Joe did his best to duck out of lunch. The last thing he wanted was a big family meal and a lot of questions about his career-as in why wasn’t he leaving the navy to move to the winery-and his love life-had he met someone, when was he getting married and having babies? But when he opened the back door to make his escape, he saw Grammy M and Gabriel arriving, and he could no more run out on her than he could back a car over a puppy. Tessa might perform the strongest cheek pinch on three continents, but Grammy M’s warm smile and lilting Irish voice got him every time.
“Joe,” she said warmly as she climbed out of the large yellow Cadillac. “I’d heard you’d come home. It’s been far too long since we’ve set eyes on you.”
He walked down to hug the tiny, old woman. “I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy for those who love you most?” she asked gently. “’Tis a sad thing when a grandson stays away.”
“I’m here now,” he told her.
“So I see. Along with the president’s daughter. Who would have thought. Is she pretty?”
Joe didn’t want to think about Darcy Jensen or the fact that he’d been
Gabriel got out of the car and reached for his cane. “That Lauren’s a real looker. I can’t say much about her sister. Still, a kidnapping had to take some of the starch out of her sails.”
He limped up to join Grammy M, then took her arm. “Step aside, sonny,” he snapped. “I’ll be escorting my woman to lunch if you don’t mind.”
Grammy M giggled. “Oh, Gabriel. Don’t talk like that in front of the young people. You know it makes them uncomfortable.”
“My grandson doesn’t mind,” Gabriel said with a cackle. “He likes knowing the family plumbing still works at my age.”
Joe winced. He was with Grammy M on this particular topic.
He followed the older couple into the kitchen, where he found it in the usual Marcelli chaos. Tessa and Colleen carried huge bowls and platters of food to the dining room. Nic had arrived. He managed to call out a greeting to Joe as he helped a very pregnant Brenna out of a chair. Marco carried in several bottles of wine, then paused to kiss his mother-in-law on the cheek. The action caused Tessa to notice that Grammy M had arrived.
“So you’re here,” Tessa said in a chilly voice.
“I wanted to meet Darcy,” Grammy M told her serenely. “So she could see we weren’t all rigid and judgmental.”
Tessa bristled. “I’m not sure you should be around a young woman like that. You could send her down the dark path to hell.”
Marco headed for his mother while Joe took Grammy M by the arm.
“Let’s get you and Gabriel seated,” he said, leading her into the dining room.
“Nowhere near the likes of her,” Grammy M said. “She’s turned cruel and difficult. It’s amazing what old age will do to a body.”
Gabriel leaned close. “She’s jealous.”
Grammy M smiled and patted his hand. “Perhaps. I just…” Her voice trailed off. “No use crying over spilled milk, as my nana used to say. ’Tis her loss.”
Brenna waddled into the room. “You’re both stubborn,” she said as Nic wrapped his arm around her thick waist. “You two have been friends for what, thirty-plus years? Why let things get in the way now?”
Grammy M picked up her napkin. “Ask Tessa. She started it. Tellin’ me I had to choose between her and Gabriel. As if she resented my happiness. That’s not friendship.”
Nic patted Brenna’s shoulder. “Did I tell you not to get involved? Did you listen?”
“I hate that they don’t talk. It’s not right.”
Tessa bustled into the room. “Sit everyone. The food’s all ready. Brenna, you’re there, with Nic beside you. No, save that seat. It’s for Darcy. She’ll be across from Joe.”
Everyone turned to look at him as he held in a groan. Shit. He’d been home less than twenty-four hours and this was Tessa’s second attempt at matchmaking.
Marco came in with a tray of pasta. Colleen followed with baskets of bread. Joe retreated to the kitchen, thinking if he helped carry things maybe he could escape being the center of attention for once.
An unnecessary plan, he realized when he returned and found everyone focused on Darcy Jensen as she entered the dining room.
She still wore the fitted sundress she’d had on when she’d arrived. The black and white fabric hugged slender curves. He preferred women on the lush side of the scale, but she wasn’t bad-looking. And she smelled good. He’d always been a sucker for that.
“If this is lunch, I’m not sure I can face dinner,” Darcy said into the silence. “It, um, looks delicious.”
“It is,” Brenna told her. “And you’re probably one of those disgusting women who can eat what she wants without gaining a pound. It makes me want to hate you, but I won’t.” She waved toward Grammy M. “Darcy, I don’t believe you’ve met my maternal grandmother and Gabriel. We call her Grammy M, short for Mary-Margaret O’Shea. Gabriel Reese is her-”
“Paramour in sin,” Tessa snapped. “That’s right. They’re living together without the benefit of marriage.” She made a quick sign of the cross. “So have a seat.”
Marco jumped to pull out Darcy’s chair. Brenna introduced Nic while Colleen hustled her mother-in-law into the kitchen, no doubt to warn her to back off. Joe made himself busy at the buffet, opening bottles of wine.
Lorenzo walked into the dining room and took his place at the head of the table.
“Damn fool idea to have a big meal in the middle of the day,” he snapped. “No one will want to work later.”
“I was planning to take a nap anyway,” Brenna said cheerfully. “I have to, what with not sleeping at night. Here’s my question. Why nine months? Why can’t pregnancy last three months, or four? Isn’t that enough? I know
“Your time will come,” Grammy M promised. She turned her attention to Darcy. “Welcome, child. How was your journey?”
“Good. I came here via Florida. Traveling in secret takes longer than regular travel.” Darcy hesitated, as if not sure what to say. “I, um, appreciate your family taking me in. You’ve all been very kind.”
“We’re happy to have you,” Colleen said as she walked back into the dining room with another tray. This one contained a roast and potatoes. After setting everything on the table, she motioned for Joe to take his seat. She did the same, with Tessa following close behind.
Lorenzo make a great show of tasting his glass of wine, then nodding. “Brenna, this is one of yours.”
“That merlot-cab blend you didn’t want me to bother with,” she said smugly. “It’s perfect, isn’t it? I told you it would be.” She gazed longingly at the bottle. “I swear the first thing I’m doing after I’m done breast-feeding is getting drunk. I miss wine. I can give up caffeine and processed foods and other alcohol, but I really, really miss wine.”
“You’ll get there,” Nic said as he kissed the top of her head.
“Easy for you to say,” she complained. “You get to drink what you want.”
Lorenzo waited until everyone had a glass, then raised his. “Welcome, Darcy Jensen. Welcome to the family.”
Brenna raised her water, everyone else picked up their wineglass. “Welcome.”
Joe looked across the table at Darcy. She looked startled by both the words and the gesture, although she raised her glass and smiled.
He remembered his first reaction to the Marcelli family and had an idea of what she was feeling. Overwhelmed didn’t cover it. The Marcellis tended to suck people up and make them their own. Once branded, it was difficult to escape.
As the platters and bowls were passed around, he glanced at her. She listened to the conversation around her but didn’t speak much. He would have expected her to claim all the attention, but she seemed content to observe. She took small portions and didn’t finish them. He could see her collarbone and the hint of ribs where her dress dipped between her breasts. Did she avoid food because of fashion or something else?
Too skinny. Not his type. And yet…He felt it-the subtle tension between them. A precursor to attraction.
