Nikki threw her hands up, shielding her face, but she was too late. Tiny shards of glass smacked off her cheeks and sunglasses, raining down on her.

“Christ!” Gabe jerked the steering wheel to the right, and Nikki threw out her hands, pulling them back a half a second before slamming them on the glass-covered dashboard. “What the hell?” he thundered as the car jerked to a halt. “Nic!”

Heart pounding, she slowly opened her eyes. “Holy shit,” she whispered.

The passenger window was gone, like the Hulk got all Hulk-smash and punched his fist through it. Hands shaking, she started to lower her arms, but locked up when she saw her lap was covered in glass. How . . . how was this possible?

“Are you okay?” he demanded again.

“Yeah,” she whispered, pretty sure she was okay even though she had no idea how.

“Don’t move,” Gabe ordered, and he didn’t need to tell her that twice. She was frozen. Having managed to stop the car in the one open spot along the narrow street, he threw open the door and was out.

She had no idea what had happened. They were just driving along and then bam! Glass shooting everywhere! Obviously someone had to have thrown something but she didn’t see anyone running.

Kids throwing rocks at cars happened. Hell, sometimes they stood on overpasses and dropped them, but her parents’ neighborhood was quiet. Things like this didn’t happen.

The passenger door yanked open, and suddenly, there Gabe was, kneeling beside her. The sunglasses were shoved up. Concern was etched into his striking face. “You sure you’re okay?” he repeated himself. “Nic?”

Was she? She swallowed. “Yeah. I think so? I mean, I don’t feel any pain.”

“That’s good—that’s real good.” Relief colored his tone as he gently took ahold of her sunglasses, pulling them off. His gaze crawled over her face as he placed her sunglasses on the ground. “Jesus, Nic.” His voice rough. “I have no idea how you’re not even scratched.”

She didn’t either.

“You’re covered in glass, so I just want you to sit still while I unbuckle you, all right?”

“All right,” she repeated, too shocked to argue. She swallowed hard as she willed her heart to slow down. “What happened?”

“Something hit the fucking window,” he bit out as he carefully reached around her. His hand brushed her hip. Glass tinkled as he found the seatbelt. “I have no idea what it was,” he said, craning his neck. With the side of his hand, he brushed off the glass on her thighs. “Shit. Okay. Move your leg out, but careful you don’t slide it along the seat. There’s glass everywhere. Are you sure you’re fine?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t see how. Fucking miracle,” he growled. “Get that leg up.”

Nikki lifted her leg, biting down on her lip when he curled his hand under her knee to help her. Then his other hand went under her arm. Gabe all but lifted her out of the vehicle, then planted her on her feet.

Glass fell, clinking off the asphalt. Looking down, she could see pieces stuck to the front of her shirt. She started to brush the pieces off, but Gabe caught her wrists, drawing her gaze to his. “Let me.”

There was no chance to protest, because he dropped her wrists and then his hands were moving over her stomach, the swell of her chest. Air hitched in her throat. His movements were clinical and methodical, not at all romantic, but an acute heaviness filled her chest with each quick brush.

She was totally blaming the exploding window.

“Damn it,” he gritted. “You’ve got glass everywhere—in your hair.” He looked over his shoulder. “I don’t see a damn person.”

That much was true. No one had even come out of the houses here to check on them. “The window didn’t just explode, right? Unless that’s a new feature with Porsches?”

He stopped with his hands hovering over her shoulders and looked down at her. A harsh laugh burst out of him. “No, Nic. Not that I know of.”

She turned slightly, wincing as glass crunched under her sneakers. “I need to get my purse and call the shelter.”

“Let me get it. Probably covered in glass.”

“The last time I checked, you also have skin that can be pierced by glass,” she pointed out.

“Yeah, but my skin is thicker, and before you say anything, that’s actually true. Science.” He started to touch her but stopped. “What the fuck?”

“What?” Her eyes widened, half expecting something to come winging at them.

