Seductive One

11

Brenna had figured the day’s roller-coaster events had peaked when she’d brought Nic to the party. But she’d been wrong. The fun just kept on coming, this time in the unexpected arrival of her long-lost brother.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this confused about one person. Joe Larson could destroy her hopes and dreams with a single sentence. She should hate him. Yet she didn’t. She was actually happy to see him, in a twisted, ambivalent, why-was-this-happening sort of way.

“Have any trouble finding the place?” she asked.

“Nope.”

“Are you here for the money?”

Joe grinned. “You cut right to the chase, don’t you? Maybe I’m interested in meeting my family more than collecting an inheritance.”

“Are you?”

He glanced at the watching crowd. “It’s more of a reception than I expected.”

“An engagement party for two of my…our sisters. Francesca, the one you met with me, and Katie.”

“How many of those folks are actual relatives?”

“More than you’d think. At least you can meet them all at once.”

Joe Larson, all six feet plus of Navy SEAL-honed muscle and brawn, actually took a step back. “Great.”

“And a hundred of their closest friends.”

“You know how to make a guy feel welcome.”

“This can’t be worse than night ops in enemy territory.”

His dark gaze settled on her face. His expression was unreadable, but she thought she might have seen wariness in his eyes. One corner of his mouth turned up. “Want to bet?”

“Not really.” She turned toward the tables. “It’s Joe.”

A whispered buzz swept through the crowd. Most of the guests wouldn’t know who Joe was, but her parents did, as did her sisters. Mia spilled the beans by popping to her feet and clapping her hands together.

“That’s my brother?” she asked in obvious delight. “This is so cool.”

“Mia,” Brenna murmured for Joe’s benefit. “She’s the baby of the family. Too smart for her own good and we all adore her. You met Francesca already, and the guy beside her is Sam, her fiancé. Katie is standing over there. Next to her is Zach, her fiancé. Grandpa Lorenzo is the fierce-looking old guy. His wife, Grandma Tessa, is next to him, and Grammy M is sitting with her date.”

The Marcelli family walked slowly toward them. Brenna’s parents arrived first. Tears filled her mother’s eyes and her father looked stunned, which made sense. Outside of soap operas, events like this didn’t happen.

Brenna cleared her throat. “So, everyone, this is Joe. Joe, my…um, make that our parents. Colleen and Marco Marcelli.”

There was an awkward moment when no one moved. Finally Joe approached their father and held out his hand. They shook. Joe glanced anxiously at their mother, who continued to cry.

“Are you all right, ma’am?”

She blinked several times, then reached up and touched his face. “Is it really you?”

Looking more than a little uncomfortable, he nodded. “I’m Joe Larson.”

The Grands approached, along with Grandpa Lorenzo. Brenna’s sisters hovered in the background. Grandma Tessa pulled out her rosary.

“God is blessing our family,” she whispered.

Grandpa Lorenzo moved close and clutched Joe by the shoulders. “I see my father in you.”

Brenna leaned close. “I haven’t seen pictures, so I can’t tell you if that’s a good thing or not.”

Grandpa Lorenzo ignored her. “You are welcome, Joe Larson.” He frowned. “Joe. That isn’t right. You were to be named Antonio, after my father.”

Joe winced. “Tough luck for me, huh?”

There was a moment of silence, then everyone laughed. Grandma Tessa pushed her husband aside and reached up to pinch Joe’s cheek. Brenna was pleased when her macho brother flinched. Grandma Tessa had some power in her old fingers. Grammy M linked arms with her daughter. Katie and Mia approached for an introduction.

Her mother took over, saying again and again, “This is my son.” Her father seemed content to simply smile at his firstborn.

Brenna stepped back to watch the family interact with Joe. Despite what his existence meant to her, she’d liked him from the first moment she’d met him. Now he was here, and judging from the reaction, he would be welcomed with open arms.

Not a surprise, she told herself as Grandpa Lorenzo moved close and spoke in low tones. No doubt the elder Marcelli was spelling out the possibilities of inheriting the winery. Only an idiot would turn down an inheritance like the Marcelli winery, and Joe didn’t look like a fool. She was going to lose everything, just because she didn’t have a penis.

“We never meant to let you go,” her mother was saying. She touched Joe’s arm over and over as if reassuring herself that he was really there. The Grands were pressing in, and Brenna realized that Joe had the trapped look of a cornered animal. Oddly, she felt responsible for him, which meant she should probably come to the rescue.

