“Between her and Francesca, I had helpful guides to aid me through my adjustment period. Since today is Sunday and you’re in Chicago, I can introduce you to a Morelli staple—at least, a Chicago staple. I’m not sure how Rafe runs things, but we always ha
ve a mandatory family dinner on Sundays. My husband is very fond of them. I’ll warn you, it may initially feel a bit sexist, but I actually really like them. We’ll get all dolled up, then we’ll head downstairs and make dinner while the men adjoin to the study for pre-dinner drinks.”
My eyes widen, images of handsome, well-dressed men in lush leather wing chairs drinking Scotch and smoking cigars floating to mind. It’s a mental image from another time, but somehow I can see Rafe enjoying that.
“After everything is done, we will serve our own men. Obviously that means you’ll serve Rafe, then sit beside him while we eat.”
“I won’t kneel on the ground at his feet?” I joke.
“Well, what you do after dinner is your business,” she says, slyly.
Sin is the only one I want to kneel for, and he’s not interested. I sigh heavily, but Mia misinterprets and offers a tiny, apologetic smile.
“I know the dinner business is a little old-school, but it can actually be kind of sexy. Mateo and Rafe are both into the illusion of a subservient little wife. Fun fact: back when I met Rafe, within 10 minutes of meeting him, he had me cooking him breakfast. Just because he told me to.”
I smile faintly, following her down a long-ass corridor. “Was that in Vegas, or here?”
“Vegas. The only time I’ve been there.”
Since I love my brother-in-law, I don’t really want to ask, but there will probably never be a better time, either. Normally when I’m around Mia, she has some kind of entourage—whether it’s Adrian, her husband, or one of her little munchkins, but right now it’s just us. “Can I ask an awkward question?”
Pushing open a white door and gesturing for me to go inside ahead of her, she nods, but I can see reluctance on her face. “Sure.”
“Did Vince kidnap you?”
Her eyebrows rise, like that wasn’t the question she was expecting. “Oh. Um… yeah, for a few days.” Quickly changing the subject, she strides across the room and flings open what appears to be her closet. A closet a small family could live in, but a closet, nonetheless. “Anyway, I hope you don’t find this creepy, but when Rafe told me he wanted us to bring you to dinner, I was so excited, I went out and bought you a maternity dress to wear.”
My eyes widen, her distraction working as I follow her inside the giant walk-in closet. “You bought me a maternity dress?”
Mia nods, grabbing a garment bag and draping it across a marble counter so she can unzip it. “I got you a pair of my favorite maternity leggings, too. Not to wear tonight, they’re just my favorite, comfy things, so I thought you should have a pair. It gets hard to feel sexy when you’re pregnant, but these stylish little leggings always do the trick. I know you won’t be showing for a while, but there’s a belly panel for when you are. And I got you these cute shoes to go with the dress,” she adds, opening a cupboard beneath the counter and pulling out a shoe box. Patting the box, she adds, “I have a pair myself, and they’re really comfortable for heels. Later on in pregnancy, you’ll care more about comfort than how pretty your shoes are, but these are the best of both worlds. I have lots of pregnancy pro-tips if you’re ever interested.”
I take the shoe as she hands it to me, noting the Jimmy Choo tag inside. I don’t shop high-end shoes, but I know these are high-end shoes. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Appearing startled, Mia looks at me over her shoulder as she closes my shoe box. “Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”
I bend to slip the shoe on my foot and check the fit. “I know you obviously like Rafe and you’re clearly into this whole… idea of us coupling up and having a baby together, but that is not my plan. I left Vegas because I don’t want to be with Rafe. I don’t want this life. No offense. Obviously you have been nothing but nice to me, but this is not what I want. I want to go back to the life I had before I met Rafe, before I met any of you. I just…. I just want to go back.”
Sympathy is written all over her pretty features. Dropping the dress and shoes, she turns around and takes my hand, like she wants to offer me comfort. “I don’t see that happening. You’re pregnant with his baby, Laurel. Even if you don’t want to be with him, that means he’ll be present in your life. I really hope you’ll give him a shot though. I know he can be a little… Rafe-like, but he obviously likes you, and I think he has it in him to be a really good man.”
“I’m not saying he’s a bad man… although, I mean, that argument could certainly be made.”
“They’re really not that bad once you get used to them,” she assures me. “When you’re new to the family, the men can be a bit much, but you’ll see. They have their quirks, but they are good partners. They’ll do anything to protect you. They come off a bit old-fashioned, but they honestly treasure you in ways men these days just don’t anymore. I know you have your doubts, but I feel like Rafe could make you really happy if you let him.”
I can’t argue with that. I mean, I could. I could tell her what an absolute asshole he was to me when I told him I was pregnant, or about how he let other women flirt with him right in front of me, or the date I had to watch him with at dinner. Hell, I could even tell her Rafe isn’t the problem, that the problem is I developed hard-and-fast feelings for Sin, and going back to Vegas means facing him, even if I go with Rafe.
But I can’t say any of that, because she looks so damn hopeful, and even though she barely knows me, she’s out buying me all her must-have maternity items like I’m already part of the family. Mia has probably been indoctrinated for so long, she doesn’t see any other way. Rafe wants me, so I must be his happily ever after.
Rather than rain on her parade, I offer a smile. “Maybe. We’ll see what happens.”
Her smile comes back and she pats my hand. “As long as you’re open to it.” Dropping my hand, she’s all business again as she tells me, “Now, why don’t you go take a shower so we can get you ready for dinner?”
3
Laurel
After she dolls me up, Mia takes me to the kitchen and introduces me as Rafe’s girlfriend.
I stare at her, and she comes back with a blank, “What?”