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Yeah, she was without a doubt the most incredible woman I’d met in a long time if not ever. What the hell was I going to do?
CHAPTER 20
Sabatino
As a man who’d built a fortune from studying people, all through dinner I found it impossible to keep my eyes off Georgia. Watching her interactions with my family provided me with some sense of comfort that what little she’d told me about herself hadn’t been a lie. I wasn’t the kind of man to be easily fooled anyway. Nevertheless, given the way I felt about her, which was unusual enough, and the fact I was still somewhat off my game, I’d known of no better way to know if she was playing a game.
Few people could keep their guard up when more than one person in the family was asking questions. While I wasn’t in the habit of using my sister-in-law for anything, I’d known her constant questions about how we’d met and who Georgia was would present any issues that I’d need to handle.
“I can’t believe he hasn’t mentioned you before,” Alicia said. “You are worth mentioning.”
“Darling,” Miguel cautioned.
“I’m just stating the obvious. Look at the two of them together.” She slipped her hand on top of Miguel’s, giving him a salacious smile. “They’re just like you and I were from the day we met.”
“Yeah, right,” my brother said under his breath.
“You have me curious,” Georgia said, her tone more animated than before. “How did the two of you meet? You are cute together.”
“Cute isn’t the word,” I offered, laughing afterwards.
“How did we meet,” Alicia repeated, Georgia’s question surprising me. “Let me think. Such a little fairytale. We met in college where Miguel pursued me relentlessly. I thought he was a little pipsqueak at the time too.” She winked at Miguel as my brother cringed and I burst into laughter, almost choking on my coffee.
“Hey. That’s not entirely true,” Miguel insisted, grinning at Georgia. “Granted, I didn’t have the bulk I have now, but we were in two classes and instantly hated each other. However, when I met her again five years later, it was love at first sight. On her part.”
Alicia tossed a napkin at him, shaking her head. Even the way her eyebrows almost knitted together was adorable.
Even Georgia laughed, more at ease than I’d seen her since Smith Mountain. “Sounds like a match made in heaven,” she offered.
“Oh, we have our knock-down drag-out fights,” Alicia wasn’t afraid of saying. “But at the end of the day, he’s my person.”
Georgia dared slide me a heated look. “I like that phrase. I don’t have a person.”
“I don’t know about that,” Miguel said under his breath.
It was my turn to give him a harsh look.
“Why don’t I check on the kids,” Miguel said, immediately moving away from the table.
Alicia leaned forward toward Georgia. “I can tell you two are going to be fabulous together.”
“Oh, you can, can you?” Georgia asked. “Why do you say that?”
“I have a sixth sense about these things. Besides, my fabulous brother-in-law has never brought a girl to our house for dinner. That tells me volumes.”
Georgia and I shared a look. Whatever the two women had talked about when they’d been alone didn’t include the truth. For that, I was grateful.
“I don’t know. We’re not really compatible. He’s very… difficult.”
Alicia laughed. “Don’t let their grumpy sides fool you. Beneath the hard exteriors are two good men. I’ve seen it more than once.”
I half smiled in appreciation.
“I have an idea,” Miguel said as he returned to the room. “The boys fell asleep watching a movie. Why don’t we keep Dillon just for the night so you two can become better acquainted?”
Georgia immediately stiffened. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Oh, come on. That’s perfect. I’m making pancakes in the morning with blueberries. They’re Brando’s favorite. I promise he’ll be well taken care of.” Alicia seemed thrilled.
