“C’mon,sorella, please?” He pressed his hands together like he was praying. “Kev scored tickets to the Cubs game, but I gotta leave now if I’m gonna make it. It’s one pizza, and it’s only a few blocks away. You’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Help the kid out, Gi.” With a lift of his chin, Nick put his arm around his wife. “I’ll help Sara close up.”
“Okay, fine, but you owe me.”
“You can thank me later.” His grin triumphant, Luca dropped the pizza box in her hands and kissed her cheek. “Love you.”
Then she glanced at the delivery ticket taped to the box.
McCready. Park Place.
“Luca,” she screamed, running after him.
But he was already gone.
Her lips pressed together, Gina stomped her foot on the linoleum floor and glanced over at her brother. “There’s no Cubs game tonight, is there?”
“Nope.” Laughing, Nick shook his head. “Don’t get all pissy now. Luca’s doin’youa favor.”
“Oh, yeah?” She glared at him, her vision narrowing. “How do you figure?”
“I saw Matt just the other day, babe.” And stepping into her personal space, Nick bopped her on the nose with his finger. “He was here looking for you.”
“Yeah, he’s been a committed cannoli customer for months now,” Sara said, bolstering her husband. “Every Thursdaymorning, like clockwork, though I talked him intozeppolethe other day.”
“So? It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Yes, it does.” Excitedly, her sister-in-law nodded. “It means he’s interested.”
“You take the delivery, Nick.” Gina tried to push the box into her brother’s hands. “I can’t go looking like this.”
“Why not?” With a dismissive wave, he took a step back. “You were gonna go to the movies looking like that.”
“Never mind him,” Sara said, and giving Nick a stern look, she took out her purse. “You’re gorgeous. Let’s take your hair down, put a little gloss on those lips, and you’ll be good to go.”
“Yeah?” Gina looked at her older brother.
He nodded his approval.
“Yeah.” And smiling, Sara fixed her hair. “Hurry now, before the pizza gets cold.”
So, here she was, standing on the front porch of a rock star, watching him suck her bodily fluids from his finger.
“I’d say you like me a helluva lot.”
Holy cannoli, what am I supposed to say to that?
“Do I now?” To appear non-committal, or maybe to protect herself, she wasn’t sure which, Gina crossed her arms over her chest.
A faint smirk curved his mouth. Matt came closer, and running his nose alongside hers, he inhaled. “The attraction is definitely there, so yeah.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Flipping her hair behind her shoulder, Gina shook her head and looked at the ornate light fixture on the porch ceiling.
He cupped her cheek, bringing her gaze back to him. “I’m not, and you know it.”
His eyes held her there. She couldn’t look away. What in the hell was he after?
“I know you’re used to women worshipping you at your feet, but you’re dead wrong if you think I’m ever going to be one of them.”
