Page 46 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca
It wasn’t something he’d ever noticed before, but it made him think his mother would appreciate it.
He’d be seeing her in a few days for Thanksgiving, but he doubted she’d want to take it home on the plane with her.
“Eli always puts on a wonderful event. One year this was held at The Retreat, and though it was lovely, it’s a different atmosphere. We’ve learned that letting the men go into the casino, gamble and maybe win, had them bidding higher.”
“That’s sly.”
“Those of us on the committee can be that way.” Selena took a sip of her wine, her eyes darting around looking for Gabriela, who had left his side about ten minutes ago.
He wasn’t sure why he thought she’d stay next to him the whole time.
It wasn’t as if this was a formal date.
They were friends. Friends who brought the other to events so they weren’t solo.
The object was to introduce him to more people here.
Some of those people were single womenshehadn’t introduced him to, but they made their way closer just the same.
He had no interest in any of them and normally sought Gabriela out until most got the hint.
“I’ve been warned,” he said.
His eyes landed on Gabriela. She lifted her glass at him and laughed.
Damn it. It was like she did this on purpose to see if he could survive it since he’d joked he’d be fine.
No, he joked he was mildly terrified.
Too bad that wasn’t so much of a joke.
“I’m sure my daughter gave you an earful,” Selena said.
“She’s a great person. She’s made my transition here much smoother.”
“She’s good that way.”
“Mom,” Garrett said, coming over. “What are you doing?”
“Just talking to Luca. I was going to ask what he thinks of our island.”
“Sure, you were,” Garrett said. “Go bug someone else.”
He watched Selena move away laughing. “She was fine,” he said.
“I’m sure she was, but I wanted to talk to you alone.”
Just great. He didn’t ask Gabriela how her brother would be.
“About what?”
“My sister.”
“We are friends,” he said.
Might as well repeat what had been said to everyone else.
It wasn’t a lie. Even if there was part of him that struggled to look at her that way.
