Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
T his was happening. Joel was about to pick up Lucy and bring her home with him. Where she belonged.
Standing in front of Graziella and Gambo Barone’s home, he tried to summon the signature composure he prided himself on. But he hadn’t slept a wink last night, replaying his kiss with Lucy in his mind until his whole body was hot with need.
The effects of the freezing shower he’d forced himself to take at 2 a.m. to tame the mad lust coursing through him had long since faded. Not for the first time, he wished he could flip a switch on how his body tuned into her without much provocation at all. Lust had ruled a huge part of the time he and Lucy had lived together, and he recognized now how that had been a mistake. He wouldn’t let their physical attraction overrule him and compromise either of them again.
Which shouldn’t be this hard. They had a lifetime of effortless companionship between them. What had started in childhood had maintained after they’d gone to different parts of the country for college. Even though he was three years older, they’d continued to exchange emails and text messages. On visits home, they’d make a point to catch up in person. Things between them had always remained casual and platonic, and he’d never thought of her as more than just…Lucy. Nor had he gotten the feeling that she thought more of him, either.
Until Vegas, where everything snapped together, like fate had been waiting for her chance to jump into action.
And then he’d fucked it up and left her that night four years ago.
Now he was picking her up and moving her in with him, and this new bridge between them was so fragile, every step was like walking on cracked glass. But, maybe, with time, they could build something sturdy. And he had a plan to do so. If someone ever opened this goddamn door and let him in.
He lifted his finger to poke the doorbell again, when it flew open, and Luciano Barone appeared in the doorway.
Surprised to be face to face with Lucy’s father, Joel straightened and raised his chin. Ultimately, he had so much respect for the man in front of him, he’d looked up to him almost as much as he had his own father. He admired the grit and tenacity it must have taken to come to a new country with next to nothing and build a company to the level of success that Luciano had.
The cabinetry that came out of Barone & Sons was some of the most sought after, elite woodworking this side of the country. Luciano was the best. And Morgan Construction always hired the best.
But the man before him had also hurt Lucy, by not seeing her for the fucking brilliant woman she was, and by denying her the one thing she’d earned by hard work. After his recent conversations with Lucy, he was having trouble reconciling his respect for her father with his bitter disappointment in him.
Still, none of that changed the fact that this man was the father of his wife and also a traditional, old-school Italian patriarch, who expected respect when he felt it was due.
“Sir,” he said with a deferential nod as he extended his hand.
Luciano nodded curtly before gripping Joel’s hand in a firm, calloused handshake.
He stood about a head shorter than Joel, but he had a solidly powerful stance, his body thick and hard from years of physical labor. He took up the entire doorway, making no move to let Joel in.
“Joel,” he replied in his thick Italian accent.
Understanding his place, Joel didn’t hesitate to say what needed to be said to the father of his bride. “Sir, I know that everything with your daughter seems fast and unplanned, but I want you to trust that I have admired and cared for Luciana from the start. And I promise you I will take care of her in every way possible. I’ll spend my last breath making sure she’s happy.” Or he’d die trying. “And I apologize for not coming to you before I asked Lucy to marry me, but with all due respect, I think we both can acknowledge she has the right to do whatever she likes with or without our permission.”
For a tense few seconds Luciano said nothing, and Joel had a flash where he thought he might see the back side of the door before he saw Lucy. He’d never challenged the man before, but when Luciano’s face broke out in the biggest grin Joel had ever seen on the man, he breathed a sigh of relief. Luciano was fucking beaming as he stepped out of the doorway and lifted his hand to give Joel’s cheek three light claps .
Gripping his shoulder, Luciano gave it a firm squeeze. “Son, I couldn’t be happier. When I heard the news, I told Maria that it was the fourth happiest day of my life. First was, of course, when I married my own beautiful wife, the second and third when my daughters were born, and fourth was the day I heard that you were to marry my Luciana.”
Fuck, were those tears in Luciano’s eyes?
“You’re right. Lucy can do whatever she likes, but she always does the right thing. She’s a good girl.”
Joel clenched his teeth at the term, trying to hold back his rebuttal, but it didn’t work. “She’s so much more than that.”
