Second Chance for Romance полностью

Mark went around the right. Our job was to stand in the aisle and dismiss the guests by rows. We made it to our post before the coordinator had to threaten us with mess duty.

I went looking for Gina as soon as the last of the guests filed out. The reception was on the front lawn—the garden and fountains were actually the back of the house—so I edged along the stream of people climbing the terrace steps.

Gina excused herself from a group as soon as she saw me. I lifted her into the air and kissed her, which surprised us both.

“Why, Mr. Hughes,” she said, “you’ll sully my reputation.”

I laughed and set her down. “Your accent’s coming back.”

“Must be something in the water.”

“Speaking of which… you want something from the bar? Beer? Wine?”

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Um… do I need to?”

She laughed. “Just some lemonade, please.”

“Right. Two lemonades, coming up.”

The caterers had set up bars on either side of the porte-cochère, with cases of alcohol ready in the center. The lines were already five deep and growing.

Fortunately, the regular drinks were on a table at the end of the ones they planned to use for the buffet. They had pitchers of iced tea and water, along with a big fountain for lemonade. I filled two glasses and returned to Gina.

She drank half of hers straight away.

“Thanks. I was parched. They only had champagne in the bridesmaids’

tent.”

“Hold on… you aren’t drinking?”

She held up her half-empty glass.

“You know what I mean. Alcohol. You weren’t drinking last night either.”

“No.”

“Have you given it up altogether?”

“I dunno. I never really drank much before, but now…” She shrugged.

“Go ahead and drink if you want to.”

“Nah. I’ll pass.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

“No thanks. I… kinda had fun last night. Maybe it was ’cause I was sober.”

“It didn’t have anything to do with me?” She mocked me with a playful flutter of dark eyelashes.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do. But it’s fun to tease you.”

“You’re too much like Susan. And your mom. And my mom, for that matter.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“It depends.”

“On what?”

“Whether we’re in bed or not.”

“So you think you’re going to bed with me?”

“Well, I did promise,” I said.

“Uh- huh.”

I started to say something else, but an older gentleman and his wife approached us.

Gina gave me a wry little smile and turned to greet them.

They were Victor’s grandparents on his mother’s side. We talked to them for a few minutes before they made their way to the bar. Another couple took their place almost immediately.

Gina was the sister of the bride, which meant that everyone wanted to talk to her. She was also young and pretty. She drew middle-aged men like moths to a flame. She was unfailingly polite, but I could see the amusement dancing behind her dark eyes.

One randy older guy, Victor’s great-uncle, said he’d never seen so many

“beautiful brown women.” He spoke in a deep southern drawl and flattered Gina shamelessly. She laughed and flirted right back. Then she dashed his hopes and introduced me as her date. Without batting an eye, he said, “What about the dusky young lady over there, the one with the enchanting accent?”

“You mean my cousin Tessa,” Gina said with a laugh. “I’ll introduce

you.” She handed me her empty glass. “Would you mind getting us refills while I do?” She rose on tiptoe and kissed my cheek. “I have a surprise for you later,” she added in a soft voice.

My eyebrows shot up, but she merely grinned and took the older man’s arm. She headed toward Tessa, who was surrounded by men her own age.

Gina returned a few minutes later, still laughing. “You know, I think he might actually have a chance. He’s a silver-tongued devil.”

“He certainly is.” I handed her the lemonade. “So,” I said after we drank,

“what’s this surprise?”

“Hmm?”

“You mentioned a surprise.”

“Yes, that.”

I waited.

She grinned and touched my arm. “Let’s go say hi to my Nana and Nani.

I know they’d love to see you again.”

We spent a while talking to her grandparents and reminiscing about our trip to Europe. Then we circulated and talked to more friends and relatives.

We chatted with my parents and Susan for a few minutes, until Elizabeth pulled them away to meet some distant relative or another.

We drifted through a half-dozen conversations after that. Each one more or less followed the same script. The men said something about the reception or how lucky I was to be with Gina. The women talked about Kara and the ceremony itself. They all asked when Gina and I were going to get married.

I nearly choked on my lemonade the first time, but Gina answered with her usual aplomb.

“Oh, we aren’t ready to settle down yet. Besides, I don’t know if I’m going to keep him.”

I turned the tables on her with the last couple.

“Definitely before the baby’s born,” I said.

Gina squawked.

“Oh… well… yes,” the woman stammered. She and her husband moved on.

“That wasn’t nice,” Gina said.

“It was funny, though. And it serves you right, especially after what you told that first couple.”

“Well, I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep you.”