Page 46 of Champagne Kisses
“Come in! Come in! And what have you brought?” I release my death grip on the wine and dig into my purse for the flowers.
“Just some wine…and some flowers for you. I hope you like them.” My nerves are making it hard to speak above a whisper. Adam's mom brings the flowers up to her nose and inhales deeply.
“I love them and they smell just lovely. Henry?!” She inclines her head and yells to Adam’s dad who must be upstairs. “Maya’s here and she brought that wine you like!”
She turns back to me and gently grabs my elbow, leading me towards the kitchen.
“Now let's get these in some water.”
Their kitchen is bright and colorful and appears to be fully stocked courtesy of Whole Foods and Dean & Deluca. What I wouldn’t give to attempt a croquembouche with the full set of Lagostina Martellata cookware like the one I see hanging above the kitchen island. I am in heaven!
“Your home is beautiful, Mrs. Park,” I say as I spot marble countertops and even a window overlooking an herb garden in the backyard.
“Please. Call me Marie.” I nod automatically, knowing full well I’ll never call Adam’s mom by her first name. I lean against the counter and gesture vaguely.
“Can I help you with anything in here?” She shakes her head, focused on arranging my bouquet in a crystal vase that looks like it cost more than my rent.
“You’re our guest. The only thing I need you to do is head into the dining room and pour yourself a glass of wine. Alex just texted that he’s walking from the train.”
I walk down the hall in the direction of men laughing and find Adam’s brothers enthusiastically discussing the latest Giants loss and hoarding all the salami from the charcuterie board. They all turn as I enter the room. The twins both stand.
“Hi!” they say at the same time.
“Hi. I’m Maya. And you must be…?”
“I’m Henry, Jr.,” the one with the horn-rimmed glasses says. According to Adam, he’s a tad formal and the most like their father. I extend my hand and he shakes it firmly.
“And I’m Noah.” Noah is wearing pinstripe pants and a french cuff dress shirt like he came straight from the boardroom to be here. His smile is genuine when I shake his hand. The super tall one stands up and stretches out his hand to shake mine.
“I’m Damon,” he says, his mouth still partially full of salami. I smile shyly.
“I could’ve guessed, what with how tall you are.” He smiles and sits back down before grabbing a handful of grapes.
The last brother is some sort of finance wizard, wearing jeans, a dress shirt, and a Patagonia vest. He didn’t stand or smile whenI came into the room. The other brothers look at each other. Noah chimes in.
“And that's Cory. He must’ve been away when Mom and Dad taught the rest of us manners.” Cory rolls his eyes, pours himself a glass of wine, and says nothing. That doesn’t seem good.
The doorbell sends Mrs. Park running past us.
“That must be Adam!” I hear the door open and close and Adam and his mom greet each other. He comes into the dining room looking mesmerizing as usual: he’s wearing a dark gray suit with a loosened tie around his neck and he’s shaved off his stubble (probably for the presentation). He hangs his jacket on the chair next to mine and gives me a sweet kiss before hugging and greeting his brothers.
“What’s up, everyone?" Adam gestures to me. "Have you all met Maya?” Henry, Jr. smiles in response.
“We just did. Adam, you never told us you were seeing such a beautiful woman.” My cheeks redden and Adam beams with pride. He sits down next to me and takes my hand into his lap. He looks into my eyes.
“She’s definitely something special.” The butterflies already fluttering in my stomach from nerves are now pterodactyls. Cory snorts rudely.
“She’s 'something' alright.” Though he says it under his breath, Adam’s grasp on my hand tightens painfully. He clearly heard it. Before the situation escalates, Adam’s father walks into the room. No one else stands, so I keep my seat.
“Maya? This is my dad.” His dad is tall, perhaps 6’2” or 6’3”. That must be where Damon got his height. He’s built like he used to be in the military, and keeps his hair cut very short. He’s even more intimidating than his picture indicated and I gulp, but he surprises me by coming around to my chair and pulling me up for a hug.
“Hello, Maya. Adam has told us so much about you.”
“He has?” I squeak. He lets me go and takes his seat at the head of the table then looks at me like I’ve sprouted a second head.
“Of course he has. Why wouldn’t he tell us about the woman who stole his heart?” Adam abruptly starts coughing and pours himself a glass of wine. I hear his brothers snickering, even Henry, Jr.
Though his actions show he cares for me, Adam has yet to use the L word. I’m beautiful. I’m amazing. I’m bewitching. But he doesn’tloveme. I haven't "stolen his heart".
