Chapter Fourteen
H ow could the women of Mistletoe have been sleeping on Anthony Russo all these years? The man was a riot. There was a point outside Mountain Home when Delilah thought she would pee her pants before she made it to a restroom. On top of his perfect comedic timing, while she’d gone away to college, he’d taken online classes to finish his business degree and worked full-time. He’d saved up and bought a piece of land, slowly getting it prepared to build his dream home. Hard-working, motivated, and responsible with money … he even offered to take Leia out to pee when they stopped, so he liked animals. He was what every woman was looking for.
Except he couldn’t fall in love.
Although she hadn’t asked any more about his predicament or his vow, it hadn’t been far from her mind. Besides her infatuation with Pike, Delilah had loved one man she’d met her sophomore year of college. They’d dated for a few months, and she thought he could be the one. Then he’d dumped her for another girl, and instead of staying in Boise for the summer to be with him, Delilah headed back to Mistletoe to hang with Holly and mend her broken heart. Although it had been brief, and she’d been more emotionally involved than he was, Delilah knew what love felt like.
Didn’t she?
“Boise on the horizon,” Anthony said as they crested the hill and saw the suburban outskirts and outlet mall that signaled the start of the biggest city in Idaho. “And twenty minutes to your parents’ place.”
Delilah had set up the GPS when they’d stopped because she’d been too flustered this morning and forgot.
“I know you probably need to get to your dad’s, but will you come inside and meet my parents? Not because we … I mean … no pressure to meet the parents, but with you driving me home, they wanted to thank you.”
Anthony patted her thigh with a laugh. “You don’t have to get squirrely about it. Of course, I’ll come meet them.”
Before he pulled away, she covered his hand with hers, resting it on her thigh.
“Thank you. I should warn you that my dad looks like an accountant but is a total gearhead. He has an old Impala in the garage, and he’s always fiddling with her on his days off. Her name is Marie.”
“Beautiful name.”
“My mother picked it. She said if she had to deal with her, then she was going to name her. It’s my mother’s middle name.”
“What are your parents’ names?” Anthony asked.
“Bernard and Natalia.”
“You don’t hear those names often.” He paused a moment before adding, “My mom’s name was Rose.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“She’d had cancer before and beat it. They caught it too late this time, but at least she didn’t suffer long.”
“Do you mind me asking why you and your dad aren’t close?”
Anthony’s hand flexed against her thigh, and she wondered if it was a stress reaction. She opened her mouth to take it back, but he started talking.
“I can’t remember spending time with him when I was young. As I got older, I realized that he avoided me on purpose. I overheard my parents arguing once when I was around six, and my dad admitted I was a mistake. That he didn’t want me.” Delilah sucked in a breath, and Anthony shot her a little smile. “Don’t feel bad about that. You can’t miss what you didn’t have. When my mom got sick the first time, he left, and Grant went with him. He didn’t give me the option, but I wouldn’t have gone anyway.”
“He sounds like a jerk,” Delilah said, then realized this was his dad. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you’re right. He is. Grant was closest to me in age, but I had a better relationship with my brother Bradley. He’d moved out the year before and still came home to see us. Cam and Paul were already married and living out of state when my parents divorced. They were much older because my mom had Cam when she was sixteen and Paul at eighteen.” Anthony obeyed the GPS’s instructions to make a right, and Delilah remained silent, waiting for him to continue. “I don’t know why my brothers are this way, but she was an amazing mom to me.”
“That’s all that matters. I’ve been a substitute teacher for three years and taught multiple grades. I’ve seen siblings come from the same house with night and day personalities. Just because you all grew up in the same house doesn’t mean you had the same childhood. That’s not a criticism of your parents by any means.”
“I get that. Anyway, I’d see my dad when he went to family events my mom and I were invited to, like Bradley’s wedding and his kids’ birthdays. Bradley wasn’t a fan of Dad either. I think the first real conversation we actually had after the divorce, though, was at Mom’s funeral when he asked what I was going to do with his house.” His fingers flexed again, and Delilah rubbed the back of his hand with her palm. “I snapped, and we got into a fight. Grant and Nick pulled us apart, and he left. I hadn’t heard from him again until Grant showed up with a message from him that I should come to Thanksgiving.”
“Why would you go, though? If he was so horrible?”
Anthony hesitated. “I guess I thought maybe he’d had a change of heart.”
Delilah’s chest squeezed, and she threaded her fingers through his. “I hope you’re right.”
His phone rang in the cup holder, and she saw Pike’s name and face flash across the screen. Anthony grabbed it and slid his finger over the screen, sending it to voicemail.
“I’ll call him after I drop you home.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t think about this, but … you parked your truck in front of my place. What if he sees it and has questions?”
“I guess I’ll have to answer them.”
“What are you going to say?”
“What do you want me to say?”
Delilah wasn’t sure what to tell Anthony, especially since they hadn’t talked about last night or where they stood. She hadn’t wanted to broach the subject for many reasons and figured they were holding hands, touching, flirting … that was indication enough that he liked her, right? There is no need to examine it at this point.
“That we carpooled together since we were heading to the same place?”
Anthony snorted. “I’m not telling him that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I hate lies. I already feel like an asshole for not telling him about last night.”
“What stopped you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been in a position where Pike and I have been interested in the same woman. It’s new territory, and I’m unsure how to navigate it, especially since I want to keep seeing you.”
“You do?” she asked.
