by Paula Cox
“I’m here to give you a wedding gift,” Muncio finally said, releasing her chin.
“Great,” Liana replied dryly. “We’re registered at Barney’s.”
That really made Muncio laugh. He exposed a full set of menacing, white teeth. Liana tried not to let her face betray the fear that was eating away at her insides. If she’d learned anything with Cliff and his kind, it was that she could never let them see her shake.
“You’re amusing,” Muncio said. He winked. “And if my son hadn’t snapped you up, maybe I would be hosting a wedding of my own.”
Liana’s stomach flipped. She hid that from him too.
“My wedding present is a little less concrete than a set of fluffy towels or a blender.” Muncio began fiddling with the buttons of his suit and his cufflinks, straightening them. “But I think you’ll appreciate it a lot more.”
“Are you ever planning on telling me what it is?”
He stopped fidgeting and hit her with the full brunt of his stare. Liana’s veins turned to ice. Oh God, he was going to kill her now! Why couldn’t she keep her goddamn mouth shut?
“Careful,” Muncio warned. “You amuse me, but don’t mistake my indulgence for immunity.”
Liana swallowed. “Sorry.”
As if the moment had never happened, Muncio smiled again and resumed straightening his clothes. “A fiery girl who knows when she’s on thin ice. I like it.” He chuckled. “My son told me you worked as a caterer before you two met.”
“Yes.” Liana grimaced. Would he think she wasn’t good enough for Cliff?
“Don’t look so worried,” Muncio said. “I sold newspapers when I was a teenager. Didn’t even go to high school. And look at me now.” He spread his arms wide. “One of New York’s finest businessmen. Not that the Wall Street Journal will be doing a feature on me anytime soon.”
Liana resisted the urge to glance toward the door. She didn’t have time for this.
Thankfully, Muncio was wrapping up. “I considered having this place burnt down when you first started business,” he admitted. “Changing the name… I didn’t like that one bit.”
“Is your gift that you didn’t burn it down?”
Muncio chuckled. “Oh, no. That was just my better judgment. My gift is much better.” He leaned in closer to her, grinning. “My blessing.”
Liana gasped. “Really?”
Sure, she and Cliff could have continued on without Muncio’s blessing as long as they both lived. Whether they lived very long, on the other hand, wasn’t set in stone.
“Really,” Muncio confirmed.
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch.” Muncio stepped around Liana to the door, tugging it inward and holding it open. “His plea was quite touching, and now that I’ve seen you, I think it would be better for everyone if I let you both live.”
“So you hadn’t decided for sure before you met me?” Liana asked.
He winked. “Let’s not dwell on that. It’s your wedding day.” Muncio slipped out and was lost in the crowd within seconds. Liana gaped at the open door.
Cliff suddenly sprang into the office, pulling Liana to his chest. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Where is he?”
“Josh told you, huh?”
“After some prodding.” Cliff pulled back to examine Liana. “I know I’m not supposed to see you… I was just so worried.”
“Please,” Liana said, snorting. “Even if your father hadn’t given us his blessing, I doubt there’s anything that could stop us now.”
Cliff’s eyes widened. “He gave us his blessing?”
“Yeah. You just missed him.” She pointed toward the door. “He came in, intimidated me a bit, gave us his blessing, and then disappeared like a thief in the night.”
Cliff stared out at the bustling passageway. “Coming out here personally is a pretty big endorsement from him.”
“Let’s make sure to include him in our thank you notes,” Liana replied.
Cliff chuckled. “We’re on soon. Are you ready?”
Liana’s eyes widened. “Shit! No!” She raced out of Cliff’s arms and into the hallway, shoving past people until she was back to Janelle and her stylist.
“I was about to come looking for you!” Janelle said. “Where the hell is your office? Narnia?”
“Just make me look pretty!” Liana urged. “I’m about to get married!”
***
Just for the hell of it, Cliff had asked Amos to perform his and Liana’s ceremony. Since getting a license to wed was fairly easy, Amos was only too happy to oblige. Now, Cliff stood on stage with hundreds of his family and friends out in the audience. Behind him, Amos checked and rechecked his notes. Beside him, there was an empty spot where his best man was supposed to be. It hadn’t felt right to fill that spot so soon after Michael’s death.
Liana stepped out onto the stage, and the whole room fell silent. Cliff had barely gotten a look at her in the wake of his father’s visit, but he took the opportunity to gape at her now. Her white gown clung to every delicious curve, glittering under the stage lights. Her lips were as red as blood, eyes brighter than any star in the sky.
And she was his.
Cliff had secretly invited a few talent scouts and producers to come to the wedding. Some had taken some more encouraging than others, but all the ones he invited were here. Liana was going to freak out when she found out. In a good way, Cliff hoped.
As soon as she reached him, Cliff reached for Liana’s hands and squeezed. “You look beautiful.”
“Lookin’ pretty good yourself, stud.”
“It’s a new suit, thanks,” Amos piped in.
They both glared at him.
In what felt like a whirlwind, Liana and Cliff exchanged their vows. It seemed like only yesterday he’d taken her under his wing. Her complaints still rang in his ears. It made him smile to think about.
Unlike a traditional wedding, Cliff and Liana had something a little special in store for theirs. After they had exchanged their vows and rings, Cliff went down to the small table they’d reserved right in front of the stage.
Liana took up a microphone, staring out into an audience she had no idea was filled with people with the potential to change her world forever. Then she looked at Cliff, and she began to sing.
It was her greatest performance yet.
THE END
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