Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 163 -

Весса.

"Sofia's having dinner with us?" I repeated, watching as James tied a very smart tie around his neck.

"Yes. She's a guest. I thought it would be a good opportunity for her to meet and spend time with the family," James replied, flipping his collar back down and pulling on a jacket.

I'd come into James's room, all ready to tell him off, only to see him putting on one of his sexiest suits. My little green monster began causing me to panic. Was he dressing up for her? "So, is this some kind of formal dinner?" I asked.

James glanced over at me. "No. You can wear what you like."

"Then why are you all dressed up?" I demanded.

"We remain in black for a mourning period of one year here, Becca. The funeral hasn't even happened yet. I'm just showing my respect," James said.

Yeah, right. I stiffened my back and then started for the door. "I'll go change, then. And I'll have Giana add more black to my wardrobe. I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner."

Actually, I was more incensed that James hadn't told me sooner.

"No harm done. I should have explained the traditions to you," James replied.

"Yes, you should have," I said waspishly and stomped out the door, slamming it behind me. The nerve of that man! Dressing in his most body-hugging, sexy suit because it was black. He was dressing for Sofia. I just knew it. Layla was playing with the kids on a blanket in my suite. She saw me enter like an oncoming storm and quickly sat up. "Becca?"

"Men suck," I grunted.

"I've always thought so," Layla replied with a little laugh. She sobered when she realized I wasn't joking, and wasn't in the mood to, either. "What's wrong? Did you and James have a fight?"

I slammed open the door to my walk-in closet. "Not yet, but we're going to."

"What about?" Layla asked.

"You'll see. She's coming to dinner," I seethed.

Layla blinked. "Who's coming to dinner?"

"Miss Tits-and-Ass." I reamed through the clothes, looking for something sexy, yet black, yet not quite slutty. James's uncle was dead, after all. I had to show SOME respect.

"He's seeing someone else on the side?" Layla gasped.

I tossed a pair of shoes, a dress, and some hose onto the bed. I doubted he'd get to see them, given how angry I was, but I also chose my most scandalous black-and-red lacy panties and bra. "You're going in ready for battle," Layla observed, watching as I started pulling it all on.

“Damn straight." I let Layla do up the back of my dress, then sat and watched the kids while she also prepared for dinner.

Once it was time to go down to dinner, I carried Dahlia, and Layla carried Alessandro. We fixed Alessandro in a Bumbo seat, and I passed Dahlia to Layla. She'd just eaten, so I was rather certain we'd get through dinner without me having to excuse myself to feed her.

When I turned back to the table, I heard Layla let out a squeak.

"What?" I asked as my father and stepmother came in, followed by James, who was escorting Sofia.

"Your-your dress!" Layla moaned.

I turned my head, looking my dress over. "What about my dress?"

"Uh-oh!" Sofia said, sliding into a seat next to James. "Looks like someone got urpy on mama."

Urpy? Oh shit, no....

"Did Dahlia throw up on me?" I asked Layla softly.

Layla just nodded her head, horrified.

I closed my eyes and had to count backwards from fifty. Not only had my impressive entrance been ruined, but I was now covered in baby spit-up, and Sofia had seen it and drawn everyone's attention to it. I wondered if she'd done it on purpose.

"Here, love," James said softly, going around Sofia and dabbing at the back of my dress with his cloth napkin.

"Thank you," I replied, red-faced and mortified.

"Children can be so precocious, even when they don't know what they're doing yet," Sofia trilled, and my father and stepmother laughed.

"Reminds me of the time Becca threw up on the priest who was baptizing her. Here's a could-have-been-worse situation if I've ever seen one," my father chuckled.

I was trying to think of how it could be worse, but it wasn't coming to me.

"Here, why don't you sit here," James said, escorting me to the chair on the other side of him. My father sat to my left.

Layla sat on the other side of Sofia. She not-so-subtly looked Sofia up and down.

I was quiet as they started serving dinner. James started speaking to Sofia in Italian again, but she quickly corrected him to English. My father and stepmother paid rapt attention to her hard-won rise through the ranks of fashion and her many travels.

Sofia laughed often and was a perfect guest. She was also effortlessly beautiful in her black, curve-hugging yet tasteful dress. I wanted to stab her with my fork.

"So, what about you, Becca? James told me you went to Yale." Sofia turned the conversation my way. "I also heard you lived in New Zealand? You must have had such adventures."

And here I'd thought the night couldn't get any more embarrassing. "I've been... well, yes, I've been to New Zealand. And New York. And Yale, of course. I was just starting an internship when that little peanut came along." I gestured to Dahlia. "Then Alessandro came into my life at about the same time."

"Oh. So you've been doing the mama thing," Sofia said with a nod. "Very important work."

James leaned over and kissed my temple. "Becca is a wonderful mother."

