Wild and Wicked, page 23
She giggled. “Given everything you’ve said and done so far tonight, I’d say he’s an excellent counselor.”
“He is.”
“You know, I picked up my phone about a million times a day to text or call you, wanting to just talk to you about anything, everything, nothing,” she confessed.
“Why didn’t you?” he asked.
“I didn’t know if you’d…we didn’t exactly leave things in a place where…”
“Gianna,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“I’m always going to want you to text and call me. I don’t care if it’s a million times a day.”
She smiled, wondering how he always knew the exact things to say to make her melt.
“Now that I have you in my arms again, it feels like the world is finally right.”
She felt the same way. She’d spent a lifetime feeling slightly out of step, unable to make the pieces of her puzzle fit together. Then she stepped under the mistletoe with Elio, and everything just slid into place.
“I can’t resist you,” he murmured, pressing his lips against hers, firmly, passionately, and this time, there was no pulling away.
At least not until she heard Liza’s voice right next to them. “What the hell are you doing?”
The two of them broke apart, and she could tell from Elio’s amused grin, he’d expected the interruption.
“It’s just like the mistletoe kiss but without the mistletoe.” Keeley grinned, stepping up behind Liza, one song ending as another began. It was a popular line dance, so the floor began to crowd up, everyone moving in unison.
“Mistletoe?” Liza repeated, confused, even as she hopped three times before sliding to the left. Obviously, Keeley had forgotten to fill their friend in on the holiday kiss. “What are you talking about?”
Gianna might have laughed at the four of them in a line, discussing the kiss while managing to keep time with every single one of the steps in “The Cupid Shuffle.”
“Gianna and Elio kissed under the mistletoe at the holiday party. And let me just say, it was a hot one. I don’t blame you for going back for seconds, girlfriend.” Keeley was, of course, under the mistaken impression that this was just their second kiss.
Liza, however, was too astute not to realize that things between them ran much deeper than that. But before she could call them out on it, they were absorbed into a throng of dancers, Gio and Rafe jumping in, guiding Keeley to a spot in front of them so they could follow her moves.
Liza laughed when Luca, who’d claimed a place next to her, slid left instead of right, bumping into her. “You’re messing me up,” she complained playfully.
The Morettis were no strangers to a good time, and they’d obviously hit that point in the night when everyone was ready to take things to another level when the next song started. They formed a big circle, everyone taking a turn in the middle, wowing the others with their wicked moves.
Gage and Penny took a long spin in the center of the circle as they all cheered them on. Gage, after much encouragement, dipped Penny, giving her a long, passionate kiss.
The deejay did a great job keeping everyone on the floor as the crowd “Uptown Funked” it, got “Footloose,” split up with guys on one side, women on the other for the standard, “You’re the One that I Want” duet.
Elio serenaded Gianna with “My Girl” as he old-school, sock-hop spun her around the floor. The women scream-sang “I Will Always Love You” so ear-piercingly that poor Whitney was most definitely spinning in her grave. By the time they’d finished grooving to “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” Gianna was ready for a break.
Elio went to the bar, grabbing a beer for himself and a glass of water for Gianna, before heading back to the table. She thanked him for the drink, taking a long swig before setting it on the table as the rest of their friends returned, fanning themselves and dropping exhaustedly back into their chairs.
Then Aldo, Kayden, and Luca drifted over from their table, shaking Elio’s hand and giving him shit for being so late.
Aldo teased his brother. “You know, I noticed you’ve adopted a Hollywood attitude since becoming a professional athlete, always needing to make a big, splashy entrance.”
“Asshole,” Elio muttered, then he took the opening his brother provided. “Guess I’m going to have to invest in a good watch, since I won’t be a professional athlete much longer.”
Gianna let her gaze scan the faces of everyone around the table, amused by how quiet they’d suddenly gotten. For a split second.
Then they all erupted at once.
“What are you talking about?” Liza asked, managing to make her question the loudest.
Elio tugged his sister’s hair playfully. “I hung up my skates. Let my contract lapse. I’m moving back to Philly at the end of the season. You up for one more brother shadowing your every move?”
Elio had claimed he wouldn’t do that, but like Aldo, he liked to poke the bear when it came to his siblings.
“Shit,” she groaned, though from the smile on her face, no one was buying the fact that she was upset. “You’re really quitting?”
“I’m really quitting,” he said.
Liza reached out, giving him a big hug. “I figured you’d hang in there at least five more years. Having you home…it’s going to be so awesome!”
Luca and Kayden offered their congratulations, but Gianna noticed Gio and Rafe just smiled, unsurprised by the announcement. Which made sense considering Elio had contacted them to buy into the inn business.
Gianna still couldn’t quite believe they would be working together, and it occurred to her that now it was her ultimate dream job.
“You can’t get back soon enough for us,” Gio said. “You gonna be okay answering to this hard-ass, Gee?”
Luca frowned. “Why would Gianna be answering to Elio?”
“Because, as part of my retirement-from-hockey plan, I’ve invested in the haunted inn. Gonna run it with Gianna.”
Keeley squealed. “Thank God that secret is out! I was literally about to pop.”
