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Kostas started up in his bed. His sheets twisted around him. His head ached, his body tight with tension from the usual nightmare. The one where he was restrained—and he couldn’t protect Anna, couldn’t reach her in time.
He sucked in a few deep breaths. He climbed from bed, stretching. His shoulders eased, his calves loosened. Nothing held him any longer, not anything he couldn’t cut and free himself from. The nightmare had to end.
He went into the bathroom and turned on the water. Soon, steam billowed out. He glanced at himself in the fogging mirror. Today, he could be there for Anna, like she’d asked. And today, he’d be the man he could be, a man she’d be proud of. Even if she decided they could never be together, she’d know he loved her.
***
KOSTAS WAITED OUTSIDE the door at Grandpop and Vincente’s house up the street from Grandpa Enzo’s. He turned to look at the palm trees and iron gate. He couldn’t see down the block, where Anna was.
“Vincente.” He nodded to his cousin Vincente, who opened the door, still dressed for church. Vincente and Grandpop, Kostas’s great uncle Vittorio, usually arrived home from church at this time. “Grandpop here?” He’d briefly checked in with Vincente last night, who’d said he’d try to keep Grandpop home until Kostas arrived. Usually they went straight to Grandpa Enzo’s from church for Sunday dinner.
“Yeah. He’s in his sitting room.” Vincente motioned Kostas to walk with him. “You doing okay?”
He stared at his cousin’s back. Vincente was a bit shorter than Kostas, but he was more powerful. He could take a man down with one well-timed punch, but since Vincente didn’t do violence, it was usually a verbal one-two. When Kostas needed trusted backup, Vincente was the first person he called.
He followed Vincente through the door and down the hall. He hated this, asking for help. People in his family didn’t ask for help. But he had to, this time.
“Want me to leave?” Vincente glanced at him. He had the shrewd eyes of Grandpa Enzo and Grandpop—deep-set, focused, sometimes eerily calm.
“Up to you. Might need support, though.” Kostas rubbed his hands.
Vincente clapped him on the shoulder. They walked in.
Grandpop turned off his TV and steepled his hands. “Kostas. What brings you here?”
“I have a favor to ask.” He stood like a soldier at attention. Asking for a favor made his body tense more than when he’d spent two months at military academy. He’d been kicked out of some of the best prep schools in California. But he wasn’t that boy anymore. He was a man, and he needed to show Grandpop that he was changing, that he could be the man for Anna. Having both Vincente and Grandpop’s support might shift the seemingly inevitable tide of failure, or at least help ease the way in the face of Grandpa Enzo’s and Lee’s objections.
Grandpop nodded. His grey hair was thinning, but nothing else about him was less than robust. Even seated, his muscular frame and vitality intimidated more than the Patton-like commanding officer of that military school.
“My father... No, I’ve got the lawyer on that.” He ran his hand across the back of his neck. He and Grandpop shared the same legal firm, one Grandpop had recommended, so he could assume those issues were being solved. Kostas wasn’t starting in the right place.
Grandpop snuffed an angry hiss and shook his head. “Good. Liz will take care of your father’s mess.” He waved a hand at Kostas, signaling him to continue.
“He told me I could never escape who I am. But I’m not going to be him.” He relaxed his shoulders and gripped the back of the sofa. “I’m going to change.”
“For what?” Grandpop leaned forward, his silver eyebrows raised.
“I think you know.”
Grandpop twisted the wedding ring he still wore, though his wife had passed five years ago. He pointed a sinewy finger at Kostas. “I want to hear it from you.” He waited for Kostas to meet his stare.
Kostas shifted his feet and stared back. He scratched the side of his mouth. “Anna.”
“For Anna. Enzo told me—”
“None of you can judge me.” He stepped closer to Grandpop, looming over him.
Grandpop raised his eyebrows, frowned, and rose. He placed a hand on Kostas’s shoulder and squeezed. Kostas flinched at the sharp pinch to some nerve he hadn’t known was there.
Grandpop released his hold and patted Kostas’s shoulder. “We’ve all done wrong. But thinking love alone will change you, it’s a false hope. Enzo loves that girl like she was his granddaughter. And I see why. We have more experience—”
“Then don’t help me.” He didn’t need to be told about false hopes. He needed to believe. Kostas turned.
“Impaziente. Stop interrupting. I’ll help you. I know what it is to lose love.” Grandpop’s voice lowered to a whisper.
