Chapter 33
Toasts had been made, jokes told, and a few tears shed. Then the lights dimmed, and the flickering candlelight on the tables created an intimate atmosphere as people crowded onto the dance floor.
Bruno searched the hall for Marissa and finally found her in conversation with his Aunt Florence, who wore a blue hat with a peacock feather as part of the elaborate design. After a quick glance at his aunt, he couldn’t take his eyes off Marissa—elegant and magnificent in a white and green ensemble. She took his breath away.
Before he could approach her, Monica and Audra sidled up beside him. “Is that her?” Monica asked, eyes bright with excited interest.
“That’s her,” Bruno answered.
“You didn’t tell us she had a kid,” Audra said.
“No, I didn’t,” he admitted with a shrug.
“You never date women with kids.”
Bruno shot a frown at his sister. “Yes, I do.”
“Since when?” Monica and Audra said at the same time.
“I have before.”
“And you complained,” Audra reminded him.
Monica added, “I distinctly remember you saying on more than one occasion that dating women with children was a problem you didn’t want because of past experience. ‘I don’t want the drama of dealing with the child’s father.’ Remember saying that? After that guy confronted you about trying to take his place?”
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind,” Bruno muttered.
Theo was a cute kid, and as far as he knew, Chet didn’t have a problem with him being around his son.
Monica and Audra glanced at each other.
His eyes narrowed on his sisters. “What does that look mean?”
“You really like her, and you’re willing to set aside your own preferences. That’s huge,” Monica said.
Bruno lowered his voice. “I do like her. A lot.”
Audra’s eyes widened, and she let out a little squeal.
“Cálmate.”
Aunt Florence patted Marissa’s arm and walked away.
“Come on and introduce us.” Monica grabbed Bruno’s wrist and dragged him over to Marissa.
When she saw him, her eyes lit up. “Hi.” Then she shifted her attention to his sisters.
“These are my sisters, Nosy and Nosier,” Bruno said.
Monica elbowed him, and he winced.
She stepped forward. “You’re going to meet a lot of family tonight, and you probably won’t remember all our names. For now, you only need to remember mine. I’m the fun one, Monica.”
Marissa laughed. “The fun one. Monica.”
“That’s right.”
“Can you tell she loves attention?” Bruno asked.
Monica glared at him.
“I’m Audra, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you,” Marissa said.
“We’ll leave you two alone. Hopefully, we’ll see you at other family functions in the future.” Audra tossed a glance his way before pulling Monica with her.
Marissa covered her mouth as she laughed. “Oh, they’re funny.”
“Yes, they’re hysterical, and did I mention nosy?”
“That’s normal for brothers and sisters. I was the same way with my brother’s wife. We have to look out for our siblings.”
Damn, she looked so beautiful his chest hurt. Behind the black frames her eyes glowed with happiness. He didn’t want to be there with anyone else, and he realized with a start that he didn’t just like Marissa, as he had told his sisters. He was in love with her.
Dios. He almost staggered under the weight of the admission. He hadn’t expected to fall in love with her. He certainly hadn’t been searching for love.
The feeling had snuck up on him, and now he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it. His travel companion. His plus one. Someone he could talk to about anything. Exactly what he had been looking for when he contacted Executive Match.
“Come on, let’s dance.” Taking her hand, Bruno pulled Marissa toward the dance floor. He already knew she was a great dancer from the after parties in L.A., where they’d kicked up their heels and worked up a sweat.
He slipped between couples holding each other as the live band played a sultry jazz tune.
Bruno pulled Marissa into his arms, and their bodies instinctively found the rhythm as they slowly swayed to the music. The sexy tone of a saxophone mingled with the murmurs of conversation and occasional bursts of laughter in the hall.
Their movements were smooth and fluid while gliding across the floor, wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Where is Theo?” Bruno asked.
Marissa slipped her arms around his neck. “Around here somewhere doing exactly what I told him not to do. No running or jumping. He made friends with Audra’s kids.”
“In that case, he’s definitely going to get into trouble. Junior is not known for his fine behavior, and Tracy will be right there in the mix with the two of them.”
She giggled, and it was the loveliest sound. He imagined hearing her laughter for the rest of his life, and that was one of the best thoughts he’d had all day.
He pressed his lips to her temple. “You look beautiful. Incredible.”
“Thank you.” Gazing up at him, she trailed her fingers through the hair at his nape.
Bruno turned her in a slow circle. “At some point, I’m going to introduce you to the rest of the family. Be prepared to get invited to Sunday dinner and God knows what else. Don’t feel obligated to say yes to anything.”
