By the time Gabe came to his senses, Melanie’s homemade lasagna dinner was undoubtedly cold. The cook was lying on the floor beside him, staring up at the ceiling. Every ten seconds or so, she’d look over at his invention, get a silly look on her face, and then go back to staring up at the ceiling. He hoped he hadn’t invented himself out of a lover by creating the ultimate pleasure machine.

“We should probably go eat,” he said, tugging his pants up his thighs and fastening them.

“I am hungry,” Melanie said, and rolled over onto her knees, searching the floor for her discarded clothing.

Gabe climbed to his feet and retrieved the articles she couldn’t reach, dropping them beside her so she could dress. Her legs were shaking so bad, she had a hell of a time putting on her panties.

“Need some help?” he asked with a grin. Watching her dress was a simple pleasure he would never deny himself.

“I think what I really need is a nap.” She tipped over onto her back and put her jeans on while lying down. “We need a bed in here. Or you could be a gentleman and carry me to your bed after your machine does its thing.”

“Next time,” he promised, going over to the device to remove the two skins.

“I can clean those,” she said. “As soon as my body remembers how to move when I tell it to, I’ll get right on it.”

“They’re dishwasher safe.”

He had to laugh at her mortified expression.

“You’re not going to put those in the dishwasher next to the supper dishes, are you?”

“I’ll prewash them in the sink,” he said, “but yeah, they should be sanitized in the dishwasher after every use.”

He used his free hand to help her off the floor and waited for her to struggle into her bra and shirt. He supposed he could have helped her, but he found her efforts to dress herself endearing. Like watching a toddler try to figure out socks.

“So can we call the invention a success?” He’d put a lot of thought and years of work into the final product. For whatever reason, he needed her validation.

“A success? Yes, you can call it that. You need to put that thing into mass production tomorrow, so the world can be full of very happy women.”

“You look more zonked out than happy,” he said.

“Trust me, I’m happy. I’m just too disoriented to figure out how to smile.”

She did smile, though, when she finally got her shirt on. It was wrong-side out, but he didn’t have the heart to tell her.

When he and Melanie meandered into the kitchen, Nikki was sitting at the breakfast bar staring at the pan of lasagna like Garfield the cat, and both his dogs were watching her like she might toss the yummy-smelling dish in their direction at any moment.

“Can we eat?” Nikki asked. “I’m starving.”

Melanie collapsed onto the stool beside Nikki while Gabe went to the sink to clean the skins.

“You could have started without us,” Melanie said. “We didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”

“The lasagna’s been done for like an hour.”

“An hour? Surely we weren’t in there that long.”

“You were. And all that noise you were making was scaring the dogs.”

Gabe grinned to himself as he listened to their conversation.

“When do I get a turn on the Sex Stallion?” Nikki asked.

Gabe went perfectly still, and then turned to catch Melanie’s eye. “I think we have a name for it.”

“Good one, Nik,” Melanie said. She laid her head on the counter.

“Well?” Nikki said, both eyebrows raised. “You didn’t answer my question. When do I get a turn?”

“The Sex Stallion is for Melanie’s enjoyment and hers alone.” Gabe opened the dishwasher and placed the washed yet not sanitized skins next to a few dirty glasses and bowls on the top rack.

“That’s so not fair.”

Melanie lifted one arm and rested her hand on Nikki’s back. “Guess you should have seduced the drummer instead of the lead singer after you lied our way backstage.”

“I didn’t lie. I totally would have had a threesome with you and Shade. You were the only unwilling variable in that equation.”

Melanie laughed wearily. “Still unwilling.”

Gabe cut the lasagna and shoveled it onto plates with a small spatula. Their meal was still warm, but not exactly hot. “Are we going to eat at the table?”

“Does that require me to move?” Melanie asked, lifting her head just enough to look at him.

“Maybe eating will give you some energy,” he said, more than a little proud of his Sex Stallion for satisfying her to exhaustion.

