Asking for Trouble - Leslie Kelly [92]
“Thank you. Thank you for waiting.”
“You’re worth it. How did you find me here?”
He shrugged. “You said whenever you weren’t home, you were here. This place wasn’t hard to find. I scout out great restaurants for a living, remember?”
“It’s the best in town.”
All around us, conversations began to buzz again, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of the little ones come racing out of the kitchen, my father and oldest brother hot on his heels. I could just imagine the story they’d heard about Aunt Lottie kissing some stranger in the middle of the room.
“You really sure you’re ready for this?” Gesturing my head toward my family, I added, “They’re a bit…overwhelming.”
He finally let go of my waist and stepped back. “Well, I think they should meet me on the right terms.” He pulled a small black velvet box out of his pocket. “Which one’s your father?”
“Oh, my Gawd, he’s got a ring. Lottie’s getting married!”
Gloria. The queen of tact strikes again. “Welcome to the family,” I whispered with a sigh.
“Does that mean your answer’s yes?”
“If you ever get around to asking the question,” I said, “it’ll be yes.” Throwing my arms back around his neck and pressing a kiss on his lips, I whispered, “Oh, yes.”
Then we were surrounded. My brothers formed a half circle around Simon. I stalked over to them and glared. “Any one of you steps out of line with my future husband and I swear I’ll make you sorry I was ever born into this family.”
“Oh, you mean like we were every day of our childhoods?” Lucas asked, completely deadpan.
Knowing my parents were behind me and couldn’t see, I flipped him the bird.
“Husband?” Tony said, obviously not having heard his loudmouthed wife. “He’s marrying her? Well, what’s the problem then?” He walked over to their father. “False alarm, Pop. Lottie’s gettin’a ring on her finger.” He glanced back at his brothers, adding, “We don’t have to get the shotguns.”
I groaned, closing my eyes and shaking my head as I imagined Simon’s expression. But suddenly Tony burst into laughter, with my other brothers joining in.
Then Tony walked over and picked me up in his arms, crushing me against his beefy chest. “You should’ve seen your face, Lottie. You really thought we were going to do somethin’ to the guy you’ve been moping over for a month?” He looked at Simon. “Please, please, take her…my sister’s whining is worse than her yelling. I don’t think any of us can stand another minute of it.”
“Hear! Hear!” one of the others said.
My brothers. Have I told you how much I love the big jerks?
“You’re Simon?” Mark said, stepping out to extend his hand.
Simon took it, but his eyes were on all the guys, not just Mark. “Yes. And no shotgun necessary. Your sister’s stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Mark nodded once. “Good.”
“Now,” Mama said, her arms thrown up in the air as she walked over to meet the newest member of the family, giving him a kiss on each cheek, “come, mangia, mangia. You are skin and bones.” Then she stepped back and gave him a thorough once-over. “But on you, this looks not so bad. Not so bad at all.”
I groaned. He didn’t even bat an eye.
“Thank you, ma’am, but I would like to speak to your husband first.”
My sisters-in-law surrounded me as the family drew Pop over to Simon. I heard lots of “Oh, my God, what a hunk,” and “Those eyes, that body,” kind of comments, but I paid no attention. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until my father and Simon shook hands, and Pop clapped him on the shoulder in that odd gesture of male acceptance. Whew.
Then they both walked over to me, Simon hanging back a little. Pop put both hands on my face. “My leetle girl. You’ll be a beautiful bride.” His eyes brightened. “You know I’m not going to be a-giving you away. Just letting him borrow you some of the time? Okay?”
Crying myself, I nodded, then kissed my father and hugged him tight. After a long moment, he let me go, calling to Tony, “Come on, for this kind of celebration, we need more food!” and the pair of them headed for the kitchen, my mother almost tripping