“There’s something on the floor.” He bent over, reaching inside the car. He picked something up off the floor. It looked like a white rock. A rather small rock, one Nikki couldn’t fathom being responsible for breaking the glass. “The hell? It’s a piece of ceramic.”

Lucian let out a low whistle as he stared at the passenger side window of Gabe’s car. “Damn. Took out the entire window?”

“Yep. One tiny thing did that.”

Gabe was doing his best to keep his anger under wraps at the moment. Between the broken window and the fact Nic could’ve been hurt because of some dumbass person out there.

“Is that normal for this type of car?” Julia asked, frowning from where she stood next to Lucian. “I mean, I would think with a Porsche, they’d have better windows.”

“They have tempered glass, but it’s not infallible.” Irritated, Gabe tossed the keys onto the bench at the back of the garage. “It’ll be fixed by tomorrow. I’m just glad Nic wasn’t hurt.”

“Me too,” commented Lucian. “Shocked that she wasn’t.”

It really was a damn miracle. If she hadn’t been wearing her sunglasses, there was a good chance that those tiny pieces of glass would’ve gotten in her eyes. Shit. That wouldn’t be good.

“Kids really need better hobbies,” Julia remarked, shaking her head.

The police thought it was a kid or a group of them being little punks and while the neighborhood Nic’s parents lived in was quiet, there were kids on their street. Wasn’t out of the realm of logic that they saw a nice car and decided to be little shits about it, but Gabe just wasn’t sure.

“You’re thinking something.” Lucian was looking at him.

“Yeah.” He reached behind his head and tugged out the small leather band and then gathered his hair, securing it once more. He really needed to get this shit cut. “I don’t know. Just seems off that a kid would do that, aiming it right at the passenger window.”

“Maybe they were aiming at the windshield and missed,” Julia suggested.

That was possible, too, but it didn’t ease the agitation.

“You think someone threw the rock at that window on purpose, aiming for Nikki?” Lucian asked.

That also sounded ridiculous, because who the hell would want to possibly hurt Nic? Gabe didn’t say anything as he folded his arms.

“What were you doing at Nikki’s house anyway?” Lucian asked.

He arched a brow as he looked at his brother.

“What?” Lucian grinned. “Did you really think I wasn’t going to ask about that?”

“Lucian.” Julia elbowed him. “Don’t be nosy.”

“I cannot help but be nosy. It’s my second middle name.”

Julia pinned a look on him, but Lucian’s grin grew about five sizes bigger in response. “You haven’t met Nikki yet, but let me tell you—” He stopped, turning.

The sound of an approaching car silenced Lucian, thank fuck. Gabe spied Troy’s tinted-out, police department SUV rolling to a stop by the other end of the garage. Unfolding his arms, he walked over to where Troy was climbing out.

“Hey,” he called out as Troy came around the back of the SUV. “Get to see you twice in twenty-four hours. Feeling lucky.”

Troy snorted as he gave Lucian a chin nod and a smile for Julia. “Yeah, well, you should feel loved, because I’m off today.”

“You didn’t have to come out over a broken window,” Gabe pointed out, knowing damn well detectives didn’t handle that kind of nonsense.

“True, but I was in the area, and Officer Newman—the one who took your call—let me know what went down since he knew we were friends. He showed me what went through your window, and I figured I needed to have a one-on-one with you.”

“Over a busted window?” Lucian curled an arm around Julia’s waist as he spoke. “And some kids?”

“Well, it’s not like someone threw just a rock.” Walking to the passenger door of his SUV, he opened it and pulled out a small clear bag. Inside was what Gabe had found on the driver’s floor. “Do you know what this is?”

Gabe frowned. “Yeah, a piece of ceramic.”

“Not just any piece of ceramic. It’s part of a spark plug,” he explained, turning the bag over, and Gabe now recognized the coiled part of the plug. “They call these things ninja rocks.”

“Seriously?” Julia’s brows lifted.

