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“What’s your name?” he finally asked.
She arched one fine eyebrow. “We haven’t settled on what we’re going to call you yet.”
He turned, edging closer to her as a group came into the restaurant. The brunette slid along the wall, farther away from anyone else. Nick followed, irresistibly drawn by her scent and the mystery in her eyes. “I guess you have a Nick in your past?”
“Uh-huh.”
“It didn’t go well?”
“I’d have to say that’s a no.”
“Bad breakup?”
“No. We never even dated.” One side of her mouth tilted up in a half-smile. It held no happiness, merely jaded amusement. “He barely even noticed my existence.”
“Then he was an idiot.”
The other side of her mouth came up; this time her genuine amusement shone clearly. “Oh, undoubtedly.”
“He didn’t deserve you.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You’re better off without him.”
“Nobody knows that better than me.” She sounded more amused now, as if her guard was coming down.
“Enough about him,” Nick said. “If you don’t like my first name, call me by my last one. It’s Santori.”
He watched for a flare of surprise, a darting of the eyes to the sign in the window, proclaiming the name of the place.
Strangely, she didn’t react at all. “I think we’ve already determined what I should call you. You said it yourself.”
Puzzled, Nick just waited.
“Idiot,” she said, tapping the tip of her finger on her cheek, as if thinking about it. “Though, honestly, it doesn’t quite capture you now. It might have sufficed years ago, but for today, I think we’ll have to go with…complete shithead.”
Nick’s jaw fell open. But the sexy brunette wasn’t finished. “By the way, that number you wanted? Here it is, you might want to write it down…1-800-nevergonnahappen.”
And without another word, she shoved at his chest, pushing him out of the way, then strode out the door. Leaving Nick standing there, staring after her in complete shock.
“I’d say that didn’t go well.” Mark stood right behind him, watching-as was Nick-as the brunette marched off down the street like she’d just kicked somebody’s ass.
Well, she had. Namely his. He just didn’t know why.
“No kidding.”
“I see you haven’t lost your touch with women.”
“Shut up.” Shaking his head in bemusement, he lifted a hand and rubbed his jaw. “I don’t know how I blew that so badly.”
“But you sure managed to do it.”
Hearing his twin chuckle, Nick glared. “At least I’m not wearing a ring. I can still try to pick up a hot stranger.”
Mark just laughed harder. Which made Nick consider punching him. Only, Mama was standing behind the counter, glancing curiously at them as she waited on the customers. If Nick went after his twin, she’d come around and whack them both in the heads with a soup ladle.
“Hot stranger…oh, man, you are going to hate yourself when you figure out what you just did.”
His eyes narrowing, Nick waited for his twin to continue.
“You really didn’t recognize her, did you?”
Oh, hell. He should have recognized her? He knew her?
“Still not getting it?”
“Tell me how much trouble I’m in,” he muttered, praying he hadn’t just come on to a cousin he hadn’t seen in years. If they were related-and he couldn’t have her-that would be a crime worthy of a military tribunal. So he prayed even harder that she’d been some girl he’d known in high school.
“Pretty big trouble.”
He waited, knowing Mark was enjoying watching him sweat.
“She is family, you know.”
Damn. All the blood in his body fell to his feet out of embarrassment…and disappointment. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
“You shot out of the booth like your ass was on fire.”
Rubbing a hand over his eyes and shaking his head, Nick mumbled, “Who is she? Mama’s side or Pop’s? Please tell me she’s not one of Great Uncle Vincenza’s thirty granddaughters. Otherwise I just might have to re-up and hide from him and his mafia buddies for the next decade.”
Mark’s eyes glittered in amusement. The guy was enjoying this. “Not Great Uncle Vincenza. Think closer.”
Closer. Christ. “There’s no way she’s a first cousin…”
“Not a cousin.”
Oh, thank heaven. “So who?”
“I’ll give you a hint. Did you happen to notice the icing and flour all over her apron?”