Liza scowled at her friend. “You knew?”
“Only for a week.” Keeley jerked her thumb at her guys. “These guys didn’t tell me for two whole weeks.”
“And the only reason she got the goods early was because she stumbled across the paperwork on Rafe’s desk,” Gio explained.
Keeley pointed her finger at both her guys. “And that’s the last secret you ever keep from me,” she repeated. “You promised.”
Rafe gave Keeley a kiss on the cheek. “We promise, Kiwi.”
“Well, since we’re on a roll as far as coming clean, why don’t we keep the party going,” Liza said, never missing a beat. “When did the two of you start kissing?”
Elio looked at Gianna, who gave him the one-shouldered “go for it” shrug.
“The first kiss was under the mistletoe, like Keeley said,” Elio started.
“And the second was on the dance floor just now?” Liza asked.
Elio shook his head. “No. It was at the cabin in the Poconos after the holidays.”
“We got snowed in together,” Gianna added.
“No. Way!” Keeley squealed. “Why are we only just hearing about this now?”
Kayden gave his sister an exasperated look. “Why do you think you need to know everything about everyone?”
“Because I do,” Keeley replied, prompting the rest of them to laugh.
“So you got snowed in,” Liza prompted, clearly not happy with the crumbs they’d offered so far. “And you kissed and then you…” She paused for effect, letting them fill in the rest.
Gianna blushed. “Did other stuff.”
Elio chuckled at her very PG response, knowing it was sufficient enough to send all their friends’ thoughts to very X-rated places.
“Whoa. I didn’t see that coming,” Gio said, piping in. “Guess I’m suddenly starting to understand the interest in the inn.”
“You should have seen that kiss under the mistletoe,” Keeley said. “Serious sparks.”
Gianna felt herself blushing. “We were trapped in that snowstorm, and then we sort of fell into the tequila—”
“And the vodka,” Elio added with a wicked grin. “In an attempt to clean out the liquor cabinet.”
“Anyway, we, um…” Gianna’s words faded away when she realized she was about to come right out and admit that she’d had sex with Elio in front of his whole family.
“Had a one-night stand?” Aldo asked Elio softly, trying to make what he knew of his brother’s past relationships fit with what he was seeing now.
Elio shook his head, wrapping his arm around her waist. He’d warned her he was going to say it and it looked like the time was now. “Nope. Gianna is my girlfriend.”
The hockey announcement had shocked everyone to silence for a split second or two. This pronouncement struck harder, no one saying anything for much longer. Gianna got the impression everyone was waiting for one of them to add a “just kidding” to the end of his statement.
“We’re dating,” she added, when no one spoke.
“Exclusively,” Elio stressed, specifically to his sister. “So she won’t need your help uploading her profile to those stupid dating sites.”
Liza sighed. “Another wingman down.”
Luca chuckled, wrapping his arm around her neck. “No worries, cuz. I’ll be your wingman if you want. Looks like you and I are starting to be in the minority here. All our rowdy, single friends and family are settling down.”
“You’re gonna be sorry you offered that,” Liza warned. “Because I’m probably going to take you up on it.”
“So to recap,” Aldo said. “You’re quitting hockey, moving home, dating Gianna, and running a haunted inn?”
Elio nodded. “In a nutshell.”
“Maybe you should have chunked some of that information up. That’s a lot to take in for one sitting,” Aldo joked.
Elio’s fingers tightened against her waist, and Gianna struggled not to laugh. They had chunked it up, unbeknownst to his brother. Because there was still an even bigger bomb to drop.
But the deejay saved them from having to say anything more when he invited the married couple to the floor. Penny sat on a chair as Gage “retrieved” the garter, his head disappearing under the skirt of Penny’s wedding dress—staying there for a little longer than necessary, much to the amusement of the guests. He slipped the garter down her leg with his teeth, waiting as the single men in attendance lined the edge of the floor.
Elio, Gio, and Rafe stood amongst the other Morettis with beers in their hands. Keeley admonished Gio and Rafe, claiming they weren’t even trying to catch the thing and that they should have left their drinks at the table. Gage sling-shotted the garter straight into Tony’s hands. Tony swung it around on his finger before pointing at Jess, the maid of honor, as she laughed.
Then the deejay invited the single ladies to the dance floor for the bouquet toss. Liza and Keeley pulled Gianna from her chair, the three joining the throng of women gathered there.
Penny turned her back to them, tossing the bouquet with an impressive amount of loft. The bouquet flew high and far. Gianna had placed herself at the back of the crowd, which turned out to be the perfect spot to catch the bouquet.
Elio winked at her, laughing when she walked over and handed the bouquet to Jess.
“Chicken shit,” he teased her when she returned to the table.
“I just think it’s time for Tony and Rhys to propose to Jess,” she replied, justifying her decision to give up the bouquet.
“I think they’re struggling to figure out how to make that work. But given the way the three of them are looking at each other right now, I’d say this wedding has convinced them to come up with a plan sooner rather than later.”
Gianna looked over at the trio, so wrapped up in each other, it took her breath away, and she couldn’t help but agree with Elio.
