She shook her head, her eyes as innocent as a child’s. “I just sort of paint what comes to me.”
He laughed softly. “A true gift.” He turned back to the painting. “I love to cook. I can make lasagna, too, although mine isn’t as good as Mandy’s. I grow my own tomatoes and herbs. I like to garden.” He hesitated. “The scar on the back of my hand was put there by a rival gang member when I was about fourteen. He meant to kill me, but a friend of mine stopped him just in time. The symbol is his gang’s sign.”
“You never had it erased,” she commented.
“It reminds me that, no matter how sure we seem to be, life is full of unexpected things. It also reminds me not to get too cocky about my own abilities.” He paused. He dug his fingers deep into his pockets and made fists there. “The cross on the watch fob is my mother’s. She was Catholic, deeply religious. I don’t wear the watch very much. Just for special occasions. But I leave the cross on its chain, to honor her. She prayed for me every day of her life. She always hoped I’d turn into somebody...better...than I was.” He shrugged. “People are what they are. You can change stuff on the surface. Inside, not so much.” He turned to her. “It’s a masterpiece. I want to pay you for it.”
She smiled and shook her head. “I don’t ever charge for my work,” she said.
“I know you live in a nice house, but your dad lost everything to the Feds because of what he was doing,” he began.
She laughed softly. “My mother had all the money. She left Sari and me millions in her will. So, I really don’t need the money. But if you want to do something with what you’d have paid me for the portrait, suppose you donate it to your mother’s church?”
He smiled with genuine affection. “I really like you,” he said softly. “If I’d had a daughter, I’d have liked her to turn out just the way you are.”
“That’s the nicest thing anybody’s said to me in a long time,” she said softly.
He just grinned.
*
“YOU’RE SURE THE hit man won’t come along after you’re gone and pop her when nobody’s expecting it?” Paul asked Tony worriedly.
“Not a chance,” came the reply. “That’s all handled. You see the portrait she painted of me?” he asked.
Paul nodded. “Best work she’s ever done, and that’s saying something.”
He cocked his head. “You won’t get in any trouble for letting me stay here?”
“Nah,” Paul drawled. “I just told people that you were wandering the streets looking for handouts and Merrie let you stay until she could find you a proper home.” His eyes were twinkling.
Tony hit his shoulder with a big fist. “Watch your back.”
Paul chuckled. “You going to stay for the wedding?” he added. “Ren’s marrying Merrie in three days. They went to get a marriage license this morning, and to buy rings.”
“Three days? Why not,” Tony said. “I got no place special to be for a while.”
“Then you’re invited. And Merrie has something she wants to ask you.”
“Does she? What?”
“She’ll tell you tonight.”
*
WHEN MERRIE ASKED HIM, Tony had to avert his eyes so that nobody noticed their sudden brightness. Merrie asked him to walk her down the aisle.
“It’s okay, if you’d rather not...” she began, afraid she’d insulted him somehow.
“I’d be honored,” he managed in a rough tone. He swiped at his eyes with the back of one big hand before he turned back to her. “I mean that.”
She beamed. “Okay, then. Thanks!”
He drew in a breath. “You’re welcome. I’ll have to rustle up a proper suit. Hey, Big Ben,” he called to one of his men.
“Sir!” the man replied.
“Drive up to San Antonio and find me a tux with all the works. Don’t forget cuff links.”
“Yes, sir!”
“You know the size.” He pulled out a gold card and tossed it to the man. “Call me if you have any problems.”
“Sure thing, boss!”
“A tux?” Barton asked, having come in at the end of the conversation. “You getting married, Mr. Garza?”
“Nope. I seem to be the father of the bride,” Tony replied with twinkling eyes.
“Really?”
“Really,” Merrie assured him. “Never mind that I’m blonde and he’s not,” she added facetiously.
Tony laughed uproariously.
“What is it?” Merrie asked.
“Oh, God.” He could barely stop laughing. “Listen, when you two have kids, guess what that will make me?” He waited a beat. “The Godfather!”
“I wouldn’t touch that line with a pole,” Barton said, tongue in cheek, and he kept walking.
*
THE PERFECT WEDDING GOWN for Merrie was found in Marcella’s boutique in town. It was acres of white lace over white satin, with a long train and a fingertip veil topped by a tiara. It had long sleeves and a rounded neckline. It made Merrie look like a fairy princess, Sari said as she helped her try it on.
“I still can’t believe it,” Merrie said. “I mean, I ran away from Wyoming because I thought he hated me.”
“Obviously, that wasn’t the case. Plus he’s marrying you in a church,” she added.