Dare (12 page)

Chapter Fourteen

“Hi Layla,” Joey said, searching her bright face for signs of the upset Ariella had said she’d experienced a few days before. Her expression did grow more serious after her smile, but he detected no fear or overwhelming sadness. The tightness that had gripped his body for the last days eased a little, that first moment in a hot tub.
No thinking of hot tubs now, Joe.

“Hi,” she said. She gripped his legs in a tight hug. “Grandpop brought me to talk to you.”

Joey nodded. Grandpop had called saying he had Layla for the day, as Ariella was at work, and Layla wanted to talk to him. They sat at a booth in the small diner that Joe and his partner sometimes grabbed lunch in, a homey place that understood cops might need to leave at a moment’s notice. Light surrounded them from the big windows along the side of the diner, the chrome fixtures reflecting the mellow winter sun.

“I’m glad you want to talk, Layla. How have you been?”

“I love it here. I was sad when Nico said maybe you were shot. I don’t like guns.” She made a sour face.

He nodded. Grandpop smoothed her hair. She smiled again, a quiet expression.

“But you’re safe. I talked to Lita. She let me hold Angelo.” Her smile widened, speaking of her joy. “She said…” She tilted her head, as if trying to remember the right words. “She said it’s better to know love than to…not love at all. I like that.” She nodded, as if to emphasize the rightness of the words.

Joe’s body eased more, the truth of Layla’s words flowing through him. His locked heart had been freed. Let the child lead… He smiled at Layla. The waitress caught Joe’s eye. He signaled her that they’d need a couple more minutes. He wanted Layla to be able to say what she wanted to without interruption. Though she seemed to be done talking, as she continued watching him with an eager expression.

“Thanks for telling me all that, Layla. I feel you and Lita are right.”

“You were wrong, you know.” She glanced at Grandpop, both of them looking pleased.

“Was I?”

“You said Santa wouldn’t bring me a Daddy this year.” She looked at him again.

His smile broke loose, a wide grin. He’d never expected an indirect proposal from a six-year-old. More unexpected was the deep sense of rightness, his limbs flowing with warmth and ease. Tim’s death had broken him down, but he’d emerged believing that love—between families, friends, lovers—was worth enduring the hard times. He, Ariella, and Layla would have problems—love wouldn’t be enough to stop the family drama. But they would meet it together, and their commitment would carry them through the rough times, just like his dedication to his job and his family kept him going when the going got tough.

“You’re right again. You’re a wise person, Layla.”

“Thank you. I’m hungry.”

He and Grandpop chuckled. Joe motioned for the waitress.

“We’ll fix that. So, I’ll see you tomorrow? Think your mom will go with me to the New Year’s Eve party?”

She nodded. “Becca’s gonna help me,” she whispered.

A conspiracy of love. Joy on repeat. He was getting used to it.

***

“You sure take a lot of convincing,” Becca said as she and Ariella settled on the sofa in the living room.

They’d been upstairs, getting ready together, once Becca and Layla had gotten her to agree to go to the party with Joe. He’d been texting her as well, and his persistence in asking had crushed a lot of her resolve. When Layla begged her to go, the remaining dust had been blown away.

She and Becca had been helping each other get into their little black dresses and put up their hair. Just like sisters. Ariella tilted her head. It was the first time she’d been able to think of her sister with happiness and not only sadness that she was gone. Maria would be glad, and she was too.

“I just want to be sure Layla is safe and happy.”

“She is. And she wants you to be happy, too. Joe makes you happy, doesn’t he?”

Her cheeks heated. “Yes, but—”

“No buts about it. We can all see you’re happier around each other than when you’re apart. Even Layla.”

She let out a breath. “She’s like her aunt—smart, intuitive.”

“And like you, too.”

“I don’t feel so smart right now.” She knew her feelings, and Layla seemed sure too. But it was up to Ariella as her mother to see around those corners to the possible dangers lurking there. But if Joe were around the corner, they could all face the trouble together. That was smart.

