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They stared at each other. Now was the time, to deliver her bombshell. The timing was terrible, but how could she see him again, on another occasion? Torture herself, over and over, with these feelings?
But it was absurd, to pile another burden onto a man who had just single-handedly shouldered the responsibility for two toddlers.
Bruno, I’m pregnant.Uh, OK. So? What could he do about it?
This was not the moment. She’d miscalculated. She called on her mimimal knowledge of wedding choreography for a distraction. “Um, aren’t you supposed to be in a receiving line, or something?”
“I bailed, to come after you. Skipped out on the exit march, too. Like a rhino on stampede. Ronnie had to go out on Sean’s arm. Edie’s aunt is going to tear me to shreds and stomp on the pieces.”
“Oh. Well, then. That’s bad. You better get going,” she urged. “Can’t have any of that. Tearing and stomping, I mean.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m used to it. Being stomped on.”
She shrank away, sensing a trap. “Um. I think that’s my cue to—”
“Are you staying for the reception?” His scarred hand clamped her wrist. Her wrist went nuts at the contact. A ripple effect that shot bright sparks all through her system.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she quavered.
“I have to talk to you,” he said. “Please. Come with me.”
She grabbed a wrought iron gate and hung on. “To where?”
“To the receiving line. I can’t risk letting you out of my sight.”
“No problem!” Liv McCloud popped up, Eamon in her arms, and leaned to give Lily a kiss. “Glad to see you, Lily. You’re wanted urgently in the receiving line, Bruno. Hurry. Edie’s aunt is twitching and frothing. Don’t worry, Eamon and I will babysit Lily for you.”
“I don’t need to be babysat!” Lily snapped, testily.
“Of course not.” Liv took her arm. “Let’s go pay our respects to the bride and groom, shall we?”
It was a unique form of hell, to have everyone hugging her, exchanging grins and winks, thumbs-up, when she was just going to let them down again, once they knew the truth. The receiving line itself was the worst. She was passed from one McCloud to the next, getting fierce hugs and significant glances from each one. Bruno grabbed her when she got to him. The raw, burning look in his eyes as she extricated herself from his embrace just undid her.
Edie gave her a hug. “Thanks for coming.”
Lily laughed, soggily. “I had to, right? To get the portrait of my mom. Holding it for ransom like that, that was a very dirty trick.”
“Whatever works, right? I kept my side of the bargain. It’s in the car, all ready for you,” Edie assured her. Her arms tightened around Lily again. “He needs you, you know?” she whispered.
Lily’s heart was squeezed. She extricated herself, greeted Edie’s sister, a dewy creature named Ronnie. Then Tam gripped her arm.
“Congratulations for Irina,” Lily offered. “I saw her during the ceremony. She’s beautiful. I’m so glad things turned out well.”
“Me, too,” Tam said. She leaned forward, breathing the words into Lily’s ear. “Far be it from me to criticize a sister for giving a man a hard time,” she murmured. “Just be sure you don’t make yourself pay too high a price for it. Satisfaction’s hollow when you’re all alone at night.”
Lily jerked herself loose. “It’s not that simple!”
“Right. Nothing ever is.” She shoved Lily right into Zia Rosa’s waiting arms. “Good luck.”
Zia’s smothering embrace was sharply perfumed with jungle gardenia. Zia cupped her hands, pinched her cheeks. “Ehi,you’re pale!Sciupata!Not eating?” Her eyes slitted. “How’s the tummy?”
“Just fine, just fine,” Lily assured her hastily. “The best.”
“You seen our little Tonio, and Lena? Ain’t they cute?” She jerked Lily’s chin around. “See? Look! Miles has Tonio, and Sveti’s got Lena.”
Lily looked. The kids really were beautiful. Tonio giggled madly, head and shoulders flung back over Miles’s arm as Miles yanked up the kid’s crisp white shirt and snuffled his belly. Lena was on her butt on the floor, in her white dress, trying to take off her little white Mary Janes, while Sveti crouched next to her, imploring her to reconsider.
“They are beautiful,” she said, with utter sincerity.
