I tilted my head and gave a little moan in response.
“We’d better get their drinks and not get caught up again,” I said, stepping away from him and his addictive lips.
“I can’t believe you forgot your kids were home,” Luca whispered.
A giggle escaped my lips as I said, “I know. That could have been a real disaster.”
I had a chilled chicken orzo salad in the fridge and Zuppa Toscana soup simmering on the stove. It was a simple, yet hearty meal, and although I’d agonized over whether or not the meal would be impressive enough for his parents, i.e., mother, I’d needed to keep it simple if I wanted to do all the things I’d had planned for the day.
“So, I have wine, red and white, beer, and a bourbon,” I told him as I opened my cupboard.
“Bourbon for my dad, white wine for my ma, and I think I’ll just have water.”
I glanced at him curiously over my shoulder.
“I may have hit the bourbon a little too hard last night as I spilled my guts to Damon,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Oh yeah? I’d love to hear about it.”
“And I’d love to tell you about it. Maybe later tonight? I could stay over…”
He looked so hopeful I couldn’t help but smile.
“I think that’s a great idea.”
His answering grin was happy and sexy, with a hint of promise.
We poured the drinks and carried them back to the living room, where the foursome was talking animatedly as if they’d known each other for years.
The look on Luca’s face was pure joy, and I knew I’d made the right decision in inviting his parents here to meet my kids one on one.
This is going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Thirty-Eight
Luca
“If any of you say or do anything … if you even look at Whit or her kids sideways … I will hog tie you, coat you with peanut butter, and leave you out for the wolves,” I warned all the members in my family, who were currently standing in my ma’s kitchen staring at me as if I’d lost it.
“Wow, that’s quite the visual, brother,” Vanni said with a grimace.
“Even us, Uncle Luca?” Peter asked excitedly.
“Yup, even you,” I replied. “And that isn’t a challenge.”
Peter and his brother shared looks that meant that’s exactly how they’d taken my threat and I groaned as I shot a look at Sara.
“They’ll behave,” she promised with a smile.
I shot a look at Char, who was cradling Sky to her chest.
“Ma took the baby overnight, so I am working with a full twelve hours of glorious sleep. I’m more rested than I’ve been in twelve months. You don’t have to worry about a thing on my end.”
My sister did look great, and I wasn’t really worried about anyone doing anything that would cause problems today, but it still felt necessary to threaten them with bodily harm, just to be on the safe side.
“Silas and Stella are just lovely,” Ma said as if she’d known them for years rather than only meeting them once. “They will fit in perfectly and everyone will get along. You’ll see.”
“Yeah, you worry too much, Luc,” Vanni said with a teasing grin.
“Stuff it,” was my retort.
“Okay, that’s it, if you aren’t helping cook, get out of my kitchen,” Ma ordered.
Everyone but Vanni and Sara shuffled out, well, except Peter and Paul, who ran out as if ghosts were chasing them.
Whitney was on the way with Stella and Silas, and I was confident this family dinner would be more in line with what I’d envisioned for the first one, although I was not putting any pressure on the day this time.
Whatever happened, would happen, and no matter my expectations, there wasn’t anything I could do about it but let things play out.
Since our big make-up event, which was what I liked to call it, we’d only spent one night apart. If she had the kids, we were at her place, and if they were with Marcus, we were at mine. Things had been going great. Better than great. Amazing.
I’d never imagined a relationship could be so good.
We occasionally saw each other at work, or met up for lunch, but mostly our jobs were separate, so it wasn’t like we were in each other’s pockets constantly.
I’d even met Marcus and Crystal, who were nice enough for people we’d only see when Stella and Si had something going on, and I didn’t really have to invest too much time in. I’d be cordial, without being overly friendly. Although I was grateful for him for being such an ass and giving me the opportunity to find Whitney, I still couldn’t forget how the two came to be together and who they hurt in the process.
Not just Whit, but her kids, who I was growing closer to more and more each day.
“Son, they’re here,” my father called out, so I hurried down the hall and to the front door.
When I opened it, they were already piling out of Whitney’s car and she was bent over as she retrieved something from inside.
I took the moment to enjoy the sight of her perfectly rounded ass in the slim-fitting jeans she was wearing, before I remembered myself and turned my attention to Si, who was ambling toward me.
“Hey, man, how’s it going?” I asked as he drew closer. “You finish that science project?”
Silas rolled his eyes but shot me a grin and said, “Yup. All done.”
“Cool.”
When I looked back at Whit, she was balancing a covered dish and trying to hold onto her purse as she shut the door.
“Here, let me help,” I called as I jogged toward her.
“Thanks,” she said, flashing me my favorite smile.
It was the one that said, I know you intimately and I’d like to get to know you again.
It had only recently made an appearance but was currently giving me life.
“Whatchya got in here?” I asked, taking the dish.
“It’s a lemon Bundt cake.”
“Mm, sounds delicious.”
“Your mom told me not to bring anything, but I didn’t feel right showing up empty-handed.”
“She’s gonna love it,” I assured her, then yelled out, “You can just walk in,” to Stella and Si, who were waiting by the front door.
We followed them inside to a flurry of movement and sound as everyone convened in the den to meet Whitney’s kids.
Ma was hugging them both and doing the introductions, while Whitney took Sky out of Char’s arms and cooed down at her as Sky’s little arms flailed in the air.
I stood back, holding the Bundt cake and smiling to myself as I watched all the people I loved the most interact in what I hoped was the first of many, many Sunday family dinners.
The love that filled me was more invigorating than any amount of adrenaline and I took a moment to thank my lucky stars I’d noticed Whitney at Campanella’s that night and had the fortitude to put myself in her path.
Sure, we would have met when she started at the office the next week, but I probably wouldn’t have gone after her the way I had, as a new employee in our firm, without knowing about that initial spark.
I caught Whit’s eye across the room and shot her a wink. When she mouthed, love you, back in response, I knew everything was right in my world.