Troy nodded. “Yep. You throw one of these things at a moderate speed and it’s going to shatter just about any window.”

“Damn,” Lucian muttered.

“That’s why it took out your entire window like that.” Troy lowered the bag. “And here’s the thing. Most kids don’t know about ninja rocks. That’s a good thing.”

“But then that means it might not have been a kid?” The agitation grew in Gabe.

“Just means that it was someone who knew what to use, and that’s why I figured you’d need to know that.” Troy met his gaze. “So, you could possibly start thinking about anyone who’d like to damage your property before it escalates. You feel me?”

“Yeah.” A muscle ticked along Gabe’s jaw. “I feel you.”

“Is everything okay with you and Gabriel?” her mother had asked that night at supper. “I cannot believe it happened,” she said, shaking her head. “You two could’ve been seriously injured. What if that piece of whatever it was hit you?”

“It didn’t,” Nikki reassured her. “I’m fine. Gabe is fine. It was just some bizarre incident.”

“Nothing like that has happened on our street before,” her mom returned, and then she let out a heavy sigh. “But I guess there’s a first time for everything. Some kids need a stronger hand when it comes to discipline.”

Nikki couldn’t agree more. How bored and utterly reckless could you be that you spent your spare time throwing rocks and objects at cars? But that was what the police believed even though they didn’t see anyone outside. Granted, both she and Gabe had been so shocked that it would’ve been easy for someone to run away without being seen. And what had the young officer said? The type of car Gabe had been driving would’ve drawn a lot of attention.

Gabe hadn’t exactly responded well to that.

Needless to say, Nikki never made it to the shelter. Not with the whole waiting-for-the-police thing and then having to go home to make sure she didn’t have glass on her. And she had. Everywhere. Even down her shirt.

She still had no idea how she didn’t get scratched. Just like when she’d fallen down the steps at the de Vincent compound, she should’ve been seriously injured but wasn’t.

Maybe she really did have a guardian angel looking out for her.

Nikki swiftly changed the subject with her mom to some of the apartments she’d been scouring on the internet earlier. She hadn’t wanted her parents to keep questioning what was up with Gabe’s unexpected visit, because her parents weren’t stupid.

Any de Vincent being in their Creole-style cottage was not normal.

Luckily she was able to get them somewhat distracted. Now that it was Monday and she was currently walking into the kitchen, she still wondered if she’d hallucinated Gabe’s visit.

It still didn’t make any sense to her.

Or Rosie.

Because Nikki had called her friend after the police and Gabe had left and told her all about the conversation. Even Rosie had no idea what the hell was up with Gabe, but she’d thought it was a good sign.

A good sign for what, Nikki wasn’t sure, but the fact that he admitted to knowing what was happening that night had lifted some of the unseen weight off her shoulders. He’d known it was her, at least that night he had, but what did that really mean? That he had wanted her or . . . or that he’d just been drunk enough to want her?

None of that mattered now. It couldn’t.

It didn’t.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she walked over to where her father was placing a ceramic canister on a tray. He turned to her. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

Picking up a tray with two cups and saucers, along with a steaming pot, he turned to her. “Can you take this to Devlin’s office? He’s with the senator, but we’re expecting the arrival of an electrician any second, and I need to be down here for this.”

“No problem.” She just finished dusting rooms that were never used. Taking the tray, she started to turn, but her father stopped her.

“I’m going to be leaving early today to spend some time with your momma while she receives her treatments,” he reminded her. “Are you sure you’re okay here without me?”

Holding onto the tray, she nodded. “I know the landscaper needs to be paid today. The check for that is in the staff office. Bev already picked up dry cleaning, and there’s no dinner tonight since Devlin is going to some charity thing.” Thank God. “So, don’t worry. Spend time with Mom. I got this.”

Her father smiled as he stepped around her and kissed her temple. “Yes, you do.”