“I bet that thing wouldn’t make me tired,” Nikki said, drawing a plate toward herself and digging in. “Melanie doesn’t have the sexual stamina I do.”

Gabe decided teasing Nikki about her extensive sexual practice was inappropriate considering her difficulties with sex addiction, but the joke did cross his mind, even if it didn’t escape his lips.

“Sit,” Melanie said, patting the stool beside her. “We can eat at the table next time.”

Her assurance that there would be a next time made him smile.

“You’re so wobbly, I’m afraid you’ll fall off your stool,” he said, sliding one plate in front of Melanie and the final one in the empty spot next to her.

“I’m not that wobbly.”

Nikki gave her a playful shove and immediately had to grab Melanie’s shirt to rescue her from falling off her stool.

“God, I want to ride that thing,” Nikki said once Melanie had regained her balance.

The blush on his bride-to-be’s face was so utterly charming that Gabe couldn’t resist kissing her before taking the stool next to her.

“I guess I do need to work on my sexual stamina,” Melanie said.

“I suggest daily workout sessions,” Gabe said. “With me.”

“I think I might need twice-daily sessions,” she said with a smirk. “I want to be in prime condition as soon as possible. I take my prototype-testing duties very seriously.”

“I can take some of the responsibility off you,” Nikki offered.

“Sorry, Nik. I’m going to have to be entirely selfish in this case.”

Nikki scowled and bit into a piece of garlic toast.

Gabe picked up his fork and took a bite of his lasagna. What his woman lacked in Sex Stallion– riding stamina, she sure made up for in cooking. “This is delicious, babe.”

“Glad you like it.” She used the edge of her fork to cut into her saucy, cheesy layers of noodles, but couldn’t seem to find the energy to put it in her mouth.

“Please, can I ride it?” Nikki asked. “Pretty please with my cherry on top.”

Gabe snorted and choked on his mouthful of lasagna.

Beau suddenly turned toward the front door and released a loud bark before scrambling off to investigate. He only did that when a vehicle pulled into the driveway.

“Someone’s here,” Gabe said, rising from his stool. Lady limped after him as he made his way to the front door. He peeked out the window and recognized his father’s truck in the drive. When his oldest sister climbed out of the passenger seat, his heart filled with joy. It had been months since he’d seen Leslie. She was always so busy with her residency in Boston that she rarely made it back to Texas. And his plans to visit her when the band’s tour took them through the New England states had obviously fallen through.

Mom was the next to shift out through the passenger door, carefully holding a plate of her latest foil-covered food offering in one hand. She smoothed her free hand over her short light-brown curls and slammed the truck door. Dad brought up the rear, walking slower than the women as he used his cane to assist his stiff left leg. When Gabe opened the door, Beau ran out to greet their latest guests. Lady got only as far as the top step, but based on the enthusiasm of her tail wags and her high-pitched bark, she was happy to see them too.

“I didn’t know you all were coming,” Gabe said. They’d been warned about just showing up more than once, but the warnings did no good. Not that he really minded unexpected visits. But now that Melanie was living with him, his family might catch them in a compromising position or three, especially if they happened by his house during prototype runs.

“I texted you over an hour ago,” Leslie said. “You never responded, and since we were in the neighborhood . . .” She grinned, her green eyes flashing with familiar teasing.

“Mom and Dad live next door,” Gabe reminded her, though next door was almost a mile away. “They’re always in the neighborhood.”

Leslie climbed the porch steps and hugged Gabe. “You’re the fool who thought it was a good idea to live within spitting distance of them,” she said quietly.

“Not everyone wants to move to Boston to become some fancy brain surgeon.” He gave her an extra tight return squeeze as pride swelled in his chest.

“About that . . .”

“How’s the ol’ girl doing?” Dad interrupted, bending over to give Lady some attention. “You didn’t have to rush home, son. We could have taken care of her.”

