Read Online Tommy Gabrini 3: Grace Under Fire (The Gabrini Men Series) by Mallory Monroe - Free Book Online

he said, as he
slipped into a pair of briefs.   Then he
looked at how well his brother was put together.   Sal wore a tan suit, with his usual expensive
tie pin, gold chain, and Rolex on his arm, with the entire ensemble bringing
out the sparkling blue of his eyes and the thick brown of his hair.   “You look nice yourself, Sal.   Very distinguished.   You clean up well.”
    “I
still don’t like it,” Sal said.   “I still
feel like a third wheel.”
    Grace
frowned.   “Why would you feel like
that?   Because you don’t have a date?”
    “Because
I’m forced to go to this boring-ass event with my big brother and his
wife.   As if I’m some third wheel.”
    “Oh,
give us a break, Sal,” Tommy said.   “You
don’t have to go.”
    “Yes,
I do.   Jake is on the board at
Beltco.   His vote could make the merger
happen.   I need to be there.”
    “Then
what’s the complaint?” Tommy asked.   “You
could have easily taken someone with you.”
    “Taken
someone?” Sal asked.   “You mean like
another woman?”
    Tommy
laughed.   “Yeah, a woman.   Remember those?   There’s any number of women you could have
asked to attend with you.   They’d love to
go with you.”
    “But
that ain’t happening,” Sal made clear.   “Nobody’s going to think I’m with any woman but Gemma.   Since she can’t be here, she’s in the middle
of that messy trial back in Vegas, then I go alone.   Always.”
    Grace
smiled.   She always loved Sal’s loyalty to
those he loved.   Especially Gemma.   “You’re a good man, Salvatore Luciano.”
    But
he was shaking his head before she could finish her sentence.    “Good?   Me?   You got the wrong guy there.”
    Grace
laughed.   “Okay, Sal Luca.   Sorry.”
    “She’s
right, however,” Tommy said as he headed for his massive closet.   “You’re a good man.   Stop selling yourself short.”
    “What
selling short?” Sal wanted to know. “I’m being honest here!   Am I a smart man for picking a good woman
like Gemma Jones?   Yeah, I’ll give myself
credit for that.   But a good man?   Hell no.”   Then he looked at Grace.   “Good my
ass!”   Grace laughed again.   “Don’t you dare mess up my rep, Mrs. Gabrini,
what’s your problem?”   But then he winked
at her, and laughed too.

 
    The
dinner party was hosted by Jake and Edith Lindley, at their mansion in Madison
Park.   They were an interracial couple as
well, with Jake being of African/Asian descent and Edith of eastern European
descent, and they both welcomed Grace with open arms when Tommy first married
her.  
    “The honeymooners
have arrived,” Jake said jovially as they greeted the Gabrinis in their foyer.
Both Tommy and Grace often forgot that they had been married for only a few
months.   But honeymooners?   They felt too familiar with each other to
view themselves that way.
    “The
honeymooners and Sal, that is,” Jake added.   He never cared much for Sal, suspecting him of harboring racist
tendencies.   But he adored Tommy.
    He
and Tommy shook hands as Grace and Edith hugged.   “How are you, Jake?” Tommy asked.
    “Couldn’t
be better, my man.   Good to see you
again.”  
    Jake
and Sal merely nodded at each other.   “’Sup,” Jake said to Sal.
    “What’s
up?” Sal replied.   He used to go out of
his way to try to befriend men like Jake Lindley, but they always seemed to
view him in a negative light, as if no man could ever make mistakes in life and
change, so he gave up trying.   To hell
with it, was his actual response.   They
could think whatever they wanted to think about Sal.   He didn’t give a shit.
        The party was in full bloom by the time the
Gabrinis arrived, and Tommy and Grace launched right into the thick of
things.   Men tended to follow her, and
women tended to follow him, and they both knew how to smile and hold polite
conversation and keep it moving.   But
Grace, Tommy thought as he kept an eye out on