Accidental Witness (Morelli Family 1)

“Vince,” I say on a gasp. I spread my legs for him, but not as wide as I’d like, because of the dress.

“At least now,” He leans down, capturing my lips as his fingers tease the bundle of nerves between my legs. “I can do this anytime I want.”

“You sure can,” I agree, back arching as he sends a spike of pleasure right through me.

Chapter Fifteen

Dinner is, in fact, a whole thing.

A long, gleaming table seats five on each side, with one chair on each end. Place settings have already been put at each one, with two tall candelabras and a round flower arrangement at the center. This room also has a fireplace and a huge, sparkling chandelier.

We seem to be the last to get there. Mateo, unsurprisingly, sits at the head of the table. On the opposite end is Adrian, who glances up at me as we enter, but quickly becomes distracted by a young blond woman leaning over to fill his water glass. A man I don’t recognize sits at the first chair on Adrian’s left beside Francesca. There are three empty seats next to her, but the other side of the table is completely empty. Vince heads for the seats on the empty side, closest to Adrian, but Mateo speaks up.

Indicating the two seats to his left, he says, “These two are your seats.”

“No one else is coming?” Vince asks.

“Not tonight.” Then, to me, Mateo explains, “On Sundays there are more people. During the week, it varies.”

Vince goes to take the seat nearest Mateo, but Mateo shakes his head. Vince’s jaw locks, but he pulls the chair out and gestures for me to sit anyway, then he takes the seat to my left so I’m essentially sandwiched between them. Fun.

The blonde girl makes it to Mateo’s glass, and I notice when he glances up at her and smiles, she begins to glow, smiling more than I can imagine Mateo’s attention ever making a person smile.

At the other end of the table, Adrian slams his seat back and stands, startling everyone.

“Bathroom,” he says shortly, before storming out.

I glance over at Vince for explanation, but he just gives a subtle head-shake.

Unconcerned, Mateo addresses the two at the other end of the table. “Francesca, Alec, this is Vince’s girlfriend, Mia.”

“Hi, Mia,” Francesca says, offering a faint smile.

The man just acknowledges me with a nod, looking up at the blonde as she fills my water glass, then Vince’s. “Can you bring me a beer when you get done with that?”

“Of course,” she says, taking her water pitcher and disappearing through a doorway.

“That’s Elise,” Vince tells me. “She’s a maid here.”

“You have a maid,” I remark, not sure why I’m surprised. Someone would have to keep such an enormous house clean.

“Two, actually. Maria’s in the kitchen, but once the food comes out I’m sure you’ll meet her, too.”

Mateo takes a sip of his water, his eyes on me. “You look very nice in Francesca’s dress, Mia. I think you should keep it.”

I feel my cheeks flush. “Oh, thank you. I couldn’t—”

“Francesca doesn’t mind. Do you, Francesca?” he asks, without looking her way.

“No, I have plenty,” she tells me.

I have to look away from Mateo, because he won’t stop looking at me and I’m afraid my face is going to catch on fire. I look at the intricate blue lace design on the runner at the center of the table instead.

“There,” Mateo says easily. “Now you have something to wear to dinner.”

An edge to his voice, Vince says, “I will get her a couple of dresses for dinners.”

Mateo merely smiles.

Vince is still agitated, though, and I don’t know why he’s letting something so minor get to him. Out of all the bullshit that’s happened today, a relaxing dinner seems better than one fraught with little fights I don’t even understand.

“Were you able to reach your mother?” Mateo asks me.

“I didn’t talk to her, but I left a message about staying at Lena’s. It shouldn’t be an issue. Normally I’d have to babysit my siblings, but as luck would have it, I didn’t tonight or in the morning. I do have to watch them after school tomorrow though.”

“Until when?”

“Um… I—four, I think.”

“Good. You can make it back for dinner.”

A little uncomfortable, I say, “For just dinner, sure. I don’t think she’d let me stay the night again. I really very rarely spend the night at my friend’s house, so… she won’t accept that excuse indefinitely.”

Elise is back with a large bottle of wine. She starts pouring at Mateo’s seat, then pours some for me and Vince, despite neither of us being old enough to drink.

“I want you to set up a dinner with your mother,” he tells me, grabbing the wine glass and taking a sip.

“With…you?”

He nods. “Me, you, Vince. I want to meet her. I’ll tell you the place, we’ll work out a time this week.”