“What’s going on with the band?” Leslie asked. “Daddy said you guys broke up, but that can’t be right. How can I tell my friends that my hot little brother is a rock star if your stupid band breaks up?”

Gabe shoved her. “It’s all about you, isn’t it?”

“Of course it is.” She grinned and peeked around Gabe’s back. “So is she here? Your new girlfriend?” Her final question was spoken at a whisper.

“She’s here. We just sat down to eat dinner, but come on in.” He held the door open for everyone, and his cozy dinner instantly became a party.

“There’s Melanie,” Mom said, rushing over to the kitchen area as if she were greeting her best friend of fifty years. She smooched Melanie’s cheek before setting her foil-covered plate on the counter. Gabe would bet his favorite drum kit that Mom’s infamous lemon bars were under that foil.

“So good to see you, Kathy,” Melanie said, and it warmed Gabe’s heart that she actually seemed to mean it. “This is my friend Nikki. She’s visiting from Kansas.”

“You mean people still live in that state?” Leslie asked.

“A few,” Melanie said. “You have to be one of Gabe’s sisters. You look just like him. That Mohawk of yours is a dead giveaway.”

Leslie’s eyes popped wide before she realized Melanie was obviously joking about the Mohawk, and then she laughed. “I love you already,” she said. “I’m Leslie, since my brother is too rude to introduce me.” She scowled at Gabe, who was standing behind her, waiting for an opening.

“Not rude,” Gabe said. “Just can never get a word in when the room is full of Banner women.”

“You got that right,” Dad said, offering him a high five.

“So are you the doctor doctor or the professor doctor?” Melanie asked, eyes narrowed slightly as if she were trying to read Leslie’s mind.

“The doctor doctor.” Leslie elbowed Gabe in the ribs. “What have you been telling her about me?”

“Nothing,” Gabe said, and he wasn’t lying. He didn’t talk about his family much, and suddenly wasn’t sure why. They were pretty terrific people.

“Are you hungry?” Melanie asked. “I made lasagna. There’s plenty for everyone.”

“We already ate,” Dad said, “but I never say no to lasagna. Especially when these two think I can live on salad.”

“It’s good for you, Daddy,” Leslie said, but she took one look at the deep dish lasagna on the counter and got in line.

The Banners filled their plates, and they all moved to the dining room, which could easily seat twenty people. Gabe was suddenly imagining holidays with his family, his wife, and future kids. When had he become so domesticated? As he watched Melanie talking to his parents and his big sister as if they’d known each other forever, he realized it had happened the moment he’d met her.

“Melanie and I have an announcement.” Gabe broke into their conversation about Leslie’s high school frog dissection.

“I was wondering when you were going to explain that ring!” Mom said.

He could never get anything past the eagle-eyed heart surgeon.

“Uh, yeah,” Gabe said, his announcement now more of a confirmation. “We’ve decided to get married.”

“And I get to help plan the wedding,” Nikki said.

“I knew you two were the real deal,” Mom said. “From the moment I first saw you together, I knew it.”

“Is that why you practically skipped out of my house the night you met her?” Gabe teased.

“I do not skip,” his mom said.

Gabe snorted. “Yes, Dr. Katherine Banner, you do.”

“Don’t tease,” she said, reaching over to slap him playfully. “I thought I’d end up dead before I was blessed with grandchildren.”

“Oh, I’m not pregnant!” Melanie blurted.

“But you do want babies, don’t you?” Mom asked, actually looking depressed.

Melanie exchanged an uncomfortable look with Gabe. Way to put her on the spot, Mom.

“In a few years,” Gabe answered for her.

Mom brightened. “I think I’ll still be alive then.”

“Oh, stop,” Leslie said. “You’re still young, Mama.”

“And you’re well over thirty,” Mom said to her eldest daughter, giving her an appraising look. “Your eggs are starting to spoil.”

“Katherine, we didn’t start having children until you were older than she is,” Dad reminded her.

Mom glowered at him. “Because . . .”

