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I jerked my head sideways to stare slack--jawed at the woman standing in the entryway. She was the female version of Brady. Everything from the sculpted brows to the warm, kind amber eyes. When her lips pulled into a smirk, the resemblance became uncanny.
“You made great time,” she said again, moving between us to hug her brother. My brain scrambled, trying to decide if this would be Katie or Adriana. Releasing her sibling, two pairs of matching chocolate stares fixated on me.
I snapped my jaw shut. His sister glanced from me to her brother and then back. “It’s lovely to meet you. We weren’t sure if you were coming or not, so maybe prepare yourself a bit for the onslaught that is my mother.”
I held out my hand. “I’m Cecelia, but you can call me Cici.” I studied her as she turned her attention completely to me. The features that left Brady unspeakably attractive left his sister both beautiful and also strong. What I had been calling the Martinez cheekbones looked lovely on her as well. Her expressive eyes were what I immediately loved. Finding that similarity was more comforting than all the welcomes in the world.
These were Brady’s people. And I could feel the warmth of his hand on my back. Unbidden, my eyes grew wet with tears for some reason. I wanted to curse at them but held my tongue. Even my subconscious was aware that this moment was somehow significant.
Her lips curled into a friendly smile when our palms met and held. “I’m Katie. Come on in. We’re out back.” She turned, a high, dark ponytail swinging as she moved to the back of the house. “And Brady, I’m not joking. Mind what I said about Mom.”
Brady chuckled, his breath tickling my ear as he curled his arm around me.
“Should I be worried?”
“Not at all. The Cecelia Grove I know could handle my mother any day.” His voice dropped lower, only for my ears. “Do you have a safe word?”
I smacked his shoulder. “That is not funny. I’m shaking over here.”
We heard a quiet, mumbled conversation, and then the screen door we were headed towards flew open wide.
“Brady! You made it,” a boisterous, high-pitched voice sang out.
I jumped but held my ground at his side. Not that I had a choice. His fingers were digging into my hips as we stood there.
“Ma, please. I brought someone to meet you.”
His mother stopped short. Her face, an older version of Katie’s, was full of shock. “You did.” Her hands fluttered up. “I thought Katie was just teasing me. But I’m so glad you did.” She came rushing forward, her hands immediately knocking Brady’s aside as she took a long look at me.
“You’re simply stunning.” His mother swatted at him. “How dare you keep her from us for so long?”
“Brady and I have only been together a few weeks,” I murmured, the heat in my cheeks growing to incredible heights.
“It makes no difference to me. Especially when he’s so clearly head over heels over you.”
“Ma,” Brady grumbled from beside me.
I grinned, feeling the earlier anxiety dwindle.
“And how could he not? Your smile is something to remember. Come in, come in. I want to get to know you.” Leaving Brady in the hall, his mother tugged me through the house and straight out onto a tall back porch. Plopping down in a metal lawn chair, his mother turned those bright, friendly eyes to me.
“I’m Terri, in case he hasn’t told you.”
“I’m Cici.”
She clapped her hands together, her dark, wavy hair cut into a neat bob. A few silver hairs twisted through the curls in the front. A kind, genuine smile welcomed me instantly. “Oh, of course. You’re his Cecelia.” She gave me a hearty wink. “He mentioned you.”
“He has?” I narrowed my eyes at Brady, the flutter in my chest settling ever so slightly.
“Oh, of course. I only remember because henevermentions the ladies he’s dating. But he mentioned you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Repeatedly.”
I pressed my hands to my cheeks, feeling the heat there. Brady stepped closer to me. “Ma, please stop embarrassing her. And me.”
“Oh, she’s just getting started,” Katie said, appearing from inside, carrying a tray with lemonade and three glasses on it. Setting it between us, she started passing out both glasses and filling them, her movements graceful.
“That’s okay,” I said, trying to smile. “I’m usually the one asking all the questions, but I can handle them too.”
Terri looked more excited at that prospect than I liked. Brady set a hand on my shoulder, pulling the chair out from the patio table and then helping me into it. “Cici owns her own marketing agency. We met when they won the contract for Leden a few months ago.”
