Conflict of Interest (Employee Relations Book 1) (56 page)

A few hours later we’re walking into DiVergilio’s. Gabriella leads me over to where her brother Leo is seated and bends down to kiss his cheek. “Hey, did you get my text about helping Lucas?”

Leo eyes me suspiciously. “I did.”

He pushes a folder across the table. “Here’s a printout of places in your price range and location requirements. If you’ve got time next week, I’ll take you to a few showings.”

“I’d appreciate that,” I tell him as I look over the listings. The list contains all the ones Gabriella and I decided on plus a handful more.

“Hey, I’ll be right back. You good here?” she asks.

“I’m good.”

Public displays of affection have never been my thing, but I have to stop myself from kissing her before she takes off.

“So,” Leo begins. “What’s going on between you and my sister?”

“Trying to figure that out myself,” I admit looking after her.

“What does that mean?”

“Work makes it complicated.”

I get that he’s her brother but I’m not going to give him false promises or details.

“You seem like a decent guy. I’ll help you find a place to live because she asked me,” he says, pushing back his chair and standing. “But you’d be wise to remember I
also own a construction company. You hurt her and you’ll end up in the foundation of one of my buildings. We clear, Irish?”

“Perfectly.”

Leo hands me a card with his number and excuses himself to get a beer. I slide it into my wallet and wonder if I missed out completely on the brother/sister relationship with Serosae or if there’s still a chance. I don’t take kindly to threats but I appreciate that he looks out for Gabriella.

Suddenly, there’s a tug on my pants.

“I’m ready for my rain check,” Francesca says, holding out her hand.

“Your what?” I ask.

“You owe me a dance.”

I crouch down in front of her. “I have something better in mind.”

She arches an eyebrow, doubting me already. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

I walk to where Gabriella is talking with Francesca’s parents.

“Excuse me,” I interrupt.

“Hey, Lucas,” Vincent shakes my hand. “Gabby was just telling us about the castle.”

“Mind if we give it to her now?” I ask.

“Go ahead,” his wife answers.

When I turn around from getting the box, Francesca has already joined Gabriella and her parents. Bouncing up and down at the sight of a gift she can barely contain herself.

“Is that for me?” she beams.

“It is. This is from London and it’s from both of us,” I tell her as I point between me and Gabriella.

“Thank you!” she launches herself forward, hugging us each.

“You haven’t even seen it yet,” Gabriella laughs.

After that she wastes no time unwrapping the box. Very carefully, and with the help of her mother, Francesca takes the castle out of the box. Her smile could light the entire room.

“I love it!” she exclaims.

I glance at Gabriella, who’s watching her niece enjoy her new gift with complete love and adoration, and I can’t help but wonder what Gabriella will be like one day when she’s a mother. Then I frown because I’ll never know.

Later, as dessert is being served, Francesca comes over to us and asks to sit on my lap, talking a mile a minute about dolls and princesses and jewelry and how she’s going to decorate her new castle. She takes a deep breath and begins on another topic when a warm vibration blasts my thigh.

“Oops!” Francesca giggles and so does Gabriella.

The little girl looks at me over her shoulder to gauge my reaction.

“Squeaky shoe?” I ask, trying to give her an out.

“Nope. I tooted.”

I chuckle at her honesty.

“So you did.”

“Are you going to tell me ladies don’t toot? Aunty Gabby told me that real ladies do what they need to do and own it.”

I shoot Gabriella a sideways glance. “I’m sure she did.”

Francesca squirms as she once again she toots.

“Sorry,” she looks at me apologetically and I notice that this time my leg feels warmer than before. “Umm, I need to go to the potty.”

Francesca excuses herself and I glance at my leg.

It’s wet.

“I think she already went.”

Gabriella’s had tips back, howling in laughter so hard she’s crying. I look around not really sure what to do.

Everyone at the table turns to look.

“What’s so funny?” Gabriella’s mom asks, smiling at the two of us.

“Vincent, I think you need to check on Francesca…she just…she just sharted on Lucas’s leg!”

Laughter erupts around the table.

“Oh shit—”

More laughter.

It doesn’t go unnoticed that Leo is enjoying himself the most.

“Sorry,” Vincent apologizes while his wife heads to the restroom.

“Why don’t you clean off your leg and I’ll get started on the dishes,” Gabriella tells me.

“Nonsense,” her mother objects. “Do what you need to do, Lucas, but you two can leave when you’re ready. You just returned from a long trip.”

“Are you sure?” she asks.

“Positive. Lucas, thank you for coming. Sorry about…” she gestures toward my leg.

“What she means to say,” Leo interjects. “Is that shit happens.”

I clean my pant leg the best I can and then we say our goodbye’s. On the way back to Gabriella’s we make a stop at the corner store where I purchase the largest box of condoms available. We start in the living room and then take it to the shower.

Staying the night has sort of become a foregone conclusion. Maybe we can just continue doing this without defining the rest. Hopeful, I pick up my phone from her bedside table while she dries her hair and notice a picture of Gabriella with her parents and brothers. The six of them have their arms thrown over each other’s shoulders wearing pink t-shirts and are bald. All of them, including Gabriella and her mom.

“Not my best look is it?” she asks from the doorway. I hadn’t even heard her come out of the bathroom.

With the frame in one hand I hold out my other for her. When she’s close enough, I pull her into my lap.

“Even bald you’re gorgeous,” I tell her, kissing her neck.

Gabriella takes the picture and stares at it.

“Days before this picture was taken my mom’s hair had started falling out in clumps. She put on a brave face but I knew she was self-conscious about it. I’d heard about a non-profit organization that uses human hair to make wigs for kids with cancer and convinced myself she couldn’t be mad if I was doing something to help others. So I paid Vincent fifty dollars to shave both our heads. At first my dad freaked but came around to the idea and he and my other brothers shaved their heads too. Mom thought we were crazy but I know she appreciated not being alone.”

“You would do anything for your family, wouldn’t you?”

She nods in agreement then places the picture on the table. “That’s why I’m pushing so hard for the Elder Care Program. Grandma needs care around the clock and my mom’s neglecting herself to be her provider. Everyone pitching in isn’t enough. She’s in remission but there’s only so much one person can handle.”

“What happens if the program doesn’t get approved?”

“Pray for a miracle? I don’t know. I’ll do everything I can to help them both, no matter what. My grandmother has done so much for me throughout my life. We’ve always been close. And my mom is my best friend. I just want to make it better for both of them.”

“I’m sure you do that without even realizing it.”

She turns to me and cups her hand around my cheek. “I don’t want to think about that now.”

“No?” I ask and she shakes her head. “Tell me what you want.”

“You.”