by Cecy Robson
“Hello,” I reply.
Valentina rushes to me, her speed and movements inhumanly graceful. She throws her arms around me like she would a long-lost friend, not the sister she hasn’t spoken to in years.
She lifts me briefly, making a grunting sound as if I weigh a more than I do.
Following an uncomfortably long embrace, she holds me out at arm’s length, staring down at me and asserting her apparent superiority. “It’s so good to see you, Allie.” Her face softens like she wants to cry. “Mom says you don’t have a date for the wedding. But don’t worry. I’m sure Andy and I will find someone willing to take you.”
Andy? I slowly turn in Andres’s direction. Lovely.
I suppose it could be worse. I could be Andy.
“Did you hear that?” My mother asks, beaming. “Your sister and Andy are going to find you someone, so you don’t have to be so alone.”
They wait, expecting me to thank them. I’d rather stab myself in the eye with Valentina’s pitchfork.
I lift my chin, meeting my sister square in the eye. “I have a date,” I reply.
“No, you don’t,” my mother immediately interjects, making me feel worse, because she’s right.
I stand to my full height, ignoring how they tower over me, clinging with my teeth to whatever strand of dignity remains.
“Really?” Valentina asks. She tosses back her hair, fighting, it seems, to keep from full-out cackling. “And who might that be?
My breath leaves my lungs with an odd squeak as Seamus yanks me to him, pressing me into his large, firm body. His chin is smeared with cream, chocolate stains the front of his shirt, and he has something stuck between his teeth. That doesn’t stop him from flashing a smile with what remains of his pearly whites.
“How’s it going?” He smacks my ass and gives it a squeeze. “I’m Seamus. Allie’s boyfriend.”
CHAPTER 6
Seamus
Allie makes this choked, gurgling sound. Hmm. Maybe she needs a drink. She jumped pretty high when I squeezed her ass. Another few inches and I probably could have caught her in my arms. That would’ve been good for show.
Hey, she asked me to save her. I’m going to give it my all.
I grin at Allie’s stunned face and offer her a wink. You’re welcome, baby.
I turn my sights back on her family. I recognized Valentina right away. In general, I suck at remembering women, their names, their faces. Only the psychos stick with me, usually because I have to pick them out in a line-up.
Valentina is the kind of woman that is hard to forget. Her legs start roughly below a chin sharp enough to cut my finger on. She’s aged two, maybe three months since I last saw her in high school. I’m guessing she’s had work done. Whoever the doc was did a nice job.
Hot bod and a face men would kill to caress doesn’t mean she gets a pass to dump on her sister. Holy shit. It’s like her goal was to make Allie feel like crap the second she sashayed her long legs in here.
“He’s your boyfriend?” Valentina asks Allie.
Valentina is making like she wasn’t giving me the once over. Yeah, honey, I saw you.
“Um,” Allie answers, looking to me for help.
Allie isn’t that good of a liar. We’ll have to work on that if we’re going to pull this shit off.
I chuckle, my attention gradually drifting back to Valentina. “I get what you’re saying. ‘Boyfriend’ doesn’t sound right, does it?”
Valentina laughs softly like a saint, but her comment is straight up insulting. “It certainly doesn’t,” she says, like she’s apologizing on Allie’s behalf.
I laugh, too. More because it’s taking a lot for me not to call her out on her bullshit. I know her type.
This is what’s called getting into character. It’s also called giving it to someone who really deserves it. I kiss the top of Allie’s head. “I suppose lover is more accurate. Right, babe?” I don’t wait for Allie to answer. Unless you count that odd noise she makes. “I was just trying to be respectful, seeing as how you’re here with your mom.” I wave to Mrs. Mendes. “How’s it going Mrs. M.?”
If looks could kill, the glare Mrs. Mendes nails me with would have me six feet under, begging her not to shatter what remains of my broken body. I hang tight to my smile and focus on Valentina, watching the way she takes another gander at the merchandise. I almost stop to flex since she’s no longer trying to hide it. Except that will mean taking my hands off Allie and I don’t think she’ll keep her feet if I let go.