Ariella smoothed her dress on her legs. The sheath dress hugged her curves more than she was used to. But it was New Year’s Eve, and Grandpop had insisted she and Becca go shopping for new dresses yesterday. She was a lucky woman, to have such friends—such a family. And the possibility of more.

“Don’t worry. You two will figure it out.”

“I think you’re right.” Whatever happened, she was home. Hopefully, Joe wanted the same things she did, but even if he didn’t, they’d figure it out. They were home, in each other.

The door, which had been cracked, opened. “Ladies,” Grandpop said. “Don’t you two look beautiful.”

“What he said.” Pete winked at Becca.

“I agree,” Joey said, holding Layla’s hand as they all walked in. “Layla, will you sit by your mom? I want to talk to you both.” He was extra handsome tonight, in a black suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie, his wavy hair subdued from its often unruly nature.

Ariella studied him, but his serious expression didn’t give her a clue to his intentions. Layla sat between Ariella and Becca. Pete and Grandpop stood nearby and Joe knelt in front of her and Layla. Or, maybe she did have a clue. She held Layla’s hand.

“Should we leave?” Becca asked.

“No. Unless you want us alone?” he asked Ariella.

She shook her head, not trusting her voice.

“Layla,” Joey said. He took a small jewelry case out of the pocket of his dark suit. “I know we haven’t known each other a long time, but I think you’re a very special girl. I admire you, and your mom, for how you’ve both been so brave in moving and keeping your hearts open. Would you accept this necklace, and would you accept me as your dad? Or you can just keep the necklace.” He smiled briefly.

He and Layla both looked at Ariella.

“Layla, you can answer. How do you feel about what Joey said? Would you like that?” Ariella sure would, if her fluttering heart and urge to kiss Joe were any indication.

“Yes, I would!” Layla said. “That means we’d really all be a family, right?”

“Right,” Joe said. He helped Layla with the necklace. She kissed his cheek and they hugged. “Thank you, sweetie.”

He moved back toward Ariella. Taking her hand, he kissed it. She squeezed his hand.

“Ariella, I love you. If you can forgive me for being such an idiot about everything, will you marry me?”

“Yes.” She leaned down and kissed him.

Layla led a round of clapping. Ariella and Joe broke their kiss, laughing. He took out a diamond ring and slid it on her finger. Her laughter released the last of her fears. This was her dream, and it was true. Joe stood as Pete and Becca congratulated them.

“Yes, congratulations. You bring us all happiness. Especially this one.” Grandpop touched Layla’s head and kissed Ariella’s cheek. “You’d all better go, and Layla and I have a movie to watch,” he said.

Layla hopped up. “Have fun! Love you, Mommy.” She threw her arms around Ariella. Then she hugged Joe. “You too, Daddy.”

“I love you,
mi niña
.” She kissed Layla’s cheek. Joe did too. He held her hand. Warmth sped through her. She fingered Joe’s palm.

“I’m, so, so happy.” Layla smothered Ariella’s cheeks in kisses. “See you in the new year! Marcella and Rudy and Grandpop are going to tuck me in tonight.” Layla blew kisses to Becca, Pete, and Joe.

“Okay, my big girl.” She watched Layla skip out with Grandpop. Smiling, she glanced at Joe, who watched Layla with a smile as wide as hers felt. She and Becca joined Joe and Pete.

“Our limo awaits,” Pete said.

“I can drive, if you want us to be alone,” Joe said.

She shook her head. “This is nice, all of us. We’ll be alone later.” She leaned into him.

He kissed her forehead. “We’ll be together forever.”

She caressed his hand. “What changed for you?” They walked forward, following Becca and Pete outside. The cool night air energized her, but it was reason to snuggle closer to Joe.

“I realized after Tim’s death that I was being an idiot, a coward. I didn’t want to hurt you and Layla. But I was anyway, hurting us all, because I wouldn’t let go of the past, of the hurt in my family over the years, like my parents’ separation, all the fights… But we’re all still family, we love each other. And I love you. I want us to be a family. And, Layla—she and Grandpop came to see me the other day. She said it’s better to know love.”

She embraced Joe. He waited as she slid into the limo. He sat close to her.

