Tate’s been putting on a ballerina performance for the last thirty minutes, giving absolutely zero shits that I’m trying to get ready for my date. She’s spinning around the living room, wearing the purple tutu my mother bought her for Christmas, pulling out all the stops to get me to change my mind.

“Why can’t I stay, Daddy?”

The minute she heard Tilly was coming over, she started to whine. She loves Uncle Lucio and Aunt Delilah and is usually thrilled to be going to their house, but not tonight. Not when Cupcake Tilly’s going to be in the house.

“It’s an adult night, baby.”

“I’ll stay in my room.” She does this thing with her lip like it’s going to make me change my mind.

“We both know that’s not true.”

“I promise.”

“You’ll have fun with Uncle Lucio. Let Daddy have a little time with Tilly.”

“Are you two going to fall asleep on the couch again?”

I shake my head. “No, sweetheart.”

I wouldn’t mind another night of Tilly in my arms. I forgot how peaceful it was to sleep with someone. The kids are hell at night when they crawl in my bed, kicking me like I’m in their way and not the other way around.

Lucio walks through the door and catches sight of Tate. “I see we’re still on the ballet kick.”

Tate screams and runs toward Lucio, jumping into his arms. “Uncle.” She giggles as he tickles her ribs. “Stop.”

He holds her tightly, giving her a moment to catch her breath. “Are you ready for some fun, squirt?”

“Can we have cookies?”

“Sure.”

“Can we have cake?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

Lucio looks at me, clearly seeking help, but I only shrug and continue to clear the dinner table of their coloring books and crayons.

“Dude.” He points to Tate as she pouts in his arms. “Where does she put it?”

“No idea, man, but the kid will eat you out of house and home.”

“Uncle Lucio.” She grabs his face, and I know what’s coming. She’s going to turn on the cute little girl charm, wrapping him further around her finger.

“What, doll?” He pushes her brown hair over her shoulder.

She leans closer, and their noses almost touch. “If you get me cake, I promise to be a good girl.” She mushes his cheeks together. “Please.”

Man, this kid makes it damn near impossible to say no to her. I struggle with it at times, but her uncles… They have zero ability to deny her anything when she pulls out all the stops.

“Gimme a kiss,” Lucio tells her with his fish lips. “And we’ll stop and get cake for dessert.”

Tate’s eyes widen like she’s shocked. She’s not. She knew exactly what she was doing with my brother. She keeps her hold on his face as she gives him a sloppy kiss on the lips, but it’s only for a second. She wiggles, trying to break free of his arms. “I have to get my bag,” she tells him as she pushes against his chest.

“And your brother,” I tell her as her feet touch the floor, and she takes off down the hallway, skipping because she got exactly what she wanted.

Lucio’s a sucker. We all are. Tate knows it. I know it. But somehow, my family keeps falling for her tricks.

Lucio rubs the back of his neck, laughing. “She just played me, didn’t she?”

“Like a pro.”

“When she hits puberty, you better lock her in her room.”

I laugh, but the thought’s crossed my mind more than once. I’m already pissed at the first fucker who’s going to lay his hands on my kid, professing to love her forever, when he’s really just a dick with legs.

Lucio leans against the counter, watching me as I enter panic mode, shoving shit wherever I can find room.

“Everything ready for Tilly?”

“Food’s in the oven, and I cleaned, so…yeah.” I glance around the bottom level, amazed at how clean my place looks. With two kids, having a surface free of toys is completely unheard of. But Tilly saw it in all its glory the other night and didn’t seem to flinch.

“We’ll keep the kids as long as you want. Don’t rush on our account. Delilah already has plans for them tomorrow afternoon.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can pick them up early.”

Lucio flattens his lips. “Slow your roll, Jimmy Dean.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You know. The sausage?” he asks like I’m a complete idiot for not understanding. “Never mind. Just enjoy some you time.”

I nod. “That’s the plan.”

“And don’t forget to…”

“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.” I wave him off.

“Lock it up tight, brother.”

Tate comes barreling into the living room with two backpacks, one on her back and the other in her hand, and she’s pulling Brax by the collar with her free hand. “We’re ready,” she says like she can’t get away from me fast enough.

Lucio grabs the backpack from her hand and stares at her other hand until she gets the message to let go of her brother. “How does DeLuca’s sound?”

Tate squeals. “Perfect. Can we get Cassata cake?”

“I’m sure they sell it by the slice.”

