Sandro remained speechless a long moment as he looked from the ring to Carm to Tony and finally back to his sister.
“Isn’t this a little sudden? You haven’t been dating that long.”
“I figured you knew we’d started dating.” She shrugged. “And I definitely was surprised by the proposal.” Carmella turned toward Tony and smiled before turning her attention back to her brother. “But now that I’ve had some time to get accustomed to the idea, I think the timing is perfect.”
Tony wasn’t sure what to say or do in this situation. He couldn’t read Sandro’s face as to whether he was happy or pissed, so he waited for them to ask him a direct question before he’d say anything.
“Are you planning a long engagement?” Tony had the feeling Sandro was hinting at whether pregnancy had been the reason for the proposal, which kind of ticked Tony off.
He needed to set him straight. “We’ve been seeing each other since the summer but decided to keep it under the radar so we wouldn’t have any pressure from family one way or another.”
Ignoring Tony, he asked Carm, “Do Mama and Papa know you’ve been dating?”
“I haven’t said anything. You know Mama. She’d have us on our way to the altar if she had any inkling we were serious.”
“True, but she’s not going to be happy to have been left out.”
“Yeah, well, they’re on their cruise now, but I’ll tell them as soon as they return. No sense saying anything over a ship-to-shore phone call that wouldn’t be very private.”
A softening to Sandro’s features allowed Tony to relax for the first time since he’d found the man in the condo. “I guess congratulations are in order. Looks like we’ll be having another wedding in our intertwined families.”
Tony didn’t want to think about the hoopla that would be involved once their mamas started planning a wedding.
“Carmella will make me the luckiest man on the planet when she says I do,” Tony told Sandro. “And I’ll take good care of her.”
“You’d better, or you’ll have Marc and me to answer to.” Sandro stood and stretched out his hand. Tony closed the gap between them and shook Sandro’s hand.
Sandro grew serious and Tony worried that he was already having second thoughts about whether he was a good match for Carmella. “Tony, I’m just glad you don’t have another sister. I’m not ready to settle down yet.”
The three of them laughed, finally dissolving any tension in the room, and Carm came up beside Tony to wrap her arms around his waist. He reciprocated.
Sandro bent to give her a peck on the cheek. “I only want to see you happy, Sis.”
“I know, Sandro. Thank you for understanding why we didn’t announce that we were dating any sooner.”
“I think I’d better get on the road,” Tony announced, because he obviously wouldn’t have any more time alone with Carmella this morning.
“Oh, there’s something I need to give you—in the bedroom. And I need to get dressed before we get down to business, if you’ll excuse me a minute, Sandro.”
Tony cocked his head, but accepted her hand and followed her into the bedroom. She closed the door and turned toward him. “I couldn’t let you leave without a kiss.”
Tony smiled before the two shared a steamy kiss that he didn’t rush in the least no matter how long Sandro had to wait.
“I’ll call you tonight,” Tony said after they broke apart.
She grinned. “I’ll make sure I turn my phone back on.”
But Tony didn’t intend to hide his kisses from Sandro or anyone else in the family once the news was out. They could get used to his public demonstrations of love for Carmella. He couldn’t wait to shout their engagement to anyone who would listen.
The idea that she loved him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him was worth shouting about.
Chapter Forty
“It was nice of Sandro to insist you accept Mama’s invitation to dinner,” Tony said. “She hated hearing that your parents would be away for the holiday.”
“Sandro didn’t want me to miss out on the holiday gathering, but I think it’s more about him wanting us to tell your family the big news.”
Carm’s heart pounded. Sandro had taken the engagement announcement well, once he’d gotten over the initial shock, but how would Tony’s family take it?
“Deep breath,” he said. She did as he’d instructed, and it helped somewhat. “We’ll figure out the best time for you to put the ring back on.” They’d agreed to conceal the ring in her pocket until just before they made their announcement. With so many people present, they didn’t want anyone to notice and spoil their announcement.
Tony helped her out of her coat and removed his own, draping them over his arm for the time being. Carm swallowed hard as a ton of bricks settled into the pit of her stomach. Here we go.
When they walked into the kitchen, Mrs. Giardano, Paul, Marc, Angelina, Franco, and Matteo sat or stood around the island enjoying some wine. Everyone greeted the two of them as if it was the most natural thing in the world to see them together.
“I’m so glad you could join us today, Carmella. Franco, pour her a glass of wine.”
“White or red?” Franco asked her.
“White, please.”
“Me too,” Tony said.
“You can pour your own.” After Franco poured her a glass, emptying the bottle, he handed the spent bottle to Tony with a grin. Brothers. The banter helped ease some of her anxiety, though.
“Tony, take another bottle out of the fridge and open it for us, please,” his mama said.
Tony draped their coats over a chair and crossed the room to give his mother a kiss on the cheek on his way to the fridge.
Perhaps wine would help settle
