A week ago an assassin had tried to take his life. He’d done everything in his power to keep the threat from Mira, even avoided their bed. But tonight was hers, and he intended to make sure she and his bambina welcomed Christmas Eve in a very special way. The music that drifted around them in melodic waves made him warm over with love for this holiday. He swayed with Mira, and his arms circled her waist. They didn’t hear Dominic arguing with Rocco about plugging in the lights once more. Neither of them noticed Catalina walking over with ornaments telling Lorenzo he needed to pull the tree from being so close to the wall. Instead they danced together. His head bowed so his brow rested on hers. They continued to move lightly with each other’s rhythm. He kept reminding himself of their audience and only stroked her back but not lower. Oh how he wanted to touch her lower. Eve stood by them sucking her pacifier staring up at her parents curiously. Giovanni looked down at her and winked. His daughter exploded in giggles.
He inhaled his soon to be wife’s charming scent and felt closer to heaven than he’d been in a long time. She was soft in all the right places. And she was his. From this day forward every holiday, birthday, any day he’d have Mira Ellison at his side. Love filled him to the point of him shouting it to the roof. He had half a mind to take her upstairs and unwrap his Christmas present early. Then his daughter decided she would join them, and she wrapped her arms around her parents, joining them in the dance.
“Lucciola,” he said.
Mira let go of him, and he reached down and picked her up and held her with one arm. Together they danced near the tree. The family continued to bicker and decorate. Giovanni could hear nothing, feel nothing, outside of the love he had in his arms. The song ended, and Mira let go. Giovanni lowered Eve. The Jackson Five entertained them next. Eve showed her daddy her dance moves. She shook her hips and clapped with the song. Zia let go a warm gust of laughter. Giovanni frowned at his daughter, watching her perform. He couldn’t make up his mind if he appreciated the innocent dance or should ban it from their home.
Mira approached Catalina and Lorenzo. “You two ready to decorate this baby?”
“It’s crooked.” Catalina said frowning.
“Christo! You are just like your brother. It’s a damn tree and that’s how they lean!” Lorenzo snapped.
Catalina glared at him. “Trees don’t lean you bully. They stand straight. Whoever heard of a crooked Christmas tree?”
“The tree’s fine. I really like it.”
Domi came over with the lights and Zio Rocco in tow. “Let’s string it from the top down.”
Rocco frowned shaking his head. “No! Dobbiamo verificare ancora le luci.” He told them they needed to test the lights again.
“Rocco what is it with you and the damn lights? You’ve tested them at least six times while I was trying to untangle the stack!” Dominic groaned.
Mira touched Rocco’s shoulder. “Go ahead, test the lights again, we can do it one more time can’t we Domi?”