Chapter 5
“Misty! It’s so good to see you.” Mrs. Fierro ran to the open front door and clasped Misty in a tight hug, then she stepped back and held her by her arms, looking up at her. “My, how you’ve grown up. When you left, you were about my size.”
Misty giggled. “It’s nice to see you too, Mrs. Fierro.”
“Oh, sweetheart. You can call me Gabriella now.”
“Okay, Mrs. Fier—I mean Gabriella.”
Gabe hoped his mother wouldn’t take his inviting Misty to dinner the wrong way. He hoped Misty wasn’t taking it the wrong way either. He had offered to borrow Dante’s car and come get her, but she said she’d be fine taking public transportation. Maybe she got the “just friends” message.
But did his libido listen?
She looked gorgeous. Even prettier than she had at work the other day. For one thing, she wasn’t wearing a suit. Her dress wasn’t exactly conservative but not trashy either. It hugged her curves and left little to the imagination. He supposed it would be called a little black dress. The neckline looked like the top of a heart and revealed a peek at what promised to be generous cleavage. A white pearl necklace lay across her glowing skin.
He grabbed her coat and hung it next to his in the closet while his mother took her into the living room. Then he joined the rest of the family.
Everybody was already there. Everyone who was still in town, that is. Jayce and Kristine were on their honeymoon in the eastern Caribbean. St. Thomas, or St. Martin, or some other sainted island. No one had heard from them since they called to say they’d arrived safely. On a honeymoon, no news was good news.
Ryan and Chloe were living in Ireland, in a freakin’ castle, and working for the local volunteer fire department. So that left Miguel and Sandra, holding hands on one side of the couch, and their father, Antonio, next to them. Gabe’s three younger brothers were lounging beside the fireplace. His father rose with everyone else and welcomed Misty with open arms.
As Noah and Dante hugged her, each of them glanced over her shoulder and gave Gabe a knowing smirk. Luca was the only one who seemed unaware of Gabe’s interest in her.
He sighed. There had to be a way to explain his relationship to her without making it sound like he was her boyfriend or her babysitter.
When she had been properly greeted, Dante gave up a comfortable armchair for her.
“Can we get you a beer or glass of wine?” Antonio asked.
“I’d love a glass of wine.”
Antonio glanced at Gabe. “Go get the girl a glass of wine, Gabriel.” His father flopped back onto the couch.
Uh-oh. His dad sounded annoyed. He must have thought Gabe was supposed to offer. But this wasn’t his house, so why should he? He wanted to make sure everyone knew he was just her friend. Not her date. But how could he do that right in front of her without insulting her?
“So, what have you been up to?” Gabriella asked Misty as Gabe left the room to get two glasses of wine. One a little fuller than the other—for his nerves.
He didn’t hear all of her answer. Mostly because Dante had followed him into the kitchen.
“Do you think I need help to pour two glasses of Chablis?” Gabe offered him the corkscrew.
“Nah.” Dante lowered his voice to a whisper. “I was wondering if you’d mind if I ask her out.”
Gabe leaned away, shocked. “What the hell kind of question is that? First of all, she’s not my property, so you don’t need my permission. And second of all, if you do ask her, I’ll have to pound your bony ass into the pavement.”
Dante burst out laughing. “I knew it.”
Noah leaned around the corner of the kitchen. “He is, isn’t he?”
“Oh yeah. You win.”
Gabe glanced between his grinning brothers. “Did you two have some kind of bet?”
They just smirked at him.
“Un-fucking-believable.” Gabe finished pouring two glasses of wine and ignored his brothers as he brought them into the living room.
He handed Misty her glass, and she looked up at him with a smile.