Taking the tray, Nikki pivoted and made her way up the back staircase toward Devlin’s office. It was at the end of the hall, beyond the paneled, double doors. One was ajar. Using her elbow, she knocked.

“Come in,” came Devlin’s voice.

Nudging the door open with her hip, she stepped into the office. All the blinds were up, letting the sunlight pour in. Half of the rounded walls were lined with built-in bookcases filled with digests that looked about as interesting as reading the dictionary. The other half were covered with certificates, licenses, and degrees.

Nikki thought about what Gabe had said about the pictures in her parents’ house. There was nothing personal at all about this room.

Devlin sat behind the large cherry oak desk, but it was the older man who sat in the chair with his elbow propped on the arm and his chin in his hand that unnerved her.

Senator Stefan de Vincent was the identical twin of the brothers’ father. Seeing him now, knowing that Lawrence was dead, was like seeing a ghost.

With dark brown hair turning silver at the temples, the senator was handsome like all the de Vincents were. He was proof that each of those brothers was going to age very well.

He was also proof that money could almost certainly ensure you could get away with just about anything.

She made herself walk at a normal, sedate pace as she crossed the rather large room.

“Nicolette Besson,” the senator said, one finger resting just below his lip. “It has been a very long time since I’ve last seen you.” His gaze flicked to Devlin. “Women from the past are having a habit of reappearing lately, are they not?”

“Appears so,” commented Devlin.

Nikki had no idea on how to respond to that, so she just smiled and nodded as she placed the tray on the credenza. She started to turn to leave, but realized that she needed to pour the tea.

Ugh.

Eye roll.

“I’m still not sure why you’re so worried about the Harrington financials,” Devlin was saying as Nikki turned the cups over. “With my marriage to Sabrina, I gain control of the shipping businesses. Besides, it’s not like they’re in dire straits. You can tell Parker he can keep his new penthouse.”

Nikki kept her face blank as she poured the steaming tea.

“This has nothing to do with Parker,” the senator replied.

“Oh, really?” mused Devlin. “He was here last week, worried that I would end my engagement to Sabrina. I doubt it was out of brotherly concern.”

“You haven’t set a date,” the senator said. “You can’t blame Sabrina for having concerns.”

“If she has concerns, then she should come to me. Not her brother. Not you.”

Wholly aware of the senator watching her as she placed the cup in front of Devlin, she tried to ignore his stare and not eavesdrop, but it was hard.

Rich people always talked in front of their staff like they weren’t even in the room. It was insane and Nikki knew better, but this was juicy. Was Devlin thinking about ending the engagement?

He should.

He really should.

“You know how Parker is,” the senator replied. “But I’m more concerned about their ability to donate to my upcoming campaign than whether or not Parker gets a sizable allowance once their father passes.”

“Which I hear won’t be too far from now.” Devlin sat back as Nikki placed the little canister on his desk. She started to put the spoon down, but realized the little dish was for that. “Perhaps you should be worried more about that missing intern than the campaign donations.”

Oh, dear.

Nikki turned back to the tray, blinking rapidly as she picked up the teapot again.

“I’m sure Ms. Joan will turn up, sooner or later.” There was a pause. “Funny how people go missing or die under mysterious causes around these parts.”

“Hmm?” Devlin murmured.

This conversation was turning dark.

Nikki poured the senator’s tea.

“Like that police chief who was investigating Lawrence’s death. Died in a car accident—a single-vehicle car accident,” Stefan continued. “That journalist from the Advocate contacted my office again, wanting to talk.”

“I do believe they said the chief suffered a medical emergency before the crash,” Devlin replied. “And Ross Haid can call all he wants. No one is talking to him.”

“I guess Mr. Haid is curious about the chief’s death. Odd considering the chief was a healthy man who didn’t believe for one second my brother hung himself.” Stefan didn’t lean back as she placed the tea in front of him, so she had to stretch over his leg, and of course, the cup clattered off the saucer.

“I see some things never change.” The senator’s tone was dry. “You’re still incapable of not making noise.”

