Max walked into his room holding a black fedora. It was actually kind of cool. “Here, try it on.”

Romero did and looked in the mirror. “Not bad,” he said, with a grin. “I’ve never seen you wear this.”

“Never have. I just got it a few weeks ago and I was waitin’ for a special occasion to wear it. Looks good on you. Now that’s a statement.”

Manny stuck his head in the door. “What are you two up to?” He watched Romero adjust the fedora. “Cool hat. You wearing that to the dinner?”

“I dunno,” Romero said, still trying to decide. “Max says I should.”

“Just remember to take it off during dinner.”

Romero patted Max on the back. “Thanks. I think I will wear it.”

He changed his mind about the fedora half a dozen times before he got there and finally decided what the hell and left it on. He texted Isabel to let her know he was there. She said she’d meet him at the door.

His jaw almost dropped when he saw her. He already thought she was sexy as hell but she wore a long sleeve black button down blouse that cuffed at the wrists tucked into a grey skirt that hugged her body perfectly. How the hell did he deserve her? “Oh my God,” she smiled, covering her mouth as he got closer. “We match.” He hadn’t even noticed that part; he’d been so busy ogling her.

He saw her eyes go to his head and he touched the tip of the fedora with a smirk, “You like it?”

“No, I love it.”

He kissed her. That perfume of hers, mixed with the sweet scent of Izzy, was going to be the end of him. “God, you smell good.”

She giggled; then for a moment she seemed troubled. “Something wrong?”

“No.” She took his hand. “C’mon. Everybody is just getting seated. It’s a buffet so we’ll serve ourselves.” She turned to him and smiled. “You hungry?”

“I’m gettin’ there.”

Isabel introduced him to Art and Gina first. Funny, he liked both of these siblings right off. They were friendly and both complimented the fedora. Good ole Max came through.

She pointed to a tall, distinguished and stuffy looking man in a suit surrounded by other suits. “That’s my dad. I’ll introduce you just as soon as he gets a moment.”

Exactly as he’d pictured him. “No rush,” he smirked.

Her mother said hello and said she was happy he could make it. The only acknowledgment she got from Pat was a forced smile. Then she quickly looked at Isabel. “Daddy wants all the family sitting together.” She pointed at the four seats left at the table where her mom, siblings and some other guy in a Navy uniform sat. Judging from all the f**king medals the guy wore, he was probably Pat’s husband. “Daddy’s next to mom. Charles and I are over there and this is you.” She pointed to the only seat left next to the guy in uniform.

“That’s okay. I’ll sit at another table with Romero.”

“Bell! Daddy wanted us all together.”

Isabel glared at her. “I’m sitting with Rom—”

Romero squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, babe. It’s just for dinner. We can move around after.” He didn’t want her getting upset over something her stupid sister planned. Then he got a bad feeling. If the guy in the uniform wasn’t Pat’s husband, and she’d obviously made the seating arrangements, who the hell was he?

Isabel pulled him aside. “You’re not sitting alone.”

“I won’t be alone,” he managed a smile. “This place is packed. Just one question, who’s the uniform you’ll be sitting next to?”

She glanced away then back at him. “An old friend of the family. He’ll be helping with the campaign. And I’m not sitting next to him, because I’m sitting with you.” She gave him a look he wasn’t going to argue with. But this wasn’t a good way to start the evening.

They sat two tables away from her family. “You’re disobeying your sister you know,” Romero teased.

“Oh, she can go to hell.”

“Izzy!” He chuckled. “I think you’ve been hanging around me too long.”

“She can be such a pain sometimes.”

Sometimes?

Romero rubbed her back. The guy in the uniform at her family’s table came to their table. “Bell, you should sit with your family. I’ll sit somewhere else.”

Bell?

“That’s okay, Jacob. We’re fine.” She turned to Romero. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce you to my boyfriend, Romero.”

“Nice to meet you, Romero.” He shook Romero’s hand. Romero nodded then Jacob turned back to Isabel. “C’mon, Bell.” For some reason hearing him call her that made Romero cringe. “Your dad would want you over there. You really should be. I wasn’t even going to sit there until your sister insisted.”

That pissed Romero off. He knew Pat had something to do with the seating arrangements. But what made him even madder was that she arranged it so this guy ended up next to Isabel.

“Are you sure?” Isabel asked.

“Absolutely. I’ll be sitting with my colleagues where I was planning on sitting in the first place.”

Isabel finally agreed and they were back at the family table. He thought about how nicely this would’ve turned out for Pat if he hadn’t come after all. Isabel’s Dad finally made it to their table, along with Pat’s husband. As expected, Pat’s husband was in uniform, too. With just as many stupid medals as the other guy. Isabel introduced him to them both. Seeing how Charles held his military hat at his side reminded Romero to take off his hat and shake both their hands.