Damien chuckled. “I might have inadvertently caught you in a delicate moment when I snapped some shots of the room, but don’t worry, I won’t be featuring those in any articles.”
“I should hope not,” Eliana said, wiggling her brows for Cat’s benefit. “Unless they come with an X rating.”
Liam leaned toward Cat’s ear. “If that was your sister’s idea of an X-rated kiss, make sure you lock the doors if you ever take me back up to your bedroom, because I wouldn’t even consider that a peck.”
Caterina tingled in all the right places—or perhaps the wrong places, given that those tingles would go unsatisfied right now—and swallowed the groan inching up her throat.
She still had a lot to do to get ready for this evening. If she was going to dive into a pool of wanton lust, she wanted to do it right. Prepare for it. Take a long soak in the tub. Dab on an elusive scent. Put on some lacy underwear. Lather a rich moisturizer over every inch of skin his lips might explore—
With a jerk, she turned and strode toward the kitchen. “I’ve still got a dozen things to do before I start dealing with the food. Liam, get the rest of those tables set up. Antonio, maybe Damien wouldn’t mind helping you with the bars; they’re heavy. El, don’t just stand there looking pretty; come into the kitchen so I can tell you about the tasting setups.”
And with that, she took herself as far from temptation as she could without leaving the guest house.
“A party without cake is just a meeting.”
Julia Child
The Bonavera sisters all wore dark red, sequined dresses that distinguished them as the evening’s hostesses. Each dress was different, but Liam noticed one thing they had in common. They all looked as if they’d been custom-made to show off every dip, curve, and swell of the women who wore them—to perfection.
Even Marcella, whom he’d never seen in a dress before that night, looked ravishing. He’d had to do a double take when he realized it was her. He knew she and Caterina were twins, but their personalities were so dissimilar to him that it was easy to forget. Although their facial features were identical, he’d never noticed how alike they were in height and build. He’d never seen Marcella in anything but work clothes or wearing jeans and a sweater, usually with her nose in a book. Tonight, in a floor-length, form-hugging dress with no shoulders, she looked every bit the manslayer her sisters could be.
His eyes rested on Caterina. She wore a short dress that embraced her like an enamored lover, from her shoulders to a couple of inches above the knee. It had long, narrow sleeves with a somewhat modest V-neckline in front, but modesty gave way to pure seduction when she turned to reveal a plunging back that ended below her waist, displaying a glorious expanse of creamy white skin.
He wanted to get his hands on all that skin. Lick his way up her back, taste her neck, spin her around and covet those full lips with all the hidden heat he’d tapped into each time he’d kissed her.
“Daddy, will you reach me up, so I can get one of the high candy canes from the tree?”
Liam looked down at Riley. He hadn’t planned to come to the open house, but she’d remembered that it was tonight, and after helping with the decorating last weekend, she’d just assumed they’d be going. He’d picked her up from daycare, and when they got home put one of her shows on for her to watch while he got a shower, just as he did every other night.
When he came back out, she was sitting on the couch watching her show, and he saw that she’d changed into one of her good dresses. She’d looked at him and frowned. When he asked about the frown, she’d said, “You’re not planning to wear that tonight, are you?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Daddy.” She’d given him an exasperated look that he thought must be inherent to all females. “Miss Caterina said this was going to be a special night, and that’s why we were decorating everything to be so beautiful. You have to wear your nice clothes. Like me.” She stood up, as if he hadn’t noticed the dress, and looked up at him with bright eyes filled with excitement for the evening she’d been anticipating.
He didn’t tell her that he hadn’t planned on them going. He hadn’t had the heart to disappoint her. No, he did what any father at his daughter’s mercy would do. He went to his room, took off his tee shirt and sweats, and changed into something he thought she’d approve of.
Liam lifted Riley up and set her on his hip. “Which one do you want?”
“That one.” She pointed to a candy cane near the center of the tree. He took hold of her waist and held her in the air.