Kostas faced him. “I don’t know if Anna will have me.” He knew she wanted him, but she wouldn’t place that above her desire for a solid marriage and family. He wanted those too—wanted a lifetime with her. His body ached. “I want her to see I can be the man she believes I could be...” If she couldn’t see that, there was no hope for them long-term. He sank onto the arm of the sofa.
“The man she sees with eyes of love.” Grandpop nodded. “When she speaks of you...” He snorted out a breath, like a frustrated bull. “Up, up. Andiamo. We’re due at Enzo’s.” He snapped his fingers and strode out.
Kostas hopped up. Eyes of love... He rubbed his hand over his mouth to wipe away his smile. He walked out. Anna loved him. Or so Grandpop thought. Her gazes and touches said yes. Her words said yes. If he stopped saying no...yes would win.
Kostas glanced at Vincente, waiting for him by the door. “He won’t be satisfied ‘til we’re all married and popping out kids.” Vincente shook his head as they walked out into the warm sunshine-lined hall.
“He’d have to be a miracle worker to pull that off.”
“Watch it. Grandpop helped me find Gina. And you remember what my grandma Teresa used to say? Miracles happen every day.”
“If you believe.” Kostas’s voice was hushed.
Vincente clapped his shoulder. “There’s always a chance.” Vincente shot him a half-smile as they followed Grandpop outside.
Kostas scanned the horizon. The sun shone high in the bright blue sky, wispy clouds floating like angel wings, close to the peaks of the city’s hills. Heaven was close enough to reach. He just hadn’t looked up to notice—until now, until Anna had reached out, had shown him there could be more for him, for them.
Kostas, Vincente, and Grandpop strode down the sidewalk to Grandpa’s, where the family would be gathered for an early meal.
As they waited outside the wide oak front door at Grandpa Enzo’s, Grandpop faced Kostas. He straightened Kostas’s tie and smoothed the shoulders on his dark grey suit.
Grandpop gave his noble nod of approval. The door opened. Grandpop smiled. “Ah, Sophia.” Grandpop stepped in and hugged his only living niece. Kostas swallowed.
Grandpop stepped back. “You look lovely.”
Aunt Sophia grinned and fluffed her curly, dark hair. His mom’s hair had been the same, but she’d usually worn it in a braid or bun, the quiet sister compared to outspoken Aunt Sophia. “Thanks. Please, come in. Vincente, Gina was just asking about you. Kostas.” Aunt Sophia’s smile faded when she glanced at Kostas. “Carlo’s in the living room with Gina. Janetta and Paolo are in the kitchen with my dad.”
Kostas frowned. She hadn’t mentioned Anna. Surely Aunt Sophia would get along with Anna.
Vincente kissed Aunt Sophia on the cheek. “Going to say hi to Carlo. And kiss my fiancée.”
“Where’s Anna?” Grandpop said. “I have a favor to ask her.”
Aunt Sophia shot a grimace at Kostas. “I sent her to the store with Joey for a few things.”
A burning knife edged through Kostas’s gut, cutting a path to his throat. Aunt Sophia had been trying to set his cousin Joey up with girls like Anna for over ten years now, since his and Joey’s high school days.
The front door opened. Anna, laughing, leaned into Joey’s solid shoulder. She kissed Joey’s cheek. Kostas closed his eyes at the sight. He wanted to be near Anna, needed her. He shook his shoulders and opened his eyes. Anna stared at him, her smile gone. Had she seen the jealousy in his gaze? Hopefully, she wasn’t hurt by whatever she’d seen. He trusted her. She wouldn’t flirt with Joey; she was just being her caring, friendly self. He loved her for being herself.
“Hey, Kos,” Joey said as he took the grocery bags into the kitchen.
Kostas’s face burned for feeling envious of his cousin. Aunt Sophia and Uncle Carlo had always welcomed him into their home—he and Joey used to play together, from the time they were in diapers.
But Anna had kissed Joey. Joey had smiled. Anna’s lips were meant for him, not Joey, not any other man but Kostas. Possessive much? He shook his head at himself. He wasn’t much used to jealousy. He usually didn’t get that attached.
“What’s he doing here?” Grandpa Enzo’s voice sounded as harsh as the burning in Kostas’s gut, which now roiled to a sickening point.
“I asked him.” Anna stepped forward. Her hair waved around her heart-shaped face. Her cheeks bloomed pink, like the curve-hugging dress she wore. It flared out over her shapely calves, like a mermaid tail.
“Kostas.” Grandpop pushed his shoulder. “Go in the kitchen.”
Since Kostas had been staring at Anna, he nodded and strode into the kitchen before he made a bigger display of himself.
