and she felt Olivia’s cheek against the top of her head. “Of course, I made it. I wouldn’t miss your first opening for the world. Everything looks fantastic. Congratulations on your success, love.”
When Olivia stepped back, Natalia took her hand.
Her mother stepped up, smiling—and hugged Olivia. “I have another hija, now. I’m so pleased.”
Grinning at Olivia’s flummoxed expression, Natalia kissed her mother’s cheek, then giggled, because her sisters were all sentimental and teary-eyed as they hugged Olivia, too.
“Seriously?” Her cousin’s sneering voice made them all pause. “I don’t get the lesbian shit. Nattie, how can you know you’re gay if you’ve never slept with a man?”
“Good point.” Stepping away from Natalia’s sisters, Olivia studied him. “I do have to wonder, Tadeo, how can you tell you’re straight if you’ve never slept with a man? Or…have you?”
Natalia pressed her lips together because what answer could her cousin give? It took him a second to figure that out. He turned a furious red.
As her sisters snickered, one of her brothers knocked the idiot back a step, and the other snapped, “Give it up, idiot. She made her choice. A good choice.”
Natalia’s mouth dropped open. Her brothers were backing her up?
Her uncle scowled. “I don’t hold with gay marriage.”
“In that case, I’d suggest if a gay person asks you to marry them, you should probably say no,” Valerie pointed out ever-so-politely.
A snorting laugh escaped Natalia, and she plastered her hands over her mouth. A lot of others weren’t nearly so discreet, though.
“I must point out”—the authority in Ghost’s gravelly voice put every submissive in the room on alert—“anyone who isn’t stuck in the last century simply calls it marriage.”
Uncle Bartolo’s mouth snapped shut.
Because who would argue with the Colonel?
“Olivia, Natalia.” Valerie linked arms with them. “Let’s go check out the paintings and talk about wedding dates.”
So tactful. She was trying to get them away from the harassment, but her cousin wasn’t going to stop. “Jesus, Nattie, you gotta give this bullshit up. No one will come to your wedding—if you could even find someone to perform the ceremony.”
His rudeness shocked everyone.
“Indeed.” Master Z’s smooth voice broke the silence—and was so cold Tadeo shriveled at least a foot.
Natalia turned.
Master Z was wearing the tailored dark suit Jessica said made her mouth go dry.
On his left, his mother, Ms. Grayson, looked like European royalty.
On his other side, Jessica was in a beautifully billowy, maternity gown that matched her green eyes. Unlike Master Z, she was obviously spitting mad as she glared at Tadeo.
Uh-oh. It couldn’t be healthy for someone so very pregnant to get so angry.
Master Z tilted his head at Olivia and Natalia. “It would be my honor to be your officiant and marry the two of you.”
Natalia swallowed. “Ma—um, Dr. Grayson, it…” She glanced at Olivia who winked and nodded.
Natalia managed a breath. So much for a small civil ceremony. “We would like that very much, Sir.”
“All right!” Uzuri swooped in to hug her, then beamed at Mama and Natalia’s sisters. “Can I help with the planning?”
“But of course.” Mama smiled. “We’ll have fun, won’t we, girls?”
Her sisters bounced up and down in delight.
Fun? Mama was insane. Natalia remembered well when her oldest sister married. It’d been pure chaos.
“Perfect,” Jessica said. “We have someone to perform the ceremony and the planning is started.”
“Witnesses will be required.” Madeline Grayson tilted her head. “If Zachary is performing the service, I do expect an invitation.”
Natalia had no words. None. That was Master Z’s mother.
Olivia chuckled. “Madeline, we’ll be delighted to have you there.”
Cheers came from all around them…as well as orders: “You’d better invite me, too.”
“And me.”
“Do you need a volunteer flower-kitten?” Rainie called. “Or puppy?”
The Shadowkittens had arrived with their Masters.
Anyone who hadn’t been at the club last weekend now took the opportunity to congratulate and hug Olivia and Natalia.
Mama was watching Master Z’s mother who… Natalia’s eyes widened. Mrs. Grayson had bought one of her paintings and was telling the gallery owner she wanted it for her visual arts center in Sarasota.
“What center?” Mama asked.
“She owns the Grayson Center for Visual Arts in Sarasota. It has one of the best collections of modern impressionism in the country.” Natalia had loved going there as a child—and had been completely stunned when she learned who Master Z’s mother was.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive of your art, mija.” Mama put an arm around her for a quick squeeze. “I’m proud of you.”
Off to one side, Tadeo scowled at them, then yelled something nasty.