“Okay, break it up,” she said, slipping between Joe and the family. “Give the guy a couple of minutes to catch his breath. I’m going to take him up to the house and get him settled. Why don’t the rest of you go satisfy the curiosity of our guests?”

Her mother hesitated. Brenna leaned close and hugged her. “I won’t let him get away,” she whispered. “But I think there’s too many of us for a first meeting.”

Their mother nodded. Tears filled her eyes again. “We’re happy you’re here.”

Joe gave a clipped nod. “Thank you.”

The “ma’am” was there at the end of the sentence, but silent. Brenna wondered if he would ever think of Colleen Marcelli as his mother.

“I can come back in the morning,” he said. “We can, ah, talk.”

“Come back?” Grandpa Lorenzo exclaimed, sounding outraged. “Where are you going?”

“To a motel. I saw one not far from here.”

Brenna winced. “You shouldn’t have said that.”

She barely got the words out before conversation exploded.

“You must stay here,” Grandma Tessa said forcefully. “You’re family.”

“You’d be no trouble a’tall,” Grammy M informed him.

“You getting away is so not going to happen,” Mia said with a grin.

Brenna looked at Joe and shrugged. “Sometimes it’s just plain easier to give in.”

“Sure. I guess I could stay for a while.”

“Good plan,” she murmured.

Joe picked up his duffel. Brenna glanced toward the tables and wondered if she should say something to Nic about joining him in a few minutes. Then Joe started toward the house and she hurried after him.

Temporary staff filled the kitchen. Brenna collected a plate of food, a bottle of wine, and two glasses, then led the way into the dining room.

“Take a load off,” she said, jerking her head toward the large table.

Joe set the duffel on the floor, then pulled out a chair. He took the plate she offered, along with flatware.

“Is that wine all for me?” he asked.

She laughed. “Don’t sweat it. I’m not trying to get you drunk. I thought it would take the edge off. Besides, Marcelli Wines is your heritage. Think of this as the beginning of your education. Your inheritance won’t come for free.”

He ignored her statement and glanced toward the kitchen. “You have any beer?”

“Peasant,” she muttered as she expertly opened the bottle of Cabernet. After pouring them each a glass, she took the seat opposite his and sank onto the chair.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

He sliced off a piece of chicken. “Sure.”

“You look a little shell-shocked.”

His dark gaze narrowed. “The hell I do.”

She laughed. “Sensitive, aren’t we? Does this have something to do with your rough-and-tumble reputation? Do you really know fifty-seven ways to kill me?”

He chewed without speaking. Brenna sipped her wine and studied his face. His coloring was more Italian than Irish, but his features were a blend of the two.

“Second thoughts about coming here?” she asked.

“I’m way past that.” He picked up his wineglass and frowned at the contents.

“You’re supposed to admire the color,” she told him. “Appreciate the blends of reds and purples. Next, smell the bouquet.” She demonstrated. “Black cherry, chocolate, a little plum.”

He sniffed. “It smells like wine.”

She winced. “Right. Next, a sip. Let the liquid roll around on your tongue as you experience all the-”

Joe chugged about a third of the wine, swallowed, shrugged, and set the glass on the table. “Not bad.”

“That wine received a ninety-two from Wine Spectator,” she said faintly. “It was so highly allocated we had people offering nearly double the retail price per case. I won a gold medal for that wine.”

“It’s fine.”

She leaned back in her chair. “Gee, thanks.”

How on earth could her grandfather consider leaving everything to a man who said their prize wine was fine? It was so wrong, it was almost funny. She would start laughing just as soon as the pain faded a little.

The door to the kitchen opened and Mia entered. “Hi, Joe,” she said as she sashayed toward them.

He eyed her cautiously.

Mia rested one hip on the table and leaned toward him. “So, you’re quite the hunk. Are there more like you at home?”

Joe made a show of glancing at his watch. “Aren’t you up a little late.”

Mia grinned. “I’m eighteen, Big Brother. All grown up.”

Brenna waved her hand toward the door. “Torture Joe tomorrow. He’s already nervous enough to bolt.”

His intense gaze swung toward her. “What did you say?”

“That you’re a little uneasy. It’s perfectly understandable.”

Mia pouted. “But I want to ask about his friends.”

“Later.”

Her baby sister ignored the hint. “So if you don’t want to talk about yourself, what about us? Are we family yet?”

He shrugged. “Sorry, no.”

“Brenna says Grandpa Lorenzo is going to want to leave you everything. That has to be exciting.”