“Would you mind looking this way?” Liam glanced to his right to see Damien aiming a camera at him and Riley.
“Riley, do you want to be in a picture of you getting your candy cane?” Liam asked.
“Sure.” Riley reached for it and, as she wrapped her fingers around the stem, looked at Damien and flashed her dimples. His daughter was a true ham.
“Got it. Thanks,” Damien said. He let the camera dangle from the strap around his neck and approached them.
“Are you having fun, Riley?” he asked.
She scrunched her forehead. “How do you know my name?”
Liam wondered the same, but then Damien cleared up the mystery when he said, “I met your father this morning. I was talking with Antonio and Lucia a few minutes ago, and when she saw you and your dad, she said, ‘Oh good. Liam came, and he brought Riley with him.’”
Damien smiled down at Riley. “I guessed you were Riley.”
She grinned. “You’re a good guesser. Did you know I got to be in charge of the candy canes? Miss Caterina said it was an important job ‘cause we needed to make sure every little kid could reach them.”
Damien looked the tree over. “It looks like you did an excellent job.”
“Thanks. Miss Caterina said I did a great job too. My dad got some pictures when we did the decorating. He took them on his phone, not with a camera like you.”
“Hey, Riley! Thanks for coming tonight.” Caterina had come up behind them. Liam glanced around, and their eyes connected. She slid him a smile that made him want to nibble it right off her lips.
“I love your dress,” Caterina said to his daughter. “You look just like a princess in it. Give me a spin, so I can see it twirl.”
Riley put one hand on her head, then spun around like a ballerina. The skirt on her dress flared out, then flattened back down when she stopped. Liam wondered where she’d learned that move. Probably watching one of her shows.
“Nicely done,” Caterina praised.
Riley beamed. “I like your dress too. It doesn’t twirl like mine, but it’s still pretty. I like how it sparkles. When I’m growed up, I can get some high shoes like yours. Daddy won’t let me get some now ‘cause he says they’re only for adult ladies, and you have to take years of practice to learn to walk in them.”
Oh Lord, Liam thought. He’d be happy if the day Riley wore a dress and shoes like Cat’s never came. He didn’t even want to contemplate his baby girl dressed in something that would require him to threaten every guy who looked at her to keep his hands in his pockets or risk losing them.
Caterina chuckled. “Your daddy’s right about that, but don’t worry, when you’re old enough I can teach you how to walk in heels, so it doesn’t take so long.” She shot Liam an amused, if mocking, look. “I’ve had lots of practice.”
“I’m going to move through the rooms and get some more pictures,” Damien, who Liam had forgotten was still standing there, said. “Before I do, why don’t I get one of the three of you by the tree.”
Before he or Caterina could respond, Riley grabbed one of Liam’s hands and one of Caterina’s and stood proudly in front of the tree she’d helped decorate. She glanced up at each of them. “Smile, guys.”
On her command, they looked toward the camera and smiled as the flash went off. Liam glanced at Caterina. He didn’t think a picture of the three of them would make the cut in an exposé to highlight the season, but it occurred to
him that someone seeing it might assume they were a family. No one who knew them, but to someone who didn’t know better, he could see how it might depict something other than the spontaneous moment it had been.
THE LAST GROUP of the tour guests walked down the wide front porch steps and made their way along the sidewalk toward the winery’s gravel parking lot.
Lucia closed the polished double doors that had been left open for the night and then turned and leaned her back against them. “Congratulations, sisters mine. Tonight couldn’t have gone more splendidly!”
“I’ll second that,” Caterina agreed. “Everything looked beautiful, the tour guests all seemed to enjoy themselves, and everyone had nothing but good things to say. The night, most definitely, was a success! And I couldn’t be happier to see it end. I’m exhausted!” She dropped into one of the armchairs that flanked the large stone fireplace in the library and slipped off her heels.
