Chapter 30
ANDREA
Icannotdeal with a dozen or so people. What the hell was I thinking? Oh, wait, I know. I was thinking it’d be like working the bar at the Liquid Elixir. Then the first pair of people arrive. Then the second. And the third. I realize just how out of my depth I am.
“Breathe, pet,” Hudson murmurs in my ear. “If that dress allows it.”
Surprisingly, Hudson gave me no requirements for tonight’s apparel. I went with the dress he chose for our failed outing; the one with the bustier top, boning through the corset, and long, sheer sleeves. I needed to feel sexy and confident tonight, and this dress accomplishes exactly that mission. If the look on his face when I walked in is any indication, Hudson approves. We both remember what had happened the last time I wore it. A blush creeps up my neck as I reminisce.
We’re standing in the foyer where we receive the guests as they arrive. It doesn’t help that his arms are around my waist, holding me close to his chest. How am I supposed to relax when I can feel his erection on my back? The fiend. How can he be aroused at a time like this?
I glance up to catch him stealing a glimpse of my cleavage. I give him a quailing glare, but he only chuckles. He does that a lot around me now; it turns my heart to mush knowing that I can warm the ice in his eyes. “How many more guests are we expecting?” I ask. Already, there are about fifteen people in the ballroom, which has been temporarily converted into a large, elegant dining area.
“Just one more family. The Rossi’s.” His eyes darken as he says their name like a curse.
“And my family,” I remind him. But he doesn’t look at me. “I take it the Rossi’s aren’t your favorites?”
“You could say that,” he mutters. “Look alive, pet,” he adds when the front door opens. But it’s just my parents.
“Dad!” I move out of Hudson’s grip and run forward to wrap my arms around my father.
“Andrea.” His warm, strong arms settle on my back with a soft pat. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.” He grins, his honey eyes twinkling.
“Move, John. Let me see our girl,” Mom says, opening her arms. I walk into them with a sigh. “There, there.” She pats my hair, careful not to mess up my chignon. “You look the part of beautiful hostess.” She nods approvingly.
I’ve paired the skin tight dress with sky-high black pumps and the jewelry Hudson had given me. I run my hand down the front of the dress with a small smile and Mom gasps, snatching up my hand.
“Would you look at that, John?” Mom croons, turning my hand around as my ring winks under the warm glow of the chandeliers.
“I told you our girl has the boy smitten,” Dad says proudly. I roll my eyes and turn to beckon Hudson forward, but he’s already right behind me with what I now think of as my flowers. He stares at me with a soft smile. I give him a conspiratory wink as I turn back to my parents.
“Mom, Dad, this is my fiancé, Hu-Massimo.”
“Massimo Moratti.” He passes the bouquet to Mom. “I got these flowers because they remind me of Andrea, but now they’ll also remind me of you because you’re a vision of how stunning she’ll look years from now.”
Mom blushes as she accepts the flowers, averting her eyes downward like a shy little schoolgirl. “Now, boy, don’t go charming my wife right in front of me,” Dad says gruffly.
Hudson replies with something that makes Dad chuckle, but I can’t hear because I’m telling Mom about the name of the flowers.
“Ohhh, how delightful. Beautiful.” she sighs, pressing her face into them to take a deep inhale.
“Should I have someone put it in the water for you while we eat?” I go to take the flowers from her, but she moves them out of my reach.
“That’s okay, Andrea. I’m sure beautiful as the flowers are, they’re strong enough not to wilt for a few hours.”
Before I can say much else, the door opens behind them and Alex walks in with his girlfriend, Autumn.
“Andrea!” She grins when she sees me, pushing her glasses up her nose. I abandon my parents to go hug her. “The town has been so dull without you there and–” she gasps, catching sight of my ring. Really, no one can miss it for longer than a few seconds. Hudson made sure of that. I toss him a dirty glance, and our eyes snag. He winks at me and I turn around with a huff.
“Oh my,” Autumn breathes, “is that smoldering man your fiancé?” She just giggles.
