Divine in Lingerie (Lingerie 9)

“No.” Father drank his wine then set it down. “I was in the gallery when it happened. He didn’t see me because there was a painting in between us. He walked in and asked her to dinner. He has a gallery down the road. Apparently, he’d come in and bought one of her paintings, unaware that she was the artist who created it. And then she bought one of his, not knowing he was the one who’d made it.”

“Really?” I asked. “What are the odds of that?”

“That’s what I said,” Father said. “They seem perfectly compatible. And when she said she wasn’t ready to date, he said he would wait.”

“Aww…” Muse’s eyes softened.

“And he said he would like to see her as a friend,” Father continued. “He was a perfect gentleman, but he wasn’t weak either. He’s good-looking, confident, and successful. I dug into him after I left and liked everything I saw. He’s one of the biggest painters in Italy, and he has galleries all over the world. He’s self-made, which I respect.”

“He sounds perfect,” I said. “I like him already.”

Mom shrugged. “But Vanessa doesn’t…”

“I don’t think that’s the case,” Father said. “I think she does like him…which is why she doesn’t want to see him.”

I hated Griffin for coming into our lives. If he hadn’t, Vanessa would have met this guy and let him sweep her off her feet. She’d be happy right now, finding her perfect match. But she was still hung up on a criminal.

“She’ll figure it out,” Mama said. “In her own time. Heartbreak and healing can’t be rushed. She’s smart for going at her own pace. It’s only been two months.”

“Only?” I asked incredulously. “That’s a long time.”

“She was pretty infatuated with Griffin,” Mom said. “I’m not surprised. I think she needs another month and then she’ll be ready.”

I never understood what Vanessa saw in Griffin. They say women have a thing for bad boys. Maybe that was the explanation behind it. “Well, we’re over halfway. I want my sister back. I even miss how annoying she used to be…”

Mama smiled, knowing I didn’t express my true feelings about Vanessa. “She’ll be here soon.”

“I miss her too,” Father said. “I never expected to have such a strong and brilliant daughter, someone I’m so proud of. She’s never put up with bullshit, and she’s always understood her self-worth. Independent, smart, and wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. I can’t wait for her to be happy again, and this time, stay happy.” Father was never much for words, but whenever he spoke from the heart, it was always poetic.

Mama rested her hand on his on the table. “She will be.”

Father moved his fingers in between hers and gripped her hand, his thumb swiping across her soft skin. He gave her an affectionate look, a look he could never hide from us. I saw it all the time when we were growing up. I used to find it repulsive, but now that I was older, seeing my parents still in love made me happy.

It made me want that for myself.

Muse turned to me. “Con, you should tell them the good news.”

“What good news?” Mama turned back to us, pulling her gaze off my father reluctantly.

Father looked at me but kept his hand on Mama’s. “Tell us.”

Muse couldn’t stop smiling. Her hair framed her face, and her beautiful eyes were brilliant, pregnant with excitement.

It distracted me for a moment, seeing my wife look so happy. I’d only been married for a few weeks, but I realized all I wanted in life was to keep doing this…making her smile. My priorities had changed after I met her, but now they’d changed again. It was an enormous responsibility, but I took it on without pause.

I felt lucky that the woman I loved adored my family as much as I did. She wore the Barsetti name so effortlessly, had become a part of us since the day she’d met everyone. She wanted to be with them even more than I did, to spend her spare time with my parents and sister when I wasn’t around. “We’ve decided to move here.”

Mama’s eyes swelled to twice their size, and her mouth popped open with a silent scream. “Really?”

Father didn’t react so profoundly. But a smile stretched across his lips, a look of genuine joy. “That’s great news.”

“You want to raise your family here?” Mama dropped his hand, moving toward Muse anxiously.

“Yes.” Muse moved her hand to her stomach. “Verona and Milan are beautiful, but when Conway is at work, I want to be with family. I want our kids to be with family.”

Mama’s eyes softened in a whole new way, and this time, tears accompanied her expression. “Crow…isn’t that wonderful?” She turned back to him, so happy that she looked sad.

He didn’t have the same dramatic reaction, but he was definitely happy. “It is. It’s what we’ve always wanted.”