Year of Living Blonde (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 1) (52 page)

Anthony nods. “Yes, that’s right. I’m a professor of astrophysics.”

Suddenly, Lena’s eyes grow wide. She’s staring at the red pin on Anthony’s tuxedo jacket. “You’re
that
Anthony Novello? You’re one of the nominees!”

“That’s true, I am.”

“And you’re here with
her?
”

They’re all quiet.

Lena’s face changes to horror as she realizes the mistake she just made. “I mean, I . . . We just assumed . . . you were much older, that’s all.”

Natalie watches Anthony. She expects him to get angry and defend her, but instead, he smiles at Lena. “Actually, I’m a few years
younger
than Natalie, but luckily,” he turns to Natalie and brings her hand to his mouth, “she’ll still have me anyway.”

Anthony’s brown eyes are warm and sincere and she sees he means it. She doesn’t require any defense.

Natalie touches his cheek. “I’m the lucky one.”

And then something weird happens. Peter starts defending her to Lena. “Natalie is fantastic. Of course she can have whoever she wants. You shouldn’t be so surprised.” Peter smiles over at Natalie as if he’s on her side, as if they’re a team again.

Lena takes a haughty stance. “I’m just glad she finally listened to me. This is what I
do,
remember? I’m a life coach.”

“You know what?” Natalie says to Lena. “I did finally listen to you.”

“You did?”

Natalie nods and leans in toward her. “I finally found someone who’s . . . how did you phrase it? On my
level.
”

After Peter and Lena walk away, Anthony turns to study her. He’s still holding her hand. “That was a nice moment for you, Miss Natalie.”

“Yes, it was.”

Anthony frowns.

“What’s wrong?” Natalie asks.

Peter keeps glancing back at Natalie, though Anthony seems to be the only one noticing it.

“Nothing, I meant what I said. I feel lucky to have you.”

She smiles. “Me, too.”

They head back toward the governor’s table to find their seats, since the ceremony is starting soon. Unfortunately, Anthony can’t shake the uneasy feeling he got from Peter. It was the way Peter kept checking out Natalie. He didn’t like it.

That jerk wants her back.

And why wouldn’t he? It’s hard to imagine any man choosing that drill sergeant, life coach, or whatever it is she calls herself, over a class act like Natalie.

“Where’s your brother?” Natalie asks after they take their seats. “I thought he was coming.”

“His flight got delayed. Apparently, there’s some kind of airline strike going on. I just got a text that his plane landed at Sea-Tac, so he’s going to try and make the afterparty.”

“And your parents?”

Anthony picks up his water glass. “No, they aren’t coming.” His mom called him a week ago. They’d talked, but nothing was even mentioned about the banquet. He shouldn’t feel bad, since he was the one who told his father not to bother, but he’d said it in anger and a part of him still hoped his parents would be here.

Natalie studies him. Then she puts her hand on his leg. “It’s their loss.”

“Sure, whatever.”

The ceremony begins. They had a meeting with all the nominees beforehand, so he knows what to expect for the most part, though they don’t know the winners yet. Unlike the Nobel Prize, where the winners know in advance, Smyth Medal nominees find out whether they’ve won right along with everyone else.

Anthony shifts uncomfortably in his chair. Rubs his jaw. He hates stuff like this. He’s happy to support his colleagues, and he’s glad the nomination will give him tenure, but beyond that he’d rather be anywhere else. And not just because he knows he isn’t going to win, but because he’s already tired of all the attention and interviews, all the people who suddenly want to be his best friend.

Clapping politely as each science category winner is announced, he watches as they go up to receive the medal and give their speech. Anthony can’t stop his mind from wandering. He didn’t even bother preparing a speech. Instead, he keeps thinking about the way Peter was staring at Natalie. There’s no way she’d go back to him, though. No way. Not after the way he treated her. That
testa di cazzo
left her for another woman.

But then he thinks about the way Natalie told him Peter was the only man she ever loved. It bothered him to hear that, even though it shouldn’t have. She’s not someone who gives her love easily.

But neither am I.

“Your category is up next!” Natalie says, reaching over to hold his hand.

Good. Then this thing is almost over.

He listens as the announcer lists off each of the nominees for astrophysics, stating the person’s name and accomplishment. He hears his own name followed by a brief description of his work with gamma-ray bursts and the early universe. A few more of his colleagues are mentioned—most of whom he admires, though one of them is an ass. Then suddenly, he hears his name again. There’s a weird pause and for a moment, he’s confused. Everyone around him is staring his way.

“Anthony, you won!” Natalie tells him.

“I did?” he says and then feels foolish.

There’s a rush of excitement. Their entire table is on their feet, clapping wildly.

Holy shit! I just won the fucking Smyth Medal!

Anthony stands up and tries to get his bearings. He makes his way to the front stage, smiling at everyone, but it feels stiff and formal. His heart pounds. At the podium, they give him the medal and shake his hand, and he’s expected to make a speech. He’s sweating all over and hasn’t the foggiest idea what to say. He’s still in shock. His stomach is churning and his palms are slick from nervousness.