“You’re lovers?” she asks, raising her eyebrows and her puckered lips in challenge.
“Yes?” Allie says looking back at me. Shock and fear flickers across her bright brown eyes. I don’t have to know her to guess she’s ready to tear out the door.
Uh, uh, uh, Curves. We’ve got ourselves a job to do.
I stroke my finger along her chin, leaving a small trail of powdered sugar. I’m half tempted to lick it off her face. But as much as I want to play up this little scenario, I don’t want to risk Allie kicking me in the face. It would blow our cover for sure.
“You’re seeing him,” Valentina scoffs, her voice low, but not so low I can’t sense her amusement.
Wow. I didn’t remember Valentina being this bitchy in high school, but I never really knew her. She was too busy flirting with all the boys whose families came from money. When I dropped out of high school at fifteen to help support my family, she’d walk past me on the street and pretend I didn’t exist.
I chuckle. “Yeah. Didn’t you hear me the first time?”
That pale color Allie developed when her family walked in vanished when I smacked her ass. I give her round cheek another squeeze. It seems to be working to bring a healthy flush back on her face. What can I say? I’m a helluva guy.
Allie is one of the good girls. I didn’t remember her when I first saw her. But that spaghetti incident? You don’t forget something as epic as that. Kevin what’s-his-face’s family probably brings it up every Christmas. Can’t blame them. My family would do the same thing if it was one of us. Hell, it might have ended up being the Christmas card that year. We’re like that though, sending pictures of us mooning everyone wearing elf hats. It’s better than little Johnny dripping snot down Santa’s lap cards we get from our cousins.
“I didn’t expect this,” Valentina says, resuming her supermodel pose, or whatever the hell she’s trying to work here.
“Neither did I,” her mother says, narrowing her eyes when she sees my hand hasn’t left her daughter’s rear. “I also didn’t expect to see my daughter groped in public.”
Allie looks at me at a loss for what to do. It’s okay. I got you.
I look into her eyes, like only she exists. “Sorry. Allie is just so hot and sexy, I can’t seem to keep my hands to myself.” Take that, Mamacita.
“Alegria,” Mamacita says. “Where did you meet him and why didn’t I know about him?”
“Um,” Allie says looking back at her mother. “I sold him an apartment.”
I think she wants to say more. But she seems to be struggling to speak so “more” doesn’t exactly come.
Her mother’s scrutinizing gaze bounces from Allie to me. I don’t think she likes me. That’s weird. Old ladies in powder blue usually do. “Who are you?” she asks. “You obviously know me, but I’ve certainly never met you.”
I can see where Valentina gets her jovial personality. “Sure you have,” I tell her. “I’m Seamus O’Brien. My family and yours have attended the same church for years.” She looks at my hand like she wants to bite it off at the wrist, then use it to spank my ass for touching her daughter’s.
“Oh,” Mamacita says, distaste puckering her lips. “You’re Aileen O’Brien’s son.”
The one whose husband died in his mistress’s bed. The one with all those children. The one who was made a fool of. These comments and more go without saying, but I sense them in her condescending tone.
> I bristle. You don’t mess with my Ma. You just don’t. I keep my head in the game for Allie’s sake and maybe for a little payback, too. “That’s right. Aileen O’Brien who singlehandedly raised seven kids and sent them all to Catholic school.”
“Not all of them,” she says.
For someone who claimed she didn’t know me, she sure remembers me and Angus dropping out to keep our brothers and sister in school, and eating more than soup from a can. I smile. “You’re right, and now here I am, dating your daughter.”
Funny thing, she doesn’t seem to like that one bit. “Where did you meet?” she bites out.
“At a bar,” I say, only to have Allie cover her face.
“A bar?” Mamacita asks, appalled.
“I thought you said you sold him his apartment?” Valentina says, enjoying her mother’s grilling behind of mask of well-meaning concern.
“I did,” Allie says, her voice growing soft. It’s like her family has some kind of superpower over her, capable of making her quiet and meek.
