Page 49 of Stolen Vows

I press my lips together to contain a smirk.

"Oh, yeah. She’s treating me well."

"Oh, shut up," she exclaims, pushing me slightly.

I laugh, leaning against the doorframe. "You going to let me go now?”

"I guess so. You coming to Dad’s this weekend for dinner?”

"I sure am."

My father had insisted on all of us getting together to celebrate our recent victory, though I got the feeling that there was also something of a plan to scope out Cara at the same time, too. My father had been insistent on his acceptance of her, but he still wants to see how she’s going to fit into the family.

Though, of course, only I know that she is going to be a part of the family like never before after that night. I haven’t even told my sister about it. Call me selfish, but I want to see the looks on everyone’s faces when it happens—especially Cara’s.

"See you then."

Maya leans up to give me a quick hug and I return it; afterwards, I make my way over to the car. Cara is leaning against the door, and her face lights up as I get closer.

"You ready to go home?" she asks, and I nod, pulling the door open for her. She climbs inside, the scent of her hair filling the air for a moment.

"Yeah," I reply. "Ready to get home, Cara."

22

Cara

As soon as the door opens, I am greeted by a warm smile on the face of the eldest member of the Mastroni family.

"Mr. Mastroni," I greet him, slightly nervous. "I— thank you so much for having me here..."

"Are you kidding?” he says, putting his arm around my shoulders and steering me inside. "Any woman who can put up with my son is welcome here..."

I shoot a look back to Max, who rolls his eyes at me playfully as he heads through to the kitchen to drop off the bottle of wine we brought with us. I have been equal parts nervous and excited about this evening. My nerves aren’t because I don’t want to spend time with Max’s family, far from it. It’s because deep in my heart I know I still have to prove myself as a trustworthy person to his sister and their father.

"And call me Dario," he adds as he leads me through to the dining room.

The table is already groaning under the weight of all the food, and the deliciously savory scents fill the air. I inhale deeply, closing my eyes and letting the smell of it rush through me.

"Oh, that smells amazing," I sigh. "Did you make this yourself...?"

"With some help from me," Maya interjects from the doorway.

I glance around and smile at her, and, to my surprise, she smiles back at me, with no hint of malice. I am not sure I have ever seen her so pleased to see me. I hope that the conversation I had with Rosie yesterday might have helped soothe her concern about me, though I get the feeling it’s going to be a long road with her.

"Well, it looks amazing," I reply as Max enters the room, bringing a hand to my back so he can guide me to my seat.

Their dining room is cozy, but well-appointed—deep red wallpaper accented by dark wood furnishings. I notice a picture of Dario with a woman propped up on a small table next to the door, and I guess at once it’s their mother. I smile. It’s almost as though she’s joining us for this dinner, though of course that’s impossible.

"Tuck in," Dario announces as he pours everyone a generous glass of wine from the bottle that Max brought with us. He reaches for my knee under the table and gives it a light squeeze. I manage a small smile, hoping that my nerves are not making themselves known too obviously on my face.

We begin to eat, and soon, the conversation is flying. It's clear that these three get on best when there is a dinner table between them, a little wine to keep the conversation going. I can’t help but notice that there are two empty chairs around the table,conspicuously empty—one for their mother, I suppose, but who is the other one for? This sister that he won’t tell me about...?

I push that aside. It’s not my place to go asking for explanations about that, not now. I am just here for a pleasant family dinner, and to try to make some inroads with this new life I am living.

"So, tell me, how are you finding Max’s apartment?" Dario asks me, turning the conversation suddenly in my direction.

For a moment, I trip over my words, not quite sure how to get out an answer.

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