Marcella claimed a corner on one of the couches and did the same, massaging her feet. “I don’t know how any of you can stand to wear these all the time. One night of torture in them, and my feet are going to need a week to recover.”
“If you wore them more often,” Eliana said, from where she already sat on the opposite end of the couch from Marcella, “you’d get used to them. Put your feet up here, little sister.” She patted the couch beside her.
Marcella swung her legs up. Eliana slid over, lifted Marcella’s feet onto her lap, and started massaging them.
Marcella groaned. “I love you. You’re my favorite sister. I’ll pay you a dollar a minute to keep doing that.”
“I love you back, honey. Keep your dollars, though; this one’s on the house. You wouldn’t be able to afford my rates.”
“I’m going to grab a bottle and some glasses from the solarium, so we can celebrate,” Lucia said, pushing away from the front door. “And some food. I’m starving. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I haven’t had a bite since lunch.”
Cat got up from her chair. “I’ll help you. I think we were all so busy this evening that none of us got a chance to eat anything. I’ll make up a couple of platters from the leftovers.”
“Do you need us to do anything?” Eliana asked.
“No.” Caterina left her shoes by the chair and followed Lucia, padding toward the solarium in bare feet. “You take care of gimpy, and we’ll take care of getting us some sustenance.”
Antonio walked out just as they were entering.
“We’re going to have some wine and nibbles to celebrate,” Lucia told him. “Do you want to join us?”
“Thanks for asking,” he said, “but I think I’ll call it a night and let the four of you have this time to yourselves. Enjoy your success. You earned it.”
“To a successful night!” Caterina proposed a short while later as they sat around the library. Each held one of the winery’s signature glasses, etched with the Bonavera name, underscored with a cluster of grapes and trailing vines. The glasses reflected the flickering flames of the three large, white pillar candles, set in the table’s opulent centerpiece, another of Lucia’s creations. Inside their bowls, one of the winery’s rich, ruby-red cabernet sauvignons glowed, liquid rubies in the dancing light.
“A successful night,” her sisters echoed. They tapped glasses, and a clear, delicate chime rang out in blessing.
The lights in the library and reception flickered on and off twice, then went out. The other candles set about the room lit by an invisible hand, and flames sprang to life in the fireplace, leaving the four sisters bathed in nothing but the glowing, soft light of several dozen candles and the gently crackling flames from in the large, stone fireplace.
Lucia looked around. “I guess Rosa thought a more romantic atmosphere would be nice to celebrate our success. And,” she added with an affectionate tone, “wanted us to know she was here celebrating with us.”
“It looks so pretty with just the candles and the fire. You have to give it to her,” Eliana said. “Subtlety might not be one of her strong points, but she sets a nice scene.” She raised her glass toward the ceiling. “Thanks, Rosa. This is much nicer with the lights off.”
Cat took a sip of wine and held it in her mouth a moment. She had to agree with Eliana. Their aunt could be a bit of a pain at times, but she clearly had a romantic side.
CATERINA STARED AT the seven dresses spread out over her bed. None of them were saying, Wear me, I’m the one that’s going to knock Liam off his feet.
She needed to go shopping in Eliana’s closet. Of her three sisters, Eliana had the most extensive wardrobe and would be most likely to have something that fit with Cat’s style. If El didn’t have anything that spoke to her, she’d check with Luch. If neither of them had anything that said, He’ll be down for the count when he sees you in me, she’d have to search deeper in her own closet for something that might.
She turned at the sound of a knock. Marcella stood in the doorway. “What are you doing?” her twin asked, looking at the growing mound on Cat’s bed.
“Ugh! I can’t find anything for my date with Liam tonight.” She picked up a dress and dropped it again. “I think I wore this the day I met him.” She picked up another. “I wore this the night I broke up with Mitch and quit at the restaurant. Depending on how our date goes, I don’t want any reminders of either, in case I decide I want to try to seduce Liam over dessert.” She let that one slip from her fingers to rejoin the pile.
