Page 103 of Absinthe Minded

“This isn’t how tonight was supposed to go.”

“While we’re on the subject of your father, I need to ask you—” I glanced at the dessert plate and blinked. Nestled between the truffles was the biggest diamond I’d ever seen. My world tilted. “Gabe?”

“Yeah. I know.”

The courtyard, the new dress, the music, the private dinner.His speech!I’d ruined his proposal. “Oh my God.”

Gabe dropped his hand from his eyes and smiled.

“This is for real? You’re asking me for real?” Feeling lightheaded, I pushed my chair back and bent forward. It may not have been ladylike to put my head between my knees, but I did it anyway.

Gabe knelt in front of me. “Mary Margaret Guthrie, I’ve been in love with you from the moment I first saw you. I love your smile, your laugh, your goofy glasses and ratty pajamas.”

Please stop talking.“I don’t…” I shook my head.

“I haven’t asked yet.” He curled his finger under my chin and lifted until I met his gaze. “Will you marry me?”

I wanted to say yes more than anything, but it wasn’t just me. I had children to consider. I had to know the truth. “Are the Marchionnis a mafia family?”

His expression darkened. “Does it matter?”

“It doesn’t change the fact that I love you, but I can’t accept your proposal until I know what you’re asking me to marry into.”

He turned his head, nodded, and looked back to me. “We are part of the Cosa Nostra, but I’m working on changing that, and your article has complicated things tremendously.”

A million questions danced through my head.Was he a criminal? What kind? Could he quit? Would it put him, or our family, in danger?“Could we go home and talk about this?”

“Sweetheart, there are things I can never share with you, but I will tell you as much as I can.”

Would that be enough for me? “Did Rebecca know?”

“Yes.”

I ran through everything I knew about my sister, her marriage, her husband, their life and came up with even more questions. “I need time to sort this out.”

“I understand.” He kissed my cheek, stood, and walked toward the gate.

“Wait.” I shot to my feet but had to grab the table to stay upright. “Where are you going?”

“I need to take a walk. The driver will take you home when you’re ready.” Shoulders slumped and head down, he looked defeated.

I wanted to go to him, to apologize, to tell him I’d marry him tonight, but I couldn’t do any of those things. “Wait. Please, come home with me.”

He stopped walking but kept his back to me. “Mags, I’m not giving up on us, but right now… I need to handle the situation with the article before my father finds out you wrote it.”

“If you both would read it—”

“He won’t care what it says. The fact you wrote it is a betrayal.”

To him or to you?“You forgot the ring.” My voice trembled.

“Keep it until you decide.” Gabe slipped through the gate, leaving me alone with the wait staff and the weight of the world.

I knew what I had to do.

I slipped the ring on my finger, wrapped the remainder of the truffles in a napkin, and headed for the limo. After giving the driver the address to the Marchionni mansion in the Garden District, I sent Evelyn an email with my article attached.

Gabe’s mother had been a pain in my butt since my sister died, but no one could accuse her of not wanting the best for her sons.