I laugh because I know a slice is never enough for my little monster.

She puts her hands on her hips and furrows her brows. “I mean, the whole cake.”

He jerks his head back, and again, he looks at me for help. “Really?”

“She will stab you with her fork if you try to take a bite of her cake. You’re safer if you buy the whole damn thing,” I tell him, giving him a warning because my girl is off the charts crazy about her sweets.

He gawks at her. “We gotta talk about your eating habits, kid.”

She pulls at his hand and moves toward the doorway, barely looking at me. “Bye, Daddy.”

I grab Brax, giving him a giant hug before he latches on to Lucio’s other hand. “Be a good little man.”

“I got this,” Lucio tells me, but he looks more like they’ve got him than the other way around.

I watch through the window as Lucio piles the kids into his new extended cab pickup. That was the closest thing he’d get to a family car, but it’s an improvement over his old motorcycle.

I have exactly one hour until Tilly arrives. That’s just enough time to finish tidying up, shower, and get my shit under control before she walks through the door.

I feel like we had a breakthrough the other day after our talk in her kitchen and dinner at my parents’. She fit right in, and in true Gallo fashion, they welcomed her into the fold.

Now it’s my turn to make sure she knows for sure that I want more than friendship. There’s more between us than attraction. We’re separate halves of the same broken heart, searching for peace in a world that no longer seems to make sense.

Tilly kicks off her shoes, making herself more comfortable on the couch next to me. She turns, one arm propped up on the cushion and the other hand holding a glass of white wine. “I needed an evening like this.”

I face her, letting my knee touch hers. It’s so high school, but I’m trying to find my single guy groove again. I knew dating would be hard. Marissa and I had been together for so long, I was really clueless when it came to anything besides what she liked. Even then, my moves weren’t entirely smooth, but none of that mattered.

I rub my hand down my leg, trying to remain calm for the big talk I know needs to happen. “You’re going to be so busy once the shop opens.”

I sound like an idiot. Like an insecure moron, already justifying why she may not call again after tonight. All the vibes are there. We click. There’s chemistry. We share a disconnected yet similar past. But what if… What if I ask her to be mine, and she runs the other way, scared as fuck to move on and unable to let go of her husband?

She touches my knee. “It’ll be crazy, but I won’t let it rule my life. There are other things that are much more important.” She’s staring at me as she says those words. “I’ve learned that time is the most precious thing we have, and although the cupcake shop has been my dream for so long, I realize I want more out of life.”

“Tilly.” I move closer, placing my hand over hers. “I want to talk to you about something important.”

She leans over and places her wine on the coffee table. “Of course. What’s wrong?”

Reaching up, I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and leave my hand on her cheek instead of pulling away. “We have a connection, yeah?”

She nods, tilting her head and moving into my touch.

“I truly feel like we were meant to be here, in this moment, at this time in our lives. You came into my world for a reason, and I’m undeniably and inextricably drawn to you. When you’re near, I feel at peace for the first time in longer than I can remember.”

“Me too,” she whispers, gazing at me in the dim candlelight.

“I want no one else in this world as much as I want you. We can move slow, but I want there to be no doubt about my intentions. I want you as my own. Only mine and no one else’s.”

The corner of her mouth touches my thumb. “Are you mine, then?”

“No one else’s.”

She slides her leg away and moves her body within inches of mine. “I’m falling for you, Angelo. Falling hard and fast.”

My heart sputters at her confession. “I know it’s crazy, but I feel the same way. The moment I laid eyes on you and heard you tell off that mixer, I knew I wanted you.”

She leans forward, taking me by surprise when she climbs into my lap. My hands are on her back in an instant, holding her tightly. “Say you’re mine.”

She presses her chest flush against me, bringing her lips close to mine. In the faint light, her eyes are dark, but the fire within burns brightly. “I want to be yours, Angelo.”

I lean forward, tightening my grip on her body, and press my mouth to hers. She tastes of the sweetest white wine as my tongue brushes against her bottom lip. She’s intoxicating. Pure and simple.

She slides her hands up my arms, settling them around my neck as I deepen the kiss. The need to explore her body almost overwhelms my restraint for the slow, controlled pace I’d promised. The fact that she’s moving around on top of my cock doesn’t make anything easier.

She fists her fingers in the back of my hair and swipes her tongue in my mouth, tangling with mine. Sweet baby Jesus, I want this woman. I want her more than I’ve wanted anything or anyone in so long.

She’s like coming home again.