Breathe

  “It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Prescott.”

  He pulls back from me. “Please, call me Grant.” He sounds warm, like Linc. “It's nice to see you son.” He reaches a hand around me towards his oldest child. Linc hesitantly lets go of mine, grasps his dad’s and pumps twice.

  “Hello father,” he says formally and drops his hand.

  The older couple joins us standing near an end table.

  “Grace, this young man here is my papa, Augostino Gianni.” He smiles and pats him on the back. “And this gorgeous lady is my nonna, Renia.” He kisses her on the cheek. They both graciously smile at me.

  “Hello dear,” Renia greets in a thick accent as she takes my slightly wounded hand.

  “Salva,” Augostino states right after her in a similar accent. He takes my hand from his wife and kisses the top knuckles. Oh, look...my hand is better.

  What is it with the men in this family?

  “It's nice to meet you both. I can see where Linc gets his charm.” His papa lengthens his smile and winks at me. I think I've won him over. I know he’s won me.

  “Please, sit.” Grant gestures for all of us to sit among the expensive furniture in the center of the room. We all comply. Ryan and Hayes sit on the longest couch, Augostino and Renia move back to their original sitting place, Linc and I sit on another love seat and Grant resumes his place on the chair he previously vacated.

  “Ryan tells me the two of you grew up together,” Grant states towards me.

  I smile at Ryan. “We did. He was the only boy my Daddy let in the house when I was younger.”

  Ryan lets out a laugh. Both Linc and Grant shoot him a glare. He stops laughing. “Mr. Stratton is very protective of his only girl,” he recovers.

  “I can gather that.” Grant moves his eyes from Ryan to me. “Tell me Grace, how is your father these days?” Linc stretches his right arm along the back of the small couch and reaches for my hand with his left.

  I'm not sure how to answer this. “He's doing well.”

  “I haven't seen him since the benefit in August.”

  “He's the same. He doesn’t change much.”

  “And why should he,” Grant snickers. “I've been working on a TV deal with your oldest brother. Parker, is it?”

  “Yes. He heads that division for Daddy.” I feel flush. Why do I feel flush?

  “Ah. Well maybe you could put in a good word for me,” he says with a snicker.

  The sound of his father's voice seems to be bothering Linc. He's gripping my hand like he's holding on for dear life. I place my hand on his to let him know that it's okay. And also to ease up with the hand squeezing thing he’s got going on today.

  “One of my associates tells me you've been spending some time at his office, Lincoln.”

  “He’s my girlfriend's father. Why wouldn't I be there?”

  Grant let's a weird smile loose on his face and huffs. “Trading family secrets?”

  Jesus Christ.

  Linc shoots back. “Nothing to tell.”

  Oh, no. I don't like this.

  Just then a handsome young man comes bursting through the doorway. Linc jumps up.

  “Hey little man,” Linc says as he wraps his arms around him.

  “I'm glad you're here. I've missed you,” the boy beams in return, squeezing back tightly. He has a similar look to Linc’s. He has the same brown hair and blue/grey eyes.

  “Kennedy,” Linc turns to me and I stand, “I want you to meet my beautiful girl.”

  He walks out of Linc's embrace and reaches his hand out to shake with mine.

  “Kennedy. It's so nice to meet you. I'm Grace.” We shake.

  “Hi, Grace. You're very pretty.”

  “Hey now,” Linc laughs. “That's my girl. Go find your own,” he teases as he playfully scruffs his hair.

  “Sorry,” he responds giving Linc a mischievous grin.

  “That's okay. I'm flattered.” I sit back down. Linc follows. Kennedy pulls a sports magazine from the coffee table and sits on the floor in front of Linc's grandparents.

  We sit in awkward silence for a moment until Linc breaks in. “Where's Mama?”

  He calls her mama. How cute is that?

  “She's in the kitchen with Melissa and Ms. Mary,” Hayes responds. “So, Grace, which trendy designer are you interviewing for your next issue?” I actually welcome the question as a good distraction.