“The exact same reason she hasn’t settled down,” Dad said. “Becoming a surgeon is hard, and you have to dedicate your life to it, especially in the beginning.”

“And how hard do you think it is to find a nice normal girl when you’re a musician?” Mom countered.

“Since when is Gabe the star child of this family?” Leslie asked.

Gabe chuckled. He and his sisters were highly competitive for parental approval. Only recently had he realized his parents loved them all no matter their faults and real or perceived level of accomplishment. But he got where Leslie was coming from. When both your parents were highly successful, brilliant, and hard-working, it was hard to live up to their standards. Even if those standards were mostly imagined.

“Since I convinced this wonderful woman to be mine,” Gabe said, reaching for Melanie’s hand and kissing it just below her new diamond.

“Didn’t take much convincing, to be honest,” Melanie said, leaning in to steal a proper kiss from his lips.

“I’m responsible for them meeting in the first place,” Nikki said.

“Oh?” Mom asked. “And how do you know Gabe?”

“I’m a huge Sole Regret fan,” she said, her face slightly flushed. “I convinced Melanie to go backstage to meet the band. She had no idea he was the band’s drummer when she started talking to him.”

Melanie cringed. “I think I even insulted the band at one point.”

Gabe’s family thought that was hilarious. He laughed along with them because it had been Melanie’s not knowing he was famous that had inspired him to pursue her initially.

“So no romantic prospects of your own,” Mom asked Leslie, her gaze hopeful.

“No, but I do have a family announcement to make,” Leslie said. “I just wish Jennifer was here to hear it too.”

“You’re pregnant!” Mom said, wriggling excitedly in her chair.

“No, God no. Mom, will you please stop with the baby talk.” Leslie shuddered. “I didn’t come to town just for a visit. I have an interview at Houston Methodist this week. If I get the job, I’m moving back to Texas.”

“What?” Mom said. “But what about Boston General? It’s one of the best hospitals in the entire country. I thought that’s why you worked so hard to get your second residency there.”

“Houston Methodist is the best in Texas,” Leslie said.

“Which makes it the best in the world,” Dad said reasonably.

“Obviously,” Gabe agreed.

The two ladies from Kansas gave them odd looks while Leslie pled her case.

“I miss my friends. I miss my family. I miss Texas. And Houston isn’t too far away from home. I’d get to see you all a lot more often.”

“You can take the girl out of Texas,” Dad said, “but not Texas out of the girl.”

“Are you disappointed in me?” she asked Mom.

“Of course not!” Mom said quickly. “It’s just . . . Boston General, Leslie. I would have given anything to have been in the position to work there at your age.”

“But Daddy wouldn’t have been happy in Massachusetts.”

“And you aren’t happy there,” Daddy guessed.

Leslie lowered her eyes. “Everything is just so fast paced. And I’m not talking about the hospital. I can handle my work being crazy-stupid challenging, but when I have a moment, I’d like to be able to freaking breathe, you know?”

“And you think you’ll find that in Houston?” Mom asked.

“She thinks she’ll find that here,” Gabe said. His roots were equally deep. He completely understood why she’d want to come home for good. “Good luck, sis. I hope you get the job.” He reached over the table to pat Leslie’s hand—her brain surgeon hand. How weird was that?

“I also have an interview at Seton,” Leslie said quietly, almost as if she didn’t want anyone to hear.

Mom gasped. “Don’t throw your career away.”

“Did you throw your career away by saving lives in your own community?” Leslie challenged. Mom had not only started her career at Seton, she still worked at that same hospital as the head of the cardiology department.

Gabe was suddenly glad he hadn’t become a doctor. He knew his mother honestly wanted what was best for her children, but couldn’t she see how she was making Leslie feel? Gabe knew exactly what his sister was feeling. And if he’d completed his PhD in physics as had been his original plan, he might have been having the exact same conversation with his physics professor father right now. At least Jennifer had been smart enough to major in mathematics. Though both his parents had opinions about her educational choices as well.