Joe’s expression turned unreadable. “Maybe.”

Mia shook her head. “Don’t worry about offending me. I was never going to run the place. I’m sure there will be cash settlements on the girls, which makes me happy. But still, it’s a big deal.”

“A forty million dollar big deal,” Brenna murmured, feeling sick to her stomach.

Joe frowned. “The old man doesn’t even know me.”

“Not a problem,” Brenna told him. “Traditional Italian grandfathers love to leave the family business to their grandsons. That would be you.”

“Will you accept?” Mia asked eagerly. “I would. I mean you can sell it or leave Brenna in charge.”

“Thanks for the endorsement,” Brenna said.

She wanted to run from the room, but it was like watching a car accident. She couldn’t seem to tear herself away, even though the truth was going to cut her to her bones.

“I wouldn’t say no,” Joe admitted. “But it’s not an issue yet.”

Brenna swallowed hard. “It will be. Try to act surprised. It will make my grandfather happy.”

Mia pushed off the table. “Okay, I’ll go now. But I’ll be hanging around tomorrow. We can get to know each other and you can tell me all about your hunky friends.”

“I can’t wait,” Joe muttered and returned his attention to his dinner.

Brenna was grateful for the few minutes of silence. She had to collect herself, to figure out how to act normal. This wasn’t news. She’d known that Joe showing up was a possibility, and if he did…

Maybe Grandpa Lorenzo wouldn’t offer him everything, she told herself, even as she didn’t believe the words. Maybe…

She sighed. Maybe she should just get used to the fact that the odds of her ever running Marcelli Wines was about zero. She had a plan, a chance for success with her own thing. That was good. Better than good. It was great.

Five minutes later Joe finished dinner. Brenna led him upstairs to the guest room at the end of the hall.

“You have your own bathroom,” she said as she pushed open the bedroom door. “Sleep as late as you would like.” She grinned. “Unless you want to rejoin the party.”

“No, thanks.”

He tossed his duffel onto the floor, then crossed to the window. It faced the backyard. From there he could see the people milling around.

“Sorry I came?” he asked without looking at her.

“No. Why do you ask?”

“My being here could change a lot of things.”

“He’s your grandfather, too. Even though you’ve just found out about us, you’re still family.” She searched her heart. “I can’t regret that you exist.”

He smiled at her. “Gee, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She moved to the window and stood next to him. “I know this is all a little overwhelming, but you’ll get used to us with time.”

“I’d settle for keeping the names straight.”

He was big and tall and despite her teasing, he probably did know fifty-seven ways to kill her. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t currently out of his element.

“Did you ever think about what your real family was like?” she asked.

“Sometimes.” He closed the blinds. “I never pictured anything like this.”

“I wouldn’t think so. Who could possibly dream up the Marcellis?” She touched his arm. “I need to get back to the party. Want me to check on you later?”

He scowled. “No.”

She chuckled. “Okay, then. I’ll see you in the morning.” She walked to the door. “You will still be here, won’t you?”

“What do you think?”

“That you didn’t get to be who and what you are by quitting.”

“Good call.”

She opened the door and stepped into the hall. “Despite everything, I’m glad you decided to pay us a visit, Joe. Good night.”

The party buzz about the stranger reached Nic about the same time he figured out why the guy looked familiar and who he was. The Marcelli family’s long-lost son.

Marco finally returned to the microphone. He looked shell-shocked, but happy.

“We’ve had something of a surprise,” he told the crowd. “After many long years our firstborn son has returned to us.” He waited for the swell of conversation to die down. “Joe is going to be staying with us for a few days, so most of you will get the chance to meet him. In the meantime, I would like to return to the reason for our celebration and toast the engagement of my daughters Katie and Francesca.”

Nic raised his glass. Brenna had gone into the house with her brother and had yet to return. Not sure why it mattered, or why he gave a damn, he kept an eye on the back door. The emotional surge he’d experienced when she’d hurried off to greet a strange man had faded, leaving behind a certain level of confusion. Why did he care if Brenna was interested in some other guy? He and Brenna weren’t together. He had no claim on her. No way he’d been jealous.

The rational part of his brain assured him there was a logical explanation. The penis-run part grunted something about wanting sex again. He did his best to remember his plan and why it was important. Nothing personal, he reminded himself. Just business.

And his business plan might have just taken a dump…at least for the moment. The existence of a male heir could change things. Lorenzo Marcelli was nothing if not traditional, and traditional Italian patriarchs left the family business to the firstborn son. Did that mean Marcelli wasn’t going to be for sale? Or did it mean he only had to wait?

