?—’

‘You need plenty of vinegar,’ Salvatore said, finally joining the conversation.

Willow’s entire body felt hot with embarrassment. ‘Oh. Can’t say I’ve ever had it, but it sounds delicious.’

Paula nodded as though deciding something. ‘It’s settled, then.’

‘What’s settled?’ Willow asked.

Vaughn cleared his throat. ‘Ma?—’