The Marcelli Bride

4

Darcy unpacked three pairs of linen slacks, jeans, several shirts, and five pairs of shoes, all black. As she held up her third black T-shirt, she felt her lips twitch. Dear God, she really did dress like a rock star groupie in mourning.

Not the best time in the world to notice, she thought as she carried her clothes to the closet. What with her being abducted the last time she’d gone to the mall, she had a feeling she would be doing all her future purchases online. But maybe she could try a color other than black. Maybe-

A knock on the door interrupted her mental list. “Come in,” she called.

The door opened and a very pretty, very pregnant woman entered. She had long, dark wavy hair, olive skin, and huge brown eyes. She held a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other.

“Hi, I’m Brenna,” the woman said. “I can’t have wine, but I figured you’d need some.”

Darcy glanced at the bedside clock. “It’s barely eleven in the morning.”

“Sure, but you’re still on East Coast time.” Brenna grinned. “Trust me. With my family, you need all the help you can get. Drink early and often.” She set the bottle and glass on the dresser. “Wow. You have a lot of clothes. And they’re gorgeous. I’m currently shopping in the tent department of the sporting goods store. What a nightmare. Nic and I both really want kids, but I have to tell you, unless he plans to carry the next one, this is the end of the line for me.”

Brenna lowered herself into the room’s only chair, then sighed. “Better. Now, you look confused. What didn’t I explain?”

Darcy sank down on the edge of the bed. “Who the hell are you?”

Brenna grinned, then started to laugh. “Sorry. Brenna Marcelli. Well, technically Brenna Giovanni. I live in the next house over, which is about two miles away. I’m one of Marco and Colleen’s daughters. I run Marcelli Wines. I have my own winery, too. Four Sisters. It’s doing great, but that’s another story.”

Darcy felt as if she’d been caught up in a tornado. “Okay. Am I in your room?”

“Nope. You’re in Katie’s. She has much better taste. I shared a room with my twin, Francesca, and let me tell you, you don’t want to stay there. Very scary wallpaper.”

“You’re one of four sisters?”

Brenna nodded. “Katie’s the oldest. She’s married to Zach, and they have one daughter, Valerie. Francesca is my fraternal twin. She’s married to Sam. They have a fifteen-year-old, his from a previous marriage, and twins who are nearly two and a half. Mia, the youngest of us, has just graduated from Georgetown with a master’s in world domination. She starts her job with the State Department in September. Currently, she’s traveling with friends, enjoying her last summer of leisure. And you’ve already met Joe.”

“Yes.” The good-looking naval officer. “I thought being in a political family was complicated, but we’re easy compared to your relatives.”

Brenna rested her right hand on her swollen belly. “Don’t worry. They won’t quiz you on the various relationships for at least a week. But this can’t be tough duty. You’re used to hanging out at state dinners. I could never do that. I’m way too opinionated.”

“I avoid state dinners. That’s more my sister’s idea of a good time.”

“Still, I can’t imagine what it must be like to be the president’s daughter. Everything would be so public. I mess up enough in my life that I really appreciate being anonymous.”

“There are advantages to no one knowing who you are,” Darcy said lightly.

Brenna’s expression turned sympathetic. “They told us about the kidnapping. How terrifying. Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine,” Darcy said. “They didn’t hurt me.”

Brenna glanced at the marks on her wrists. “I would think they did. But you’ll be safe here. There are tons of us to protect you. Not that I could really do much. Except maybe sit on the guy until he screamed for mercy. But Joe’s burly. All that SEAL training. Just toss him a Q-Tip and he’ll take on any enemy.”

“A Q-Tip, huh? What could he do with an actual weapon?”

“Conquer the known civilized world. Oh!” She pressed down on her belly. “Someone’s awake. It’s time for soccer practice.” She felt around on both sides of her stomach. “Just the two feet, I think. There can only be two. I couldn’t take more.”

“Are you expecting more?”