“Yep, that’s Massimo.”
We don’t get a chance to catch up because the door opens again, and two gruff-looking men walk in. I assume they’re our final guests, the Rossi’s. Sure enough, Massimo introduces them as Dominic and Tomasi Rossi.
The older one, Dominic, gives me a slimy smile. “Lovely to finally meet the Beaufort Princess.”
My spine stiffens as he bends to grab my hand. It’s been so long since anyone addressed me by that name. I’ve worked hard to break free of that yoke. Deliberately, I lift my left hand to him. His eye twitches as he takes in the rock on my finger, but he says nothing as he kisses the back of my hand. I glance at Hudson to catch him watching our interaction with a murderous look in his eyes; his jaw clenches at the sight of this man pressing his mouth to his woman.
“Now that everyone is here, shall we go in to dinner?” Hudson’s hand lands on my lower back. Unconsciously, I turn into him until my shoulder is grazing his chest. He gives me a strained smile and leads me to the ballroom. Thankfully, the Rossis are seated at the far end…well away from us.
The dinner isn’t actually as bad as I thought it would be. The other men try to win me over with their charming personalities; before I know it I’m chuckling while Hudson broods next to me.
At one point he mutters, “They’re not that funny.”
To which I reply, “Lighten up, mon chéri.”
The endearment is only in jest in case anyone happens to overhear us, but his green eyes sizzle. He leans forward as if he would kiss me. Dad suddenly clears his throat, which makes me jump. He’s seated right across from me.
“Now look here, Massimo. I might give my blessing for this marriage, but that’s still my little girl.” He clears his throat again, his eyes suspiciously glinting. Is he going to cry? He clears his throat for the third time and lifts up his wine glass and fork. He clinks it gently, and the room grows quiet.
“I’d like to make a toast. It gives me great happiness that you’ve finally found someone you deem worthy of spending your life with, Andrea. Someone I can see brings a light to your eye and matches for determination and wit, but hopefully not stubbornness.” He smiles at me as the room chuckles and then turns to Hudson. “You look after my little girl, Massimo. I’ll be watching you.” He looks Hudson straight in the eyes.
He continues, “Even though it means you’re not as close as I’d like. I’ve always been proud of you, but tonight I’m especially proud of the strong woman you’ve become. à ma petite fille chérie.” To my darling little girl. He raises his glass up and everyone follows suit.
I sniff and discretely try to pat my eyes. Fuck. What would he think if he knew the truth? My heart sinks and the smile that’s been on my face throughout dinner slips momentarily.
“You okay?” Hudson asks, his brows furrowed in concern. I shrug in response. After that, I don’t really engage in more conversation. Several hours later, the dinner service is cleared; the wine glasses are empty and conversation is dying out. The men come to offer us their jovial congratulations.
They exchange knowing looks and pat Hudson’s shoulders as one by one they all leave. My parents are the first to go and I’m unable to stop the tears that fall as I hug my Dad.
“Now, now, Andrea. None of that,” he utters hoarsely. “Be sure to call your old man regularly.” I nod, trying to compose myself. I hug Mom, Autumn, and Alex, who tells me that if I ever need anything, he’s just a call away.
“Tell Ezra not to do anything stupid,” I whisper, and he nods. I wish Ezra and Charlie could be here as well, but these men recognize him as a dead man. So, the family gave their excuses.
After my family leaves, no one remains in the ballroom. “Wow, it emptied out so fast,” I tell Hudson, who shrugs.
“Yes, well they’re all very busy wi–” He trails off, his body jerking back forcefully. I stare in horror as a tiny red spot blooms on his shirt and rapidly starts to spread. There are loud shouts that sound dim in my ears as I watch his shirt in horror.
“What?...” His body jerks again and another red spot starts to bloom.
“Andrea, get down,” he says urgently as he crumbles to the ground.
“Hudson!” I shout, getting down on my knees next to him, forgetting the rule about calling him that name in front of his men.