Allie’s gaze wanders to the old guy beside Valentina. “No, you sold me the building, baby,” I remind Allie. I nuzzle her neck. Just a little to remind her and her family who I’m supposed to be here.
I ease away from Allie slowly, like I had to force myself to stop and drop my voice another tone. “You also sold it a couple years later for a nice chunk of change.”
“Really?” Valentina asks. “Tell me more about it.” She looks at Allie. “I’m intrigued.”
I’ll bet you are, sweetheart. Allie doesn’t know where to start so, I start for her. “I ran into her at O’Malley’s pub a few weeks ago. I always thought she was cute and finally worked up the nerve to ask her out. She didn’t want to at first, something about being busy with work.”
I look at Allie. “With work,” she semi-agrees.
It’s the best she can do, so I keep going. “We met at Giovanni’s for wings. I wanted to keep it casual and so did she.” I laugh, like I’m remembering our very awesome first date. “I wasn’t sure it would work out. I mean, I remembered her from church and how she taught Sunday school to my little brothers and sister. I thought she was nice. I just never knew how nice.”
I clutch her closer to me when I realize she’s slipped slightly away from my grasp. Uh, Uh. I’m on a roll now. “I hadn’t planned on another date. I also didn’t think we’d close the place down. Now . . .” I make eye contact with her again. “I can’t picture my life without her.”
Allie blinks back at me and that’s about it. The hell? I’m putting on a decent show here. But this woman . . . yeah, we’re going to have to work on the lying.
“I take it you’ll be at my wedding?” Valentina asks, taking a step forward. “And the rehearsal dinner, as well?”
I flash a big grin. “Damn right. I’m not letting this princess go.” I do a double take when the old guy adjusts his weight. “Oh, hey, sorry, sir. I didn’t mean a blow you off. Hope you’re okay with me dating your daughter.”
There goes Allie, making another squeaky noise. It would be cute if it didn’t sound so panicked and if she didn’t look like she wanted to die. She buries her face in my chest. “That’s Andres,” she mumbles.
I think I misheard. “You want us to undress?”
She spits the next few words out through her teeth. “No, precious,” she replies. “I said that’s Andres. Valentina’s fiancée.”
I burst out laughing. “No, shit. Damn. Age was a real bitch to you, wasn’t she?”
Sometimes my family and I say things that are little out of line. “Off-the-cuff,” some people might say. “Fucking rude,” even more will mutter. But that’s what makes us us, and them them, and why we get into fights as much as we do.
Don’t get me wrong. We’re a lovable, if not sane, bunch. Another day, I might feel bad. Today isn’t one of those days. This guy was better off when I thought he had special needs. Now, I just think he’s a little bitch.
He frowns. So does Allie’s mother. Valentina looks annoyed. Not that I insulted her husband. More like I pointed out what everyone is probably thinking and what she’d rather ignore.
“The stress of my job takes its toll,” he snaps. “But it’s given me more money than I can spend in a lifetime.”
“That’s nice,” I reply casually. I suppose he wants me to be impressed. If so, it’s going to take more than money.
Andres scoffs. “I don’t know why I’m wasting my time speaking to you. You’re a shell of a man, pathetic at best.”
“You think I’m pathetic?” I smirk, trying not to crack up. “I don’t think Stephen Montessori would agree with you on that one, Andy.”
A fresh coat of red flushes his cheeks. Stephen Montessori shoved Andres into a gym locker. I made Stephen let him out. Considering what he pulled on Allie and how he’s talking to me now, I should’ve left him inside. In fact, I should demand repayment for all that gum I gave him to shut him up about Star Wars. Damn. I bet this nerd would beg for a threesome with that green chick from Star Trek if she was available. Nothing against green chicks.
Andres fights to regain his composure after a quick glance at Valentina and his future mother-in-law, using the only weapon in his arsenal. “Insults are all you have. Unlike me, who’s made a fortune.”
