Inferno - Chelle Bliss by Chelle Bliss

“Do you have a portfolio?” Gram asks her.

“I do. It’s small, but I could go through and build it up a bit. Give it a little pizzazz.”

“Do that,” Gram says, pointing her fork in Opal’s direction. “Once you’re done, we’ll make sure to introduce you to everyone we know. But until then, I’ll talk to my closest friends and family.”

“I’ll talk to the ladies at the shop. See what we can do. I think the ladies were talking about trying to figure out an advertising campaign, but they don’t have much extra time.”

“See?” Gram ticks her chin in my direction. “There’s your first client.”

“Maybe,” Opal says softly, moving the food around on her plate.

“It’s a lock, babe,” I tell her, knowing damn well I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen. “We’ll be your first client.” And if I had my way, we’d be her only one, but I know that isn’t possible.

“Good. That’s settled.” Gram smiles. “Now, what’s going on with you two?” she asks point-blank.

I jerk backward, shocked by her directness. Gram usually isn’t as in your face about relationships, but here she is, being nosy as hell. I’d expect that type of question out of my aunt Fran, but not Gram.

Opal looks at me out of the corner of her eye, and I do what any sane person would do. I answer for us both. “We’re friends. Good friends.”

“It doesn’t hurt to have close friends, but when you get to my age, you know a thing or two about a thing or two. And from what I’m seeing, there’s a lot more than friendship and chicken cutlets sizzling in this room.”

“You two would make beautiful children,” Fran adds, causing me to choke on a mouthful of pasta.

“I can see them now,” Gram says. “I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

I pound on my chest, trying to get the food that’s scraping the insides to go down my throat. “I’m fully aware,” I get out between coughs. “Give us a little time. We just met, for Christ’s sake.”

Gram shrugs her shoulders. “Time is a made-up thing, Stone. You can’t grasp it, and no matter what you do, there’s never enough of it. Take it from two old birds.”

Fran rolls her eyes. “Who’s the second old bird, Maria? I’m not old. Maybe you are, but I’m still a young thing.”

I turn my head, taking in Opal’s profile. She’s staring at my aunt and grandmother, slowly eating small morsels of food. “I’m sorry for them.”

She gazes at me over her shoulder, almost stealing my breath with the softness of her features. “I like them. Don’t apologize.”

She only likes them because she doesn’t know how much bullshit these two can get into. If there’s trouble, they’re right there, fanning the flames.

“They’re sweet.”

I bark out a laugh. “They’re not as sweet as you think.”

Opal touches my hand, sending a scattering of shock waves through my system. “You’re lucky, Stone. They love you enough to ask questions even if they’re uncomfortable.”

“See?” Aunt Fran says, waving her knife around the table. “She’s a smart woman. You men don’t know how lucky you are to have such caring women in your lives.”

I grumble under my breath but try to stay positive because I know Opal hasn’t had anyone give a damn about her in years. “I know. I know,” I say, lifting my hands up. “I’m the luckiest son of a bitch.”

“You’re having a damn good lunch with three beautiful women. What could be better?” Fran asks me.

I could think of a dozen things, and they all involve Opal being naked.

“Do you have anyone else around here, sweetie?” Gram asks Opal.

Opal shakes her head.

“You have us now. We have dinner on Sunday, every Sunday. You’re always welcome in our home.”

“That’s nice,” Opal says, squirming in her chair a little. “I couldn’t impose.”

“Don’t be silly. We feed a small army every weekend, and one more mouth is no imposition. No one should be alone in this world, especially when we have so much to give.”

Fuck. I’m not mad about them inviting Opal. I’m pissed at myself for being such a pansy about getting more involved with her. Not only does my family have a lot to offer, but so do I. I have no idea what it’s like for her to be utterly and completely alone, and I’m letting my fear of something that could very well be damn near amazing get in the way.

“You should come,” I tell Opal, pushing aside my stupid fear. “You already know most of my cousins. They’d love to have another girl here.”

Opal dips her chin and blinks. “You’d want me here?”

I smile at her, wishing I could pull her against me and stare into her deep blue eyes. “I want you everywhere,” I admit for the first time ever, forgetting for a split second that my grandma and aunt are sitting with us.

“Stone,” Opal whispers, giving the two nosy onlookers a side-eye as her face turns pink.

“Come, Opal. If you hate it, you don’t have to come again. I want you there.”

Opal rubs her hands down her pants, looking like she’s about to curl into herself. “Are you sure?”