  Hayes and I discuss this upcoming spring's new trends and designers while Grant and Ryan talk about the football stats leading into today’s game. Linc sits quietly next to me, still not letting go of my hand. I stroke the side of it with my thumb and he loosens his grip as he relaxes. His arm behind me lowers onto my shoulders and he caresses the right side up and down.

  I'm deep in conversation about an up-and-coming American designer, when a tall, tan, beautiful, impeccably dressed brunette walks in the room with a tray full of fancy finger foods. She looks younger than she should. I'm instantly intimidated by her.

  “Hello everyone,” she says with a melodic voice. Linc immediately stands pulling me up with him, even still not releasing my hand. He switches his grasp from his left hand to his right. He walks us towards the small table where his mother stands with open arms.

  “Linc, honey, I'm so glad to see you.” She smiles and gives him a hug while rubbing his back. He, in return, hugs her with one arm, which wraps all the way around her thin frame. When they release, Linc pulls me in front of him.

  “Mama, this is my beautiful Grace,” he announces proudly to her. “Grace, this is my mother, Rosabelle.”

  She steps up and folds me into a motherly embrace. Linc finally lets my hand go and I too wrap my arms around her. “Grace,” she breathes my name, almost in a sigh of relief. “I am so happy to finally meet you.” She loosens our embrace and we both drop our arms to our sides. She takes a hand between hers and bounces it up and down. “I have heard so much about you.”

  “It's very nice to meet you, as well Mrs. Prescott.”

  “Please dear, call me Rosabelle.”

  “Rosabelle,” I repeat. She has to be the most precious woman I’ve ever met.

  “Okay, you leave the boys here to talk like men and come with me to the kitchen.” She pulls my hand and turns to her daughter. “Hayes, dear. Come with us to the kitchen.” Hayes jumps up and follows direction.

  I look up to Linc who has a curious, yet worried, look on his face. Before his mother can take me away he clasps his hand around my free one and moves himself to me. “Are you gonna be okay?”

  “Of course,” I whisper. He lightly puts his lips on mine.

  “Linc, seriously.” He breaks away with a smile. “I'm not taking her very far from you. We're only going to be in the kitchen,” Rosabelle teases. Hayes giggles and I'm pulled out of the room.

  We sit around the large island in the middle of the kitchen drinking wine, pretending to help the staff prepare the feast.

  “Linc tells me you work for your father's magazine,” Rosabelle states.

  “I do. I interview designers, mostly new, up-and-coming. If I can help in getting them noticed, then I'll keep doing it. I edit some articles occasionally, too.”

  “Your brothers all work for him too?”

  “They do.” I keep it short not knowing where she wants to take the conversation.

  “What do the boys do there?”

  People always want to know too much about the family. Keep your cool, Grace. She's just curious.

  “Parker, the oldest, is the head of the television division. Landon, number three, works on-air in radio. And Miles, whom I’m closest with, works in all medias, handling most of Daddy's affairs.” Okay. That was okay.

  She pats me on the arm and smiles. “Ah. I see. You know Lincoln handles affairs for his father as well. He and Miles have a lot in common.”

  I thought she turned a blind eye to Linc doing certain things for his family?

  Rosabelle looks over at Hayes and gives her a smile that speak
s a thousand words. “I'm going to check on the guys.” She gets up and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with Linc's mother. I start to rub the lily charm.

  “Grace, what Linc does for the family is important to his father and to the rest of us. Just as I suppose it is for your brother.” She gives me a knowing look. “He loves his father. He thinks he let him down when he didn't go into politics and feels the need to do things for him. Grant is only asking of him what he knows he can handle. What he does for him is hard, I get that. I can only support him as much as he will let me. I pretend to not know much about the business my husband conducts, but I do. I am a very smart, observant woman. This family has a long Italian bloodline in the business they conduct. We Italians believe in loyalty. Especially within one's family. I watch over Linc with a mother's eye, but I'm not sure that is enough. We all have to make sacrifices for our family. Linc is very loyal to that. He feels he owes it. Also, with Kennedy being so young he feels he needs to show him what family loyalty is.”

