Never a Bride Read online

  She narrowed her gaze and hugged the plastic containers to her midsection. “Only your family was happy to see me?”

  With a rough shift of his shoulders, he said, “Me, too. I’m glad you came. It felt really weird without you.”

  Emma nodded. “It was really weird not to come and I felt bad that your brothers might be busting your chops about it.”

  “They were relentless, so obrigado,” he said, placed a hand over his heart and did a little bow of gratitude.

  She chuckled and smiled. “I couldn’t let that happen to a friend and we are friends, right?”

  Caralho, he was being friend-zoned, he thought, and his heart plummeted with disappointment. “We are. Friends,” he said hesitantly, unsure of whether he could accept being only friends with her.

  She must have sensed his disillusionment. With a small smile, she cradled his cheek and stroked her thumb across his face. “It’s a start and not an ending, Carlo.”

  A start to what? he thought and at her shocked look, it occurred to him he had said it out loud.

  “To something more,” she replied.

  He also wanted to believe that it could be something more. “I want that too, Emma. Friends . . . and maybe more,” he said and turned his face to drop a kiss on her palm.

  A powerful blush erupted across her face and he grinned, pleased that she was not unaffected by his kiss. He reached past her to open her door and then they stood there again awkwardly. “Please text me when you get home. I worry about my friends.”

  She smiled and said, “I will. You do the same, okay? I worry about my friends too.”

  He nodded. “I won’t be too late, but I’ve got to pry Paolo and Tomás away. It’s hard to do when they’ve had way too much sherry.”

  Her smile faded a bit and she glanced back up the sidewalk toward his family’s home. “How is Tomás doing?”

  He mimicked her action and considered his statement before admitting, “I’m not sure. He seems to be handling it, but he’s always so . . . controlled. Regimented which is why the Army is such a good fit for him.”

  A chuckle escaped her. “Controlled seems to be a da Costa trait.”

  He laughed, but then something dark inside of him made him say, “You seemed to like it when I lost control at Maggie’s wedding.”

  Bright red color swept up her neck and painted her cheeks and ears. “I think I did,” she admitted, surprising him.

  He decided to take that small victory that said maybe more was truly possible. Leaning toward her, he whispered a kiss across her lips. “Drive safe. Think of me.”

  “I will,” she said and kissed him back, surprising him. But before he could follow-up, she got in the car, shut the door, and started the car. Flashing him a hesitant smile, she drove off.

  He stayed there watching her car until she turned onto Ferry Street to head toward the Turnpike. Grinning, he strolled back toward his family’s home, feeling very thankful for all that had happened that night.

  Feeling hopeful about what might be happening with Emma.

  Chapter 10

  Emma stood beside Connie, Maggie, Owen, Tracy and Carlo, of course as they gathered close to the stage set up for the press conference. To her other side were Andy and the remaining partners in Jonathan’s company. Jonathan kissed and hugged Connie and then walked up to the center of the stage. A week later the stage would be converted to a dais for Connie and Jonathan’s wedding. Today would be a good test run.

  She reminded herself one step at a time as one of Jonathan’s assistants handed him a microphone so Jonathan could begin the press conference.

  Today was all about the launch of the new Thunder electric SUV and giving the media a first look at the work that had been done to create the new Pierce research and development center as well as Sea Kiss and all it had to offer. As she glanced around the room, things seemed to be going fine. Once they were done here at the center, Jonathan, Connie, and the Mayor of Sea Kiss intended to take the press members for a tour of the town’s many small businesses, restaurants, and recreational areas.

  The lights flickered off and on in warning that Jonathan would soon begin his presentation and introduce the new SUV plus an updated model of the Lightning which so far had been selling well despite its six-figure price tag. Seconds later, the lights in the room dimmed completely and a spotlight fixed on Jonathan as he stood in the center of the stage.

  “Ladies and gentleman. Welcome to the new Pierce Research and Development Center and to Sea Kiss, the home of my heart and the Jewel of the Jersey Shore.”