“If you decide you want to seduce him, I doubt whatever you’re wearing is going to make much of a difference. The two of you have been straining to get at each other for weeks.”
“That’s not true!”
“Yes, it is. Eliana and Lucia will back me up on it. ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see’, sister dear.”
“This family’s just full of helpful quotes lately,” Cat said sarcastically.
“We like to be helpful.” Marcella put her hands into the pockets of her cargo pants and strolled into the room. “You’re welcome to wear something of mine,” she said, extending her sisterly helpfulness, “but if you’re going for seduction, you’ll probably have more luck in El or Lucia’s closets.”
“Thanks for the offer. It’s sweet, and I do appreciate it, but I think you’re right. If I’m ever trying to go for that salt of the earth, bohemian, carefree, and don’t care if I’m trendy or out-of-touch look, you’ll be the first one I come to.”
“Damn, it’s so awesome to be needed.”
Caterina laughed. “You are needed, honey, in many, many ways, just not for your wardrobe.”
“Speaking of being needed, Luch, El, and I agreed that we’ll take care of the breakfast setup tomorrow morning.” Marcella crooked her lips. “So, if your date night goes well and ends up becoming a date-morning-after, no worries, we’ve got it covered.”
“Man! Did I ever score in the sister department! But considering Riley, it’s unlikely I’ll be—” Liam’s words from the day he’d asked her out drifted back to her: And tell your sisters not to wait up for you. Riley’s having a sleepover with her cousin, so I get to stay out past her bedtime.
“Actually,” she said, thinking it best to cover all bases, “Riley’s supposed to be spending the night with her cousin, so I may be getting in much later than I would otherwise.”
Cat walked over and wrapped her arms around her twin. “You guys are the best! I’ll probably be waking up in my own bed tomorrow morning, but if I do get in really late, it’ll be nice not to have to get up early to do the setup.”
“We just want you to go out and have a good time, whatever you decide that is, without worrying about things here.”
“None of you think it’s a mistake…me going out with Liam?”
“Pffft. Rosa saw it right from the start, and it didn’t take the rest of us long to figure it out either. There’s something between the two of you, and although you’ve tried to play it down, it’s been gnawing at you for the last couple of months. You need to figure
out if it’s a thing worth pursuing. Until you do, you’re not going to be able to find your balance again, Cat.”
After Marcella left her to her own musings, Caterina thought a lot about what she’d said. Cel was the most internal of all of them. She felt no need to be seen, be heard, or prove herself to anyone. She was very much her own person, and comfortable in it.
She tended to sit back, listen, and observe, chiming in if it was important to her or she had something relevant to add. She saw more than others, often more clearly, so although they all teased her for her more serious, sometimes reclusive ways, when Marcella offered an opinion or piece of advice, it merited consideration. And, being twins, she and Caterina had always shared a heightened perception of the other’s thoughts and feelings.
Marcella was right that she’d been off-balance, Cat reflected. Ever since the debacle with Mitch and quitting her job. And it wasn’t just because she was in limbo until Serendipity opened and she had something concrete to focus her energies on again. Opening the restaurant would be a major accomplishment, her most cherished dream, but, she realized now, it couldn’t be all there was.
During the early years of her career, she’d put other aspects of her life on hold. Had focused solely on learning everything she could about the industry, distinguishing herself as a chef, making her mark. It had been enough then. It wasn’t now.
Of course, she would aim for the stars with Serendipity. She’d always been an overachiever, she admitted, but she saw nothing wrong in that. Why waste time doing something if you didn’t do it to the best of your ability? One or two Michelin stars would suit her fine, but she couldn’t cuddle up with accolades at the end of the day. Rave reviews wouldn’t warm her bed on cold winter nights or hold her close when she needed to feel loved. If her dreams for Serendipity came true, what good would it be if she had no one to celebrate with, to share in the success?
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