  Why is she telling me this? What is she getting at?

  “When Linc first told me about you, I was very cautious. He tries not to involve many people with the family. He's never been one to date much and hasn't brought more than one girl home here to meet us. It's his way of protecting. He had only spoken highly of that girl before. The way he speaks of you, though, is different. His eyes light up and his face warms. He's a different person with you. He's gentle and loving. Before you, he seemed lost and angry, maybe a little resentful, like he couldn't find himself. My Linc has had some hardships in his life and has made some poor decisions in his past. He has made up for all of that. But to him it’s not enough. He is very accomplished but wants more in his life than just business. I can see it. He wants you.” She reaches over and places her hand on top of mine. “He needs you.”

  What the...?

  I feel as though she’s begging for me to help him in some way.

  Tears start collecting behind my eyes. This is too much. I feel I should explain myself to her. Explain that I need him too. Maybe more.

  Just as I start to open my mouth to respond, Linc walks in followed by Kennedy.

  “How are my girls?” He sounds happy. That's good.

  Before I turn to him, I take a quick look at Rosabelle. We speak through our eyes and I silently let her know that I’ll do my best for her and for Linc. I nod, take a small breath in then out, and turn to him. “Hey. We're good. Just getting to know each other.” He kisses me on the forehead, leans in to his mother and kisses her on the cheek.

  “Good,” he says. “So, Mama, when is Harry getting here. I'm starving.” He pushes his stomach out and pats it.

  “Soon, big boy.” She pats it too.

  “Did I hear my name?” A tall, thin young man saunters into the kitchen.

  “Harry.” Rosabelle steps towards him, gives him her motherly squeeze and kisses him on the cheek.

  “Hi Mama.” He turns to Linc and holds out a hand. “Hey bro.”

  Linc takes it and pulls him into a man hug, giving him a loud slap on his back. “Hey. It's good to see you man.” They release and he steps aside and turns to me. “This is Grace.”

  “Ah. The lovely Grace I've heard so much about.” Giving Linc a sly glance he says, “Che cosa una bellezza!” (What a beauty!)

  He takes my hand and kisses it above the knuckle.

  Women of the world don’t stand a chance with the men in this family.

  “Hey!” Linc yells.

  “What? She's a stunner, Linc. You need to keep a closer eye on this one. You don't want anyone trying to snatch her away from you.”

  “Harrison! Leave her alone. She's taken.” He places my hand down at my side. Rosabelle turns her smile to me. “You'll have to excuse him. Harrison here is a lady’s man.”

  “To say the least,” Linc comments.

  I look up at Linc and see that he’s giving his little brother the death stare as Harrison still holds that sly smile. He’s tense. I stand and put my arms around his waist. He seems like he’s holding in his breath.

  “I guess all the men in this family are charming.”

  “Even me?” Kennedy asks.

  “Even you little man,” I respond. His smile spreads across his face. “We women never stood a chance.” I giggle and Linc almost completely relaxes. Almost. He kisses the top of my head and lets out a long breath.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  I'm sitting at a corner of the long dining room table between Linc and his father, who’s at the head. It feels awkward, but I make it work for Linc. He needs me calm and put together.

  Grant pushes his chair back and stands, commanding the attention of everyone seated at the overly filled table. He raises his wine glass. “Before we enjoy this wonderful meal put before us, I would just like to say a few words.” Everyone takes their glasses and raises them. “This family has sacrificed a lot for one another.” He looks at Linc and then over to Kennedy. “We've pulled together and taken care of each other the way a family should.” He and Linc begin a stare down. He breaks and gazes around the table at the rest of the family. “We endure. It's how the Prescott family works and I couldn't be more thankful than I am today that we are all together. Sacrifices are needed and we get everything we put into the family back two-fold. We protect each other and do what we need to make that happen.” He raises his glass a bit higher and everyone follows. “Per la famiglia.” (To family)

  “Per la famiglia,” we all say in unison, except Linc. He just stares at his plate, emotionless. His eyes holding the weight of years of misery caused by this man. I just wish I knew what to do to help him.

