I’m Yours, Baby(39)
“Good morning, Mamma,” he murmured, bending low to kiss her on the cheek. “I hope you’re hungry because it looks like my Gianna made enough French toast to feed an army.”
My cheeks heated further, but Nic’s mom didn’t give me the chance to think about how her son had introduced me to her. She tugged me away from Nic, her gaze sweeping me from head to toe, before a wide grin spread across her face. “Such a beautiful girl.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. DeLuca.”
“Please, call me Mamma Allegra,” she urged, wrapping me up in a warm hug before stepping away and patting me on the cheek. “There’s no need to be so formal.”
“Thank you,” I replied faintly, wondering even more about what Nic could possibly have said to his mother about me.
I widened my eyes at him in amazement at how welcoming his mom was being, as she moved to the stove. “And she cooks!” she exclaimed, helping me to get the food I’d made served up and plates on the table. “More than breakfast foods?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She lifted a brow at me and I hurried to correct myself. “Yes, Mamma Allegra. I love to cook.”
“I’m so happy to know I won’t have to worry about my son’s penchant to order take out if I’m not cooking for him and my grandbaby.”
“French toast!” Sophia squealed from the door, still dressed in her pajamas. She raced into the room and climbed onto a chair at the table. “Thank you, Nonna.”
“Don’t thank me,” Allegra said, waving in my direction. “Gianna made breakfast for all of us this morning.”
“Anna,” Nic corrected, practically growling at her.
“I thought her name was Gianna?” Allegra asked, her gaze darting between the two of us.
“It is,” I confirmed. “But everybody calls me Anna.”
“Except for my son,” she murmured, sending him a sly grin before beaming at me. “I understand completely. I’ll make sure to call you Anna from now on.”
I murmured something faintly, completely bewildered and uncertain as to what it was she understood. Wanting a way out of the conversation, I helped Sophia cut her food while Allegra and Nic sat down. Once everybody had their plates full, I served myself and was about to leave the room when Nic’s hand whipped out to grasp my elbow.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I thought I’d eat in my room to give the family some privacy.”
“There will be no hiding away from us like a servant,” he grumbled. “You eat with us.”
“This is what happens when you don’t wait for a lady to be seated like I taught you to do,” Allegra chimed in, making Sophia giggle around a mouthful of French toast and easing some of the tension.
Nic stood from his seat and helped me into mine, his hand slipping from my lower back to my butt and giving it a quick squeeze along the way.
“Do you know how to make pancakes with chocolate chips in them?” Sophia asked as Nic sat back down.
I was thankful for the distraction her question gave me and turned all of my attention towards her. “I know how to make all sort of pancakes. Chocolate chip, blueberry, banana. Even caramel apple ones.”
“Chocolate chip is my favorite kind, but I’d like to try the apple ones too.”
“I’ll make them for you soon,” I promised, reaching out with my napkin to wipe some of the syrup from her chin.
“Very well done, Niccolo,” Allegra whispered, but not softly enough that I didn’t hear her. My head jerked up and I caught both of them staring at Sophia and me. Allegra had a look of approval on her face, while Nic looked like he wanted to drag me off to the nearest cave. I refused to consider what it could all mean. Now wasn’t the time, so I filed it all away for later consideration, as best I could, while I ate my breakfast.
Nic insisted on cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, so I left him to it while I helped Sophia get ready for church. I lost the battle to sit in the back of the car with Sophia when Allegra insisted it was more comfortable for her in the back seat. I was ultra-aware of both of them riding behind us when Nic tugged my hand off my lap and twined his fingers with mine on the middle console. He only let go after he’d parked the car.
I climbed out while he was helping Sophia and Allegra, earning myself a glare and a growl. “You wait for me to open the door for you from now on, Gianna.”
He didn’t wait for a response, leading us all into the church. Nic gestured for me to enter his family pew first. I couldn’t argue, aware of all the gazes directed our way. He followed behind me, settling Sophia on his other side and his mother next to her. Mass went by in a blur, with me more aware of the warmth of Nic’s body brushing against my side than the words spoken by the priest. If I’d been going to confession today, I’d have quite a number of sins to confess. Both in deeds and thoughts.