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Perusing the room, she saw a lot of unfamiliar smiling faces. Then
her gaze landed on a face she recognized Gaven. Tall, tanned, light
brown-eyed, curly blond-haired Gaven. He raised his glass to her. She
smiled back. All the sudden, she didn t feel totally alone.
Trey walked her over to Troy, who stood in the middle of the
living room. Troy took her other hand. She stood between the two
men, each holding a hand. Everyone was watching them in silence.
Sweat dripped down her back.
Troy raised her wrist to his lips.
No! Surely he wasn t going to&
He did.
His tongue lapped at her wrist. Shudders raced through her body,
and her nipples hardened and looked like bullets coming through her
thin bra and blouse. She tried to cover her breasts up, but Troy and
Trey held tight to her hands.
Troy bent and whispered, It won t be long now, babe. I promise
you can hit me later tonight.
To her horror, Trey raised the wrist he d been holding and did the
same thing.
Once again, shudders convulsed her body, and her nipples
extended even farther out.
Cheers rang through the room, and someone passed out glasses of
pink champagne to all of them.
Trey whispered, Our papa is going to welcome you to the
family.
Their papa looked like an older version of the twins. His hair was
still dark with only a small amount of gray, and his green eyes were
bright and sharp. He was a touch shorter than them, possibly six feet
tall to the twins six-foot-two-inch frames.
This is a very happy day for the Cortino family. As you have all
seen, my sons have found their vero amore. He moved over to
112 Dakota Dawn
Branda, and he brought her right hand to his lips and grazed it with a
soft kiss. He looked into her eyes. We are happy to have you in our
family. Shifting his gaze, he made eye contact with all three of them
in succession. May you three live long, be healthy, have many
babies, and prosper greatly.
Turning back to the family members, he raised his glass. Let it be
known Branda McFalls is now a part of the Cortino family.
Everyone raised their glasses to the three lovers then drained their
champagne.
Trey laughed when Branda tried to take only a sip. You must
drink it all, quickly now, tesoro mio.
Determined, she gulped it down.
Trey swept her up in his arms and hugged her tightly. You did a
great job, piccolo tesoro mio.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, Troy took her in his arms
and hugged her just as tightly. It s almost over, mio piccolo
innamorato. My little sweetheart. All you have to do now is meet
each one personally. I ll be holding your hand the whole time. No
worries.
Putting her down, he introduced her to his grandparents. Branda,
I d like you to meet my Nonno and Nonna. They have a home in Italy
and one here in the U.S. so we get to see them often.
Nonno took her hand and kissed it. Welcome to the family,
bella. Looking at the twins he added, E molto carina.
Showing both dimples, Troy answered, Si, Nonno. E molto
carina.
Before she could ask, Trey leaned down and whispered, Nonno
just said you are very pretty and Troy agreed.
Oh. That was sweet. I am going to have to learn Italian. Will you
teach me?
Of course, tesoro mio. Troy and I will both teach you, Trey
answered in a pleased tone.
Blessed Times Two 113
Both his grandparents hugged and kissed her then stepped aside to
let the others do the same.
By the time it was over, she had been hugged and kissed more
than she had been in her entire life. It was kind of nice. She decided
she liked the Cortino family a lot. They were a happy group.
Glancing around the room, she put names to all the faces. Nonno
and Nonna were the grandparents. Nonna was close to Branda s
height with bright gray eyes that adoringly took in all of her family.
Nonno was where the men in family got their looks. He looked like an
older version of them all. His green eyes still gleamed, and he still
stood tall and proud. Papa and Mom were Emilio and Trina. Trina s
blue eyes were full of happiness. Her blonde hair was shoulder length
and had just a touch of gray. She was dressed in tan slacks that looked
like they were made just for her and a red blouse that hugged her
bosom nicely. Long, red fingernails complemented her blouse
perfectly. She looked very sophisticated.
Like the twins, Emilio s presence demanded attention. There was
something about the Cortino men that just made people gravitate
toward them. Emilio seemed to love his family very much, and
Branda couldn t get over how often his eyes sought out his wife. His
green eyes looked possessively at Trina. It struck Branda with the
strength of a lightning bolt that his sons looked at her that very same
way. A flash of them looking at her like that twenty years in the future
warmed her heart.
Their papa s brother s name was Gabriel, and his wife s name was
Bellina. They spent most of their time in Italy. The Italian words for
uncle and aunt were zio and zia, which she would have to remember.
Their son s names were Cason and Carlo. They had the Cortino black
hair and green eyes, but their eyes were light instead of dark. Cason
was twenty-eight, the same age as Trent, the twin s younger brother.
Carlo was twenty-six. Cason, Carlo, and Trent had a look that
screamed trouble, especially when you got them together.
114 Dakota Dawn
Finding Gaven talking to Trent, she watched them for a moment.
She d found out that Gaven and Trent were good friends. Trent had
touched a soft spot in her heart. Glancing down at her left arm, she
couldn t help but envision the scar beneath the thin sleeve. She could
hide hers. Trent couldn t hide his. A jagged scar slashed across his
left cheek. He was almost a copy of Troy and Trey, tall and
handsome. His black hair was shorter than the twins but was still
enough to run your fingers through. His green eyes were guarded.
They still held a hint of laughter, but she could easily see the pain in
them as well. Later she would ask Trey and Troy about him.
Moving her gaze, she saw Nonno and Nonna with their heads
together and their hands moving quickly. Whatever they were talking
about seemed important. She watched Nonno as he walked up to
Trent and told him something in a hushed tone. Trent looked
confused, but headed out of the room. Next, Nonno went up to Troy,
who was talking to Cason. Troy left the room after hearing whatever
Nonno told him. Turning toward them, Nonno headed in hers and
Trey s direction.
In a low tone, he said, I need you both to go into the master
bedroom. It is most important. Without another word, he headed
over to Trey s parents, Emilio and Trina.
Doing as he wished, they went to the massive bedroom.
Trey asked Troy, Do you know what this is about?
No, I was hoping you did.
Nonno ushered Nonna in then closed the door behind him.
Nonna and I acknowledge these are changing times. The blessing
seems to be conforming to these changing times. We have never seen
the blessing pick one woman for two men. It could be because they
are twins. We do not know. All we know is that we are learning new
things about the blessing. Since we do not know the extent of the
change, we need to do one more test. With Nonno s last statement,
he looked right at Trent. His sharp green eyes assessed Trent with
compassion and determination.
Blessed Times Two 115
Trent didn t look happy. What did I do? I m not part of this. I m
happy for them, but their getting together has nothing to do with me.
Troy growled. What is this all about, Nonno?
In a controlled tone, Nonno stated, I need Branda and Trent to
come to me.
Confusion swirled in Branda s head as she wondered where
Nonno was going with this. On shaky legs, she walked over to him.
Trey and Troy looked sick as something seemed to be starting to
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