JUST SOME BOND

The large dinning room bubbled with life as Antonio Romero proposed a toast with a slight tilt of his wine glass, standing erect at the head of the table, his stormy grey eyes searched the eyes of every guest, there was a hint of warmth in his gaze probably caused by the wine, Lucia Romero, his wife, could have sworn she had seen a smile tug at the corners of his firm thin lips, his stubble jaw relaxing even though the crisp tuxedo suit radiated nothing but stiffness and the tense status of his well concealed chiseled structure. "Good evening beautiful ladies and esteemed gentlemen, I always have been a man of very few words like you all know. But this is a special night for me, my family and all the members of Sorridi e basta, therefore I'm proposing a toast to our long partnership and ....friendship, if I might add....." he paused to smile more broadly and sighs echoed from shrill voices around the table, making Lucia clench her fist, Her husband had always been one of them 'Charles to the ladies' she battled with bratty, rich and desperate girls to keep him even in high school, although deep down she knew it was all really not necessary, from the start his heart was meant for her. But that did not mean Lucia would ever be comfortable with women swooning over him. At that moment she fought the strong instinct to jump in front of him screaming "mine mine mine!" "here's to your unending loyalty, support and sacrifices. cheers!" "cheers!" the others chorused and glasses met clinking, wine swooshing accompanied by small talk and giggles. Antonio threw smiles around and shook hands in his normal businesslike manner, Natasha walked up to him with the grace any British princess would kill for and kissed him on the cheek then said something to Antonio with a sweet smile. Lucia could not hear the words but she was sure Natasha said "congratulations daddy". Antonio drew his daughter in for a hug that looked tight enough to crush her rib bone and placed a long kiss on her perfect wavy blonde hair, that was probably the best answer. While Lucia stared at them from her seat in the right hand end of the big marbled table, His eyes caught hers and he winked making her chest tightend, she raised her wine glass in a mock salute and sipped, hidding a smile.