Page 59 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

She nearly choked on her coffee. “You havenoidea what you’re talking about.”

Oh my God. Guess throwing her phone under the pillow hadn’t escaped her mother’s notice at her texting with Luca.

“I haveeveryidea,” her mother said cheerfully. “You do that little smile thing when someone gets under your skin, in a good way. It was baked to your face on Saturday night when I came in to talk.”

She shook her head. “That is not a thing.”

“It is very much a thing,” her father said.

Her mother nodded. “Since you were fifteen.”

“This is harassment,” she stated, then stood up. “I should be allowed legal counsel.” Her fist landed in her other palm.

“I don’t see any attorneys in the house,” Justine said. “But I can play mediator if you want?”

“Yes, please. You can help me find a dress for the hospital fundraiser in two weeks.”

“Oh,” Garrett said. “The one that Luca is going with you to?”

She stomped out of the room. There was no reason to answer that.

“He’s going with you, isn’t he?” Justine asked, laughing, and fast on her heels.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s find you a sexy dress.”

“That was the plan.”

“I’ll keep your secret,” her sister-in-law said.

“Why? Everyone is just going to assume anyway when they see us together.”

And wasn’t that kind of the point she was going for?

19

FAR MORE DANGEROUS

“Ihave to say I really enjoy this little island,” Martha Brewer said. “Though I can’t wait to explore Boston.”

“It’s nice here,” Luca said.

His mother was in the kitchen and baking the turkey breast that he’d picked up a few days ago. Since it was the three of them, they didn’t need a whole bird.

Potatoes were in the water ready to be turned on, rice and beef stuffing made last night and only had to be warmed, and the green beans and carrots in pots also.

A bigger meal than he’d had in ages, but it felt nice at the same time. Just like it did having his parents here in his rented house.

“You haven’t really made it much of a home,” his mother said.

“Martha, cut him some slack,” Paul Brewer said. “He didn’t decorate his apartment and he lived there for two years.”

“There isn’t much to do. I’m not going to hang pictures. Not that I have any. I can’t paint anything. What more is there?”

“You’ve got a point. But I love the vase you bought me. You could get things like that.”

“I could, and maybe I will. At some point.”