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I waved him off. “Nah, Gabi won’t be scared off. Besides, I don’t plan on the family meeting her any time soon.”
Thano laughed. “Yeah, good luck with that. Mom has some weird sense for these things. I’m telling you, she’ll find out and when she does, all hell’s gonna break loose.”
“She likes Kilyn.”
Handing me a beer, Thano nodded. “She does. But do you remember that shirt dad used to wear all the time?”
“Which one? He has a ton of them.”
“The one that said Italian food is just like Greek food . . . except with less flavor.”
I laughed. “Oh yeah.”
“You know how Mom and Dad feel about Italians after that whole incident with Thad. Add in the fact that Gabi owns a bakery and I’m guessing she likes to cook.”
My beer stopped at my lips. “Fuck. I forgot Thad dated an Italian girl.”
“Whose mother tried to steal away Mom’s middle son.”
“The shit’s gonna hit the fan.”
“Yep,” Thano said before taking a long drink.
“Gabi’s different. She has no parents, and she’s a simple girl. Mom will love her.”
My brother raised a brow and said, “You keep telling yourself that. All I know is that if things work out with you and this girl, my wife is getting a major break from Mom.”
I chuckled. “Then let’s toast to things working out.”
“Hell yeah.”
Our beers clinked together. “Nic, I’m glad to see you dating someone. You deserve to find love.”
“Don’t get all emotional on me, little brother. We’re having fun, that’s all.”
He stared at me for a few seconds before smiling. I knew he could see right through me. I didn’t have fun by dating one single girl. I had fun by fucking a different girl every other week. Here I was sitting in his house with the girl I’d only been on two dates with chatting it up with his wife.
I tried like hell to ignore the feeling deep within my chest. The one I’d never experienced before, but grew more and more with each passing moment I spent with Gabi.
“I’m not looking for love, Thano.”
He nodded and lifted his hands up. “If you say so.”
I downed my beer. “I say so. Now where’s my niece?”
SITTING IN A stunned silence, I stared at Kilyn. “You had to have a Plan B birthing plan?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
“Wow. I thought my family had issues.”
Kilyn laughed. “For as much of a pain in the ass they are, there isn’t a damn thing they wouldn’t do for me or Kira. I know that with all my heart. But, if things do turn serious for you and Nic, be prepared to not only have Nic’s immediate family in your life, but all the family. It’s like a package deal. At Kira’s birthday party a few weeks ago, this entire back yard was filled with Thano’s family. I woke up three nights in a row in a cold sweat with dreams of people yelling out Opa!”
I covered my mouth to hide my laugh.
“Well, we’re just getting to know each other. It’s only our second date.”
She scrunched her nose up. “And here you are, sitting on my back porch talking to me.”
My hands wrung together nervously. When Nic mentioned meeting his brother and family, I panicked internally. Meeting family is huge. That means more people in my life, more of a chance of someone wanting to dig into my past.
“May I be honest with you, Gabi?”
“Yes, please do.”
I held my breath. She was going to tell me Nic was all wrong for me. That I was not Nic’s type and that after he had his fun with me, I’d be another notch in his belt.
“I’ve been in this family for over five years and I have never seen nor heard of Nic dating anyone. He’s never brought a girl home to meet his brothers or parents before. He really likes you, Gabi. I saw the way he looked at you, the same way Thano looks at me.”
I swallowed hard. “I really like him too. He brings out feelings in me I’ve never experienced before.”
She smiled. “I love Nic and the last thing I’d ever want was for him to get hurt.”
“Is that why you told me about the family?”
“Yes, and I wished like hell someone had warned me.”
I giggled. “I haven’t dated anyone seriously in a long time, Kilyn. I’ve pretty much lived a quiet, non-existent life. But when he walked into my bakery, my entire world felt like it has been woken up. Not just my body, but my heart as well.”
Chewing on her lip, she leaned in closer. “Okay, something else I have to tell. Greek men, well, you know what they say?”
With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “I’ve heard a rumor or two.”
Her cheeks flamed. “They are possessive. In and out of bed. It’s more of a gentle possessiveness. There isn’t anything Thano wouldn’t do for me.”
