Page 125 of What Doesn't Kill Her

“And Leo.”

“That man!”

“I like him.” They were headed toward the large three-story building that housed the tasting room, the wine cellars and the bed-and-breakfast.

“I do, too. But to encourage their silliness. We give the old relatives respect, of course. It’s kind of them to come so far for Max’s wedding, and yours. But the belief in the evil eye and the palm reading—that’s ignorant Italian peasant. Not that the family isn’t peasant stock and proud of it, butwedon’t believe in the supernatural.” Verona sounded as if she was trying to convince herself. “Right?”

“I don’t fear what’s to come.” Kellen knew what Bisnonna Debora had seen—and lied about. “It’s been waiting for me for a long time.”

“What do you mean?”

No reason to worry Verona. “The wedding. Max has been waiting for me for a long time.”

A smile broke across Verona’s face. “He has.” She patted Kellen’s hand. “He has.”

They went in the side entry to avoid the tasting room.

“You’re in a small suite now.” Verona led her up the stairs. “We intended to put you in the wedding suite, as would be fitting, but at the last minute, Aurora Di Luca brought her whole family, children and grandchildren and third husband, after RSVP’ing for only her and her oldest daughter, and we had to put themsomewhere.If she wasn’t providing all the fruit for the wedding from her own orchard, I would...would...”

“That’s fine. With so many long-distance relatives and guests, I’m happy not to be in a closet,” Kellen assured her.

“We put the relatives we don’t like in the closets.”

Kellen looked at Verona. Was she kidding? Maybe...

On the second-story landing, they walked right into Rae—and Nils Brooks.

“My God, you made it!” Kellen couldn’t believe he was here.

He held out his arms, then backed away. “You’re not going to hit me again, are you?”

She remembered how she had sucker punched him up at Zone’s, and laughed. It was a good memory. “I don’t know why, but I’m glad to see you.”

He opened his arms.

They hugged each other.

“He’s here, and he brought the goddess!” Rae was in full Di Luca loud mode.

“Shhh.” Nils grinned at her. “We’re supposed to be quiet, remember?”

Rae whispered loud enough to wake the dead, “Daddy’s going to show Mr. Brooks a secret place to hide her where no one can see her.” She patted the bulging backpack slung over Nils’s shoulder.

“That’s great, Rae. As long as I don’t have to carry her up another mountain.” On that thought, Kellen grabbed Nils’s shoulder. “I don’t, do I?”

“No. No way.” He put his hand on his heart to indicate truthfulness. “I brought the goddess for Rae before delivering her to Portland.”

The hand on the heart thing made Kellen remember why she didn’t trust him. For all his good looks and smarts, he was a user, and she wondered what he was up to now.

She found out fast enough.

“Are you sure you want to marry Max Di Luca?” Nils stepped close to Kellen and looked deep in her eyes. “You and I would be good together. We could fix the problems of the world.”

“Sir, I cannot believe you have the guts to show up on my son’s wedding day and try to take his bride.” In one moment, Verona became the scary female no one dared offend.

“I can’t, either, Grandma.I’llsucker punch him!” Rae slammed her fist into his groin.

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