Ellie doesn’t answer the woman with words, just facial expressions that they trade back and forth for long moments. If I’m not mistaken, they’re annoyed with each other. It’s actually a fairly entertaining display and I’m on the verge of laughing when Rosa tugs on my sleeve.
“Who’s that?” she whispers in Spanish.
“I think,” I say in English, “that this is Ellie’s sister, Sophie.”
Ellie turns to me and I catch the tail end of an eye roll. “Yes, this is my very nosy sister, Sophie. Sophie, this is Daniela, Rosa, Carmen . . . and Scott.”
Sophie greets the girls warmly. “It’s very nice to meet you, ladies.” Then she gives me a cool once-over.
Uh oh. I smile hesitantly. “Nice to meet you.” It comes out almost sounding like a question.
When she doesn’t respond, Ellie says, “Knock it off, Soph.” Turning to me, she explains apologetically, “My sister seems to think I need a bodyguard.”
Not sure if I’d buy this girl as a bodyguard. With her long, honey-blond hair and bright blue eyes, she has a decidedly innocent air about her. But anyone who wants to protect Ellie is okay in my books.
“You don’t have to worry about El,” I say lightly, trying to be charming. “She calls me out every time I deserve it.”
Sophie’s reserved manner lets up slightly. “Good to know. Though I’d prefer she didn’t need to call you out at all.” For good measure, she follows up the reprimand with a piercing look.
Okay, so two things are clear to me here. One, Ellie tells her sister a lot about our relationship, and two, I really like this woman. “Yeah, that makes two of us. I’m working on it.”
Her attitude warms further . . . and right there, in front of me is Ellie’s smile on another woman. Definitely sisters. Though she’s not as tall or willowy.
“Are you coming to lunch with us?” Daniela asks Sophie. “We’re hungry.”
I cringe at Daniela’s directness, but Sophie seems to find it charming. “I’m not, no. I’m sure I’ll see you another time though.” Then to us, she says, “You two I’ll see later for dinner, right?” Strangely, it sounds more like a warning than a reminder, but then again, I know how much Ellie is dreading going to this thing tonight at her parents’ house.
My girl’s face becomes tight with tension, so I slip my hand into hers in a show of silent support. She’s hinted at cancelling a few times, but so far I’ve kept her convinced that we should go. Maybe I’m projecting my need for my family onto Ellie, but I want her to have a relationship with her parents and siblings.
“Yeah,” Ellie says, resigned. “We’ll be there.”
I watch with amusement as Ellie’s index finger moves toward the doorbell for the second time, then jerks back again as if repelled by an invisible force field.
“Have I already apologized in advance?” she whines.
“You have,” I tell her. She’s worried about her mother’s attitude, but I’m more interested in the fact that she would ring the doorbell at her own house. I guess it’s been a while since she’s lived here . . . but still. “I’ll be fine, Opal . . . unless, of course, you don’t want to go in because you’re embarrassed by me.”
She fixes me with a hard stare and I feel my lips curve into a grin. It’s possible I’m baiting her.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,” she replies haughtily.
“Then stop worrying.” For her sake, on the surface, I’m the embodiment of laid-back, teasing nonchalance. “I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine. Piece of cake.” But inside I’m not quite so sure of myself.
My little speech inspires her to square her shoulders and deliberately press the doorbell. “You’re right.”
“I know.”
Her mild exasperation is interrupted when one side of the double doors is opened by a woman in a maid’s uniform. My attention doesn’t remain with her for long though because Sophie comes scurrying toward us, her heels clicking on the marble floor.
“Why are you so late?” she accuses, pulling her sister into a hug. “Hi, Scott.”
“Hey.”
“Who’s here?” Ellie demands, pulling away without a word of greeting.
“Dad and Matty, of course, and Chris and Evan got here a few minutes ago.”
“Wives?”
“No,” Sophie says, her mouth holding onto the O shape, her eyes widening, like that’s significant.
“So no kids?” Ellie squeaks.
Sophie shakes her head.
“Where’s Mom?”
“She went upstairs when Chris and Evan arrived.”
“Okay, so we go in now.”
I snort. “Why does it sound like you guys are planning some kind of tactical mission?”
Ellie pushes out a withering noise before she informs me, “Because we are. The good news is that it’s brothers only. The bad news is that it’s brothers only.”
“What? That makes no sense.”
“With no wives or nieces,” Sophie explains, “there’ll be fewer chances for a big family spat. But also fewer chances for distractions, which means you’ll be more of a target.”
I feel my eyebrows tick up. “A target for what?”
“Don’t worry,” Ellie says seriously. “Soph is going to run interference, aren’t you?”
Sophie’s gaze lands on me as if she’s taking my measure. “Fine. Since my sister really likes you. I’m warning you, though, if you continue to make her cry, you’ll seriously regret it.” Turning on her heel, she leaves us standing there.
“I thought you said she was a people-pleaser,” I say incredulously.
“Ignore her. We’ve got bigger problems.” She slips her hand around my elbow and starts us walking.
I stop her from following her sister into a room off the main hall. “Hey,” I say. “We’re going to be fine, no matter what. Okay?”
Some of the stiffness drains from her posture. “Yeah, okay. I need to calm down.”
Nodding, I lean in to kiss her cheek. In her heels, we’re almost eye-to-eye and her proximity sends an unexpected dose of attraction arrowing down to where I least need it considering the circumstances. “Let’s do this,” I murmur, “before I haul you into the nearest coat closet.”
Her face lights up. “Can I take a rain check?”
“There’s the woman of the hour!”
Ellie’s father comes out and all thoughts of clandestine trysts are obliterated.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Sweetheart, you look wonderful.” He kisses Ellie’s cheek and she relaxes a bit more, which in turn, eases the abrupt uptick in my nerves. “Scott, nice to see you again.” He extends his hand and I shake it.
“Thanks, you too.”
“Come on then. Ellie’s brothers are eager to meet her new beau.”
We follow her dad into what I assume is the living room. But living room doesn’t quite cut it because it’s enormous, with a high ceiling and giant windows that are covered by vertical blinds. Everything about the décor screams money in a minimalist kind of way, including the uncomfortable-looking black leather furniture that’s arranged around the room and contrasts sharply, yet tastefully, with the much lighter walls and flooring.