She got a reprieve when Rome stepped forward to gather his mother and then his sisters in big bear hugs. “Where’s Papa?” he asked as soon as he’d released them. “I want him to meet Arie right away. He’s going to love her.”
Yeah, like your mom and sisters love me? It was a good thing Rome couldn’t read minds or else her thoughts would deflate him for sure. When he’d said he couldn’t wait to show her off he hadn’t been joking. She could see it in his goofy grin and the way he kept looking at her like she was some kind of trophy he’d brought home to show his family.
She should be flattered, she knew, and she was touched by his pride in her. She really was. She just wished he would take off his rose-colored spectacles and see that he was the only one going crazy over her. Maybe then he would wrap up the visit real fast so they could beat a hasty retreat back to New Orleans.
“Your father is waiting for you,” his mother said. “He’s in the library.”
“Great. Let’s go, honey.” He took Arie’s hand and they were off again, barely giving her enough time to take proper leave of his mother and sisters.
“Slow down, will you?” she whispered fiercely as she tried to pull her hands from Rome’s grasp. “What’s your hurry?”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot how tiny you are. Your little legs can’t keep up, can they?”
“Hey, you. Take that back. My legs are long enough, thank you very much.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“You’re just moving too fast. We’ll get to see your father soon enough. Just slow down a bit. Let me see the house.”
Rome kept on walking but he slowed down and shook his head. “All of a sudden you’re interested in this old house.”
Glad for the slower pace, she began to breath just a little bit easier. “I love old houses,” she said with a shrug. “Sue me.”
That got her an equally smart response from Rome. “You keep it up, Missy. You’ll get your spanking soon enough.”
Perverse creature that she was, Arie could hardly wait for ‘soon enough’. Except that the ‘soon enough’ that came first was their arrival at the library.
“Come in.” The voice that answered Rome’s knock was big and booming, not at all the voice of a man who’d recently had a stroke. The man sounded as sturdy as a bull.
When Rome opened the French doors he stepped aside so Arie could precede him, which was the polite thing to do. Pity it made her feel like he was sending her on to be the sacrifice.
“So this is Aristotle Angelis.” Vittorio Milano was an imposing figure, stout and tall, with a shock of jet-black hair streaked with gray. He came forward to meet her and, like his wife, his words were pleasant enough but somehow the greeting didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Rome told me you were named after the wise Greek himself. Interesting. It's part of why I've been waiting so eagerly to meet you. What took you so long to pay us a visit?”
“The time was…not right until now.” What kind of a question was that, anyway? She couldn’t just drop in like an old friend. She’d had to wait until Rome was ready. Not that she’d been in any hurry.
“Well, I’m glad to finally lay eyes on you. Rome has been talking about you nonstop.” Vittorio took Arie’s hand in a grip that almost made her snatch it away. Didn’t the man know his own strength?
“You’re looking good, Pa.” As soon as his father had released Arie Rome stepped forward to embrace him in a hearty hug. "All is good?”
“All’s good and things are even better now that this little lady is here.”
“Oh?” Rome cocked an eyebrow but then he gave his father a knowing smile. “You like her already, don’t you? I told you she was irresistible.”
“Yes, yes,” Vittorio said, sounding almost impatient. “Now leave us alone for a while. I want Miss Angelis all to myself.”
Rome shook his head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not getting a chance to fill her in on all my dirty little habits.”
“No such thing, my boy, no such thing. I just want to get a chance to know her, that’s all.” As he spoke he was turning Rome toward the door then he gave him a little shove. “Now go spend some time with your mother so Aristotle and I can talk.”
And, as easy as that, the wily man got rid of Rome, closing the door firmly behind him. Then he turned back to face Arie and that was when she knew she was in deep doo.
“Now, little lady,” Vittorio said as he folded his arms across his chest, “what are you up to? What are you doing with my son?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“What’s Pa up to?” Rome made to get up but again his mother put a hand on his shoulder.
“Have another biscotti. You look so thin.”
“Ma, stop clucking over me. I look fine and you know it.” He glanced down the hallway. “They’ve been talking for over ten minutes.”
“Which is such a short time for your father to get to know your fiancée. I’m sure they have a lot to talk about. In fact,” she got up and produced her handbag from God knew where, “let’s give them some space. Can you run me out on the road for a little while? You and I have some catching up to do, too.”
“What? Now?" Rome had to fight to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “Can’t we do that some other time?”
“No, now Rome. Can’t you tear yourself away from your fiancée for a little while? Not even to spend some time with your mother?” She gave him a look filled with hurt but he could tell it was exaggerated. “Is this how it’s going to be from now on?”
Rome gave her a grimace but he got to his feet. “All right, let’s go,” he said grudgingly. “But I don’t want to stay long. I don’t want Pa grilling Arie too long. Fifteen minutes, that’s all I can give you.”
But it turned out that Rome was gone a lot longer than that. He’d thought his mother wanted to pick something up at a nearby store but instead she directed him onto the autostrada, telling him there was a friend she absolutely had to see today. It would be a quick visit, she promised. She would just run in and run out but it was an old friend of the family who she knew would love to see him.
When Rome pulled up in front of the sprawling home he turned off the engine, folded his arms across his chest and sat back in his seat. Then he fixed his mother with a scowl that would leave her in no doubt about how he felt about the trick she’d played on him.