scarf tied around her neck.
At the house, she was the last to arrive so she headed into the living room where she assumed everyone would be waiting, having sherry or some other cocktail.
“Am I late?” she whispered to Michael who was watching the whole chaotic scene from a chair by the door.
Michael shook his head and laughed as Carlos punched Thomas on the shoulder for some reason. “No, you’re just in time,” he said.
Everyone was there and with five older brothers, it always seemed like there were more people in the room. They were all so tall and powerfully built, they seemed to take up all the space, even in the large library of Sal’s house. Amid all the chaos of brothers arguing and the television set playing the pre-game football shows and drinks being passed around, the only person who caught her eye was Brett, standing by the bar looking incredibly gorgeous and relaxed, chatting with Sal and Thomas, pouring a beer into a glass.
Antonia didn’t know what to say or do. She was too stunned. Did he have business with Sal and was just staying over for dinner again? What was going on? Strangers were not permitted to interfere with family dinners, she told herself, trying to make sense of the scene.
Antonia watched with trepidation as Brett walked towards her, then handed her the glass of beer. But her face flamed when he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek.
“You look lovely,” he said, blocking her from the curious stares of her brothers.
“Thank you,” she whispered, painfully aware that everyone was staring at Brett’s back, trying to get a good look at the two of them, waiting to see what would happen next. But beyond her embarrassment, she felt as if she had come alive. Just the smallest touch and her body seemed to hum in excitement.
Thankfully, Sal interrupted their semi-private chat. “I think dinner’s ready,” Sal said.
Antonia immediately turned and headed for the dining room, wishing Brett would just disappear. But he didn’t. He was right behind her, following her into the dining room. Once they got there, Brett pulled out her chair then sat down next to her.
Antonia tried to concentrate on the conversations around her, but she was too aware of Brett sitting next to her. And she hated Sal’s pleased smile as he sat down at the head of the table. Antonia knew Sal had something to do with Brett being here. No one else would dare. But she didn’t understand what he was trying to do. He was so protective of family gatherings, this completely threw her for a loop.
As soon as the blessing was said, the plates of vegetables, roast beef, potatoes and salad were passed around, everyone talking at once. It was as if Antonia and Brett were all alone in the room as everyone started filling their plates. She didn’t want to talk to him, but everyone else was busy at the moment.
“How are you?” she asked him quietly, almost shyly.
“Fine. Did you have a nice day?” he said, just as formally.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied. She couldn’t come up with anything else to say, so she stared at her empty plate.
“You’re back to being afraid of me,” he sighed. “But I guess you never got over that, did you?” he asked softly.
Antonia didn’t respond.
“That’s ok. We’ll work on it. Sooner or later, you’re going to feel comfortable around me,” he said, leaning down intimately close to her ear.
Antonia laughed. Partly because his breath tickled her ear. But also, she couldn’t imagine a time when she wouldn’t feel his energy and want him to touch her or kiss her. Feeling comfortable was completely out of the realm of possibility around him. “I will?” she asked, chuckling under her breath so no one would hear her.
“Yep. Promise,” he said and handed her the platter of roast beef.
The dining room was a large, ornately carved, wooden room with a stained glass window at one end and a huge marble fireplace at the other. The table was
At the house, she was the last to arrive so she headed into the living room where she assumed everyone would be waiting, having sherry or some other cocktail.
“Am I late?” she whispered to Michael who was watching the whole chaotic scene from a chair by the door.
Michael shook his head and laughed as Carlos punched Thomas on the shoulder for some reason. “No, you’re just in time,” he said.
Everyone was there and with five older brothers, it always seemed like there were more people in the room. They were all so tall and powerfully built, they seemed to take up all the space, even in the large library of Sal’s house. Amid all the chaos of brothers arguing and the television set playing the pre-game football shows and drinks being passed around, the only person who caught her eye was Brett, standing by the bar looking incredibly gorgeous and relaxed, chatting with Sal and Thomas, pouring a beer into a glass.
Antonia didn’t know what to say or do. She was too stunned. Did he have business with Sal and was just staying over for dinner again? What was going on? Strangers were not permitted to interfere with family dinners, she told herself, trying to make sense of the scene.
Antonia watched with trepidation as Brett walked towards her, then handed her the glass of beer. But her face flamed when he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek.
“You look lovely,” he said, blocking her from the curious stares of her brothers.
“Thank you,” she whispered, painfully aware that everyone was staring at Brett’s back, trying to get a good look at the two of them, waiting to see what would happen next. But beyond her embarrassment, she felt as if she had come alive. Just the smallest touch and her body seemed to hum in excitement.
Thankfully, Sal interrupted their semi-private chat. “I think dinner’s ready,” Sal said.
Antonia immediately turned and headed for the dining room, wishing Brett would just disappear. But he didn’t. He was right behind her, following her into the dining room. Once they got there, Brett pulled out her chair then sat down next to her.
Antonia tried to concentrate on the conversations around her, but she was too aware of Brett sitting next to her. And she hated Sal’s pleased smile as he sat down at the head of the table. Antonia knew Sal had something to do with Brett being here. No one else would dare. But she didn’t understand what he was trying to do. He was so protective of family gatherings, this completely threw her for a loop.
As soon as the blessing was said, the plates of vegetables, roast beef, potatoes and salad were passed around, everyone talking at once. It was as if Antonia and Brett were all alone in the room as everyone started filling their plates. She didn’t want to talk to him, but everyone else was busy at the moment.
“How are you?” she asked him quietly, almost shyly.
“Fine. Did you have a nice day?” he said, just as formally.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied. She couldn’t come up with anything else to say, so she stared at her empty plate.
“You’re back to being afraid of me,” he sighed. “But I guess you never got over that, did you?” he asked softly.
Antonia didn’t respond.
“That’s ok. We’ll work on it. Sooner or later, you’re going to feel comfortable around me,” he said, leaning down intimately close to her ear.
Antonia laughed. Partly because his breath tickled her ear. But also, she couldn’t imagine a time when she wouldn’t feel his energy and want him to touch her or kiss her. Feeling comfortable was completely out of the realm of possibility around him. “I will?” she asked, chuckling under her breath so no one would hear her.
“Yep. Promise,” he said and handed her the platter of roast beef.
The dining room was a large, ornately carved, wooden room with a stained glass window at one end and a huge marble fireplace at the other. The table was
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