  Smatters of applause greeted his intro, but then the lights pulled back from him and in the center of the display area, laser lines danced and shot scatters of dots until they coalesced into a hologram of the new Lightning model. As Jonathan read off the specifications for the vehicle, the hologram obeyed. Doors opened and closed followed by enlarged images of the cockpit, dashboard, and interior, earning oohs and aahs from the attendees.

  There was a burst of light and then darkness for long seconds. Expectation built as Jonathan said, “And now, I want to introduce you to the new Thunder electric SUV.”

  A flash of light, like a bolt of lightning, illuminated the center of the room before a loud rumble erupted and the hologram of the Thunder burst into the center of the room. As Jonathan had before, he ran through the specifications for the vehicle, including a nearly 300 mile range and a price tag that placed it solidly in the bracket of your average luxury vehicle.

  “The Thunder is friendly to the environment and to your pocketbook while wrapping you in luxury and safety. A win-win for consumers and we hope you’ll think so as well,” Jonathan said from the shadow at the podium. “But I don’t think you came here just to see some fancy light shows,” he added, earning laughter from the attendees.

  The image of the hologram disappeared as the lights snapped on in the room, almost disorienting at first after the darkness. The brightness revealed the two vehicles draped with shiny metallic cloth. At Jonathan’s prompting, several Pierce employees surged forward and in an almost choreographed dance, removed the cloth, revealing the vehicles.

  The two cars were in the same shade of metallic red, but couldn’t look more different, Emma thought.

  The Lightning was every man’s wet dream of a sports car while the Thunder would be the envy of soccer moms everywhere. As the reporters pressed forward to inspect the vehicles, she took hold of Carlo’s hand and peered up at him. He didn’t need any further urging to know it was time for them and their staff to get to work.

  As she passed Connie, she hugged her friend and whispered, “He nailed it.”

  “Yes, he did,” Connie said, pride evident in her tones. Jonathan approached his fiancée and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Please join me for the photo ops,” he said and walked her to where the photographers waited along with reporters who wanted Jonathan to answer more questions about the automobiles.

  Emma slipped away to join Carlo in the back room which would one day be a cafeteria for Pierce employees. Carlo’s crew had laid out the spread they’d discussed for the reporters. Paolo and Tomás were finishing up the beverage service while waitstaff was coming in from outside with trays of appetizers to offer to those gathered in the main display area.

  “It all looks good,” she said, grateful that it was going smoothly.

  Hands on his hips, Carlo examined the setup and nodded. “It does. Why don’t you go back outside and keep an eye on things? Keep me posted via the coms,” he said, referring to the communication devices they used for events like this.

  “Will do,” she said and exited to the display space to make sure things were in order. Everything was running exceptionally well and it was amazing how much work Jonathan’s people had gotten done in the short time since he’d bought the historic building. She’d always been partial to it with its unique clock tower and 1920s architecture. The main floor was completely restored, but also renovated with modern features. The two o
ther stories and clock tower still needed work and hopefully it would all be completed by its anticipated Memorial Day grand opening date. A date which unintentionally coincided with Connie’s due date. The grand opening had been scheduled before her friends had realized Connie was pregnant and couldn’t be re-scheduled.

  Even though they hadn’t even gotten past the wedding, her mind started whirring with ideas for a baby shower and a grand opening party for Jonathan’s new building.

  For the next hour or so the reporters and guests mingled back and forth between examining the vehicles and peppering Jonathan, Connie, and the mayor with questions, and taking breaks to sample the foods and beverages available. As she stood there watching the activity, she was proud of her friends and all that they had accomplished.

  A short burst of noise came across her com device before Carlo said, “Trolleys are here to take the reporters on the tour. Whenever Jonathan is ready.”