"And I'm sure your nanny here is a great help," Sofia continued, turning to Layla. "Layla, right?"

"Yes," Layla replied. "But Becca would do a great job even without me."

I appreciated the loyalty, but I wasn't going to let Layla fall on the grenade just to make me feel better. "No, Layla, I honestly don't know how I'd do it all without you."

Layla blushed. "Thanks."

"I don't know how anyone raises children without help," Sofia said. "I... was never so fortunate as to have any. Eugenio passed before we could start a family, and I've never really been interested in anyone else. Then there was my career and all the travel-I just never got around to it, and now it's too late."

"You could always adopt," my father suggested, sounding sad for her.

Sofia smiled sadly at my father. "Oh, I could, I know. But my lifestyle doesn't really leave room for children. Run, run, run, go, go, go! James, you are SO fortunate to have someone who's willing to slow down for a while and raise children with you."

My eye ticked. I wasn't sure if she was complimenting me or insulting me.

"I feel very lucky," James said, placing his hand over mine on the table.

My father looked sour. I remembered that he didn't like James very much. That sentiment didn't seem to have changed over the weeks we'd been in Italy.

"And you both seem very happy together," Sofia sighed at my father and my stepmother.

"We are," my father said, perking up and taking his scowl off of James. "I never thought I could be this happy again after we lost Becca's mother."

"Ah, but fate smiled on you," Sofia mused. "How wonderful to see. You're all very lucky people to have each other."

"Thank you," my father responded, though he did throw another dark look at James.

James ignored him and kept hold of my hand. "I'm trying to convince this one to spend the rest of her life with me. Negotiations are still pending."

I blushed, and Sofia giggled.

"You must have lost some of your negotiation skills if it is taking you this long, James Valentino!" Sofia said.

"Yes, well, maybe my charm is wearing off in my old age," James chuckled.

My father actually growled.

"Dad," I said in a low tone. "It's fine. Don't get wound up."

It was so strange. My easygoing father had become a huge grouch in James's presence many, many times since we'd been in Italy.

In this instance, he stood back from the table and slammed his silverware down. "I think we'll skip dessert. Darling, I don't think I can spend another minute in his presence."

My stepmother nodded and stood as well, though she looked embarrassed.

"Dad..." I tried again.

Jacob Woods just shook his head and walked out with my stepmother.

Now it was my turn to be embarrassed. "Sorry about that. James and my dad..."

"Well, darling, James is nearly twice your age and a mafioso, so, I'm not sure if I were your father, I'd be particularly thrilled, either," Sofia said kindly. "James, you haven't even won over the parents? Shame on you." "He's a tough nut to crack," James grunted.

"That's no excuse. I'm very disappointed in you, James. I thought you had more savvy. Or were at least more suave," Sofia teased.

James grumbled under his breath, and for the first time, I found myself smiling at Sofia.

"So, you're saying I'm not getting his A game?" I feigned being insulted.

"Not if he hasn't won you over by now," Sofia sniffed. "Baby trapping. James, so low."

Baby tra-oh. "That was actually my fault." I winced. "You see, Tally and I" I remembered Tally and stopped talking, not wanting to upset James. James squeezed my hand reassuringly. "No, go ahead."

"Tally and I," I began again, "went to the same clinic and had the same doctor for our depo shots. I got my messages mixed up with Tally's and, well..."

"Oh dear." Sofia patted my other hand. "Well, you and Tally did make some beautiful babies." Her eyes sought James's, and hers were a little wet with tears. "I am so sorry for your loss, James." James cleared his throat self-consciously. "Yes, well..."

"Dessert?" a servant holding a tray asked hesitantly as he entered the room.

"Yes, dessert," James said quickly, changing the subject. "I think today is gelato."

"Yes, Don Valentino. The best," the servant confirmed.

Little crystal sorbet dishes were placed in front of James, Sofia, Layla, and me. The servant frowned at my father's and my stepmother's empty seats.

"Stomach issues. Nothing you need to be worried about," I gave as a lame excuse.

"Of course. I will let Giana know she might need to check on them later to see if they need anything for their stomachs," the servant replied with a nod. "Thank you," I said.

Sofia picked up her spoon and daintily scooped up a small sliver of gelato, bringing it gracefully to her mouth. "Mmm, this is good gelato."

I took a somewhat larger spoonful, but James had already dug out a bit of his and held it to my lips.

Closing my mouth around the confection, I let it melt on my tongue and moaned loudly. "This is incredible."

James smiled. "I'm glad you like it. And I promise to work harder with your father. And with you."

I laughed. "James, I was only teasing. I think you're doing just fine with me."

"Tell me that again when we're shopping for wedding sets," James said with a lopsided grin.

Wedding sets? I looked down at my bare finger. What would it be like to be married to James?

Sofia and James smiled at one another.

"I think this is a good start," Sofia beamed.