Page 24

Tilly

“I don’t know if I should be nervous about this,” Enzo says.

He picked me up from Dad’s house right on time after work. We’re meeting Appa and Robby for dinner as a double date she insisted on after she met me. She was also dying for a night away from the kids.

“Nervous Robby’s going to fall in love with me?” I tease.

Enzo belly-laughs as we pull away. “His type is exactly Appa Montgomery-Valenti.” Enzo cranes his neck to look at me. “That’s why he married her.” He shifts his focus back to the road. “Well, she was pregnant, too, and we’re Catholic. But marrying her was always part of his plan.”

“I’m excited to meet Robby.” Actually, I’m thoroughly intimidated. More family to meet. This time, I’m meeting one of Enzo’s blood relatives, and it’s only our third date, not counting the night we bumped into each other at the bar. “What are your plans with me?” I quietly ask.

Enzo purses his lips together, but then they form a small smirk. “Just you wait.”

“Ugh, I’ve never been good at waiting.” Enzo stays quiet, which isn’t unusual for him. “Are you nervous he might embarrass you with a random childhood memory? What’s he like, anyway?”

Enzo smirks. “No, I have more dirt on him. But he’s loud. So fucking loud. And funny. I think you’ll like him.”

“And he’s two weeks younger?” I ask.

“Yep, we were inseparable growing up.”

“On the vineyard?” I ask, sliding my phone into my clutch.

Enzo nods. “Yep, from birth until he went to college.”

“Did you go to college? Sorry, I feel like I’m interviewing you,” I add with a faint laugh.

“It’s okay.” Enzo shakes his head. “Um, no, not really. I dabbled in some community college classes, but I learned everything from my dad and uncles. It seemed like a waste of time, and I’ve always been a more hands-on learner.”

Oh, dear God, stop teasing me.

I sigh, swallowing my sexual frustration. The tension could be cut with a knife, I swear, and tonight could be the night. “I wish I could have skipped college. It was the hardest four years of my life.”

“Then why go back for more?” Enzo asks.

“Because of what I want to do. I need a master’s.”

“Oh,” he replies. “Just sounds like graduate school would be harder than undergrad.”

Noticing his hand resting on the center console, I intertwine my fingers with his. They’re a little rough but warm. “I guess I’ll find out.” My stomach flutters when he doesn’t pull back.

As we near the restaurant, I softly rub my thighs together. “Are we going back to your place after this?”

Enzo clears his throat. “Do you want that?” I smile at him and nod. “We’ll see.”

“You’re killing me!” I complain.

He just chuckles. “Not even close,” he murmurs.

It’s not outlandish for me to want a more physical relationship with him. After three dates, it’s customary to have sex. All I want to do is tangle my fingers in his hair with him on top of me. Is that too much to ask? He looks like a walking red flag and had to be in more ways than I can possibly know, but his type always gets the girls. Especially the quiet, older ones…

God, do I have daddy issues?

“We’re here,” he says.

A hostess directs us to Appa and Robby, who are already seated at a table with drinks in front of them. Appa is in a pastel-colored floral print summer dress, and Robby is…not what I expected. More stylish and refined than Enzo, but not as tall. Or as broad, though he looks like he works out. His hair is different from Enzo’s—curly and short with faded sides. His eyes are just as dark as Enzo’s. Although his complexion is lighter, I would never guess they were related.

“It’s great to see you again!” Appa pulls me into a quick hug. “This is my husband, Robby.”