Show Me

16.

"Wait... what? He actually asked you, "What are your intentions toward my daughter?" Shit. He's watched The Godfather way, way too many times."

Natali giggled, subduing herself when Richy shot them a look from where he was going over a number with the dancers.

"Okay, here's the deal with Joe Germanotta," she lowered her voice significantly, taking him by the elbow to a quieter area of backstage where they found a couple of folding chairs. "He's a huge teddy bear, except when it comes to Stef and I. Her, especially." Her dark eyes grew serious. "She must've told you everything."

Bradley nodded. "She did and it breaks my heart."

She looked down at her boots, scuffing the bottom against the marked up floor. "So you can understand why my dad is so protective of her. He hates feeling helpless...like he can't do anything to keep us safe, not from New York. Taylor was one thing. I mean, yeah, he broke her heart but he was an alright guy, no real hard feelings there. But this whole nightmare with Chris was a goddamned shit show." Her tone was uncharacteristically soft and he had to lean in slightly to hear. "Can't blame him for wanting anybody who even looks in her direction to take a friggin' lie detector test."

"Which I get. I'd be the same way if it were my daughter."

"What did you say to him?"

Bradley tipped forward on the uncomfortable aluminum. "Well, I kind of stuttered for a minute. Then I told him the truth."

"Which was?"

Since he had offered to accompany Stefani to speak to Christian at her party and after she had presumably filled Natali in on what they spoke about, the other woman had softened completely toward him, going as far to arrange double date with them and her boyfriend at a little resturant tucked far into the most distant corner of Malibu one could imagine without leaving the city. He was glad he'd earned her trust and he knew, similarly with Stefani, he would make sure as hell he'd never do anything to break it.

His eyes met hers as he spoke from his heart. "That I love her and I'll take care of her and I can see a future with her."

"If I know my father, he asked you if you were planning on asking her to marry you eventually, right?"

"You hit the nail on the head," he smiled faintly. "And I told him that someday, yes, I could see that. But we're happy with the way things are, right now and it isn't something we've discussed. Not at length anyway."

She nodded slowly. "I'm impressed. Sounds like you held your own. That's something that'll impress my dad, too. Just so you know. And he'll come around. Look at me."

"Took you awhile, though," he grinned.

"Hey, my sister meets a good looking guy in the kitchen of a restaurant and falls in love with him. When does that happen, outside of the movies? You've gotta cut me a break here."

"What are we talking about?"

Stefani perched on Bradley's lap, water bottle in hand, swiping her forearm across her face.

"Oh, just about Dad giving Bradley here a hard time today. You done with pick-up? Ready to eat?"

Instead of answering her sister's questions, she turned to Bradley, narrowing her eyes. "You didn't tell me he gave you a hard time while we were gone. Not that it surprises me," she sighed deeply. "I'll speak to him."

"No, no," He placed a hand flush against her waist, "it's okay. I understand. It's going to take awhile for him to warm up to me and that's fine. I'll just have to prove myself."