Joe Larson was unlikely to enjoy running a winery for very long. Nic was pretty sure he could convince the man to take the money and run.

Nic started for the house, only to stop when Lorenzo stepped in front of him. The old man glared at Nic.

“No Giovanni is welcome here.”

Nic shoved his hands into his pockets. “There’s a surprise.” He shook his head. “Don’t you ever get tired of the past? It’s done. No one cares about what happened over sixty years ago.”

“I care.” Lorenzo’s eyebrows drew together. “I know the truth.”

“The truth is Antonio Marcelli screwed up. Something happened to his vines, and rather than admit that, he blamed my grandfather. Antonio was jealous of his friend’s success. It’s an old story.”

Lorenzo stared at him for a long time. “You think you know so much,” he said at last. “That the new ways are always better. Things happened for a reason. You claim that your family is the injured party, accused of a crime they didn’t commit. Are you sure? You weren’t there. What do you know of the truth?”

Mia sidled up to Lorenzo and beamed at the old man. “Are you torturing our guest?”

“We’re talking about the old days.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Grandpa, it’s a party. You need to have a little fun. Why don’t you take Grandma Tessa for a spin around the dance floor and show her a good time?”

“Not yet. This one…” He moved closer to Nic.

“Trying to take me on, old man?” Nic asked. “I’m not going to fight you.”

“Maybe not, but you’ll do something.” Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want with my granddaughter?”

Mia winced. “Grandpa, you really don’t want to ask that question. I mean what if Nic answers it?”

The old man took a step back. “This is not the time, not with guests here. But soon. You and I, we are not finished.”

Nic liked the idea of a challenge. “I look forward to our next meeting.”

Lorenzo muttered something in Italian, then stalked away. Mia watched him go.

“Want me to tell you what he said?” she asked.

“No.”

“Just as well. It wasn’t very polite.” She linked arms with Nic. “This has been the best party. I didn’t expect it to be so exciting. Joe arriving, you fighting with my grandfather. So what did you think of our brand-new big brother? Isn’t he a hunk? Cute, but very annoying. He practically accused me of being a baby. I mean, come on. Do you really think it’s so awful that I want to meet some of his manly Navy SEAL friends?”

“What I really think is that I’m glad I’m an only child.”

Mia huffed out a breath. “Oh, please. I’m the best sister. I’m newly single and I’m not in school for a few more weeks. This is my time to cut loose and be wild. Once classes start, I have to be all mature and stuff. So if I can’t do the Navy SEAL thing for a while, how about a ride on your motorcycle?”

He removed her hand from his arm. “You accused me of being trouble, but you’re the one who needs watching.”

Her lips curved. “Really? You like to watch?”

He took a step back. “Don’t go there, Mia. I’m not for you.”

“Does that mean you’re for Brenna?” She laughed. “Never mind. I know you’re not going to answer that. Come on. You can dance with me until my sister returns to rescue you.”

He glanced toward the couples already on the dance floor, then back to the eighteen-year-old sex kitten in front of him. “No slow dances.”

She sighed heavily. “Fine. No touching. What is it with you older guys? You’re all so uptight.”

“Not uptight. Afraid. We’re all very afraid.”

Brenna kicked off her shoes and shifted on the top step of the porch. It was well after two and while she knew she had to get back home, she didn’t want to leave. Not that she wanted to stay. Being around Nic made her nervous.

She stared up at the night sky. They were far enough away from any large city for the stars to be visible. Hundreds of lights twinkled like rhinestones on black velvet.

“Mia needs a keeper,” Nic muttered.

Brenna chuckled. “Probably. I think she completely freaked out Joe.”

“She told me she wanted to meet his friends. She’s only eighteen.”

“Mia has always been older than her years. Don’t forget, she’s been in college since she was sixteen and she’s been engaged. She’s way more worldly than I was at her age.”

“One day someone is going to take her up on one of her blatant offers, and then where will she be?”

Brenna turned to look at the man sitting next to her. “In someone’s bed.”

He flinched. “We’re talking about your baby sister.”

“So? Her relationship to me doesn’t prevent her having sex.”

Nic glanced at her. “You okay?”

“About Mia? I’m fine.”

“Not about Mia. About Joe.”

“Oh, that. Can I say I don’t want to talk about it?”

“Sure.”

She thought about all that had happened. “His arrival changes everything. He’s interested in inheriting. Who wouldn’t be? It’s a lot of money.”

