Page 52 of Tommy
“She went to powder her nose.”
Vinny chuckles. “Mama would be proud.”
I snort. Yeah, she would. She made it a point to tell us that ladies never use the restroom. Something about that word and a woman in the same sentence set herteeth on edge. Instead, for as long as I could remember, it was a “powder room” when speaking of a woman. Mama didn’t give a shit what a man called it for himself, but ladies were to be treated differently.
“Speaking of which, have you talked to her lately?”
Vinny nods around the sip of his wine. “Yes. She wants to start family dinners up again now that you’re all healed.”
I roll my eyes at that. We used to have them, but then what happened with Milly and then me put them on pause. I was sort of hoping to end them altogether, but I guess I was the only one. Family dinners just turned into Mama trying to set us up with people. All the talk about grandkids and weddings. Now that she has our nephew to dote on, it’s eased the burden a bit, but Mama is a hard woman to dissuade. She’ll find a way to get what she wants, no matter how long it takes.
Just ask her how she got Dad. He used to say he fell instantly. But for her? She claimed she tracked him for a while, plotting and planning until the moment was right to appear andmakehim fall.
“Perhaps you can bring this date of yours. Might get Mama off your back for a bit.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “You mean you want her distracted enough to not setyouup again.”
He shrugs. “Can’t blame me for trying.”
I shake my head and look away, only for my gaze to stall on the vision coming my way.
Payton.
I took her all over the city today and heard not one word out of her other than her request for more makeup.Something I completely forgot about until she mentioned it. I had half a mind to call in someone to come and do it for her, but I think she would have thought it was over the top. Because I wasalreadybeing over the top.
Before Payton, every other woman was just that, another woman. There was nothing special about them, nothing that held my attention more than what I needed them for in that moment, that hour, that night. With Payton, sheshouldjust be someone. And not just theonlyone.
In such a short amount of time, she’s captivated me in every way possible. I knew before the day began that this was going to test my will, and she broke it just by being herself. The boutiques catered to my every whim, not batting an eye, nor did she. But I watched. I focused. I listened to the things she wasn’t saying because her voice seemed to have left her once more. Something I notice happens around others, but not when it’s just her and me. Then she finds her voice and speaks. Not much, but it’s enough for me to notice. And I enjoy those moments that much more since they’re so rare.
However, her eyes betrayed what she was truly feeling. They sparkled when she was draped in a color she liked. Their worry eased when a certain soft fabric fluttered over her. Small tells that had me saying yes to far more than what she needed for one night.
I’d already seen what she was going to wear tonight. She tried it on in the shop, and I also saw her at home in it as she exited her room and before I helped her put her coat on, covering up her perfectness. And yet she still takes my breath away just by simply walking toward me. Looking like she’sreally mine. As if none of this is just a play on the world that we live in today.
“Careful, brother,” Vinny murmurs in warning beside me, as he no doubt can see where my eyes have traveled. Him and everyone else who might be looking. I’m showing too much of my hand. Something that’s never a good idea.
Very few times have any of us Leone brothers brought a date to any function. We’ve never paid for a person to be on our arm, and we’ve made sure not to bring someone who could be used in any way against us. I shouldn’t have brought Payton here tonight, but I was unable to think of a night without her.
I’ve seen her every day since I first met her, and the thought of not seeing her in a certain time frame doesn’t do well for me. She had days off, but she never took them. And now I know why. The money was the only focus for her. But I’ve taken that away, and now, hopefully, the only pull for her is me. Just like the only pull for me is her.
She steps beside me but says nothing, taking in my drink and my brother all in one glance before settling her eyes back on me. Something my inner core relishes as it burns with approval.
I know Vinny is assessing her, just like every man here. Even more so since he’s my brother. He might see what she has on the outside: perfect show of elegance in her hair, a ponytail with a curl on the end, simple yet sophisticated. Her makeup is flawless, covering every bruise so easily that it looks as though she had never been touched. The soft pink satin of her dress rolls off one shoulder as it cinches at the waist, then falls to the floor. A high slit on one side that only reveals her toned legs when she moves. Legs covered in vinesthat rope up each calf from the gold flats on her feet. Which led to a fight with the store owner.
Payton is on her feet every night, and while tonight will be no different, I wanted her to feel some level of comfort. Women might say they don’t care about foot pain, but my mama taught me well. And another thing she taught me, other than the powder room, was that no woman would pick heels over flats unless they didn’t go with the dress. And these have just enough rose gold in them to complement the pink of her gown.
She’s simple. Elegant. Showing just a hint of skin, but nothing to entice more than she already does. A hint that she is, for all that they know, mine.
“Payton, this is my brother Vinny. The head of thefamiglia.”
Payton turns with a small smile for him, one that my brother returns with a bowed head of his own. He might have opened his mouth to invite her to the family dinner to save his own ass, but Bobby interrupts before he can do more than part his lips.
“Fucking hell, I’m going to kill the Delany brothers.” He pushes into our group, parting me and Payton from Vinny as he rests his arms on the bar top. “Shot of whiskey and fucking red wine,” he says through gritted teeth.
I find my lips twitching as I sip from my glass. Usually I’m the one breaking protocol first. It’s refreshing to not be the one who draws Vinny’s eye roll for a change.
“Bobby.” No growl, no shout. It’s barely a whisper on the wind, but enough for Bobby to bow his head at Vinny and nod. But not enough for him not to accept the shot, tossing it back before grabbing his other drink and turning to face us.
“One won’t kill me,” he mutters as he leans both elbows back on the bar, sipping his drink and looking out at the crowd before his eyes fall on Payton. Then me. Then back to her.