Sharp tingles spread across her neck as her head whipped around toward him. That was something Lawrence always said to her. Not the senator. She’d only ever been able to tell them apart when they’d been together. The senator never paid any mind to her while Lawrence was pretty much always scowling at her.

Senator de Vincent arched a brow. “Can I help you?”

“No.” She blinked. “Sorry.” She straightened and backed off. “And I’m sorry to hear about your brother.”

A faint, tight smile crossed the senator’s face. “Thank you.”

She glanced back at Devlin who was staring at her curiously. “Is there anything else you need?”

“No,” Devlin said quickly. “Thank you, Nikki.”

Nodding, she got out of there as fast as possible, her thoughts racing. The Harrington family was having financial issues? Parker had an allowance? That made her want to laugh. And what the hell was up with the whole chief of police thing? She had no idea, but she’d heard about the missing intern, because there’d been no escaping that news. It had been plastered everywhere about a year or so ago.

Her disappearance had been super suspicious and mysterious. From what Nikki could remember, it was like the intern vanished into thin air. Her purse, along with her car keys and ID, had been found in her apartment. Her car was in the driveway. No prints. No leads. Nothing except the rumored relationship between her and Stefan de Vincent.

The curse strikes yet again.

Lord help her, but the de Vincents were bananas. All of them. Back out in the hallway, she started for the outdoor stairway. Nikki had just made it to the porch, about to round a corner, when a woman suddenly appeared in front of her.

Startled, Nikki gasped and stepped back, nearly dropping the tray. It was then when she realized that she was supposed to leave the tray behind to clean once Devlin was done with his meeting. She really sucked at this, but none of that mattered at the moment.

A tall and curvy brunette stood there, wearing a pretty dress that flowed to the straps on her flats and had super-cute fluttery sleeves. Her dark brown hair was loose, falling around a gorgeous face.

“Oh!” the woman exclaimed. “I’m sorry. I scared you!” She laughed, her warm brown eyes dancing. “And in this house, you don’t need any additional reasons to be startled.”

It clicked who she was. “Julia?”

“That’s me.” A wide, welcoming smile graced her lips. “And you must be Nikki? Well, I know you’re Nikki. I just saw your father and he said you were upstairs, so I planned on waiting in the hall, but here you are.”

Nikki lowered the tray, finding herself grinning. So this was Lucian’s girlfriend? She looked nothing like Sabrina nor did she act like her, so she already got a ton of bonus points just for that reason.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Nikki stuck out her hand.

Julia shook it. “You heading back to the kitchen? I’ll walk with you.”

They fell into step. “So, did you guys just get back? I haven’t seen Lucian yet.”

“We got back Saturday evening, but Lucian is around here somewhere. This house is crazy,” Julia said. “An entire family of five could live here and you’d never cross paths with them.”

Nikki laughed. “It is. When I was little, I used to get lost in here.” As soon as she said it, she realized that Julia might not know exactly who she was. “My parents are—”

“Livie and Richard.” She tucked her hair back from her face. “I know. Lucian told me who you were. You kind of grew up in this house.”

Relieved that she wasn’t going to have to give a complete rundown, she nodded. “I was here mostly during the summers and sometimes after school in the afternoons. Childcare was just too expensive.”

“Isn’t it, though? I don’t have kids. Never have, but when I used to work back home, some of the parents would spend at least half of their paycheck on childcare. It’s insane.” There was a pause. “It’s nice that you were allowed to come here.”

They reached the main-floor entrance. Julia opened the door, waiting for her.

“Yeah, I think even my parents were surprised that Mr. de Vincent was okay with it, but he was.” Nikki pursed her lips as a rush of cool air greeted them. “As long as I was quiet.”

Julia giggled. “I never met him, but . . .”

“He was not . . . the nicest man,” Nikki said quietly, thinking of the senator upstairs.

