Blue Smoke

happier. The ceremony was beautiful, Vince. Everything’s beautiful.”
    “She worried every day. But that’s our Bella.”
    He moved so smoothly over the floor, stayed so focused on her face as he did that Reena was sure there’d been lessons along the way. Dance and charm.
    “Now we can start our lives, make our home, have our family. We’ll have you over for dinner once we’re back from our honeymoon and settled.”
    “I’m there.”
    “I’m a lucky man to have such a beautiful wife, such an enchanting woman. And she cooks.” He laughed and kissed Reena’s cheek. “And now I have another sister.”
    “I have another brother. Una famiglia. ”
    “Una famiglia.” He grinned and swept her around the dance floor.
    L ater, snuggled in bed with Josh, Reena thought of her sister’s long-awaited day. The grandeur of the ceremony, all the solemn words, the elegant flowers. The initial formality of the reception that had, thankfully, broken down into a boisterous party.
    “Tell me, did my aunt Rosa actually do the Electric Slide?”
    “I can’t remember which one was Rosa, exactly, but yeah, I think. Or maybe it was the Hokey Pokey.”
    “No, it was my second cousins Lena and Maria-Theresa who got that one going. Jeez.”
    “I liked the dancing, especially the tarenbella.”
    “Tarantella,” she corrected, giggling. “You held up, Josh, and it’s not easy. Big points for you.”
    “I had fun, serious fun. Your family’s really cool.”

    “Also big and loud. I think Vince’s family was a little wigged, maybe especially when my uncle Larry grabbed the mike and started belting out ‘That’s Amore.’ ”
    “Sounded good. I like your family better. His are kind of snobby. He’s okay,” Josh said quickly. “And he’s over the moon about your sister. They looked like a movie couple.”
    “Yeah, they did.”
    “And your mom. Is it okay to say your mom’s really beautiful? She just doesn’t look like a mom. My family never did stuff like this, you know, the big events. I liked it.”
    She rolled over, smiled down at him. “Then you’ll come to dinner tomorrow? Mom told me to ask you. You can see what we’re like when we’re not all dressed up.”
    “Sure. Maybe you can stay tonight? My roommate’s not getting back until tomorrow night. We can go out if you want, or just stay here.”
    “I wish I could.” She bent her head to kiss his chest. It was so smooth and warm. “I really do. But I think an overnight’s a little more than my dad could take tonight. He’s going to be feeling blue. On top of it, people were giving him the business about how soon he’d be doing this again for Fran.”
    “You did shove her right at the bouquet when Bella tossed it.”
    “Reflex.” She laughed again, and sat up to shake back her hair. “I want to keep Dad busy tonight. Otherwise he’s going to be thinking about Bella’s wedding night, and that’s iffy territory for him.” She touched his cheek. “I’m glad you had fun today.”
    He sat up, hugged her in a way that warmed her heart. “I always do when I’m with you.”
    She dressed, freshened her makeup. No good going home looking like she’d just rolled out of bed with a guy. At the door she let Josh draw her into several lingering kisses.
    “Maybe, next day off, we could go somewhere,” he suggested. “The beach or something.”
    “I’d like that. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She stepped out, then turned back and pulled him into the doorway for another kiss. “That’ll have to hold me.”

    She all but danced down the stairs and into the warm night.
    Bo drove into the lot as she was putting her key into the ignition.
    He’d dropped Brad and Cammie off at Cammie’s place. It had been a good day, he thought, the kind that promised more. He liked Mandy. It was impossible not to. She was a pain in the ass with the camera, but in a way that made him laugh, or impressed him.
    “I’m going to want to see some of the six million pictures you took today,” he told her as they got out of his car.
    “You couldn’t escape it. I’m nearly as annoying with prints as I am with the lens. This was fun. I’m glad Cam nagged me into it. And saying that just proves I forget to engage brain before tongue.”
    “It’s okay, I got nagged into it, too. I figured if it turned out to be a nightmare I could hold it over Brad for years. I’ll have to find something else to hold over his head. Okay if I call you?”
    “Really okay.” She