While Joey and Janetta stored the groceries, their family friend Paolo sat at the wide old oak table, the same table that Grandma Angela used to knead bread dough on, or help him with homework when he was in elementary school. She had decorated the whole house and it showed especially in the bright kitchen, with its sandy white, lemon yellow, and Mediterranean Sea blue tiles, ample counter space, large white appliances, and ironwork handles on the many cabinets and drawers. Anna would love cooking in here.
“Joey, Janetta,” Grandpop called.
“You’re summoned.” Paolo laughed.
Paolo and Janetta had been friends since high school, so Paolo knew them all like his own family, and he’d become part of theirs. He’d even lived with Grandpa and Grandma for a while in high school. Janetta smirked at them both but walked out with her brother.
“Got any new Ferragamos coming in?” Kostas asked, trying to steer the conversation in an innocuous direction. Paolo was as infamous in the family as Aunt Sophia for matchmaking.
“No. And your personal shopping favors will be at an end if you don’t wise up.” Paolo eased out of his chair, smoothing his light grey slacks.
“What are you all conspiring about now?” He shifted his feet. If Grandpop and Paolo were working together, miracles really could happen.
“You.” Paolo rolled his eyes in an exaggerated expression. “Let me be your gay-dian angel and help you, you clueless boy.” Paolo and Janetta were only a couple of years older than Kostas, but they acted like it was ten.
He rubbed his mouth with his hand, stifling a chuckle. If he laughed now, Paolo would really go off.
Paolo waved a hand. “Love!” A smile beamed. He placed his hands on his hips. “You and Anna are in it.” He put up a hand when Kostas opened his mouth. “Don’t let her go. She’s much too good for you, of course, even though Janetta doesn’t like her.” Paolo shrugged and wagged a finger at him. “I do, and if you don’t wise up, I’ll work my magic and set her up with Joey.”
Kostas stretched his neck side to side. He’d escaped Paolo’s “help” so far. Now... “Get me alone with her.”
Paolo crossed his arms and gave him an unbelieving head shake.
“Just in here. Five minutes.”
“That I can do. Maybe ten even.” Paolo nodded and strolled out.
Kostas paced. He stopped when Anna entered and shut the swinging door.
“I... Paolo said you wanted to talk.”
Kostas nodded. The burning jealousy had stopped. His throat cracked, dry.
Anna ran her fingers along the small island, approaching him. He stilled, watching her. Her movements made his body burn in a different way.
She leaned into him and kissed his cheek. Her lips stayed near his ear. He swallowed and closed his eyes. If his family had anything to say, this might be the last time he’d feel her close...
“You’re a good man,” she whispered. “I’m...”
He leaned into the counter, his head whirling with Anna’s words. He straightened and smoothed his jacket. She believed in him. The corner of his mouth twitched up.
“I want you.” He blew out a breath. No wonder some people planned romantic gestures—otherwise they came out wrong.
She studied his face. He stepped to her. “I want to kiss you.” Still not as romantic as he’d like...
She nodded. As he enclosed her in his arms, their lips met. Her warmth and softness poured through him. He moaned. Gripping his hands in her hair, he brought her as close as he could. It wasn’t enough. It was more than he’d imagined. She was everything. She leaned herself into him, slid her arms around his neck. Everything was right in his world. He eased back. Anna looked up at him and exhaled.
Kostas followed with a long, slow kiss, an unspoken question. Her warm, silken lips, her eager response to him, filled him with unfamiliar heat and surety. He shuddered in the chill of the unknown. She slipped her arms down and around him. She closed the last inches between them, stretched her arms up his back, and returned his embrace. Anna pressed herself impossibly close to his chest. Her softness revitalized him. Yes, her answer was yes. What was the question?
He pulled away slightly. She studied him, a serious, but still tender expression on her face. He returned her gaze, caressed her cheek and arm, so like a newly picked peach. She held a miraculous beauty and promise he couldn’t yet understand, but knew he needed in his life.
“Say you’ll be mine?” he whispered.
She tickled her fingers over the back of his neck. Her touch shot through him. “I’m already yours.” She kissed him, her lips a gentle caress.
He needed her with him, all the time, every day. But it was too soon. “I don’t want us to see other people. Okay?”
“Yes, you and no one else.” She smiled, sweet, yet flirtatious.
He tightened his hold on her. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He kissed her again.
“Thank heaven.” Anna pressed herself closer.
Through their kiss, he smiled. Only heaven could deliver an angel.