“That’s what I figured. Lucian doesn’t . . .” Her expression darkened, and Nikki recalled what her mom had told her about Daniel, the de Vincents’ cousin. “Well, these boys didn’t seem to have much of a mother or a father.”

They’d stopped in the back hallway. “They didn’t.”

“Which reminds me.” Her expression smoothed out. “How is your mother doing?”

“Good. She’s a little worn down, but she’s doing great.”

They started walking again, toward the kitchen. “I’m glad to hear that. Your mother is great.”

“She really is.”

“I heard about what happened yesterday with you and Gabe,” Julia said. “Thank God neither of you were hurt. It’s just all so bizarre when you think about it.”

“Bizarre things happen whenever you’re around them . . .” Nikki trailed off when they entered the kitchen through the back entrance. It wasn’t empty.

The remaining de Vincent brothers were at the island. Lucian had his back to her, but Gabe was facing the entrance. His hair was loose, hanging forward and brushing the chiseled line of his jaw as he grinned at whatever Lucian was saying or doing.

Her stomach clenched when Gabe looked up. It was like he sensed her or something, because his gaze immediately found her. She hadn’t seen him since yesterday, and she had no idea what to expect from him.

One side of his lips kicked up as he straightened from where he was leaning on the island. He smiled—wasn’t a big one, but it was a real one, and her heart threw itself against her ribs in elation.

Nikki let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and smiled back.

“Hey . . .” Lucian turned at the waist. He only had eyes for Julia as he rose from the barstool and crossed the room. He picked up Julia, causing her to squeak as he spun her around. “I missed you, woman.”

Nikki felt her mouth drop as she watched them. There was a part of her that thrilled that they were so obviously in love, but the other half was shocked that it was Lucian.

The man had a reputation. . . .

Julia laughed as he buried his head in her hair. “You literally saw me about thirty minutes ago.”

“Still missed you.” Setting her down, he kissed her cheek and then smacked her rear before turning to Nikki. “Well, isn’t it Little Nikki, back from college, and all grown up.”

She rolled her eyes as she placed the tray on the counter. “Hi, Lucian.”

He chuckled as he walked over to her, giving her a less enthused greeting, but a nice one nonetheless. “How have you been?”

“Good. You?” She peeked around Lucian at Gabe, who was watching them.

“You know, nothing’s really changed. Just living a life of leisure with my woman.” Lucian turned, winking when Julia made a noise. “Do I detect a sarcastic snort from you?”

Julia sat on the stool, tucking her feet on the bottom rail. “Possibly.”

“My heart.” He placed a hand on his chest. “You wound me.”

“Whatever.” Julia grinned across the island at Gabe. “I don’t know how you’ve managed to deal with him all these years. He’s so needy.”

Gabe smirked. “I’ve learned to block him out. It’s a skill you’re going to need to work on if you want to make this long term.”

His brother flipped him off. “That’s rude.”

Lifting a shrug, Gabe walked away from the island. Those sea-green eyes focused on her. “How’s your Monday been?”

“Um, good. Busy.” Feeling incredibly awkward and unsure of how to proceed with Gabe, she clasped her hands together. “Yours?”

“Headed into the city to get a little work done and just got back, which reminds me.” Gabe opened the fridge door, and it was then that Nikki saw the thin layer of wood dust on his jeans. “Swung by D’Juice and picked you up a smoothie.”

Surprise scuttled through her as he pulled out a tall, reddish-orange smoothie. The smoothie yesterday had been shocking and the one today was equally surprising. He’d used to do this all the time back in the day, but it seemed . . . different now.

“Thank you.” She took it, tugging the paper off the top of the straw as she glanced over at Lucian and Julia. Both of them were staring at her and Gabe, but it was the de Vincent’s small, oddly knowing grin that caused her cheeks to flush. “That’s nice of you.”

Gabe lifted a shoulder. “Picked one up for myself. Sucked that down like water, though.”