“Is your family pushy?”
“They’re overbearing.”
“Is that how they are with all your girlfriends?”
Bruno slipped a hand to the small of her back. “I haven’t brought many women around my family. In fact, it’s been years since I introduced them to anyone.”
“Too busy working?”
“Mostly I never wanted to bring anyone around.” He maintained eye contact to ensure she understood the relevance of his words.
Realization dawned on her face, and a smile touched her lips. “Oh.”
“Yes. Oh.”
The music changed, and the band switched to Lizzo’s “About Damn Time.” Maxwell had threatened to request the song, an obvious tongue-in-cheek reference to how long Ethan had taken to marry Skye.
Bruno spotted his youngest sibling on the sidelines, raising a drink to Ethan who was on the dance floor with his bride. Ethan shook his head at him, and when Bruno caught Maxwell’s eyes, Bruno mouthed the word cabrón—which made Maxwell burst out laughing.
Minutes later, they were dancing to “Beautiful” by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell. Bruno twirled Marissa around the dance floor and surreptitiously grabbed her ass.
“Quit,” she said, laughing and shoving away his hand.
“You know I can’t help myself,” he murmured, pulling her in close to bury his face in her neck.
She moaned and latched her arms around his neck. She kissed his jaw. “Behave. Your obsession with ass is unhealthy.”
They spent the rest of the evening dancing and engaging in lively conversations with the other guests. The live band continued to play a mix of music that coaxed even the most reserved members of the group onto the dance floor. They mixed partners, Marissa at one point dancing with Ignacio and Maxwell.
When Theo appeared, the three of them held hands and shimmied on the dance floor together. The little boy cut up with energetic moves that made Bruno and Marissa laugh until the other kids wound their way through the adults and pulled him away.
As the evening drew to a close, attendants directed everyone outside, where fireworks lit up the sky in a splendor of bright colors, ending the festivities with a flourish. Soon afterward, they bid farewell to Ethan and Skye. The newlyweds left the estate in the blue 1956 Bentley coupe convertible with Ethan at the wheel and Skye kneeling on the passenger seat beside him, waving goodbye to all the guests with raw happiness on her face.
Bruno spotted Skye’s coworker, Janelle, with her husband. She wasn’t smiling and waving like everyone else. She stared after the vehicle with longing and unmistakable envy on her face.
* * *
Bruno slowly climbed the stairs behind Marissa with Theo in his arms. He had fallen asleep on the long drive home, tuckered out from running around with Junior and Tracy and the other kids at the wedding venue.
Marisa had told Bruno she could wake him up, but he insisted he could carry the little boy up the stairs. She unlocked the door and flicked on the light in the dark apartment.
Theo lifted sleepy eyes to Bruno. “I had fun. I have new friends,” he said. Then he dropped his head to Bruno’s shoulder.
“His bedroom’s back here,” Marissa whispered. She led him to the small bedroom.
She didn’t turn on the lights but pulled back the linens. Bruno carefully laid him on the bed and removed his shoes, and Theo rolled over with a groan.
“I’ll get him undressed later.” Marissa pulled the blanket over her son and walked out.
Bruno didn’t move right away. He looked down at Theo. He hadn’t spent much time with the boy, but he’d already grown attached to him and wanted the best for him.
He followed Marissa into the living room. “Damon is taking his kids to a baseball game in a couple of weeks. What do you think about me taking Theo and joining them?”
Her eyebrows raised in surprise. “He would love that.”
“Good. I’ll let you know the details later.”
She stepped closer and rested a hand against Bruno’s chest. “I had a wonderful time, and so did Theo. Thank you for inviting us. I’ve never been to a wedding like that, and I enjoyed meeting your family.”
“They like you and Theo.” He rested his hands on her hips.
“I liked them too. Your mom and dad were really nice and so were your siblings.”
Resting her head against his chest, Marissa wrapped her arms around him and moaned. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave.” He squeezed her tight and kissed her temple.
Her soft body molded to his, and she fit perfectly in his arms, as if she’d been made for him. They stood in that position for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, the sweet fragrance of her perfume and her unique scent filling his nostrils.
Finally, Bruno eased out of her arms.
Marissa pouted and moaned her disappointment again. “Drive carefully.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.” He kissed her hand and left.
As he was driving away, he saw her at the window and waved. She waved back, and he pulled out of the lot. His chest filled with an unbearable heaviness—the same sensation he experienced every time he and Marissa separated.
Eventually, he would have to do something to stop that feeling.