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“We sure are,” the Hulk answered, taking Cat Woman’s hand in his.
Anna got tickled at the Hulk’s bright green face and the woman’s brightly dyed red hair. Red and Green… Christmas colors. Had they done that on purpose? Anna couldn’t remember what color of hair Cat Woman had in the movies. Didn’t matter, she thought it was great either way.
“Hey, you’re that lady who owns Sweet Treasures, right?” Cat Woman asked.
Anna nodded. “Yes, I am.”
Cat Woman looked up at the Hulk. “You have got to go there. Oh my goodness. She makes the best hot chocolate and cookies around. Her lemon squares are amazing. And her…”
Anna’s insides squiggled and squirmed as the woman went on and on. While she loved the fact that the lady enjoyed her goodies, when the elevator door opened at their floor and the couple stepped off, Anna closed her eyes for a brief moment and let out a breath.
“So... Do you think she likes your baked goods and drinks?” Nicholas asked with a wink.
“Just a little,” Anna said in a silly voice, and they both chuckled.
Nicholas laid his hand on the small of Anna’s back and waited until she stepped out of the elevator first. He led her through the lobby and over to a place where two doormen, dressed like tin soldiers, stood. They opened the double doors for them.
Nicholas motioned her ahead. Anna stepped inside the room, and her eyes widened and her mouth formed an O. “Oh my stars, this is amazing.” Not only was the room filled with people wearing various costumes, the decorations were mind-blowing. Silver and white Christmas trees adorned with enormous blue ornaments and ribbon stood amidst piles of white snow. The whole thing was surreal and felt as if she had stepped from reality into a fairytale fantasy.
“You know how we Italians are. Family is very important to us. My aunt and uncle consider friends as family also. They go all out for Christmas to make it special for those they care about.” That was an understatement. “They love doing it.”
Anna gazed up at Nicholas. “I haven’t even met them, and I like them already. Look at this. It’s breathtaking.” The whole room had a blue hue to it with tiny white lights that looked like a canopy of stars all across the swag ceiling.
“Excuse us.”
“Oh, sorry,” Anna apologized to the small group trying to enter the room.
She and Nicholas stepped further inside, off to the right, and out of the way of the elevator.
Anna’s eyes roamed the room.
The only lights in the room were the Crystal chandeliers that hung down the center of the room and the tall crystal chandelier-looking candlesticks that set on each of the white lace-covered tables. Each table had eight cushioned chairs covered in white lace with either a gold, blue or red lace ribbon tied on back.
At the other end of the room was a stage where a band softly played Silent Night. The swag stage curtains went from one wall to the other. In front of the stage was a huge dance floor. Two large silver trees with huge red, gold, green, and blue bulbs sat on either side of the stage. Anna had never seen anything so beautiful or so elogant before. In this atmosphere, she really did feel like Cinderella at the ball.
“Nico. You made it.” A man who resembled Nicholas in many ways grabbed Nicholas’s shoulder with one beefy hand and clutched Nicholas’s hand with the other. “And I see you brought a lady friend with you.” He let go of Nicholas, clutched on to Anna’s free hand and held onto it. His very intimidating gaze ran down the length of her and came back up, ending at her face. “I’m Tony Vitale.” His low, gravelly voice reminded her of a mobster, and his commanding presence dominated the room. “And you are?”
Uh. Ready to be rescued? Anna looked over at Nicholas, unable to hide the uncertainty from her face.
Nicholas just smiled. “Anna, this is my Uncle Tony. Don’t let him intimidate you. Everyone tells him that he reminds them of the man in the Godfather movie, so he likes to tease people by acting and talking like him, but he’s really just a big softy.” Putting up his forefinger, Nicholas paused for effect. “Except in the courtroom.”
A slow, tenuous smile curled her lips.
His uncle patted her hand and let go of hers, smiling. “I apologize, Anna. It’s just that I can’t seem to help myself sometimes.” He’d done it again, mimicking that accent from the movie. It was uncanny how much he really did sound like that actor, not to mention how much he looked like him too.
“That’s okay, Mr. Vitale.”
“Tony. Call me Tony.”
She nodded. “I will admit, Tony, that you had me going there for a minute. I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into. I was about to turn around and run out of here.”