“Come on,” she replied, dragging him to the side of the room so they could watch Penny and Gage cut the wedding cake. “Thought you might appreciate being at the front of the line since you missed dinner.”
They ate their cake, then returned to the dance floor when the deejay slowed things down, playing “Tenerife Sea,” one of her favorite Ed Sheeran songs.
Elio hummed along, his lips next to her ears, lightly singing the line “all that you are is all that I’ll ever need” to her. Gianna pressed more tightly to him, holding him like she’d never let go, and she knew in an instant they’d found “their song.”
He kissed her—a long, slow, passionate one—when the song ended, and it appeared he was no longer willing to hide anything from their friends.
“This has been one of the best nights of my life,” she said, as he led her back to their table.
“And it’s not over yet,” he murmured, kissing her on the cheek.
He was coming home with her. And there was no question what was going to happen when they got there.
“Want something to drink?” Elio asked.
“No, thanks.”
“I’m ready for another,” Luca said, rising. “Gotta take advantage of an open bar the Russos are paying for because God knows this lightning will never strike twice.”
Elio and Luca drifted over to the bar as Gianna excused herself to go to the restroom.
Liza, in true female fashion, rose to go with her. Gianna figured Keeley would have been hot on her heels as well, but she was still on the dance floor with Gio and Rafe.
“You and I need to have a long talk, girlfriend,” Liza said, following her into the ladies’ room.
Gianna grasped her friend’s hand. “I know we do. I hope you’re not mad at me for keeping the Elio thing from you. I wasn’t sure how to tell you at first and as more time passed, I thought, well, I didn’t think he and I would…”
“You didn’t think anything would come from it?”
Gianna shrugged, hating to admit that. “We didn’t make plans or promises when we left the cabin. We just said goodbye. Given his disinterest in relationships…”
Liza grinned. “Trust me, he’s not disinterested when it comes to you.”
Gianna probably should have at least attempted to hide the smile her friend’s observation prompted, but she couldn’t do it. She smiled like a lunatic, her happiness shining through all the cracks.
“Jesus,” Liza muttered. “Please, for the love of God, don’t fill me in on all the great sex you had at my family’s cabin.” She stressed the family part, which had Gianna giggling. “I guess I understand now why you’ve been blowing me off. You don’t need to venture into online dating hell. One of these days, you’re going to have to tell me your trick for finding these guys who fall so fast and forever for you.”
“Sam wasn’t forever,” Gianna reminded Liza.
“You dated the dude eleven years. To the woman who can’t land a guy for more than a night or two, trust me, forever is the right word.”
“Does it bother you?” Gianna asked, suddenly worried. “Me and Elio?”
“Holy shit, no. It’s just…you’re going to have to give me some time to get used to the idea. The two of you are very different people, but when I see you together… Damn, I can see it’s working, and I’m blown away by it. But I’m also kind of worried.”
“Worried?”
Liza sighed. “Elio’s dating track record is nonexistent, so he’s a dark horse, isn’t he? And you had your heart dropkicked by that prick Sam.” Liza reached over and grasped her hand. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Elio won’t hurt me.” Gianna didn’t hesitate to speak the words because she knew, all the way to the depths of her soul, that they were true.
Her utter assurance took Liza aback but not for long. She grinned, squeezing Gianna’s hand tightly. “You’re in love with him,” she said softly.
Gianna nodded.
“And he’s in love with you?”
She shrugged. “We haven’t said the words yet. God, it’s still early days. I just…I think…I mean, I hope.”
Liza considered that, then grinned. “You don’t need hope. And you don’t even need to think about it too hard. Because I see the way he looks at you. If my brother hasn’t already fallen hopelessly, madly in love with you, I’ll eat my bra.”
Gianna laughed. “I hope you’re right.”
“You know, if this works out, somewhere down the line we could be sisters.”
Gianna didn’t know how to reply to that. Not because she didn’t want it with all her heart but because she was still struggling to believe this was all real.
“Best. Thing. Ever,” Liza said, as she reached out and hugged her.
And that was when Gianna realized the Moretti women were no slouches in the warm embraces either.
The two of them laughed happily walking back to the ballroom hand in hand.
Keeley scowled when they resumed their places at the table. “What the hell?” she complained. “Did you guys have the heart-to-heart without me?”
Rafe shook his head. “Everything is not your business.” Of course, now like always, those words went in one of Keeley’s ears and right out the other.
“Incorrect,” she said to her boyfriend, her attention still locked on her and Liza. “Everything good?”
“Everything’s great,” Liza said, smiling at Gianna. Her gaze narrowed as Elio and Luca returned to the table. “You better not fuck this up,” she warned her brother.
Elio took no offense. “I have no intention of fucking anything up.”
Liza bounced back up from her chair. “Good. Now let’s dance until we drop.”
An hour later, Gianna was perilously close to that dropping point.
“You ready to leave?” Elio asked.
She nodded as they returned to the table. They said their goodbyes, retrieved their coats, then walked to the foyer of the grand hotel.
“Did you drive?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Rode with Liza.”
“Good,” he said, and she was glad they wouldn’t have to separate for the drive back to her place.