“Your grandfather hasn’t left him anything yet. Maybe you should wait to panic.”

She glanced at him and managed a smile. “Oh, sure. Be rational. So like a guy.”

He shrugged. “I mean it, Brenna. Lorenzo may be old-fashioned, but he’s not an idiot. Why would he leave everything to someone who knows nothing about the business?”

She desperately wanted to believe Nic, and in a way, what he said made sense. “Okay. I’ll try to calm down.”

“Good.”

She sighed. “Mia told me my grandfather tried to take you on.”

“She’s exaggerating.”

“I’m sorry if the situation got ugly.”

“We discussed the feud, taking opposite sides, of course. Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”

She didn’t doubt that. Nic was more than capable.

“It’s been quite an evening,” she said as she pulled her legs to her chest and rested her arms on her knees. “So what did you think? This was your first Marcelli party and all.”

“Plenty of surprises. Your brother showing up was unique entertainment.”

“Tell me about it. I hope we don’t have an even bigger surprise at the double wedding.”

They were sitting close enough that when he moved, his shoulder brushed against hers. In the still night she could almost hear him breathing. Her skin prickled with awareness.

“We have to talk about it,” he said.

Oh, no they didn’t. “I’m not sure I have the emotional energy to deal with one more thing.”

“We didn’t use any birth control.”

Those six words exploded in her brain. Brenna swore under her breath. No way. That wasn’t possible. She was more responsible than that. Never once in her life, not even all those years ago when she’d been so in love with Nic had she ever allowed herself to be so swept away that she didn’t even think about birth control.

She straightened her legs and crossed her arms over her midsection. Talk about going from sexual interest to horrified panic in less than fifteen seconds. Thank God for modern science and birth control pills.

“There aren’t health issues with me,” he continued. “But there are other considerations.”

He sounded remarkably calm. In his position she would have been shrieking.

“I’m on the Pill,” she told him hastily. “I meant to go off it after Jeff and I separated, but my doctor warned me I would have mood swings. With all the stuff going on with my grandfather and the winery, followed by my decision to start my own winery, this didn’t seem like a good time to be emotionally unstable.”

He glanced at her. “You don’t have to justify being on the Pill to me. I’m not in a position to complain.”

“I guess not.”

Now that he’d brought it up, she had no choice but to remember everything they’d done and how fast it had all happened. One second they’d been talking and the next clothes were flying and bodies joining. Her insides quivered at the memory.

“We always did have that effect on each other,” she said, not looking at him as she spoke. “I would have thought we’d outgrown it.”

“Apparently not.”

She couldn’t tell from his tone if he thought that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“I try to keep my business life and personal life separate,” he said.

She cleared her throat. “We have a lot of history. Between working together after all this time and our past, it was probably just one of those things.”

“I’m sure it was.”

Damn. That was not the answer she wanted. She wanted their close encounter of the intimate kind to have meant something to him. If the passion was still alive, didn’t that mean that other things from their past could be lurking under the surface? Did she want that?

“Women frequently view me as a sex object, so what happened tonight isn’t a surprise.”

She laughed. “Excuse me?”

He smiled confidently. “Women want me.”

“As in there’s a herd of them roaming the world, lusting after your person?”

“The women in my office think I have a great butt. Maggie told me.”

“I’m amazed there’s room for you and your ego in the same room.”

“Hey, I didn’t make this up. I’m just passing along the information.”

“As I hate being part of a crowd, I’ll do my best to rein in my baser instincts.”

“Don’t do it on my account.”

She wasn’t sure if that was an invitation or more teasing. Not that she wasn’t tempted, but she’d already played with fire once this evening. She should probably stop while she was unscathed and give thanks that she got off easy.

She stood. “It’s time for me to head home. I’ll leave you to deal with your fan club.”

“What if I made you president? You’d be great at the job.”

“Only if it paid enough to make a dent in my loan to you.”

He rose and followed her to the car. Once there, he opened the door and she slid inside. She rolled down the window, then closed the door.

He leaned close and touched her cheek. “It just happened,” he said. “We’re adults. We can handle it.”

She nodded. The truth was she didn’t know if she could handle it, but she didn’t have much choice.

He grinned. “It was a hell of a party.”

“Hey, I know how to show a guy a good time.” She started the engine. “See you, Nic.”

“Drive safely.”

He straightened and stepped back. She put the car in gear and headed down the driveway. Toward home. Yet she felt as if she’d left a part of herself behind.