Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
THIRTEEN
Brandon
“Relax, kitten,” I soothed as I put my hand on the back of her neck and gently kissed her temple. “They’re going to love you.”
I steered Carly towards the door of an apartment building in the heart of Little Italy. She walked stiffly beside me, her body strung tighter than a drum.
“This is crazy, Bran. I shot you, how can you think they’ll love me?”
I stopped when I reached the door and faced her, placing both hands on her neck and using my thumbs to lift her head so our eyes met. “First of all, my mother doesn’t know and it’s probably best if we keep it that way until she’s had a chance to get to know my gorgeous fiancée.” She looked skeptical, but I pushed on. “Second, my brothers will probably hand you a gun and ask if they can watch this time,” I finished dryly.
Carly giggled and the sound filled me with contentment. I loved the sound of her joy. Her face took on a thoughtful expression, “Bran, how come your name isn’t Italian?”
I laughed and grinned. “Actually, it is. My mother is half English and wanted to name us more traditional names”—I winked at her—“Like you, she can be very persuasive. In the end, they compromised. My father chose Italian names, but they are all spelled the English way.”
She giggled again and I couldn’t help pulling her in close. I kissed her deeply, hoping to melt away some of her nervousness. When I pulled back, she looked dazed and I grinned.
Her hand came up to touch her lips and as her eyes cleared of passion, she began to frown. “Brandon!” she hissed. “I can’t meet your mother looking like I’ve just had my tongue in her son’s mouth!”
I laughed and winked as I slung my arm around her shoulders. “She had six boys, kitten. She knows how babies are made.”
Carly’s jaw dropped and she sputtered, “We weren’t—she wouldn’t think we just—” I kissed her again, effectively shutting her up and led her into my mother’s home.
“Ma!” I called out as we walked into the first apartment door on the right. All five of my brothers were lounging in the front room, watching a Sunday football game. Every head turned in our direction and a wicked gleam slowly entered all of their eyes. If it were anyone but Carly under my arm, I might not have allowed my brothers to meet my woman all at once. They could be overwhelming and they were always a group of annoying bastards, but I knew she was strong enough to handle them.
“Fratelli,” I said in a low voice, my eyes narrowed in a warning for them to behave. “This is my fiancée, Carly. Try not to be your normal jackass selves and scare her off.”
Five rascally grins were their response and I groaned inside, knowing the stupidity they were capable of. Carly smiled and waved, chuckling at their terrible attempts to appear innocent.
I sighed and pointed as I introduced the group. “My oldest brother, Christian, I’m next in the lineup, then Luca, the twins Tristan and Gavin, and the baby, Adam.”
Each one stood and scooped her up into a big bear hug, forcing me to growl, “Get away from my woman, dipshits.”
“Brandon!” A gravelly, yet feminine voice brought my head around and my mouth turned up as I spied my mother walking into the room from the kitchen. Maria DeLuca was a petite woman, with dark hair and whiskey-colored eyes, which were currently dancing with joy.
I grabbed Carly’s hand and dragged her over to meet the second most important woman in my life. “Mamma,” I greeted warmly, letting go of Carly’s hand to kiss my mamma’s cheek and gently hug her. “Where is Dad?”
Mamma rolled her eyes and patted my cheeks, as though I were still her baby. “Working, but he’ll be here for dinner. He’s as anxious to meet your lady as the rest of us.”
Twisting, I took hold of Carly’s hand and tugged her over to stand in front of me, wrapping my arms around her waist. “This is Carly, my fiancée.”
Carly stuck her hand out but my mother was having none of that. She pinched my arm, forcing me to open my arms, and embraced my beautiful girl. My ma was quite a bit shorter than Carly and she had to bend over slightly to return the hug, her sexy ass pushing back into my groin. Shit. It was one thing to show off my woman’s thoroughly kissed lips, but I wasn’t very keen of spending an afternoon with my mother and brothers, sporting a hard on.
“Welcome to the family, my dear.” Standing back, my mother scowled at me and I squirmed uncomfortably under her stare, my erection quickly deflating. “While I’m beyond excited to be getting a daughter, I don’t understand the rush.”