Infidelity: Illegitimate (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Lulu Astor

Author:Lulu Astor [Astor, Lulu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: 2017-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

I remember a line my mother used to love from some comedian who said whenever he took a cab in New York City, he always felt as if he should be shooting out of the rear window at the car behind. That’s how I felt in the taxi we hailed. The driver was dodging in and out of traffic, hanging turns, and speeding and slowing to time red lights. It was like bumper cars on the mean streets of Gotham—only with everyone hoping not to bump but not really trying too hard.

Luca and I exchanged alarmed glances, ending with nervous grins. Well, my grins were nervous, my glances were alarmed. His were more amused than agitated and then he winked at me as if it were all in good fun.

Nothing rattled him. He was the profile of serenity, sitting there solidly as my body was flung into and away from him and all over the cab. Taking pity, he finally put his arm around me to hold me in place. But would we make it out alive?

We did. As we got out of the taxi, I looked around to get my bearings. We were somewhere on the Upper West Side in the 90s, in front of a majestic marble building that looked like it once housed a bank. Its dark blue awning piped in gold now announced a private club called the Ivy League. Luca leaned in to whisper against my hair. “It used to be called the Gentleman’s Exchange until they were shamed into accepting female members. The name was switched shortly after. It’s a nice atmosphere.”

He grasped my elbow and guided me into the place. I felt woefully underdressed for the occasion as I crossed the threshold and saw all the elegantly outfitted people milling inside. A man in a formal black suit materialized as we stepped into the main parlor.

“Good evening, Mr. Costello. Will you be joining us for dinner, sir?”

“Yes, thank you, Bernard. For two.”

“Very good, sir. Follow me.”

He led us to a private table in a corner of an alcove off the main dining room. If I could have chosen my own table, it would have been this one. We were seated for less than thirty seconds before a waiter was with us.

“Mr. Costello, it’s so good to see you. What may I get you and your lovely companion to drink?”

Luca looked at me. “Wine OK?”

“Definitely.”

He proceeded to order a California red—a blend of cabs and merlot—that he said was truly nice. The sommelier was at our table within minutes.

After our wine was tasted and poured, Luca held up his glass and I tipped mine to it. “To a night without problems or worries.”

“Amen to that,” I retorted and took a sip. To say it was sublime would be an understatement. It was velvet on the tongue with piquant bursts of flavor. I could tell it was special even though I was by no means a connoisseur. “This wine is phenomenal, Luca.”

He beamed. “I knew you’d like it.

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