“Of course I don’t think that,” Mom said. “It’s just . . . You’re so brilliant, sweetheart. So talented. So special. And Seton? Seton is so average.”

“Sometimes it’s better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond,” Melanie said, glancing from future mother-in-law to future sister-in-law. “Am I right?”

Leslie gave Melanie a grateful smile, and Gabe loved his heart’s choice a little more with every passing moment.

“I’m so intimidated right now,” Nikki said. “Are you all doctors?” She glanced hopefully at Dad.

“Afraid so,” Dad said with a wink. “But I don’t save lives. I get my kicks by torturing college students.”

Nikki swallowed.

“Did I say torturing?” Dad laughed. “I meant challenging. I get my kicks by challenging college students.”

“He definitely meant torturing,” Gabe said. “I’ve seen him laugh gleefully over failing grades more than once.”

“Not everyone’s got what it takes to pass physics,” Dad said.

“I would be in that category,” Melanie said, raising her hand sheepishly. “The lowest grade I ever got in my life was in physics.”

“You never told me that,” Gabe said. “Did you fail it?”

“I got a C,” she said, grimacing. “C minus. I’m sure I could have done better with the right tutor.” The heated look she gave Gabe made his palms go damp. He could definitely get behind tutoring Melanie Anderson.

Nikki laughed. “I doubt the two of you would have gotten any actual studying done.”

Exactly.

“I’m not sure I can let my son marry a woman who earned a C minus in physics,” Dad said. “Was it calculus-based physics at least?”

Melanie shook her head. “Nope. College physics,” she said. “For non-majors.”

Dad covered his chest with one hand. “Dr. Banner,” he said to his wife. “I think you need to look at my heart. I might be dying.”

“Oh, please,” Mom said, rolling her eyes. “Stop that. She’s going to think you’re serious.” She turned to Melanie and said, “I got a D in physics the first time I took it and decided to get some help the second go round. How do you think I met this guy?” She jabbed a thumb in Dad’s direction.

“So Luke was your physics tutor in college?” Melanie asked.

Mom’s grin was entirely too devious for Gabe’s comfort, even though he already knew the story behind how his parents had met.

“No, love. He was the teacher.”

“Ooo,” Nikki said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Did he let you earn extra credit after class?”

“Hell no,” Mom said. “He wouldn’t even date me until after I graduated.”

“It’s inappropriate to date a student,” Dad said. “No matter how much she throws herself at you.”

Gabe laughed at his mother’s outraged expression.

“I did not throw myself at you!”

“She wrote me love notes at the bottom of all her exams.”

Mom licked her lips, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. “I was just thanking you for helping me understand the material.”

“I felt thoroughly thanked, my love,” he said. “And you have no idea how hard it was for me to maintain my professionalism.”

“You weren’t too professional,” Mom claimed. “You still have copies of all my test papers.”

“And I still take them out and read them from time to time.”

And then his parents were kissing passionately. Gabe exchanged a disgusted look with his sister, who snorted and shook her head.

“We should get busy washing these dishes,” Mom said, “so we can head home and leave these two alone with their houseguest.”

Nikki beamed at being remembered.

Leslie smirked at her parents. “Get yourselves to bed early so you can relive your early years together, you mean.”

When Mom stood and started to gather plates, Melanie jumped from her chair as if a rattlesnake had struck her in the ass. “No need,” Melanie said. “I’ll get the dishes.”

“It’s a standing rule in this family,” Mom said. “The cook never washes the dishes.” She gave Gabe a stern look, as if he’d broken that sacred rule.

“It’s fine,” Melanie said. “Really. I don’t mind.” She took the dishes from Mom’s hands and carried them out of the dining room.

“Melanie, dear,” Mom said, staring at Melanie’s back. “I think your shirt is on wrong-side out. There’s a tag . . .” Mom reached for the tag poking out through Melanie’s hair at the nape of her neck, and Melanie scurried forward, her face redder than the tomato sauce on the plates she was carrying.

