“You two know each other?”
Duh. Of course, they do.
“Why are you so surprised, bunny?” Matt brushed the hair from her face, tucking a strand behind her ear. “Kev’s sister is married to one of my dearest friends, and his aunt has a thing going with another. We’re just one big, beautiful, happy family here, and now, you’re all a part of it, too.”
She glanced over at her brothers’ eager faces.
“C’mon, let’s say hi to the boys and grab some food.” His hand dropped to curl around her shoulder, fingers pressing into her skin. “You’ve got to be starving. I know I am.”
Gina wasn’t sure what she expected inside the band’s tent, but it wasn’t anything quite like this. Plush sofas. Fancy catering and blessed air-conditioning.
The man approaching them was so tall that her neck bent back to look up at him. Dark auburn hair. Ice-blue eyes. From the recesses of her childhood memories, only one person fit the bill. “Gina, so good to see you again.”
“You remember Brendan, don’t you?”
“It’s been a long time.” With a wink to Matt, Brendan leaned in to hug her. “The last time I saw her, she was just a little girl.”
“You drove a ’Vette,” Gina said. “Silver, as I recall.”
“Still do.” He chuckled.
“This is my brother, Matteo.” The introductions probably weren’t necessary, but Brendan hadn’t been around since they were kids, and she reasoned he might need a refresher. “My brother, Luca, and his friend, Kevin.”
“Uh, Gina.” Kev tapped her shoulder. “Brendan’s my brother-in-law. You know, Katie’s husband.”
“Yeah, I know.”Gosh, I’m such an idiot. “Not sure why I said that.”
“Nerves, huh?”
Shut up, Kevin.
“I know she remembers me.” The goofball Gina once enjoyed pestering wrapped her in a warm embrace. “Don’t you, pizza girl?”
She giggled. “How could I forget you, Bo?”
“You couldn’t.” And he tugged on the ends of her waves. “I forgive you for pulling my hair, by the way. Now, where’s my kiss?”
She went to place one on his cheek, but the bare-chested drummer turned his face, and it landed on his lips instead.
“Don’t mind him. Dude wants a kiss from everybody.” He pressed one of his own to her temple, and laughing, Matt moved her along. “It’s too bad his daughter is home with a tummy bug, or you could’ve met her—Ava, too. You will soon, though. I have a feeling the two of you are going to be the best of friends.”
Her gaze flicked up to meet his. Eyes of rich, warm chocolate invited her inside their fathomless depths. They alone told her what words never could.
With an infant on his chest, Venery’s lead guitar player lounged on one of the comfy-looking sofas. He seemed larger than life to her when he was a teenager, as had all of Tony’s friends, and that hadn’t changed. His jet-black hair was longer than it used to be, and ink covered his mocha skin, but even if she hadn’t seen those photos inRevolver, Gina would’ve known instantly it was him.
“Hello, Taylor,” she greeted him, smiling down at the baby. “It’s been a while.”
“Gina Rossi, it has indeed. You’ve turned out to be quite the lovely young lady.” He sat up, holding onto the baby, and lifted his chin toward the man leaning against the sofa’s arm, a toddler balanced on his hip. “Do you know my husband, Jesse Nolan?”
She knew his marriage wasn’t of the typical variety, and according to the media, Taylor wasn’t married at all—not legally, anyway. He and Jesse shared a wife. They had children together. As unusual as that might be to some people, it must work for them. One evening, when Lina stayed home and their parents had gone up to bed, Tony told her he envied them for the love they had for each other. He may have been a little drunk, but it struck her as oddly telling.
Gina extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Good to meet you, too.” Jesse shook it. “I went to school with your brother, Nick.”
Jeez, did everybody know the Rossi brothers? Apparently, so. They might live in a big city, but their neighborhood was relatively small.
“Jesse is also Brendan’s cousin,” Kevin whispered, dipping into her ear. “Dillon’s too, but I don’t see him here.”