“I’m terrified I’m having twins. The doctor swears there’s just the one heartbeat, but they’ve been wrong before. I’m a twin, my twin had twins, and I firmly believe God has a sense of humor. Plus, I’m huge. Francesca didn’t even show until fifteen minutes before she gave birth, and Katie gained exactly twenty-seven pounds. I am a freak of nature.”

Darcy wanted to be sympathetic, but she couldn’t help laughing. If Brenna was an example of the Marcelli sisters, she couldn’t wait to meet them all.

She heard footsteps in the hallway. Grandma Tessa appeared. “Brenna, there you are. How are you feeling? Are your feet swollen?”

Brenna raised a foot. “Pretty much all the time since late June.”

“When are you due?” Darcy asked.

“The end of September. Another seven weeks. I don’t think I can stand it. Can someone just knock me out until after the delivery?”

Grandma Tessa reached in the pocket of her dress and pulled out a rosary. “Don’t talk like that. Babies are a blessing.”

Brenna leaned toward Darcy. “It’s never good when Grandma Tessa takes a trip around the beads. Just so you know.”

Darcy grinned. “Thanks.”

Tessa sniffed. “You’re already teaching our guest to be disrespectful. What will your mother think? What will the president think?”

“You don’t have to worry about him,” Darcy said. “I won’t tell.”

Grandma Tessa returned her rosary to her pocket. “Lunch is at twelve-thirty. Brenna, you’re staying. I called Nic, and he’s joining us. Darcy.” The old woman reached for her hand. “We’re so happy to have you here with us. I’m going to put you across from Joseph. A pretty face like yours will help his appetite. He doesn’t eat enough. Plus, an officer, eh? Think how nice everyone would look at the wedding.” She winked, released Darcy, and left.

Darcy stared after her. “Am I being set up?”

Brenna chuckled. “Oh, yeah. Big time. Get used to it. Grandma Tessa’s been trying to marry Joe off for the past three years. Matchmaking is a way of life in this family. As the president’s daughter, you’re something of a catch.”

She wasn’t sure about that. “If Joe’s your brother, why does he have a different last name?”

“Ah, that’s one of our more interesting stories.” Brenna tucked her hair behind her ears. “My parents met and fell in love in high school. Neither set of their parents approved-young love never lasts and all that. So when my mom turned up pregnant, the families pressured her to give up the baby for adoption. Which she did.”

Darcy had expected to hear about a child from a previous marriage. “So he was raised by someone else?”

Brenna nodded. “It’s really sad. His adoptive parents were great, but they were killed when he was pretty young. He went into foster care. My sisters and I never knew about him. My parents married right out of high school and are obviously really happy together, but they were crushed to find out what Joe went through. But we found him, and now he’s one of us.” Her smile faded. “At least that’s the goal.”

Darcy shifted on the bed. “I didn’t mean to pry, I just wondered.”

“Makes sense. Grandpa Lorenzo gets on him to change his name to Marcelli, but Joe resists. He’s still holding back, not ready to be one of us. Which is probably more than you wanted to know, huh?” Brenna slowly pushed to her feet. “I’m going to leave you to unpack. I have some wine I need to check on. See you at lunch.”

“Okay. Thanks for the information on the family.”

Brenna smiled. “There’s so much more, but I don’t want to scare you off on your first day. But I’m sure Katie, Mia, and Francesca will be visiting before long. Brace yourself. Remember what I said about drinking wine. It really helps.”

Joe did his best to duck out of lunch. The last thing he wanted was a big family meal and a lot of questions about his career-as in why wasn’t he leaving the navy to move to the winery-and his love life-had he met someone, when was he getting married and having babies? But when he opened the back door to make his escape, he saw Grammy M and Gabriel arriving, and he could no more run out on her than he could back a car over a puppy. Tessa might perform the strongest cheek pinch on three continents, but Grammy M’s warm smile and lilting Irish voice got him every time.

