“You look especially lovely tonight,” he murmured. “That color suits you.”
She stopped in midsentence to brush the front of her green sleeveless dress. “Oh. Thanks. It’s, um, not new or anything.” She cleared her throat. “Okay, back to the family. Let’s get you introduced.” She took his hand and faced her family. “Hey, everyone. This is Rafael.”
The room quieted and he found himself the center of attention. Danny raced toward him.
“He’s my daddy and I’m the heir.” Danny turned to one of his cousins. “That means I’m going to be a prince and you have to do what I say.”
“Do not!” the older girl said as she stomped her foot. “Mo-om, I do not have to do what Danny says, do I?”
“No, Haley, you don’t,” Mia told her niece. “Danny, you’re not in charge, okay?”
Rafael started to correct her. Daniel was in fact in charge. At least of the other children. The sooner he learned his importance, the better. But perhaps this wasn’t the time.
“Everybody, pair up,” Mia said. “Grab your kids and we’ll go down the line. I think that will be easier.”
“We should have name tags,” Grammy M said. “Would you like that, Rafael?”
“I don’t believe it’s necessary, but it’s very thoughtful of you to suggest it,” he told the older woman.
Grandma Tessa shook her head. “I’m sure his shoes need polishing, Mary. Or you might want to ask how he’s fixed for socks.”
Grammy M ignored her. “Go ahead, Mia. Introduce the family to Rafael.”
Mia worked her way through the names. Rafael had already met Mia’s sisters. Now he had the chance to meet their husbands and children. Joe’s wife, Darcy, greeted him enthusiastically.
“I’m so happy to have someone around more famous than me,” she said with a laugh. “Now the press can follow you and make snide comments about your clothing choices.”
“Does that happen often?” he asked politely.
“Joe keeps them off the property, but sometimes they tail me in town.” She sighed. “I can’t wait for my father’s second term to be over. Once he’s no longer president, no one will be interested in me.”
“I’ll still be interested,” Joe told her.
Darcy smiled at him. Rafael watched the exchange and was surprised to realize the former SEAL was completely in love with his wife. He wouldn’t have thought such a dark man would allow himself softer emotions.
“You’ve met Amber and David,” Mia said, guiding him to the next group of people. “Amber and David are engaged. David is Zach’s son and Zach is married to Katie, my oldest sister.”
Katie winced. “I’m over thirty. You’ve got to stop introducing me as the oldest.”
“How about the sexiest?” Zach asked. “Would that work?”
“Absolutely.” Katie put her hands on the shoulders of two children. “These are my twins. Eric and Haley. They’re seven.”
Rafael nodded at the children and noted that Haley had been the one to protest Daniel’s authority over her. He had a feeling she would grow up to be a most stubborn woman.
“That’s everyone here,” Mia said. “Are we ready to go in to eat?”
Grandma Tessa led the way. The large table in the dining room had been set for the adults, while a smaller table by the window was for the children.
“There are so many kids now, we don’t all fit,” Mia told him. “It actually works out. We hire a sitter to keep the kids occupied. This way everyone has a good time. Of course on holidays, everyone manages to fit around the main table and it’s complete chaos. But in a good way.”
She handled herself effortlessly, with a natural grace he appreciated. He knew from past experience she could think on her feet. Once again he had the thought that under other circumstances, she would make a good match for him. At least their son would have had the opportunity to inherit her intelligence and style.
“You’re over here, Rafael,” Grammy M said. “Mia, you’re next to him. Amber and David, right here.”
Rafael glanced up and saw David’s fiancée watching Mia. Amber noticed his observation and quickly looked away.
A few minutes later, everyone had been seated. Open bottles of Marcelli wine were passed around, and when the glasses were full, Joe stood.
“Before we begin our dinner, I would like to propose a toast to those who are no longer with us. To my grandfather, who is still missed every day.”
“Grandpa Lorenzo died about five years ago,” Mia whispered. “He was such a great man. Difficult and gruff, yet so loving. I wish Danny could have known him.”
Before Rafael could say anything, Joe continued. “And to Gabriel Reese. You were a blessing to this family.”
Mia raised her glass as she whispered, “That’s Sam’s grandfather. He and Grammy M fell in love. He died a couple of years ago. It’s been hard on the Grands, but at least they have each other to grow old with. Like I’ll have my sisters.”
“Your sisters are married.”
Mia shrugged. “Marcelli women live a really, really long time. We’ve already talked about it. When the men are dead, we’re getting a house together by the vineyard. It will be great.”
“I’m sure their husbands are delighted to know how you anticipate their demise.”
She grinned. “They’re used to it.”
The toasts concluded with everyone drinking. Then the plates of food arrived, and Rafael was overwhelmed by delicious choices.
Katie leaned across the table and smiled at him. “This must all seem very different to you.”
“I’m enjoying my time here. I am beginning to see where Mia inherited her charm.”
Katie looked at her sister. “She wasn’t always charming.”
“That’s true,” Brenna added. “She was kinda bratty.”
Mia hung her head. “Please, no. I beg you. Not the stories about what I was like when I was young.”
“I would like to hear those stories,” he told Katie.
“I’ll just bet,” Mia muttered. “I was very intelligent and precocious. I knew five different languages by the time I was eighteen.”
“She was a good girl,” Grandma Tessa said. “Very bright. She got all A’s.”
Rafael caught Amber rolling her eyes.
“But her fashion sense,” Francesca said with a grin. “The constant streaking in her hair.”
“It wasn’t subtle,” Brenna told him. “We’re talking big chunks of bright blond. And the eye shadow. Katie was forever after her to blend, blend.”
“I was finding myself,” Mia said primly.
“I don’t think so,” Joe added. “You knew exactly what you were doing. Making trouble.”
“Engaged at eighteen,” Grammy M said. “That was exciting.”
“Maybe we could avoid that story.” David shrugged. “I don’t do so well in that one.”
“I’d like to hear all about that,” Amber said. “David’s never told me what really happened.”
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, followed by all the Marcelli sisters speaking at once. Rafael glanced from Mia to David and wondered what had caused the young couple to break their engagement. Even as he reminded himself that Mia’s past had no value, save that with him, he was still curious.
Just then the dining room door opened and a tall, slender woman staggered inside.
“Am I late?” she asked as she leaned heavily against the door frame.
She was casually dressed, with long, curly red hair and pale skin that only emphasized the shadows under her eyes.
Francesca stood. “Kelly? What’s wrong?”
“Wrong? Nothing. I’m here. Hooray.” She took a step and almost lost her balance. An even taller, thinner man appeared behind her. He grabbed her around the waist and kept her on her feet.
“Hello,” the man said, his voice faintly accented.
French, Rafael thought. Working class.
Francesca’s husband stood. “Kelly, what the hell is going on?”
“I’m here for the party.” Kelly looked at Rafael. “So you’re the new guy. Cool. Mia, he’s really, really cute. Is he rich, because rich is always such a plus.”