Mamma , I would like you to meet Catrina Danzi. My fiancée.”
Cecelia said nothing and did nothing at her son’s introduction. She simply stared at Catrina with a sort of disregard that Dante had rarely ever witnessed from her before. His mother was not a rude woman—pleasantry and politeness were her middle name. Cecelia Marcello was proper in every aspect.
Yet, there his mother stood, watching the woman at Dante’s side like she smelled something bad. He didn’t know what to make of that.
The room was too quiet for Dante’s liking. His brothers milled around the kitchen island, observing the scene in silence. Jordyn and Kim continued chopping vegetables, their gazes down on their work. Antony sat at the table with Johnathan in his lap, holding a teether for his grandson to chew on.
“ Tesoro ?” Antony asked.
Cecelia’s lips drew a thin line, fighting to fall into a frown. Still, she stayed quiet.
“Our family and guests will be coming soon to eat, Cecelia,” Antony added quieter.
The unspoken words were loud and clear. Whatever issue Dante’s mother was having with this introduction, she needed to fix it and fast before the rest of the people showed up.
Dante didn’t have a clue what his mother’s problem was. God knew when Lucian and Giovanni brought their respective partners home, she took to them like a moth to a flame. Instantly, she was in love and happy with Jordyn and Kim. She took no issue with the fact their relationships with her sons had come about because of dangerous, or even improper circumstance. She didn’t care that there had been little dating before they were married. She just … adored them. Took the two women in with a joyful grace and open arms.
Why wasn’t she doing that for Catrina?
Catrina’s fingers woven with Dante’s tightened briefly, as if she could sense his discomfort. She remained quiet at his side, waiting for the matriarch of the Marcellos to speak first. Dante had to give his new companion credit for her nerves. Cat didn’t blink a lash to show she was upset over Cecelia’s clear shunning.
It wasn’t as if Dante needed his mother’s permission to marry Catrina, but her acceptance of his choices would be appreciated. Being Italian for their family meant more than large dinners, loud gatherings, and Sundays spent sitting in a pew. They were close and always had been. The last thing Dante wanted his marriage to do was pull those tight knots his family was made of apart, especially because of his mother’s disapproval.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice. He needed to marry and soon. Catrina was the one person who would make that happen for him. She needed something and so did he. Neither of them coerced the other into the arrangement. It was all business and would remain that way for as long as they needed it to.
“Hello,” Cecelia finally said, her voice strained with forced civility.
Catrina smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you,” Cecelia replied tightly, her stony expression unwavering.
The tension in the room only seemed to skyrocket as the two women watched one another.
Catrina examined the food preparations spread across the counters and asked, “Would you like another pair of hands to help?”
“No, I think we have it handled just fine without adding another to the mix. But do explore the house while we wait for the rest of the guests.”
As easily as Cecelia regarded Catrina in disdain, his mother released his fiancée from her stare with a dismissive grace that spoke volumes without even saying a word.
Dante stood stunned. His mother’s actions were so out of place. Maybe not so much for helping in the kitchen, except for the fact that was the very first thing she invited his brothers’ wives to do.
“Ma,” Dante said, hoping his displeasure and warning was clear.
There wouldn’t be a thing he could do about his mother’s disapproval, but he couldn’t stand for Cecelia to disrespect Catrina, especially not
Cecelia said nothing and did nothing at her son’s introduction. She simply stared at Catrina with a sort of disregard that Dante had rarely ever witnessed from her before. His mother was not a rude woman—pleasantry and politeness were her middle name. Cecelia Marcello was proper in every aspect.
Yet, there his mother stood, watching the woman at Dante’s side like she smelled something bad. He didn’t know what to make of that.
The room was too quiet for Dante’s liking. His brothers milled around the kitchen island, observing the scene in silence. Jordyn and Kim continued chopping vegetables, their gazes down on their work. Antony sat at the table with Johnathan in his lap, holding a teether for his grandson to chew on.
“ Tesoro ?” Antony asked.
Cecelia’s lips drew a thin line, fighting to fall into a frown. Still, she stayed quiet.
“Our family and guests will be coming soon to eat, Cecelia,” Antony added quieter.
The unspoken words were loud and clear. Whatever issue Dante’s mother was having with this introduction, she needed to fix it and fast before the rest of the people showed up.
Dante didn’t have a clue what his mother’s problem was. God knew when Lucian and Giovanni brought their respective partners home, she took to them like a moth to a flame. Instantly, she was in love and happy with Jordyn and Kim. She took no issue with the fact their relationships with her sons had come about because of dangerous, or even improper circumstance. She didn’t care that there had been little dating before they were married. She just … adored them. Took the two women in with a joyful grace and open arms.
Why wasn’t she doing that for Catrina?
Catrina’s fingers woven with Dante’s tightened briefly, as if she could sense his discomfort. She remained quiet at his side, waiting for the matriarch of the Marcellos to speak first. Dante had to give his new companion credit for her nerves. Cat didn’t blink a lash to show she was upset over Cecelia’s clear shunning.
It wasn’t as if Dante needed his mother’s permission to marry Catrina, but her acceptance of his choices would be appreciated. Being Italian for their family meant more than large dinners, loud gatherings, and Sundays spent sitting in a pew. They were close and always had been. The last thing Dante wanted his marriage to do was pull those tight knots his family was made of apart, especially because of his mother’s disapproval.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice. He needed to marry and soon. Catrina was the one person who would make that happen for him. She needed something and so did he. Neither of them coerced the other into the arrangement. It was all business and would remain that way for as long as they needed it to.
“Hello,” Cecelia finally said, her voice strained with forced civility.
Catrina smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you,” Cecelia replied tightly, her stony expression unwavering.
The tension in the room only seemed to skyrocket as the two women watched one another.
Catrina examined the food preparations spread across the counters and asked, “Would you like another pair of hands to help?”
“No, I think we have it handled just fine without adding another to the mix. But do explore the house while we wait for the rest of the guests.”
As easily as Cecelia regarded Catrina in disdain, his mother released his fiancée from her stare with a dismissive grace that spoke volumes without even saying a word.
Dante stood stunned. His mother’s actions were so out of place. Maybe not so much for helping in the kitchen, except for the fact that was the very first thing she invited his brothers’ wives to do.
“Ma,” Dante said, hoping his displeasure and warning was clear.
There wouldn’t be a thing he could do about his mother’s disapproval, but he couldn’t stand for Cecelia to disrespect Catrina, especially not
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