“Joe,” she said warmly as she climbed out of the large yellow Cadillac. “I’d heard you’d come home. It’s been far too long since we’ve set eyes on you.”

He walked down to hug the tiny, old woman. “I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy for those who love you most?” she asked gently. “’Tis a sad thing when a grandson stays away.”

“I’m here now,” he told her.

“So I see. Along with the president’s daughter. Who would have thought. Is she pretty?”

Joe didn’t want to think about Darcy Jensen or the fact that he’d been aware of her from the first second he’d seen her. “She’s okay.”

Gabriel got out of the car and reached for his cane. “That Lauren’s a real looker. I can’t say much about her sister. Still, a kidnapping had to take some of the starch out of her sails.”

He limped up to join Grammy M, then took her arm. “Step aside, sonny,” he snapped. “I’ll be escorting my woman to lunch if you don’t mind.”

Grammy M giggled. “Oh, Gabriel. Don’t talk like that in front of the young people. You know it makes them uncomfortable.”

“My grandson doesn’t mind,” Gabriel said with a cackle. “He likes knowing the family plumbing still works at my age.”

Joe winced. He was with Grammy M on this particular topic.

He followed the older couple into the kitchen, where he found it in the usual Marcelli chaos. Tessa and Colleen carried huge bowls and platters of food to the dining room. Nic had arrived. He managed to call out a greeting to Joe as he helped a very pregnant Brenna out of a chair. Marco carried in several bottles of wine, then paused to kiss his mother-in-law on the cheek. The action caused Tessa to notice that Grammy M had arrived.

“So you’re here,” Tessa said in a chilly voice.

“I wanted to meet Darcy,” Grammy M told her serenely. “So she could see we weren’t all rigid and judgmental.”

Tessa bristled. “I’m not sure you should be around a young woman like that. You could send her down the dark path to hell.”

Marco headed for his mother while Joe took Grammy M by the arm.

“Let’s get you and Gabriel seated,” he said, leading her into the dining room.

“Nowhere near the likes of her,” Grammy M said. “She’s turned cruel and difficult. It’s amazing what old age will do to a body.”

Gabriel leaned close. “She’s jealous.”

Grammy M smiled and patted his hand. “Perhaps. I just…” Her voice trailed off. “No use crying over spilled milk, as my nana used to say. ’Tis her loss.”

Brenna waddled into the room. “You’re both stubborn,” she said as Nic wrapped his arm around her thick waist. “You two have been friends for what, thirty-plus years? Why let things get in the way now?”

Grammy M picked up her napkin. “Ask Tessa. She started it. Tellin’ me I had to choose between her and Gabriel. As if she resented my happiness. That’s not friendship.”

Nic patted Brenna’s shoulder. “Did I tell you not to get involved? Did you listen?”

“I hate that they don’t talk. It’s not right.”

Tessa bustled into the room. “Sit everyone. The food’s all ready. Brenna, you’re there, with Nic beside you. No, save that seat. It’s for Darcy. She’ll be across from Joe.”

Everyone turned to look at him as he held in a groan. Shit. He’d been home less than twenty-four hours and this was Tessa’s second attempt at matchmaking.

Marco came in with a tray of pasta. Colleen followed with baskets of bread. Joe retreated to the kitchen, thinking if he helped carry things maybe he could escape being the center of attention for once.

An unnecessary plan, he realized when he returned and found everyone focused on Darcy Jensen as she entered the dining room.

She still wore the fitted sundress she’d had on when she’d arrived. The black and white fabric hugged slender curves. He preferred women on the lush side of the scale, but she wasn’t bad-looking. And she smelled good. He’d always been a sucker for that.

“If this is lunch, I’m not sure I can face dinner,” Darcy said into the silence. “It, um, looks delicious.”