“We are a family. I’m so happy.”

“That’s what I want to hear.” He pulled her close. “Now we’re going to dance.”

“Didn’t we already?” She said with a sly grin at him. Their lovemaking felt like a dance, sometimes slow and sensual, sometimes quick and steamy.

“Now we’ll show everyone what we’ve got.”

She leaned into him. She had it all. From her feet to her head, she tingled, the anticipation in the moment that special guy asks you to dance, takes your hand, and leads you onto the floor. Joe circled his arm around her. The tingling sparked into fire. This was going to be one hot night.

***

“Geez, Joe, you that afraid of me you gotta go and get engaged before I can even meet this gorgeous woman?” Gianni, Joe’s cousin, said. Ariella couldn’t believe this huge flirt and smooth guy was quiet Pete’s brother.

“Your game’s not that good.” Joe clapped Gianni on the shoulder.

“Just hope Aunt Sophia doesn’t turn her matchmaking eye on me,” he said.

“You’re too much of a challenge, even for her.”

Gianni put up his hands. He looked more like Lorenzo’s brother than Pete’s, and she guessed his behavior was similar too. “Well, congrats, you two. Let’s celebrate. Champagne on me.”

“Thanks,” Ariella said. She glanced around the club. The space was large, a polished dance floor already filling with couples, two bar areas surrounded by tables. Lights flashed and music blared.

“Dance first?” Joe pulled her to him, swaying. He had moves.

She shimmied to the Latin beat. She nodded. They rumba’d to the dance floor. Joe twirled her, their steps synced up in a salsa rhythm. He ran his hands down to her hips and she swayed in response, stepping closer. The song ended. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with a Hawaiian twist played. She swayed into Joe’s arms. She caressed his chest.

“You remembered? It was you at prom, wasn’t it?” She’d thought it was Brent who’d had them play her favorite song back then.

Joe nodded and pulled her closer. Slowly, he caressed his lips on hers, until she met his kiss, deepening it, their tongues matching the rhythm of their steps.

She didn’t need to click her heels to find home, she didn’t need a good witch to open her eyes. She and Joe had dared to dream, and now their dream had come true. She was over the rainbow, all from a kiss.

Have you read about the other San Francisco Brides?

Prequel (full-length novel featuring Joe’s cousin Chiara):
Ready for You

Chiara thought she'd buried her real self under her role as wife and mother. But when she gives in to an impulse to flirt with a hot construction worker, she begins to free herself. Her soon-to-be-ex husband and traditional Italian American family block Chiara at every move--and so does her past. But Rocco's acceptance and love chink the walls she's constructed around her heart. Can she build a new life or will everything crumble around her?
Rocco thought he knew what he wanted from Chiara—the same thing he always wanted from a hot woman. Something is different about Chiara, though, and Rocco soon decides he’s willing to play dirty to get her in his bed—and his life. When his troubled past resurfaces, Rocco’s determination falters, especially when he slams into the biggest obstacle of all—Chiara’s mistrust of him, and their love. But he knows Chiara’s walls can come down—and he’s good with a sledgehammer.

Book One: Always
(Gina and Vincente)

The last place Vincente DeGrazia wants to be on Valentine’s Day is at a charity bachelor auction. But he participates to honor the memory of his mother, who died of heart disease when he was a teen. His grandpop, who took Vincente in after his parents’ deaths, pushes him onto the stage with the assurance that Vincente’s dream woman is out there. And when Vincente spots a woman in white—who wins the bid for him—he wonders if Grandpop is right.
Gina D’Angelo comes home to San Francisco with one plan—to save her family’s ailing business by uncovering the truth about the DeGrazias. But her plan goes up in flames when her attraction to Vincente burns out of control. After a night together, Gina and Vincente struggle to discover the truth about each other, and to solve the decades-long conflict between their families. As Vincente realizes he needs Gina in his life, Gina sees that Vincente isn’t the man she thought he was—and they’re ready to fight for their always, together.

You can also read about Lorenzo and Lita in
Believe
, and Pete and Becca in
Mistletoe Magic.