Joel accepted the stuffed bag, while ignoring Lucy’s scowl. “Thank you, Ella. This is a welcomed contribution.” He didn’t have time to shop, but he also didn’t need any food because he paid someone to keep his fridge stocked with groceries and pre-made meals. Still, there was no way in hell he’d disrespect Lucy’s family by not accepting what they offered.
Luciano entered the kitchen, carrying two bottles of wine. “Take these. They aren’t as good as mine, but Gambo had them in his cellar. If you like it, we can serve it at your engagement party.”
“Dad, are you kidding? You’ve tasted Zio’s wine. It’s vinegar, on a good day.” Lucy grimaced but still accepted the bottles.
“Then we can use it in the salad,” Maria piped up. “It would mean a lot to your uncle. You never know when it’s his last batch.”
“And we’re leaving,” Lucy said as she stuffed the bottles in the grocery bag of leftovers. “When they start talking about how they aren’t going to be here much longer, it’s time to go.” She straightened and met Joel with a forced smile. “Ready?”
He lifted the bag with one hand and took Lucy’s hand with his other. “Always.”
“You’ll come for dinner in a couple of days. We mustdiscuss the wedding,” Ella shouted after them as Lucy hustled Joel down the hallway and out the door.
“Ciao everyone, love you. Thanks for everything. I’ll touch base soon,” she called over her shoulder, then shut the door behind them and groaned. “I’m sorry. They’ve been a lot. Thank you for rescuing me.”
“My pleasure.” And it was. The sensory overload that were the Barones was worth it and then some, because now he had Lucy to himself. “You look beautiful, by the way.” He’d wanted to tell her earlier, but they’d been swallowed by a sea of meddling relatives almost the moment he’d arrived. Looking at her now, he admired the way her long silky hair fell down her back, and the smooth hint of shoulder that peeked out of her scooped neck shirt. He’d wanted to put his mouth there the moment he’d walked into the house and seen her.
“Thanks,” Lucy said with a laugh. “My mother thinks I look like an ungrateful peasant, but I’m glad you don’t agree.”
“I definitely don’t agree.” He held her hand all the way to the car. Now that he had her, he was afraid to let go, which left him wondering who was rescuing who.
“You don’t have to do this,” Lucy said, once they were buckled into the car. “I know there isn’t as much in it for you as there is for me, so I want you to know it’s not too late to back out. I totally get it if you want to. With them.” She jerked her thumb in the direction of her aunt’s house. “My family, it’s just going to be more of the same. Overbearing, invasive questions, and forced feedings. It’s not exactly a win-win situation here, Joel.”
It wasn’t. This arrangement hadn’t been a bargain, a tit for tat, a soul for a soul. It was more her dream for his soul,but he knew what was in it for him—her happiness. Which was all he’d ever wanted.
“We do this, and we close the circle, like we agreed. This time, when we walk away, we walk away clean. No more hiding the truth, no more secrets. When this is over, it’s over and we won’t have to drag this marriage around like a dirty secret anymore.” He stared ahead as he said the words, feeling her gaze on the side of his face like the sun burning his cheek. “That’s the win, Lucy. Closure.”
Closure for her, at least.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Welcome home,” Joel said as he opened his Pearl District apartment’s door and stepped aside so Lucy could precede him inside.
Home. When she’d come to him with this proposition several days ago, she’d never imagined she’d be moving in a few days later. But now that she was here, away from the noise of her aunt’s house, it felt…nice.
“The second bedroom is made up for you,” Joel said as he brought her bags in. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Lucy followed him to a door at the end of the hall. “Wow,” she said as she took in the spacious room. “It’s big for a second bedroom.”
“Yeah, they don’t build them like they used to.” Joel smirked when he said this, and she understood the quip.
He was putting up buildings every day. Most new buildings focused on more units with less space. Housing demands required it, but also, prioritizing units over space was profitable. And Morgan Construction excelled both in profiting and creating well laid out spaces, so the squarefootage was utilized to its highest potential, even if modern builds were smaller than these older apartments.
“This place was built in the sixties,” he told her. “But I still can’t get over them building only two units up here. I keep telling Gabe he could reno and make at least four.”
Lucy fully entered the room and did a little spin. “But then you’d lose all this.” The hardwood floors creaked under her feet, sending a thrill up her spine. She loved older spaces like this.
Old wood, exposed beams, all that history bleeding through the walls. How many lives had been lived in this room?
“I love the old feel of the wood under my feet, the character of the arches, and the solid framed doors. And you’re wrong,” she went on. “Barone & Sons builds it like they used to. Just like this, sturdy and refined. Timeless and built to last.”
Joel regarded her with a raised eyebrow and a quirk on his lips.
“What?” she demanded, propping her fists on her hips. “It’s true. We’ve increased our business a lot in the last few years doing work on furniture and doors for those big old heritage homes in San Francisco. People want the nostalgia and coziness in their hundred-year-old houses, but they don’t want to compromise on quality. So they call us.”
“As they should,” Joel agreed.
She couldn’t tell if he was teasing her or agreeing with her, but his stupidly handsome face was firing her up, so she went on. “We’re the best, Joel. No contest. You should know.Morgan Construction only hires the best,” she shot back at him with Walter Morgan’s famous quote.
