“Is he staying for dinner?” Brynn asks.
“I’m staying,'' he says, coming into the kitchen, dressed in last night’s suit again, still looking as handsome as ever.
“Well, good luck with that. The men will eat you alive.”
“We’ll see about that,” Trigger says cryptically. “I’m Kyle Beckner, pleased to meet you, Mrs. Vitali,” he says, extending his hand to Mom, which she takes.
“Nice to meet you too, but it’s not me you have to win over. It’s simple for me if Troi likes you, so do I. My husband, on the other hand, will take some convincing.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“This is my cousin Autumn and my aunts, Brynn and Bella.”
“Pleasure, ladies.”
“We should get back. Get dressed and come over to your grandparents. Everyone else is already there. Bring the pie,” Mom says before leaving.
“Okay, phase one done,” I say, chuckling.
“What do you mean?” he asks, also laughing.
“Everyone will know by the time we get there, and then the real fun begins. But, first, my dad, uncles, and brothers will interrogate you.”
“I’m ready,” he says.
I have to give him credit; he doesn’t look a bit scared at the prospect. I know better, though. They’ll eventually welcome him but getting there isn’t going to be easy.
Chapter Five
Trigger
Walking across the grounds, hand in hand with her, makes whatever is about to happen all worthwhile. We walk into the house from the pool deck, and all eyes turn on us. Forks stop scraping plates, conversation ceases.
Then just as suddenly as it stopped, it starts up again. Louder this time. I know they are all talking about us, but I don’t care.
“Come on,” I say, pulling her toward her father. “Let’s get this over with. No matter what they say, you are still mine.”
“I know,” she says, smiling at me.
“Mr. Vitali, I’m Kyle Beckner,” I say, extending my hand to him. He stares at it for a minute before grinning and shaking it.
“Brando, please. Paulie D recommended you for a job next week, and now I hear from my wife that’ll be just the beginning. So can I assume your intentions are honorable when it comes to my only daughter?”
“I intend to marry her as soon as you can a priest here,” I tell him honestly.
“Father Caramucci is here somewhere,” he responds, and I nod.
“Wait! Do I get a say in this?” Troi asks.
“No,” her father and I say at the time.
“You’re both fucking lucky I want this,” she says, fuming.
“Cut the act, baby. You already knew this was happening at some point.”
“Yeah. At some point, but not today.”
“If you don’t want to marry me, that’s fine with God and all these people as my witnesses; I won’t ever let you go,” I tell her.
“Of course, I want to marry you,” she whispers but looks panicked. I squeeze her hand that’s still in mine.
“Then it’s settled. Father Carmucci can marry you, and you can file your license tomorrow when the court opens back up,” Brando says to us, then he turns and addresses the room loudly. “Kenya and I hope you’ll stay and join us in celebrating the marriage of our daughter, Troi, to Kyle Beckner, shortly before dinner.” The room erupts into applause and well wishes, but Troi tugs on my sleeve.
“Can we talk first?” she asks me quietly. I pull her to the side.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Doesn’t this seem fast? What’s the rush?” she asks.
“Not to me, baby. Do you know how rare it is to find the person you’re meant to be with? The person you want to spend every waking moment with?”
“Well, in this family, it’s every damn body, but I get what you mean. But why rush?”
“The rush is you could be pregnant even now. I don’t want our baby being born a bastard.”
“You think?” she asks, putting her hand on her belly.
“Hell yeah, baby. We fucked so many times, all unprotected.”
“I know, but there’s no guarantee that you knocked me up. You could be marrying me for no reason.”
“Fuck that, baby. I love you. Marrying you is the next logical step. Sooner rather than later works for me.”
“You love me?”
“Yes. Of course I do.”
“I love you too,” she says, smiling up at me.
“I know you do.”
“How do you know that?”
“You let me take you home. You let me be the first man to pleasure you, and by God, I’ll be the last.”
“You’re kind of a caveman,” she says, laughing.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I warn her. Then I lean down and kiss her softly.
“Promises, promises,” she says.
“Come on, let’s get you ready, bride to be,” her mom says, pulling her away from me.
“Where are you going?” I ask, not wanting to let her out of my sight.
“We’ll be right back, calm down, casanova,” Kenya says, making me chuckle.
“Alright,” I say, letting her go. I watch her walk away, but she stops to look back at me. She winks and smiles, and I swear my fucking heart skips a beat.