Anthony rubbed his thumb over her skin lightly in a gentle caress. “I thought I made that pretty clear last night. And today.”
“I’m sorry. When did you say that you wanted to keep seeing me?”
Anthony held up their clasped hands. “Do I really have to say it?”
“Every girl likes clear, articulated intentions, so we’re on the same page.”
Anthony took a hard right into a gas station parking lot, and Delilah squealed in surprise. He pulled around back and put the car in park. He released her hand and cradled her face in both of his hands. “I want to date you, Delilah Gill. Is that clear enough for you?”
Delilah’s heart took off like a shot when he kissed her, the rapid pounding drowning out the cars passing by on the roadway, lost in Anthony’s touch, in the taste of his mouth as he opened his lips over hers, his tongue delving inside to play with hers. It was deep and possessive, things she’d never thought to experience with any man, and it sent a shiver of excitement up her spine. She wanted this man like she’d never desired anything else, and he wanted her, too, which was a heady feeling.
Anthony pulled away slowly, giving her one more soft peck on the lips. She opened her eyes in time to catch his smile as he put her car in reverse and started backing up.
“We don’t want to keep your parents waiting.”
Delilah laughed breathlessly. “They’re probably watching me on our location app.”
“Damn, they still track your phone?”
“Don’t stress about it. They’ll think we pulled off to get something to drink.” Delilah turned in her seat, watching him drive the last few minutes to her parent’s house. They lived in a quiet neighborhood with mostly retired people their age and the street was tranquil this time of morning.
“This is a nice area. I prefer the mountains, but your parents chose a great location.”
“My aunt bought a house here a few years before my parents moved. I think they thought I’d eventually settle down here close to them, but writing jobs in Boise aren’t abundant.”
“I thought you had a job?”
“My writing is all freelance. I sub to supplement my income, but I’ve been applying for permanent writing jobs. Some have been remote, but most want you to live locally.”
“So, you’re thinking about leaving Mistletoe?” he asked softly.
The navigation announced they’d reached their destination, and Delilah unbuckled her seat belt once Anthony put the car into park. “I’m not ruling it out. My rent is going up again in January and substitute teachers make less than a kid working at Taco Bell. I have a call next week that I hope will bring some good news, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Leia barked rapidly, and Delilah turned, noticing she was staring out the window. Delilah saw her parents coming out the door waving, and she smiled. “There they are.”
“We better get out and say hi,” Anthony said, exiting the vehicle. Delilah was surprised by his brisk tone but didn’t have time to analyze it before someone pulled open her door.
“Hi, Mom,” Delilah said, climbing out of the car. She was immediately enveloped in her mom’s warm embrace and returned it with enthusiasm. She really did miss her parents.
Her mom pulled away, holding Delilah’s shoulders in her hands. Natalia Gill was a few inches taller than her daughter, with dark hair and blue eyes, although hers were a shade lighter than Delilah’s.
“I was getting worried!”
“We’re not that late. Besides, I know you were stalking my location.”
“Guilty.”
She saw her dad hold out his hand to Anthony from the corner of her eye. “Bernard Gill.”
“Anthony Russo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I remember you. Your mom was a good woman. I was sorry to hear about her passing.”
“Thank you.”
“Mom,” Delilah said, linking her arm through her mother’s and leading her to the two men. “This is Anthony Russo. Anthony, meet my mom, Natalia.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.”
Natalia held her arms open. “We don’t need to be so formal.”
Anthony chuckled and hugged her mom.
“My, you are tall!”
“How was the drive, Pip?” Her dad walked around her mom and Anthony to hug her, using his nickname for her affectionately.
“It was great since I got to sit in the passenger seat.” Her dad’s mustache tickled her cheek when he kissed it.
“The traffic shouldn’t have been bad today,” he stated, giving her a once-over. His blue-gray eyes missed nothing, and she wondered if her lipstick was smeared.
Leia’s insistent barking gave her an excuse to turn away and check in the window as she opened the back door to release her excited dog. The minute she did, Leia sprang from the car and started running in circles around her parents.
“Oh, there is my favorite grand-puppy! I made you some pumpkin dog biscuits,” her mom said, earning a happy yap from Leia. “Why don’t we go inside and get one?”
“Let me get my bags,” Delilah said.
“I’ve got them,” Anthony said firmly, popping the trunk. He nodded toward the house. “Go enjoy your time with your mom.”
“Thanks.” Delilah smiled, and he returned it weakly, but she turned away from him and her dad before either of them saw her frown. Was he really upset she was open to leaving Mistletoe? Or had she said something else to irritate him?
“Come on, Delilah! I can’t wait to show you the new quilt I made.”
Delilah followed her mom into the house, trailing behind her through the entryway to the living room. When she spotted one of the pictures of her on the wall, she rushed over to it. “Mom! I thought I told you to burn this?”
“What? It’s one of my only sixth grade pictures of you!”
“And there is a reason for that! I was hideous.”
“Oh, you were not. Everyone was awkward at eleven.”
Delilah doubted Anthony was and took the picture down, slipping it into the top drawer of the entertainment center. “There. Any more embarrassing pictures you’ve got on display?”
“Sweetheart, why are you worried if he sees your childhood pictures? He knows what you look like now and must like what he sees if he drove down here.”
“I think he does,” Delilah said, smiling.
“And how do you feel about him?”
“It’s early still,” Delilah said cagily.
“Well, I just want to say one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“If you marry that man, my grandbabies will be beautiful.”
“Mom!”