She smiled as she took a sip, swallowing a moan of pleasure. It was like a mango-strawberry orgasm in her mouth. “Oh, this is so good.”

“Thought you’d like it.” He grinned as he leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “Then again, pretty sure you’d like anything with strawberries in it.”

The fact he remembered that stunned her. “Just not blueberries. Not a blueberry fan.”

He shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on with your illogical distaste for blueberries.”

Unable to help herself, she giggled. “They’re gross.”

“Uh-huh. Yet you like raspberries.”

“They are not the same thing though,” she argued. “Blueberries are too tart.”

“But in real life, outside of your taste buds, raspberries are actually more tart than blueberries.”

“Liar,” she said, taking another yummy-filled gulp of the smoothie as she turned to Lucian and Julia. They were still staring at them.

Lucian had plopped his chin on his palm, watching them. “Sooo.” He drew the word out. “Julia is making dinner tonight.”

“Oh.” Nikki stepped away from Gabe, knowing she needed to get back to work. The reminder was stark. She wasn’t one of them. “Yes, I saw that there wasn’t a meal planned for tonight.”

“I love to cook. I don’t get to do it often here, but—” Julia dipped her chin “—when the grumpy cat’s away, the mice will play.”

Nikki laughed, knowing she was referencing Devlin.

“That is one of the big reasons why I can’t wait to move into our place.” Julia elbowed Lucian. “And it’s why it’s taking so long to move in. Kitchen renovations.”

Nikki imagined that Julia would probably end up with an amazing, gorgeous kitchen just based on the way Lucian looked at her. “Where did you guys find a place?”

“Over in the Garden District. The realtor swears it’s not haunted,” Julia added with a grin. “But I’ve resigned myself to the fact that every place around here probably has a ghost or two.”

Shaking his head, Gabe sighed. “You could always have the house blessed first.”

“Can we do that?” Julia looked at Lucian. “Can we—”

“Whatever you want, babe. House blessing. Cleansing. Full exorcism. As long as you’re happy.”

Julia beamed, and there was a twinge in Nikki’s chest, because there wasn’t an ounce of condescension or sarcasm in his tone. He’d meant what he said, no matter how crazy it might sound.

That was love, like, true love, and Nikki had no idea what that felt like to be on the receiving end of. Worst part, if she was being honest with herself, Calvin could’ve been that man for her, if she had let it happen.

“You should join us for dinner,” Lucian announced suddenly, and it took her a second to realize he was talking to her.

What the what?

“I’m making spaghetti—home-cooked spaghetti with meatballs and garlic bread, full of carbs and fat and calories.” Julia patted her stomach. “The best kind.”

That sounded amazing actually, but . . .

Nikki glanced at Gabe. He wanted to be friends and had attempted to go to the shelter with her, but she hesitated. Friends or not, she was still staff and staff never ate dinner with the de Vincents at their table. “I don’t know. I should—”

“You should stay and have dinner with us.” Lucian leaned over, dropping an arm around Julia’s shoulder. “Right, Gabe?”

Gabe nodded from where he stood. “Julia makes amazing spaghetti.”

“Thank you. It sounds delish, but I don’t know.” Nikki fidgeted with the straw. “I don’t think Devlin would be thrilled about me doing the dinner thing—”

“Do any of us look like we give a fuck what Dev thinks?” Gabe asked. “Because we don’t. At all.”

“Not even remotely,” Lucian added.

Julia grinned as she nodded. “I’m not going to say what they’re saying, because Devlin still kind of scares me.”

“Devlin scares everyone,” Nikki murmured.

“Come on.” Gabe faced her. “Join us for dinner. It will be fun.”

“Lots of fun,” Lucian chimed in.

Nikki glanced between the brothers, knowing she should say no, because she wasn’t one of them. She was never really one of them.

“Have dinner with us, Nic.” Gabe reached out, tapping her arm. “Please?”

And it was suddenly like being that little girl again with a huge, undying crush, because she couldn’t say no to Gabe.