A Convenient Arrangement(12)

The only reason Gwen wasn’t going to Justin and Shelly’s today was her desire not to see Leo. If he wasn’t going, well, she loved the Travatis. They were becoming like family. Fine. Gwen checked the time on her alarm clock. Dinner wasn’t until four, she had plenty of time. She could watch a little more TV, then with a shower, some makeup, some clothes, she’d be out the door. Parties always made her feel better. Being around people made her feel alive and jazzed. Yes, a party, a casual dinner with her closest friends, was exactly what she needed to get her mind off Leo. Besides, he was right on one count. She definitely didn’t want his family, especially Aubrey, thinking that Gwen and Leo both getting colds at the same time was anything but a coincidence.



*



No answer. Seriously, a woman who catered to her clients’ every need, and she didn’t answer his text? Leo scowled. Granted, he wasn’t her biggest client, but his sister-in-law was. Gwen really wasn’t going today? She was simply going to let the collective female minds of Aubrey and Shelly and Nina speculate as to why he and Gwen were both missing the New Year’s Day dinner?

“What the hell?” Leo grumbled. Renley lifted his head and turned his boxer mug toward Leo. “No worries, buddy, not the game, not you, just a woman.”

Ok. Gwen was not getting under his skin. She was most definitely not going to be a thorn in his side. Leo wouldn’t allow it. He’d rise above. Really, if she didn’t want a relationship with him, it was her loss, wasn’t it? Granted, he didn’t want a relationship with her either, so he wasn’t sure why exactly he wasn’t thrilled by the no-strings thing. It was perfect, right? They both wanted to pretend nothing happened last night. So easy. So perfect. So what was this weird tightness in his chest when he thought about Gwen’s casual words this morning: “Could we act like this never happened?” He’d been dying to do exactly that…but now…her request didn’t sit well with him.

He stood and stretched his hands over his head. Well, if Gwen wasn’t going to Anthony and Shelly’s, then he would get cleaned up and go. Definitely stop the rumor mill before the gossip started to spin. Hadn’t Max seen them leave together last night? Plus, if they were both calling in sick? Come on, that sounded lame even to him. He’d simply tell Aubrey that he got off the phone, took a long hot shower, a quick nap, and woke up with his chest congestion gone. It could happen, right?

He dug spending time with his brothers and Mrs. Bello. He could even tolerate the estrogen presence. They tended to flock together in the kitchen anyway, whispering in a conspiratorial group. He shuddered. The only reason he hadn’t wanted to go was that he didn’t want to see Gwen after last night, but if she wasn’t going to be there, he might as well go.





Chapter 4




“You’re here!” Shelly threw her arms around Gwen. “And you brought me an orchid? Where did you find an orchid in the middle of friggin’ winter?”

Gwen smiled. “I have my ways.” Orchids were Shelly’s favorite flower. Gwen suspected (okay, hoped!) they’d be a big part of Shelly’s wedding, because she had already imagined an entire theme she could do around orchids.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Shelly leaned in close to Gwen and whispered, “Nonna is off the rails today.” Shelly rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “We just got engaged, and already she’s got like my first seven kids named.”

Gwen took off her coat and Shelly slipped it from her hand.

“Seriously, the woman is out of her mind. I mean, come on, I’m a good Catholic girl. At least let me get married before I start pumping out the bambinos.”

Gwen smiled. The Travati family had a whole lot of love, and they were growing exponentially. Already, in six months, they’d gone from only the four Travati brothers—Justin, Leo, Anthony, and Devon—to the four brothers plus Max and Aubrey and the baby on the way and now Shelly. The family had doubled in size. That didn’t even include the extended family that came with Aubrey: her sister Nina and her dad. Shelly had her grandmother, Mrs. Bello, but she was already a surrogate grandmother to the Travatis. How many Travatis would there be by the end of this year?

When she was a kid, Gwen’s family life hadn’t been this exuberant. There’d been her and her father. Her heart ached. Not today. She wouldn’t think of Mama today. Deep breath. Today was for friends and fun and joy and laughter, not for sad memories of a father who never wanted children and a mother she’d desperately loved but tragically lost.