“It is,” Brenna told her. “And you’re probably one of those disgusting women who can eat what she wants without gaining a pound. It makes me want to hate you, but I won’t.” She waved toward Grammy M. “Darcy, I don’t believe you’ve met my maternal grandmother and Gabriel. We call her Grammy M, short for Mary-Margaret O’Shea. Gabriel Reese is her-”

“Paramour in sin,” Tessa snapped. “That’s right. They’re living together without the benefit of marriage.” She made a quick sign of the cross. “So have a seat.”

Marco jumped to pull out Darcy’s chair. Brenna introduced Nic while Colleen hustled her mother-in-law into the kitchen, no doubt to warn her to back off. Joe made himself busy at the buffet, opening bottles of wine.

Lorenzo walked into the dining room and took his place at the head of the table.

“Damn fool idea to have a big meal in the middle of the day,” he snapped. “No one will want to work later.”

“I was planning to take a nap anyway,” Brenna said cheerfully. “I have to, what with not sleeping at night. Here’s my question. Why nine months? Why can’t pregnancy last three months, or four? Isn’t that enough? I know I’m ready.”

“Your time will come,” Grammy M promised. She turned her attention to Darcy. “Welcome, child. How was your journey?”

“Good. I came here via Florida. Traveling in secret takes longer than regular travel.” Darcy hesitated, as if not sure what to say. “I, um, appreciate your family taking me in. You’ve all been very kind.”

“We’re happy to have you,” Colleen said as she walked back into the dining room with another tray. This one contained a roast and potatoes. After setting everything on the table, she motioned for Joe to take his seat. She did the same, with Tessa following close behind.

Lorenzo make a great show of tasting his glass of wine, then nodding. “Brenna, this is one of yours.”

“That merlot-cab blend you didn’t want me to bother with,” she said smugly. “It’s perfect, isn’t it? I told you it would be.” She gazed longingly at the bottle. “I swear the first thing I’m doing after I’m done breast-feeding is getting drunk. I miss wine. I can give up caffeine and processed foods and other alcohol, but I really, really miss wine.”

“You’ll get there,” Nic said as he kissed the top of her head.

“Easy for you to say,” she complained. “You get to drink what you want.”

Lorenzo waited until everyone had a glass, then raised his. “Welcome, Darcy Jensen. Welcome to the family.”

Brenna raised her water, everyone else picked up their wineglass. “Welcome.”

Joe looked across the table at Darcy. She looked startled by both the words and the gesture, although she raised her glass and smiled.

He remembered his first reaction to the Marcelli family and had an idea of what she was feeling. Overwhelmed didn’t cover it. The Marcellis tended to suck people up and make them their own. Once branded, it was difficult to escape.

As the platters and bowls were passed around, he glanced at her. She listened to the conversation around her but didn’t speak much. He would have expected her to claim all the attention, but she seemed content to observe. She took small portions and didn’t finish them. He could see her collarbone and the hint of ribs where her dress dipped between her breasts. Did she avoid food because of fashion or something else?

Too skinny. Not his type. And yet…He felt it-the subtle tension between them. A precursor to attraction.

Not to worry, he told himself. What he felt didn’t matter. As long as he didn’t act on it, he was fine. No woman was worth his career, certainly not this one.

“Brenna,” Lorenzo said loudly. “You ordered too many barrels. We have no use for them.”

“Oh, they’re not all for us,” she told him. “The extras are for Nic.”

Nic looked at his wife with an expression of long-suffering. “I have more than enough barrels.”

“No, you don’t. You need to age more of your chardonnay in wood, not stainless steel. Then you blend the two together.”

“Brenna, Wild Sea is my winery.”

“Yes, my love, but that doesn’t seem to prevent you from doing it all wrong. Take the extra barrels and use them. You’ll see a big increase in the quality of the reserve chardonnay.”

Darcy leaned toward him. “Why does it matter what they’re stored in?” she asked.

Joe shrugged. “I haven’t a clue.”

As soon as he spoke, he knew he should have kept his mouth shut. But it was too late. Lorenzo set down his fork.

