Page 45 of Vows of a Mobster
Her gaze darted to the children again and a soft smile played on her lips. I couldn’t blame her. The little girl was adorable. It made me wonder how much connection and communication she kept with the father, and why she stiffened at the mention of her daughter’s father. I wanted to know everything about this woman.
She stopped dancing and I followed her lead. Funny, usually I dismissed women and here she was dismissing me.
“Well, thanks for the dance,” she murmured softly. “Multiple dances.”
“We’ll have to repeat this,” I told her. “Now I want to know all your long stories.”
A sad smile came and went so fast, I was almost sure I imagined it. But yes, it was there.
“Mommy,” a girl’s squeal broke the moment, and immediately Brianna’s face turned into a happy smile.
“Hey there,” she crouched down and the little girl threw herself into her mother’s arms. Brianna wrapped her into her embrace and the young woman was gone. I had a feeling whatever happened to her from the moment she found herself pregnant and abandoned by her parents made her grow up quickly. It was the reason she was so young but had an old soul.
Marissa and Daphne followed her over to us.
“What were you two laughing about?” Marissa asked curiously.
“Marcus,” I responded and a quick glance from Brianna rewarded me with a smile.
“Yeah, that one is funny in more than one way,” Daphne retorted dryly. Then as if she realized she was talking to his older brother, there was immediate regret there.
She went to open her mouth but I stopped her.
“No need.”
“Who are you?” Brianna’s daughter asked, curiosity in her light eyes.
“Ah, this is Mr.-“ Brianna went to introduce me but I cut her off.
“I’m Mateo,” I introduced myself and lowered down onto one knee. “And you are Emma, right?”
She giggled, taking my extended hand. “Yes.”
“Nice to meet you,” she spoke softly. She would be a beauty one day, just like her mother.
“You too, Emma.”
“So Marissa and I were thinking-“ Daphne started talking and Brianna groaned.
“God, please no. Just the way you started it, I know I won’t like it.”
Marissa pushed playfully into Brianna. “It’s not that bad. We were thinking, you could spend the night.”
“No.” Brianna couldn’t have answered faster if she tried.
“I knew you were going to say that,” Daphne said exasperated. “Or we could spend the night at your place?”
Brianna tilted her head and met her friends’ eyes while I regarded their exchange. Now that I saw them together, I knew without a doubt those three probably got into quite a bit of trouble together.
“Sure, but why exactly?” Brianna asked cautiously. “You know, since we’ll all be sleeping.”
“We could watchBridgerton, the whole season,” Daphne blurted out, then jumped excited and Emma followed. I had no idea whatBridgertonwas but it seemed they were fond of it. “Totally hotter than books.”
“Okay, not too bad,” Brianna smiled, satisfied there would be no trouble.
“I’ll bring Mother’s alcohol,” Marissa beamed with her brilliant idea.
“Why?” Daphne asked while both her and Brianna groaned. “Will we get lucky tonight?”
