Chapter 4
Lucas adjusted his tie in the mirror and frowned at his reflection. He knew he was good looking but somehow he always felt drab when in the presence of the dashing Tony Dimera. He though of the vodka bottle in the bar and he could almost taste it in his mouth. "Honey," Sami called from the kitchen "What are you doing in there?" "Just fixing my tie." Lucas said walking out into the kitchen. Sami gave him a once over and grinned. "You look great!" She said. "Honestly I don't know why you worry, since you always look great. I swear sometimes you're worse than a girl." She emphasized the fact that she was teasing with a playful pat on his bottom. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. "Mmmm! But not worse than my girl." He whispered to her, lowering his mouth for a kill. "Mmm, hmmm." She murmured. There lips had barely touched when the doorbell buzzed and Sami jumped away from him. "He's here!" She said excitedly. "Great." Lucas said sarcastically, which a reproachful look from Sami who said. "Get the door and be nice." She hissed the be nice part to him "Yeah, yeah. Lucas said walking to the door and glancing wistfully at the bar. "I'll be nice." I'd be nicer if I had a drink, he thought to himself, but then shook off the thought and opened the door.
Tony wasn't any happier than Lucas at that moment. He'd been dreading the evening and had tried to think of some way of getting out of it. But now as Lucas opened the door, he knew it was too late. "Hi Tony." Lucas said cordially shaking Tony's hand. "Come on in." "Thank you Lucas." Tony said returning the young man's smile. A smile he noticed that didn't quite reach his eyes. Although Lucas had always been cordial towards Tony, Tony suspected that he wasn't really liked by the man at all. Not that he blamed Lucas for that attitude. After all, Andre had successfully manipulated Sami into his bed and Tony must surely be reminder of that to Lucas. But that was why Sami had been pushing so hard for Tony to join her family in events and dinners, because she wanted Lucas to see that Tony was not Andre and didn't have any designs on her. Little did she know just how wrong she was on the latter point. "Hey you!" Sami said to him, wiping her hands on her apron and coming over to him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and he though that she smelled like rosemary. "For you." He said to her handing her the wine. "Thank you." She said taking the bottle from him. "Well something smells wonderful." "Mmm hmm, we're having rosemary chicken. My Grandma Caroline's recipe. I don't think I do it justice, but Lucas usually tells me it comes out alright. "She's being modest." Lucas said taking Tony's coat. "She's really becoming a great cook. Those lessons she's taking from Caroline are really paying off." "Dinner will be ready in a minute." Sami said. "Just make yourself at home. Lucas," She said handing him the bottle of wine. "Open that will you love?" "Sure hon." Lucas said grabbing the corkscrew. "So Tony, did you manage to pull out of Montesora Industries before their stock took that dive?" "Fortunately yes. Thank you." He said accepting the glass of wine that Lucas handed him. "My stockbroker luckily saw the possibility of a downfall right before it happened and I sold off all my stock for a reasonably good price." "That's great." Lucas said. "Yeah, mine did the same when Yatsuma's fell a couple of month's ago." "Hmm," Tony said. "Do you play the market often?" " A bit." Lucas replied smiling, "But Sami doesn't like me to take too many chances with our finances. We have a son to put through college after all. And my wife is determined to see him in Harvard!" "Yale would be just as good." Sami said smiling as she came out with a dish in hand, which she set on the table. Just then the doorbell buzzed again. "Ohh good, right on time." She said. "Lucas would you get the rest and put it out while I get the door. "I wasn't aware that you were expecting anyone else." Tony said to her as she swept past him to the door. "Last minute guest." She said. "I ran into an old friend today and invited her to join us. I hope it's ok." "Oh it's fine by me." He said relieved that he wouldn't have to be alone with his hosts the entire evening. Relieved that is until Sami opened the door and he got a look at the stunning brunette standing there. And then the relief turned to a sudden suspicion that he had been set up.