“I didn’t realize,” Melanie said. “Thanks. But I’ve got the dishes. Please sit down, Kathy.”

Gabe didn’t recall Melanie being particularly fond of washing dishes. Perhaps she was trying to impress his family—or escape their scrutiny. He felt bad for not pointing out her shirt was on wrong-side out earlier.

His mother followed Melanie, and after a moment of listening to them argue about who was going to do the dumb dishes, Gabe went to investigate.

“Please, Kathy, allow me,” Melanie said.

She made a dive for the dishwasher when his mother moved to open it. And then Gabe realized why she was so insistent on doing the dishes. There were certain embarrassing items on the dishwasher’s top rack.

“I should be the one to do the dishes,” Gabe said. “You two go sit and visit. Maybe you can help Nikki come up with some ideas for the wedding.”

Mom stopped trying to wrestle a spatula out of Melanie’s grip and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you thinking a destination wedding? Or something a bit closer to home?”

“Actually,” Melanie said, shooting Gabe a look of gratitude as she handed him the dirty spatula. “We were thinking of having the wedding here. In the woods around Gabe’s house.”

“Just as long as it doesn’t involve riding those noisy ATVs of his,” Mom said.

“What a great idea, Mom!” Gabe said, turning on the water in the sink. He decided it was probably best to sanitize the Sex Stallion skins on their own cycle rather than with the supper plates, but he couldn’t very well just whip them out while his mom was watching him with her eyes narrowed.

“I’ll pour sugar in your gas tanks if you even think about ruining your ceremony with those damned things,” she threatened.

“We were actually thinking of something a little more sedate,” Melanie said, directing Mom back to the dining room.

Thinking he was alone, Gabe opened the dishwasher just as his father hobbled into the room. Gabe slammed the door shut and smiled at Dad, hoping he didn’t look too suspicious. The man was a teacher. He could spot a guilty conscience with practiced ease.

“You sure you’re ready to settle down?” Dad asked quietly. He obviously didn’t want to upset the wedding-planning women chatting excitedly in the dining room.

“With Melanie?” Gabe smiled. “One hundred percent sure.”

“It’s just a bit sudden is all. How long have you known her?”

“Long enough to know she’s my one.”

Dad smiled. “The physics of love. Completely unfathomable.”

“Did you know right away with Mom?” Gabe asked.

“Yep. And it scared the hell out of me. You seem to be dealing well with the idea, however.”

“Well, Melanie’s not ten years younger than I am,” Gabe said with a chuckle. “Or my student.”

“That wasn’t the scary part,” Dad said. “The scary part was thinking I might have to live even a single day of my life without her.”

There was no doubting which of his parents was the most romantic. He was pretty sure it was the same for himself and Melanie. When it came to love, Melanie was far more practical about her feelings than he was.

“I feel the same for Mel. And we’re supposed to be men of science.” Gabe snorted.

“The most important qualities for any scientist are a sense of wonder and being able to accept that there are things in this universe that we will never be able to explain.”

I am my father’s son, Gabe thought wryly.

Dad licked his lips and watched his fingers drum on the countertop. “Are you going to go back and finish your degree now that your band is over? I’m sure I could get you a late admission wavier for fall semester.”

Gabe decided that asking that question was the real reason his father had cornered him in the kitchen.

“I’ve thought about it,” Gabe said. “But I’m not ready to give up on my music just yet.”

“You could always play drums as a hobby,” Dad said.

“I could,” Gabe said, “but I don’t think I’d be satisfied. I will definitely let you know if I decide to go back to school. I’ll play that nepotism card like a fiddle.”

Dad slapped him on the back hard enough to sting. His smile lit up his entire face, even brightening his eyes. “Whatever makes you happy, son.”

“Melanie makes me happy. Everything else good in my life is just gravy.”