  The use of the trolleys was a great test run for how they would move guests during the wedding, she thought. She tracked down Jonathan who was standing beside his wife-to-be and her new boss, Sea Kiss Mayor Welding. “We’re all ready for the tour. Just say the word.”

  Jonathan smiled and deferred to the politician. “It’s your call, Mayor Welding.”

  The mayor immediately rushed to the podium on the stage and tapped on the microphone to draw attention to that area. Once the attendees quieted a little, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen. We’re so very proud that the Pierce company has chosen Sea Kiss for the home of their new research and development center and we’d love to show you why. If you please, we have transportation available to give you a quick tour of our wonderful town.”

  The mayor, Jonathan, and Connie went out the door first to where the trolleys waited. As soon as they were filled, the operators would take them on a narrated drive around Sea Kiss, showing them the quaint town that as Jonathan had mentioned, some thought of as the Jewel of the Jersey Shore.

  She hung back and watched through the wall of glass windows as the last of the reporters boarded the vehicles. Satisfied everything was operating efficiently with that part of the event, she did a quick check with Carlo via the com. “How’s it going?”

  “We’re prepping for a second wave and Paolo and Tomás have everything under control,” he said from right beside her.

  She jumped. “Shit, you scared me.”

  He grinned, reached up, and brushed away a lock of her hair that had come loose from her french braid. “I love how focused you are when you work.”

  So focused she hadn’t seen him nearby which was a shame. In deference to the big event, he had worn a suit. A new dark blue one that had clearly been custom made. She shifted her hands across his shoulders and said, “You lied to me, you know.”

  His smile faded and concern filled his dark gaze. “I don’t lie.”

  She smiled and trailed her hands down the sleeves of his suit to grasp his hands with hers. “You said you weren’t a suit kind of guy, but here you are rockin’ these new threads.”

  A touch of color painted the sharp lines of his cheeks. “I didn’t think I was, but when I saw how I looked . . .” He chuckled and lifted his arm to proudly show her the buttons on the sleeve. Real buttons with stitched buttonholes, one in a different color, and the top one undone. “Just like Owen taught me.”

  She didn’t have time to wonder what other information the men had shared since Carlo jerked his head in the direction of the last trolley sitting outside. “We have time to sneak a ride.”

  “Let’s,” she said and they hurried out, hand-in-hand, and climbed into the warm interior of the trolley. They took a seat on one of the shiny wooden benches and Carlo tucked her into his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to keep her close. Feeling the comfort he always provided, she relaxed into his embrace, letting herself imagine how nice it would be to share moments like this more often.

  The operator waited only another minute or two and satisfied they were the last people out of the building, he began his tour, but Emma didn’t really pay attention. It was all too fairy tale, sitting beside him and driving through Sea Kiss. A gentle snow fall had begun, dusting the town like powdered sugar on a sweet. After the end of the Thanksgiving weekend a barrage of holiday lights and wreaths had gone up in the business areas and it was truly like looking at a picture-perfect holiday postcard.

  Serenity filled her and she let herself bask in the feeling since she hadn’t felt that way in such a long time. Not since. . .

  She stopped that thought midstream, unwilling to let the past enslave her again. It was long overdue for her to put aside what had happened and her aloneness to live once more. To believe, as hard and scary as it was, that a life with the love of a good man was possible.

  A good man like the one sitting beside her, she thought and snuggled closer to him. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said as they drove along Ocean Avenue and the gentle snow drifted to the sand and disappeared. It would take a lot more snow to create any kind of accumulation on the beach, but on the roofs of the beach houses and small cottages, a thin layer of white frosted the buildings.

  “It is beautiful. Maybe even magical,” Carlo said, a wistful tone in his voice.

  Magical? she wondered and risked a glance at him. He was staring out the trolley windows, smiling, but shot a quick look at her and it was impossible to miss the peace in his gaze as well.

  “Yes, magical,” she repeated, slipped her hand into his, and sat back to savor the rest of the ride in blissful silence.

