woman said with a smile. “And Holly is just precious.”
Jordan must have seen the look of confusion on Regan’s face. “In addition to making a mean Syrah, ChiChi is also the chairwoman of the Community Action Committee, which means she heads up any and all community events and a lot of the arts programs at Holly’s school.”
“Right now we are working on the Christmas musical. And if that busybody PTA will leave me alone, it will be brilliant,” ChiChi said, frowning at a group of ladies standing at the bar wearing entitled gowns and designer attitudes.
“The musical is all Holly can talk about. She was so excited about tryouts, she’s been practicing her purr all day. And she just loves her music teacher...Mrs. Dee? I was afraid when we moved midyear that it would be hard on her, but everyone has been amazing. It really has made the transition so much easier,” Regan gushed, all in one gigantic breath.
She felt like Holly, all big eyes and blabbering on, but she couldn’t help herself; she was talking to the woman who had made this move a success. So she did what she always managed to do in these kinds of situations. She went on. And on.
“I can’t even begin to thank you for recommending Holly. I know how long the wait list for St. Vincent’s Academy is, and after you called them, they moved her to the top, and, well...” Regan forced herself to be quiet, afraid she’d burst into tears. ChiChi had single-handedly gained Holly admission into a school that Regan could never afford—and offered to pay for the full tuition as a benefit of working for Ryo Wines.
“One less vineyard brat to ferment the barrel. And she’s quite the linguist. Most children today can’t even speak one language properly, let alone three. Her grasp of French is remarkable, spoken like a true Parisian, and her Spanish...” ChiChi paused, leaning in to Regan. “You can let go of me, dear.”
Regan released her death grip on the woman and blushed. “My mother made me take French in school and only spoke Spanish at home. I guess I wanted the same for Holly.”
Actually, she wanted more for Holly. Regan’s mother had been 100 percent Mexican, a Spanish-speaking cleaning lady with no degree, no papers, and no identity other than “illegal.” And stubborn to a fault. The only thing Regan inherited from her diplomat French father was a few extra inches, piercing blue eyes, and the understanding that she was unwanted.
Regan was adamant that Holly have a childhood filled with opportunity and roots—and, above all, one where she knew that she belonged.
“Excuse me, but I believe this is our dance,” a deep—she refused to say sexy—voice cut in from behind.
Startled, she whipped around and tried to convince herself that she was not staring down Gabe DeLuca for the second time in less than a week.
His request came off as cordial, but the reprimanding hand shackled around Regan’s wrist was pure asshole. She pulled back. His grip tightened. Not enough to hurt, but rendering her unable to break free. Furious, she hit him with a look—a hard one.
But it was difficult to appear fierce when facing a mountain of angry testosterone. Gabe wasn’t just angry, he was hot. She hadn’t seen it the other day because she’d been thrown off by his smart-ass smile. She had only ever seen his snarl. And he was snarling now. Even though it should piss her off—which it did—it also made her panties wet.
Okay, time to pull it together, Regan!
She jerked with enough force to disengage her arm, rubbing at the strange tingling left by his fingers and cursing her hormones. That was what happened when young, healthy women avoided men for six years. They went sex-crazy.
“I know she’s exquisite, Gabriel. But you know better than to manhandle a lady,” ChiChi scolded, though she appeared to be smiling at the sparks flying between the two.
Regan wanted to tell the sweet older woman that it was loathing, not lust-inspired sparks, but she was afraid it might be a little of one and a sleigh full of the other.
“I apologize, Nonna.” Gabe smiled—the first honest smile Regan had ever seen from him.
Nonna? Grandmother?
Gabe’s eyes softened and he leaned down and gave ChiChi a kiss on both cheeks, pulling her in for a hug. Regan felt a strange tug of longing watching the obvious flow of affection between the two.
“Jordan, you look gorgeous as always.” Gabe glanced around the room and