Page 49 of Always Be True: Tino
Randall laughed. “And that kind of lie is one reason I love this woman. She refuses to see my many faults, starting with the fact I have two left feet.”
Tracy looked past the other people filing into the building. “I suspect we’re in the way here. Maybe we should go on into the ballroom.”
Natalie took Tino’s hand as they followed her parents down the hall. She deliberately hung back just long enough to give him a teasing grin. “Way to butter up my mom. How did you know she liked to dance?”
He tilted his head down closer to hers as they walked. “You said you do. I figured you must have gotten the dance gene from one of your parents. It was a fifty-fifty shot it would’ve been her. Besides, offering to dance with your dad would’ve been a bit awkward.”
“So true.” Her accompanying laughter rang out, drawing attention from several people, including her parents. Natalie didn’t seem to notice or perhaps just didn’t care. She rested her head against his arm and whispered, “Although I would have paid good money to see that happen, especially if it was that salsa you mentioned. You’d both look so handsome out there tearing up the dance floor in your tuxedos.”
“Okay, now that’s just mean.”
“Gee, I’m sorry, Tino.” She batted her eyes at him. “Remind me to find some way to make it up to you later.”
“It’s a deal. I may even have some suggestions on exactly how you can do that.”
He let her see the heat in his eyes as he considered the possible apologies he’d be up for when they were alone. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be for hours yet, and right now her parents were waiting for them to catch up.
He carefully banked the fires and braced himself for an evening of small talk with strangers, starting with the couple who had just joined Natalie’s parents. They wore the same air of understated wealth. What made them stand out from any number of people in the surrounding area who met that same description was the way the woman stood staring at him. Natalie tensed up the second she saw them.
Once again he spoke just loud enough for her to hear. “You okay? Is there something I should know?”
She turned to face him, her smile definitely a bit brittle around the edges. “That couple is Mr. and Mrs. Humboldt, my ex-fiancé’s parents. I was really hoping we wouldn’t run into them right off the bat or, better yet, at all.”
He raised his hand to brush a tendril of hair back from her face. “We’ll be fine. I’m guessing they’re not the type to relish making a public scene.”
“Public spectacles are definitely not part of their usual repertoire, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get in a few digs along the way.”
Tino might have developed a façade of sophistication, but he’d also learned how to fight dirty when the occasion called for it. “Let them bring it on. After ten years in the army, I can handle any flack they might send my way. I promise to be polite—”
She cut him off. “I’m not worried about that, Tino.”
“Well, maybe you should be. I was going to add that I promise to be polite unless they say something to upset you. Then all bets are off.”
He halfway expected her to object, but she didn’t. Instead, her chin took on a stubborn tilt as she laced her fingers through his and they started their final approach. “That road goes both ways, Soldier Boy. I won’t let them slice and dice you, either.”
Their plan in place, they closed ranks and stepped into the line of fire.
Randall performed the necessary introductions. “Tino Gianelli, these are our friends Barry and Gloria Humboldt. Tino is a friend of Natalie’s.”
Mr. Humboldt was the first to speak. “Natalie, dear, you look charming as always.”
After a dismissive glance in Tino’s direction, Mrs. Humboldt’s greeting came across a little more barbed. “Benton will be disappointed to learn that you felt the need to bring another date to the dinner, which leaves him the odd man out. Not to mention that Mr. Gianelli doesn’t know any of your friends.”
It wasn’t Natalie’s fault that their son didn’t know when to cut his losses and move on. Tino immediately put his arm around her shoulders. “I was only too glad to come with Natalie, and I’ve been looking forward to the chance to meet more of her friends. She mentioned that she and Benton were childhood friends.”
The woman bristled. “They are more than that. They were engaged to be married. I assure you her returning his ring came as a total shock to us all. They were such a perfect couple.”
Natalie clearly hadn’t thought so, but he’d already said more than he should have. Luckily, her mother stepped in to move the conversation to a safer topic. “Natalie, would you rather talk to the president of the symphony board before or after dinner?”
“Now would be great if he’s available.”
Tracy looked around the room. “There he is over in the corner. Shall we go see if he has a free moment?”
“Yes, let’s.” Natalie offered the Humboldts the barest hint of a smile. “If you’ll excuse us, we have foundation business to attend to now.”
As they followed Natalie’s mother through the crowd, Tino kept his arm around Natalie’s shoulders, making it clear to one and all that she was with him, and that he was more than a last-minute escort or simply a substitute for her ex-fiancé. Natalie nudged him with her elbow.
“For the record, round one went to you.”
