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She hadn’t shared her thoughts with her siblings yet, and that felt strange. She didn’t know what was going on between her parents, and she prayed that whatever happened tonight, Adrian wouldn’t be hurt. Her mom had always been a pillar of support and encouragement. She barely recognized the woman she’d had coffee with. Sofia had come away from that meeting battered and bruised at heart. Who knew what would happen at dinner?
She pulled her bun out and tried for a casual tousled look, as if looking relaxed was the same as feeling relaxed. She touched up her lipstick and mascara.Nope, still not working.Wielding her brush like a weapon, she ruthlessly tugged her hair back into her trademark ponytail so she could quit worrying about it and get a move on. When Adrian poked his head into the bathroom, she jumped and squeaked.
“Nervous?”
“Maybe. Are you?” She leaned into his hug.
“Hell, yes. I haven’t talked to Dom in weeks because of the show, and the first thing I’m going to tell him is ‘I’m dating your daughter’? Yeah, I’m a little nervous about how that’s going to go down.”
“Just don’t tell him how I go down, and it’ll be fine,” she teased, more relaxed now that she had his strong arms wrapped around her.
He leaned his forehead against hers and chuckled. “You’re sure it’s okay that I’m coming with you?”
She let out a bark of laughter as her dirty mind followed that train of thought to Smutville. “So not touching that joke. You’ve really got to quit laying them out there like that.”
“Be serious a minute.” His voice trembled.
She pulled back and looked him in the eye. All of her own fears and nerves were reflected back at her. Taking his face in her hands she kissed him lightly.
“I’m sure it’s more than okay that you’re coming with me. I talked to Mom about it the other day.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve just got a lot riding on tonight.”
Eye to eye, Sofia pushed aside her own worries and gave him the support he needed. She nuzzled into his neck, kissing her favorite spot at the base of his neck where the soft met the sinewy strength of his shoulders.
It had been years since she’d been this happy. Three, to be exact. The process of filming the pilot had been stressful, but Sofia was grateful for the chaos. It had shaken up the routine of her life and opened all sorts of new doors. New challenges, new ideas, and new dreams. How long would she have ignored Adrian if it hadn’t been for the show? She didn’t like to think about it. He’d been right in front of her face for years. How much time had they wasted?
They were certainly trying to make up for it now. In the last week and a half since that magical first time, they’d settled into a cozy routine where she and Adrian would drive home to his house in their separate cars to sit and eat dinner with his mother. Graciela loved to tell stories, and Sofia learned so much more about this man she was falling for. His love for his sisters, his role in the community, his awkward teenage years—every story, whether embarrassing or told with pride, added pieces to the complex puzzle that was Adrian Villanueva. She had to admit she was falling in love with Graciela also. She was impossible to resist, with her laughing eyes, her relentless hospitality, and her fierce love for her family.
But her favorite part of the day was when Adrian would follow her up the stairs to his apartment. The anticipation still tickled low in her belly, and made that moment when they finally joined together in bed even sweeter. They made love until dawn, when she’d drive home to get ready for the day. The thought that she could have had this in her life foryearsmade her want to cry over their stupidity.
Maybe once things calmed down a little bit she could take him to her favorite cottage by the sea. The idea of spending time with her favorite person in her favorite place was tempting. The image of Adrian in board shorts made her mouth water. But she had no clue when they’d have time to indulge in a break.
No matter. They had here and now, and now was pretty darn spectacular. Not even a stressful family dinner was going to ruin her happiness.
“No matter what he says, no matter how this turns out, I’ve got you, and you’ve got me.”
He closed his eyes and dropped his forehead back to hers. “Deal.”
Chapter 22
From the minutethey walked in, Adrian could feel the tension in the room. He was greeted with a friendly if cool smile from Jo, and Sofia barely hugged her mother. Damn it. Sofia had told him it was okay for him to be here. Clearly, it wasn’t.
“Thank you for including me, Mrs. Valenti.”
“I’ve been Jo to you for twelve years. I hope that won’t change now that you’re sleeping with my daughter.” She turned away to put his proffered bottle of wine in the kitchen.
The awkward silence from the rest of the room confirmed his fears. They hadn’t known, or if they had, they didn’t approve. Adrian looked to Enzo for backup, but he just shrugged and took a sip of his red wine. Seth snorted his laughter through his hand, and Brandy smacked his bicep in reproach. Frankie at least poured him a glass of wine and offered it with a grin.
“You look like you could use this.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
He took a fortifying sip before he turned to look at the last man in the room, Domenico. Dom, who had been like a father to him after his own had disappeared. This wasn’t how Adrian had wanted to approach the subject of his relationship with Sofia. Dom just stared back at him, face blank and frozen for a solid minute, before he followed his wife into the kitchen, closing the door behind him with a snap.
Dom’s raised voice echoed through the door, but no reply from Jo followed. The door was just thick enough that Adrian couldn’t tell what was being said, but the tone was enough to extrapolate.
“Maybe I should go.”