“You should know,” he growled. “You are the firstborn grandchild. The only boy. This could have all been yours. But no. You resist. Why? So you can play soldier?”

“Pop, stop it,” Marco said.

“Don’t worry about it,” Joe told him. He was used to the old man’s complaints. They didn’t bother him.

“If he would just try. Give it a chance.”

“Not interested,” Joe told him.

“I don’t know anything about wine,” Darcy said. “Except that you’re supposed to have red with beef. How big is the Marcelli winery?”

Joe narrowed his gaze. Had she stepped in to deflect the attention from him? Why the hell would she bother?

“More acres than you’d want to walk. I can take you on a tour,” Brenna said. “In a manner of speaking. We’ll have to use carts, what with me being unable to waddle very far, but there’s still a lot to see.”

“Sounds like fun,” Darcy said. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

Brenna grinned. “Are you kidding? I love the chance to show off everything I know about wine.” She patted Nic’s hand. “I’ll explain the difference between the quality we shoot for here at Marcelli Wines and the volume they’re so proud of at Wild Sea.”

“Bite me,” Nic said with a grin.

“I believe that’s what got us into trouble in the first place,” his wife told him. She turned back to Darcy. “Does tomorrow morning work for you?”

“I’m not exactly filling my social calendar these days,” Darcy told her. “Name the time.”

That evening, Alex walked into the small guesthouse. He’d been avoiding it for the past couple of hours, but he’d run out of work and been forced to return.

The space itself wasn’t too bad. He’d turned the dining room into a command center. Computers and monitors covered the table and spilled onto the chairs. A large map of the Marcelli and Wild Sea property covered most of one wall. That left the living room as the only place to sit outside of the two bedrooms.

The rest of the team would be housed at a nearby hotel, but he and Paige would share the house and the single bathroom. He’d suffered through worse, of course. He’d slept in tents, cars, and out in the open, all in the name of getting the job done. The difference was he hadn’t done it in such close quarters with Paige.

The bathroom door opened and she walked out. Her hair was damp, and she’d traded in her dark suit for a loose pair of pajama bottoms and a tank top. No bra. Her nipples were clearly visible through the thin, ribbed fabric.

It had been a long time since they’d shared a roof, and he expected her to run for cover when she saw him. When she didn’t do anything but nod, he was determined to show he didn’t care, either.

“They’re in for the night at the house,” he said. “Richards had the first shift. He’ll let us know if he spots anything.”

“I don’t think there’s going to be trouble, but it’s best to be sure,” she said as she walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Did you taste the pasta Grandma Tessa sent over? It’s spectacular. I’m going to have to add a couple of miles to my run every morning or I won’t fit into my clothes.”

As she spoke, she bent over and pulled out a covered bowl. He wasn’t so much interested in the food as in the way the pajama fabric stretched over her ass. He couldn’t figure out if she was just being herself or if this was all a carefully constructed plan to drive him insane.

“We need to clear the air,” he said, hating how stiff he sounded.

She straightened and faced him. “Is there a problem?”

“You tell me. We started out in the same training class.”

“Ah.” She reached for a bowl and scooped pasta into it. “You’re worried that I’m bitter. Don’t sweat it, Alex. You had a couple of lucky breaks, where you got to strut your stuff. You’re good, and I’m okay with that.”

He hated her causal acceptance. “You used to be driven. You used to want it all.” He remembered it had been a mutual decision for them to end things. They’d both been more interested in their careers than in each other.

“Not anymore.” She put the small bowl in the microwave and punched in a time. “I guess I’ve mellowed with age. These days I’m looking for more balance in my life.”

She was saying all the right things, and he hated that. “You get that from your husband?”

Her green eyes narrowed. “Yes. Not so much from his life as from his death.”

Alex instantly felt like a jerk. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“Thanks, but I’m okay with it now. I still miss him, but I mostly remember the good times.”

With that she took her pasta from the microwave and walked to her room.

He watched her go and wondered what she remembered from their time together.