Anthony leans toward the microphone and stares out at the crowd where everyone is still applauding. When it dies down, they’re all watching him expectantly.

He tries to smile. “I, uh, don’t have a speech prepared.” He starts telling them how he wasn’t expecting to win. There are a few snickers in the audience and he knows he’s floundering.

Dude, what kind of idiot gets nominated for a Smyth Medal and doesn’t prepare a speech?

For a moment, he wishes with all his heart his parents were here. At a time like this, you want your family. He wants them to accept him and be proud of him, but also to ground him. His eyes search the audience and then suddenly he sees Natalie. In a sea of unfamiliar faces, she’s his anchor.

Immediately, he relaxes. Then he knows what to say.

“First of all, I didn’t do this on my own. I’ve been working with a team of incredibly talented people.” He takes a deep breath and starts thanking colleagues here in the U.S. and his team members from the Italian Space Agency. He goes on to briefly describe the work they’ve done and future plans. He keeps his speech short, but does his best to include what’s most important.

In that moment, as his eyes drift back to Natalie sitting out in the audience, he knows without a doubt what’s most important to him.

“THIS PLACE IS
a zoo,” Natalie says when they arrive at the afterparty. It’s being held in a large pavilion that’s been turned into a ballroom.

Everywhere they go, Anthony is treated like a celebrity. People are constantly coming up, slapping him on the back, and congratulating him. Everybody’s taking photos and video. Three news stations have interviewed him.

He’s been on his cell phone nonstop. He called Serena first and then various other family members, though he can’t get hold of his parents. Half of his conversations are in Italian as he talks to colleagues and family members in Italy.

Natalie called Chloe, who is staying at a friend’s house, as they rode over in the limousine. “We saw you guys on TV,” Chloe said. “That is so neat!”

At first, Anthony seemed to be taking it in stride, though after a few hours she notices it’s wearing on him. He’s already taken his medal off. Put it in his pocket and keeps telling her he doesn’t deserve it.

“Of course you deserve it,” she says when they finally have a moment alone together. “You just can’t believe you were wrong about something.”

“I’m never wrong.”

“Give me a break.” She rolls her eyes.

Anthony laughs. “I know how arrogant that sounds, but it’s basically true.”

“Well, you were wrong in a big way tonight, weren’t you? You thought you wouldn’t win.”

He takes her hand. “There’s one thing I’m not wrong about, and that’s you.”

She suddenly hears her cell chirping and pulls it out from her small gold purse to check. “Huh. That’s weird.”

“What?”

“Peter just sent me a text.”

Anthony stiffens and lets go of her hand. Takes a sip from his glass of scotch. “What does it say?”

Natalie stares at it. Stunned.

It was great to see you tonight. You look beautiful.

Before she can stop him Anthony snatches the phone from her hand and reads it himself.

“Hey.” She frowns. “Don’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s rude.”

Anthony is shaking his head, staring at the text. “That dickhead wants you back.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“Of course he does. Don’t be naïve.”

Natalie doesn’t say anything. She knows this whole medal thing has really thrown Anthony for a loop. Even though it’s great to win, she can see he’s uncomfortable and under a lot of pressure. Plus, she suspects it really bothers him his parents aren’t here. Italians are obviously big on family.

He starts typing into her phone.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m texting him back for you. Telling him to leave you alone.”

“Stop it.” She pulls the phone out of his hand and deletes the text he started. “What’s gotten into you?”

He doesn’t get a chance to respond because some big blond guy is suddenly shouting Anthony’s name and before she knows it, the two of them are hugging.

“I knew you’d win! Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” Anthony says with a grin after they stop hugging. “I have to admit I didn’t see it coming.”

“You definitely deserve it. It’s fantastic. Have you heard from Mom and Dad yet?”

“Not a word.”

The blond guy is shaking his head. “Dad just hates to admit the whiz kid’s been right all along.” It dawns on Natalie that this must be his brother. It’s confirmed when Anthony finally turns and introduces her.

“Giovanni, this is Natalie.” Anthony grins at her. “Natalie, this is my older brother, Giovanni.”

Giovanni turns to look at her. He takes his time examining her. “Nice to meet you,” he says finally.

Natalie nods and decides to check him out just as thoroughly. Why not? He’s big and blond, which is the first surprise. He’s taller than Anthony and his coloring is almost the exact opposite. Oddly though, they do have a passing resemblance. She has to admit he’s handsome, but not really her type.

Giovanni’s eyes flicker to her mouth. “So you’re the one who’s got my brother in such a tailspin.”

“Am I?” She turns to Anthony, who looks embarrassed.

“Gio, shut the hell up,” he says, though it’s in a good-humored way. “Don’t be a dick.”

“You don’t look Italian,” Natalie tells Giovanni. If anything, he looks like a rangy Viking.

The Viking chuckles. “You’d be surprised how many blond Italians there are.” He turns back to Anthony. “I’m glad you won that medal, even though you’re probably already feeling guilty about it.” He looks at Natalie. “Would you make sure he doesn’t start in with the self-flagellation too soon? Encourage him to enjoy it for at least five minutes.”