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I take his hand and instantly melt into his body. Eve would be grinning like the Cheshire Cat right about now.
“I’m ready…dear.”
Theo shakes his head and leans closer to whisper in my ear. “Is that the best you can do?” I shiver.
“Alright, alright.” I laugh softly, pulling away from him before he can hear my heart beating, nay screaming, to be free of my chest. “I’m ready, honeybun.”
“Maybe reign it back a little,” he chuckles, his thumb and index finger squeezing closer together, leaving about an inch of air space.
“Sweetheart?”
Theo nods and squeezes my hand. “Let’s introduce you to the Bennett family.”
He leads me deeper into the house. There are two more hallways that cross the foyer’s path but I am not sure where they lead, nor do I ask. I could have sworn I heard heels clicking down the hall to our left but when I glance that way, I don’t see anyone.
White marble floors stretch the distance of the house, anchored by white and walnut wooden furniture. Artwork and fabrics in the same blue tint of the Mediterranean Sea is scattered throughout the stark space making it feel cozy and exotic.
We turn to the left and walk into the kitchen where the dining room and living room are both visible in an open floor concept. The floor to ceiling windows are filled with the tips of trees and the ripples of the lake below. As I look around in awe, six pairs of eyes bore into me.
“Hey everyone,” Theo says with a warm smile, “I want you to meet my girlfriend, Catalina Ortega.”
“Hi,” I croak and wave.Why am I waving? Oh my God, I haven’t been in the house five minutes and I’m already… I feel Theo squeeze my hand again and when I look up at his six-foot-four-inch frame, I see him beaming down on me. I smile and then look back out toward his family. “I’m Cate.”
Athena claps her hands in delight and smiles fill the room. Theo’s mother throws her hands up in the air as if to thank God for this miracle and quickly rattles off her thoughts in Greek. She grabs me and kisses both of my cheeks.
“I am so happy you came for dinner, Cate! Come in, come in!” She switches to English, and pulls me further inside the kitchen, tearing my hand out of Theo’s, and asks, “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you need a sweater? Slippers? Do you need to use the bathroom?”
“Mama, she just walked in,” Tess walks up and pats her mother on the back. “Let her breathe.”
Athena motions toward me and clicks her tongue, “She’s breathing just fine, Contessa. What kind of hostess would I be if I let her starve? Or the Lord forbid, let her stand here needing to use the restroom and she’s too embarrassed to ask.”
“I’ve heard you’re an amazing cook, Mrs. Bennett. I’m really excited to try your food.” I flash her my most confident smile and realize it’s not an act. I have been in this woman’s life for all of six seconds and I am already in love with her.
Athena kisses me on both of my cheeks again and presses her hands to her heart. “I shall feed you! Do you like wine?”
“I love wine.”
“Good. I’ll pour you a glass.” She shuffles off to the wine rack and grabs a bottle of merlot. Her black hair is streaked with white, but her face still resembles a woman much younger. Her round nose and vivacious brown eyes suit her and makes me want to follow her everywhere she goes.
“I’m Tess.” Theo’s sister extends her hand to me, and I shake it with a smile. She is gorgeous. Her dark hair is cut at her shoulders and her brown eyes look like a younger version of her mother’s. She is about my height, standing just around five-foot-seven. She looks like a goddess and her smile is dazzling to say the least. It’s hard not to be intimidated by a woman who looks like Tess.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Tess. Theo has told me a lot about you.”
A tall man with a baseball player’s physique, blonde hair, and a matching beard comes up behind Tess and wraps his arms around her.
“Cate, this is my boyfriend, Liam.” She kisses his cheek.
I extend my hand to him, and he shakes it, awkwardly, since he refuses to release Tess. “Nice to meet you, Liam.”
“You too, Cate.”
I think I spy a Canadian accent and remember Theo saying Liam’s parents live in Vancouver. I am dying to ask him if he’s ever ridden a moose, or drinks maple syrup from the bottle, or skis to work, or something else outrageously Canadian, but shake those ridiculous thoughts free.
“Hey, Tess.” Theo comes up behind me and I feel his athletic chest resting against my back. “I think you have something attacking you. Looks like a Golden Retriever or something.”
Liam cracks up and with his shaggy hair I can see why Theo compares him to a Golden Retriever.
“Very funny, Theo,” Tess wiggles free from Liam’s embrace and pinches Theo’s arm. I step to the side so they can hug, and I swear I hear her whisper to him, “She’s really pretty.”
