Paul raced around the room, pumping his arm and calling, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Benny shook her head. “Let’s not give this kid any more sugar.”
Kate laughed along with everyone else. But silently, she reminded herself that her place here today, with these people, wasn’t real.
So stop wondering what it would be like if this was your family. Or if Dominic was anything more than a business partner.
It would only make it harder when this was all over and she was alone again.
…
The next two hours passed by easily for Dominic, especially with the sound of Kate’s infectious laugh filling the room. It was—irrationally—something he liked to hear. Even if it was at his expense.
“He loved that thing so much, he spent a whole summer in it,” Cruz was saying. “We’ll have to show you the pictures sometime. There must be half a dozen.”
Kate looked over at Dominic, humor brightening her eyes. “Who knew you had a fondness for wearing girls’ swimsuits. Pink? With cherries?”
“I was four,” he said defensively and shot a scowl at Cruz, who from the look on his face, was letting him know this was the payback he’d mentioned before.
Best to leave now before they remembered the pics of him and Daisy hamming it up—in her princess dresses. Dominic glanced down at his watch. “It’s just after ten. I have to get to the site early. Weren’t you saying you had an early morning, too, Kate?”
Kate looked down at her own watch, surprise on her face. “I hadn’t realized it was so late. But you’re right, I should be going.”
“I’ll walk you home,” he said, coming to his feet, a movement that was premature when his mom, sisters, and aunt rushed forward to give Kate hugs and personal good-byes. Each time someone threw their arms around her, Kate froze, almost unsure how to reciprocate the attention.
“They definitely seem to like you,” he said ten minutes later as his aunt’s front door swung shut behind them.
“Good. I really liked them, too.” She was quiet another moment. “They’re pretty special.”
“They’re all right. You did great in there. Although you didn’t have to pretend to laugh at Cruz’s jokes. He’ll be insufferable from now on. Well, more insufferable.”
“Oh my gosh, I love your brother,” she gushed, and for a moment he felt a twinge of jealousy. “He’s hilarious.”
“Sure. When it’s at my expense.”
She laughed and the sound went right to his gut. “I’ll have to get a peek at one of those pictures of you in the swimsuit. I don’t think I quite believe it.”
He shook his head, vowing to himself to make Cruz pay. Best to change the subject. “Daisy even seemed to warm up to you by the end of the night. This was a good icebreaker for Sunday dinner.”
“Oh. Right.” The easy smile was gone suddenly, and her brows drew together.
“Come on. You just said you enjoyed yourself.”
“I did. But maybe that was a fluke. In a smaller, more intimate setting, things are bound to be different.”
She’d been great tonight and she’d be great Sunday, but what she needed was confidence. Assurance. “Maybe a little different. But also better. Just make sure you compliment Mom’s cooking and continue to laugh at Cruz and Benny’s jokes and you’ll be gold.”
Their breath was cool in front of them as they climbed her front porch. The smell of burned leaves still hung on the air. He watched as she fumbled for her keys, trying to decide if this was the right moment. Hell, when was there ever a right moment? “I should warn you, my sisters and mom can be relentless sometimes. And they’re bound to ask a few more personal questions. Like about your family?”
Her hand paused as she took a second to process that.
“The night is so quiet. Peaceful. Do you want to sit out here for a minute with me?” he asked, afraid that once she went inside she’d shut the door to him and their night would be over.
She looked up, and he waited to hear her decline, but surprisingly, she agreed. They sat on the top step, looking out across the yard and to the street ahead. Her cat arrived and pressed against his leg, purring softly. He reached out to massage its head.
“Want to tell me about them? Your family?”
She shrugged and kicked her legs out in front of her. “Not much to say. My dad took off before I was even born. And my mom has always been better at finding boyfriends than raising her daughter. When I was eight she dumped me on my grams and took off. She sends postcards every now and then. Last year she was up in Montana somewhere with her latest squeeze. Now my grandmother”—she paused and he heard the warmth that entered her voice—“she’s my real family. Her love was the one and only true thing I could depend on.” She shivered and gripped her arms to keep warm.