  Their last to leave trolley was also the last to arrive, but as Carlo had indicated, Paolo and Tomás along with the rest of the crew were handling the return of the guests with aplomb. The media people were taking final photos and plying Jonathan and his partners with the last of their questions.

  Connie peeled away from the gaggle of press people and came to their side. “This went well. Everything was perfect.”

  “I think Jonathan and his people put on quite a show. So did you and the Mayor and of course, Sea Kiss. Hollywood couldn’t have scripted the day any better,” Emma said.

  Connie smiled with pride and contentment, but then she peered at Emma pensively. “No, it couldn’t have. And did I maybe notice a change between you and Carlo?”

  Although she was reluctant to admit it, Connie was always determined and wouldn’t let go until she got what she wanted so Emma nodded and said, “I took your advice and talked to my mom.”

  “And?” Connie prompted with the arch of a dark perfectly plucked brow.

  “It was . . . enlightening. It made me reconsider some things,” she admitted.

  “Like Carlo?” Connie pushed.

  “Like Carlo and my life and what I want out of it,” she said and before Connie could lead her to reveal more, she shot her hand up to stop any further discussion. “That’s enough for now. It’s all too new and I’m not really ready to share.”

  With a wry grin, Connie wrapped an arm around Emma and hugged her. “Well I’d say that’s a good start.”

  FROM THE CORNER OF his eye Carlo caught sight of Emma and Connie as they stood off to the side of the room. Emma seemed way too serious, but Connie was smiling, so he hoped it was all good, just as it had been all good during the rest of the day. From the set-up for the event, to the event itself, trolley ride, and this last whirlwind hour as things wound down, he couldn’t have asked for a better day.

  As he stepped outside to check on how the crew was doing with loading the Cambros back into their van, he noticed Tomás helping Jesse unload a tray of dirty dishes. With his knee brace his brother had some mobility issues, but it hadn’t kept him from being an immense help with some of the lighter chores. And although he sensed Tomás wasn’t trying to show any favoritism, he had seen him helping the young widow more than once during their latest jobs.

  Jesse and Tomás shared a laugh and a smile before Jesse returned to waitressing. As his brother hefted the tub with the dirty dish
es onto a cart, Carlo’s gaze crossed with his brother’s and he realized there was a new light there. In all the years that his brother had been off in the military, Tomás had grown harder and more distant, but since he’d been in Sea Kiss the last couple of weeks, he’d loosened up. Carlo hoped that it meant that even if his brother’s knee could take the strain of another enlistment, Tomás would choose to stay home.

  “Yo, bro, stop daydreaming and get to work,” Paolo called out and slapped him on the back as he wheeled a cart loaded with empty food trays down the sidewalk toward the van. As Paolo moved away, he heard him mutter, “Put a fancy suit on a guy and his hands get soft.”

  Carlo chuckled and shook his head, but for a second he wondered if maybe hanging out with the rich folks was changing him. Making him think that he was a suit kind of guy, but he quickly banished that thought. Jonathan might be a billionaire, but he had the callouses on his hands to prove how hard he had worked for that money. And Connie was a lot like him. The granddaughter of immigrants who’d fled Cuba, Connie had studied and worked to earn her law degree.

  Emma . . . Emma had not had an easy time to get to where she was. Although she’d grown up in an upper middle-class town, he knew that money had become an issue for her family. She’d never said why and he hadn’t asked because much like talking about her dad, he’d sensed that it was a topic that was off limits. Shaking his head, he acknowledged there was a lot about Emma that she kept hidden, but her latest actions were promising.

  The chill of the snow landing on his face reminded him it was time to go back in and make sure that everything was set for the wedding that would take place in just over a week.

  Inside, Connie and Jonathan stood arm-in-arm as did Maggie and Owen. Tracy was beside Emma and they were all chatting and smiling, their mood much more relaxed now that the media had left. For a second, he felt like an outsider looking in, but only for a second since this diverse group of people had welcomed him without hesitation.