Beatrice jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Yeah!”
“No, she’s going out to dinner with me.”
They stared at Nico and then began to push Rocco with huge smiles.
“You’re going on a date?” Beatrice asked.
Sofia ran up to Nico. “What are you going to wear?”
“No, no,” she said, the color in her cheeks deepening. “It’s not—”
Rocco jumped in. “A date. It’s not a date,” he stammered. “We’re all going. Dario, Celeste, everyone.”
Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to stop the shenanigans of the two evil pixies who posed as his nieces.
“Will you wear a dress?” Sofia asked, hiking up one shoulder.
“We’ve never seen you in a dress,” Beatrice said. “Why don’t you wear dresses?”
“I, I wear dresses. Sometimes.”
Rocco could see they’d made her uncomfortable and figured he’d help her out. “You haven’t seen her wear a dress because she’s a member of the team. Do you see me wearing one?”
The girls giggled.
“Exactly, there you go.”
But when he glanced at Nico, he couldn’t tell if he’d made matters better or worse.
He looked down at his nieces. “There are some menus in the kitchen. Go take a look. You can have anythingbutpizza.”
They ran over to hug Nico. “Thanks for the gelato and the story.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Once they were gone, Rocco frowned. “Gelato?” He glanced at the table, seeing the empty box of chocolate. “And chocolate.” He paused. “Before dinner.”
“Sorry. I’m not good with children. I don’t really know—what—I’m supposed to do.”
“No younger siblings or nieces or nephews to babysit?”
“Uh, no.”
She looked around the room.
“Looking for something?”
“My purse.”
She seemed in a hurry to leave.
Spotting her bag on a chair in the corner, he walked over and picked it up. “Here it is.” He extended his hand, the purse dangling from it. “No babysitting gigs as a teenager to make some quick cash?”
She shook her head, reached for the bag, grabbing the strap. She pulled to take it from him, but he didn’t let go.
“I would have thought you had. I mean, you’re so good with Beatrice and Sofia. They really like you.”
“They’re sweet girls.”