The money thing is getting old, but if he wants to go there, let’s go. “You really think you’re the only one in this room who’s made his share of bills?” I return to stroking Allie’s side, this time slower and more like she’s naked in bed with me, instead of clothed and standing on linoleum. How about that? She has some seriously nice curves. “This woman handled all my real estate ventures. Thanks to her, I have a few mil to brag about myself, if I was the bragging type.” I shrug. “But those who brag about money are those who have nothing else to brag about. No offense,” I add. It’s what I tell him, even though I want to offend him all over the place.
He smiles with as much warmth as Mamacita. “Is that so? I would love to see your portfolio.”
“I bet you would. It’s big. Real big if you hear what I’m saying. Thing is, I don’t have to whip it out and compare sizes. There’s no comparison. Isn’t that right, babe?” I ask Allie.
She gives me a look that tells me she understands we’re not talking about stocks or whatever the hell. That’s right, sweet cheeks. You found the best man, right here, to save you.
My gaze flickers briefly to Valentina who is watching our interaction closely. I haven’t quite figured her out. But anyone who steals a man away from her sister the way she did, feels the need to be on top and stay on top. We’ll get to her in time. Right now, it’s all about Andy Poo or whatever she calls him when she’s pretending to like the five seconds he gives her in bed.
“You may claim to be more and have more, but I doubt it,” he snaps.
I laugh. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. “Allie doesn’t doubt it. Believe me, I’ve given her loads to compare.”
Andres pales, only to scowl when my glaze flickers toward Valentina. He thinks I want her or envy him for having a woman all men supposedly want. “Considering who you slipped a ring on, it seems you have a lot more to prove to anyone stupid enough to listen.” I point at him and make a clicking sound with my tongue. “See you at the wedding shower.”
I ignore the “How dare you?” remark from Mamacita and the high-pitched gasp that’s sadly from Andres.
“Hey, Cara Maria? You have our stuff ready?” I call to her.
She and the owner were watching our interaction with steadfast interest, if not downright shock. They exchange glances. For a moment, I think Cara Maria is going to rat us out, but she plays along, as does the owner.
“You’re all set.” She looks at Allie and smiles. “See youz next week.”
I release Allie and drop a few bills to pay for her order. It’s good for show, and thankfully, she doesn’t stop me.
“Ready, sweet cheeks?” I ask, giving Al
lies’ ass another pat.
She practically stumbles out the door. I turn around to her family and grin. Oh, yeah. We’ve got this.
CHAPTER 7
Seamus
Allie doesn’t answer, more or less allowing me to lead her out the door. Her mother mumbles something about not behaving properly in public and something about a fitting. Allie says nothing. I don’t think she means to ignore her mother. Like the owner and Cara Maria, she’s still in shock. Except Cara Maria recovered a hell of a lot faster.
I follow Allie to her car, a white Infiniti SUV, opening the door for her and then jogging to the other side.
I wait for her to let me in. My truck is two cars behind hers. But I’m trying to make it like we showed up together. It would work better if she lets me in. I knock on the window, pointing to the bakery box I’m holding. The defeat marching across her face like toy soldiers makes me worry she isn’t going to let me in. But then, all at once, the locks deactivate.
I carefully place the box on the floor in the back and hop into the front, worried she might lock my ass out. I’m not saying she’s terrified or anything, but she’s not the same woman who was checking me out while wiping my face. Yeah cutie, I noticed.
My back relaxes into the seat. Whoever she had in here last had long legs like me. I easily slip in, waving to her family, who continue to watch us from inside the store.
Allie pulls away, her gaze straight ahead, driving forward like I’m not even there. “So, what’s the plan?” I ask. “You want to drive around until they leave and then you can just let me off back in front of the store?”
I almost get whiplash for how fast she cuts the next corner. She jets down the street, slamming her SUV into park behind a fast food place that has seen better days and likely a few robberies.
Allie is breathing kind of fast. I’m not counting or anything, but that shit doesn’t look natural. She’s not pale. Not dying. No . . . what’s a good word for it? Stable. That’s it. She’s stable, not much more than that.