“It would have been nice if he’d talked to me about it first, but when a man is in love he doesn’t always wait for the formalities. Then again, who am I to criticize? I didn’t ask your mother’s father for permission either. I was too lovestruck to think clearly.” He laughed raucously. “Does Walter know?”
“I don’t think so,” she replied honestly. She wasn’t sure if Joel had told his family yet or not. “And can you and Mom please not tell Walter or Audrey. It’s a surprise for everyone, and Joel wants to tell them in person.” She wouldn’t put it past her parents to be speed dialing the Morgans the moment they had a chance. Shit, maybe they already had. “You didn’t already tell them, did you?”
“Of course not!” her father exclaimed, sounding affronted. “This is your news to share. Besides, I heardthey’re on vacation. That’s why they couldn’t attend Mariana’s wedding. They should be due back soon though.”
Right, so the only reason her parents hadn’t called the Morgans was because Walter and Audrey were on holiday, and not because Luciano and Maria were staying in their lanes. Perfect.
“Will you just promise not to say anything to any of the Morgans until I give you the go-ahead?”
“Ma—” he started, sounding perplexed.
“Nobuts, dad. Joel has the right to tell his family first, and he wants to do it in person.” She really needed to drive this home or it could get out of hand fast. “Promise you and mom won’t say anything until I tell you it’s okay to.”
Silence stretched across the phone line.
“Dad?” she exclaimed. “Promise?”
“Alright, alright. I will wait for you to tell me when it’s safe to call my best business associate to congratulate him on the union of our children. I’ll wait. I’m a patient man.”
Lucy rolled her eyes, but only because she knew her father couldn’t see her.
“But you are wrong,patatina,” her father went on. “I wasn’t surprised at all when I heard about your engagement,” her father said in a serious tone. “You and Joel have always been like-minded. Good things will come from this match, including the future you deserve. I am happy for you.”
Here went nothing. “Speaking of the future I deserve…” She chewed her lower lip as she considered her phrasing. “I’d like to talk to you again about the future of Barone & Sons.”
“Luciana,basta. This is no time to talk shop. There’s plenty of time for work later. The future of Barone & Sons is long enough. This is a time to celebrate.”
Or to scream into a pillow.
“Wait, your mother wants to talk to you about the wedding reception and—” Her father was cut off as her mother took over again.
And so it had gone with the rest of her relatives. Each offered first their stunned congratulations, in one way or another likened her engagement to a miracle, then nosedived into planning a wedding that everyone seemed to think had to happen within the next six weeks at the latest.
By six o’clock on Monday evening, Lucy was looking forward to leaving Zia Ella’s house and spending time with someone who wasn’t a blood relative, even if that someone was Joel.
She was applying her last stroke of mascara when Ella barged into the guest room.
“Your parents will be here Thursday afternoon.”
Lucy lost focus and almost stabbed herself with the mascara wand. “But they have the flu. Mom still sounded sniffly on the phone.”
Behind her in the mirror, Ella shrugged. “It’s a cold. And she’s not contagious anymore.” Her hands fluttered. “Anyway, by Thursday she’ll be fine. You expect her to stay put when her daughter is getting married?”
“I’m only engaged! We haven’t set a date.” With luck, she’d never get to her fake wedding. “There’s no reason for her to come to Portland.”
“We’re hosting your engagement party here in less than two weeks. Your mother needs to plan.”
“What?!” This time she put down her mascara before she hurt herself.
“Your mother and I agreed that since our relatives are here, we should use the opportunity to have the party. It makes sense, Lucy.”
“It makes no sense. At all.” Before she could argue further, the doorbell rang.
Ella’s face lit up like a freaking Christmas tree. “I’ll get it!” she sang as she bounded back into the hall before Lucy could blink.
This was a very bad, horrible, no-good idea. So why didn’t she put an end to it now? Because of her father. And Nico. And the fact that this was her best—and maybe last—shot at running her father’s company.
“Lucy, your fiancé is here!” Ella hollered from down the hall.