After an awkward beat of stunned silence, the older man threw back his head, a laugh bellowing throughout the entryway. Before Joel could say another word, Luciano enveloped him in a massive hug. “Welcome to the family. You were always like a son to me, but now I can tell everyone that you are family. It is a proud day for me.”
Joel embraced Luciano, already used to it. The Barones were huggers and had never made a secret of it.
Lucy’s father released him and turned to walk into the house. “Now I hear you’ve come to take my daughter.” He gave Joel a stern look over his shoulder. “But first, you’ll eat.”
And with that rule declared, Joel followed his father-in-law inside.
“ Z ia, we’re going to a place that has a kitchen, a refrigerator, and food. We don’t need six Tupperware of leftovers and cheese,” Lucy lamented as her aunt put another container in a reusable shopping bag .
When she tried to remove one, Ella slapped her hand away, and Joel hid his grin. He was staying out of this one.
“Don’t exaggerate. I’m just putting together some simple things in case Joel hasn’t had a chance to go grocery shopping.” Ella glanced in his direction, as if merely noting his presence in the room confirmed her suspicions. “Your fiancé is a very busy man. He has no time to shop. Right?”
Joel accepted the stuffed bag, while ignoring Lucy’s scowl. “Thank you, Ella. This is a welcomed contribution.” He didn’t have time to shop, but he also didn’t need any food because he paid someone to keep his fridge stocked with groceries and pre-made meals. Still, there was no way in hell he’d disrespect Lucy’s family by not accepting what they offered.
Luciano entered the kitchen, carrying two bottles of wine. “Take these. They aren’t as good as mine, but Gambo had them in his cellar. If you like it, we can serve it at your engagement party.”
“Dad, are you kidding? You’ve tasted Zio’s wine. It’s vinegar, on a good day.” Lucy grimaced but still accepted the bottles.
“Then we can use it in the salad,” Maria piped up. “It would mean a lot to your uncle. You never know when it’s his last batch.”
“And we’re leaving,” Lucy said as she stuffed the bottles in the grocery bag of leftovers. “When they start talking about how they aren’t going to be here much longer, it’s time to go.” She straightened and met Joel with a forced smile. “Ready?”
He lifted the bag with one hand and took Lucy’s hand with his other. “Always.”
“You’ll come for dinner in a couple of days. We must discuss the wedding,” Ella shouted after them as Lucy hustled Joel down the hallway and out the door.
“Ciao everyone, love you. Thanks for everything. I’ll touch base soon,” she called over her shoulder, then shut the door behind them and groaned. “I’m sorry. They’ve been a lot. Thank you for rescuing me.”
“My pleasure.” And it was. The sensory overload that were the Barones was worth it and then some, because now he had Lucy to himself. “You look beautiful, by the way.” He’d wanted to tell her earlier, but they’d been swallowed by a sea of meddling relatives almost the moment he’d arrived. Looking at her now, he admired the way her long silky hair fell down her back, and the smooth hint of shoulder that peeked out of her scooped neck shirt. He’d wanted to put his mouth there the moment he’d walked into the house and seen her.
“Thanks,” Lucy said with a laugh. “My mother thinks I look like an ungrateful peasant, but I’m glad you don’t agree.”
“I definitely don’t agree.” He held her hand all the way to the car. Now that he had her, he was afraid to let go, which left him wondering who was rescuing who.
“You don’t have to do this,” Lucy said, once they were buckled into the car. “I know there isn’t as much in it for you as there is for me, so I want you to know it’s not too late to back out. I totally get it if you want to. With them.” She jerked her thumb in the direction of her aunt’s house. “My family, it’s just going to be more of the same. Overbearing, invasive questions, and forced feedings. It’s not exactly a win-win situation here, Joel.”
It wasn’t. This arrangement hadn’t been a bargain, a tit for tat, a soul for a soul. It was more her dream for his soul, but he knew what was in it for him—her happiness. Which was all he’d ever wanted.
“We do this, and we close the circle, like we agreed. This time, when we walk away, we walk away clean. No more hiding the truth, no more secrets. When this is over, it’s over and we won’t have to drag this marriage around like a dirty secret anymore.” He stared ahead as he said the words, feeling her gaze on the side of his face like the sun burning his cheek. “That’s the win, Lucy. Closure.”
Closure for her, at least.