“Perfect,” I say, smiling broadly at her. “They’re going to love you. Especially Emma and Corinne-they do love a good red.”
She smiles and follows me into the kitchen, where both Cooper and Gavin stand to greet her. They each shake Alessandra’s hand and exchange pleasantries before returning to their seats at the bar of the island, at which point Emma and Corinne descend upon her. They shower Alessandra with praises and questions about her hair, her clothes, and her choice of wine, greeting her with the kind of excitement I’ve only ever seen occur between women.
It’s clear to me in this moment that my sisters-in-law have decided together to make every effort possible to make Alessandra feel comfortable, regardless of their husbands’ reservations about her. I’ve never been more grateful for their taste in women, even if my two brothers weren’t as sweet and as welcoming as their wives.
Once the welcoming committee dies down, I pour Alessandra a glass of wine, and she takes it from me so quickly, I’m almost surprised when she doesn’t drain it. For as nervous as I know she is, Alessandra is handling the situation like a champ, and I make a note to myself to remember to tell her so later.
“So, Alessandra,” Cooper says, swirling the wine in his glass. “Quinn’s told us you’ve just graduated with a degree in. . . Italian?”
“Classics,” she says, smiling and nodding her head as she corrects him. “But yes, I studied Italian, as well.”
“And what do classics majors do after college?” Gavin asks. I’m not sure, but it seems to me that his sharp gaze is somehow more piercing than usual.
Alessandra chuckles, tucking her hair behind her ear before answering. “I’ve been a nanny since I graduated, along with the tutoring. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s been enough to get by.” She pauses, her gaze flitting nervously to me before settling back on Gavin. “I’ve been saving up, actually, because I’m moving to Italy in a few weeks to teach. That’s been my dream for years, and I’m finally in a position to make it happen.”
While Emma and Corinne respond with the appropriate level of excitement to Alessandra’s news about Italy, I can’t ignore the concern on my brothers’ faces. Gavin and Cooper exchange hesitant looks with each other, then look at me with their brows raised.
Their expressions say it all. We don’t always get along, but my brothers and I are still pretty in sync. They’re worried about me. And if I’m being honest with myself, hearing Alessandra talk about leaving the country again, even after the time we’ve been spending together, sends pangs of worry and sadness coursing through me.
Before Gavin or Cooper can say anything about the impending move, I pull the meat out of the oven and place it on the countertop with a flourish. “Why don’t you all grab a wedge and sit down while I carve the tenderloin,” I say, nodding to the dining room.
“I’ll help you,” Cooper says, stepping around Corinne and joining me by the food.
I nod and watch as Corinne loops her free arm through Alessandra’s, asking her questions about her plans for Italy. I’m more grateful than ever for my wonderful sisters-in-law, and take a moment to plan my defense tactics for whatever Cooper plans to say while pretending to help me.
“Italy?” He leans on his elbows while watching me carve the meat.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say, refusing to look him in the eye. Whether his worry is valid or not, there’s no way I’m going to admit to it.
“What’s the end game here, Quinn? I’d understand if you were just screwing around, but this? Joining us for Sunday dinner? Introducing her to your family? It seems like you’re barreling down a road that leads nowhere.”
I sigh and set the carving knife down on the counter. “I don’t know, Coop. I’m just trying to spend time with her while I can.”
At that, he softens, but before he can say anything else, I pick up the dish of sliced tenderloin in one hand and the roasted vegetables in the other and escape to the dining room.
I push all thoughts of Alessandra leaving out of my head. Now is not the time to go down that road.
I set the food on the table and take my seat next to Alessandra. “Buon appetito,” I say, winking at her. She smiles and places her hand gently on my knee before taking the first bite of her meal.
As everyone starts eating, we chat about the recent renovations at the library where Emma works, as well as the new program she and Corinne are organizing with the library for the disabled community. The two of them are doing amazing things in the Boston area, and I can’t be prouder to call them family.
“Speaking of work,” Emma says after explaining the logistics of the program, “how’s the Kingsley empire running these days?”
“Yeah, Quinn, I don’t know how we haven’t talked much about this yet, but I would love to know more about the world of dating services,” Alessandra says, turning to me with a playful smile.
Cooper and Gavin stare at her for a moment, then turn to me with their brows raised.
“We run an escort service,” Gavin says bluntly.
Ever the fucking charmer. I hoped to avoid this topic for a little while longer, since it can be like walking into a land mine.
“We provide high-end dates to wealthy clients. It’s less a dating service and more a one-night thing,” Cooper adds, trying to soften the details a bit.
“Oh, that sounds. . . interesting,” Alessandra mumbles, taking a sip of her wine. I can tell from the look on her face that she’s shocked, and I brace myself for a barrage of awkward questions.