  I place my hand on his thigh and squeeze letting him know I'm here for him. Linc peers over at me with a sad look on his face. He then turns to Grant. Hating seeing him like this, I wonder what more there is to their story? I feel as though there’s more he isn't telling me.

  I can't help him if he doesn't tell me.

  THE FEAST WAS AMAZING; a traditional American Thanksgiving meal with an Italian flare. The conversation was light. No one made off-handed comments though there were a few nasty glances between Linc and his father. Harrison goaded Linc but he barely made any kind of response to him. The staff started coming in from the kitchen to take away our dessert plates as we make our way into the living room.

  “Let's go watch some football,” Harrison says while stretching. “Are Brody and Cal coming over?”

  “Yeah. They'll be here within a half hour I think,” Linc responds looking at his giant wristwatch.

  We all get up from the table. Linc takes my hand and leads me away from the group. “I want to show you something.” He takes me up the stairs and down a long hallway. We enter what looks like a young boy’s bedroom.

  “This is my room.” The large bedroom is painted a light shade of green, and is covered with posters of bands and famous sports figures. Shelves attached to the walls are filled with trophies and ribbons. The queen-sized bed has a dark green bedspread and is covered in pillows of the same color. A dark brown desk and matching bookcase filled with a variety of books sit in a corner. Above the desk is a board filled with pictures and articles. This room is all boy. And it excites me to be able to see a little of Linc's childhood.

  I walk around and look, touch, read and soak in everything in this room. He’s clearly very athletic, having played football and baseball in high school. He even did some boxing. He was in a lot of academic clubs as well. He was so accomplished even as a boy.

  I stand staring at the board filled with randomness as Linc comes over and puts his arms around me, linking his hands over my stomach. “What are you thinking about?”

  “You. As a boy.”

  “I'm still a boy.” He grins.

  “True.” I point to a picture of Linc in grade school. “Kennedy looks a lot like you when you were younger.” I smile at that thought. “How was your childhood?” I ask.

  “Probably not like yours.” He spins me so I'm fa
cing him. He's still grinning; however, he has sadness in his eyes.

  “No Linc. Did you have a good childhood?” I wanted to be serious.

  “It doesn't matter.” He tenses for a moment. Shaking his head to clear it, he lets it go quickly.

  Pushing onto my toes, I give him a kiss on his jaw. He responds, lifting me by my waist and planting his mouth on mine. I part my lips and he happily enters. Wrapping my legs around his waist, he carries me over to the bed and sits. Running his fingers through my hair he holds me as close to himself as possible. I grind my hips into him and start to feel his manhood harden between my legs. The kiss is getting deeper and deeper. He’s is getting harder and harder.

  I pull away, breathing heavy. Linc’s doing the same.

  “We've been gone a while.”

  He inhales and tries to steady his breathing.

  “You’re such a tease.” He laughs, runs a hand through my hair and tucks a few strands behind my ear.

  “We should get back. Your friends will be here soon.” I stand and shimmy towards the door to tease him just a little more. Sauntering over, he whirls me around and pins me to the door. He places his hand flat on the wooden surface and cages me in.

  “You're going to have to make this up to me later.”

  “We'll see.” I duck under his arm.

  We go down three flights to a game room in the basement filled with all kinds of game tables and vintage video game machines. Towards the back is a large television on a wall with two huge couches in front of it. As we arrive, two large men jump up.

  “Hey. Good to see ya man.”

  Holy crap. This guy is big. Football player big. Hulk big. He's not quite as tall as Linc, but he has at least ten pounds on him. His shorter blond hair is a wild mess but suits him. This guy is sexy in an all-American boy kind of way. Linc leans over the back of the couch and shakes his hand.

  “This douche is Brody.” Linc forms a sly grin. “He's my cousin and also one of my minions.”

  “Oh. You work for Linc?”