Kami, who turns out to be yet another Adamo cousin, isn’t nosy. At least, not in any obvious way. As we work, putting white linen tablecloths and place settings on all the tables in the dining area, she keeps up a steady stream of chatter and doesn’t ask any prying questions.

But a lot of her remarks trail off at strategic moments that invite me to share and share alike. I have to tread carefully. I’m not going to lie and pretend Brando and I are more than we are, but I’m not sure it’s wise to come right out and say we’re just fucking.

So I talk about school, about life in the city, but skirt around discussing Brando. Even if I wanted to, she’s family. I love his cock and he makes sex a revelation are not exactly appropriate directions to take our conversation.

By the time the restaurant opens, Kami and I are in the back of the house, out of sight of the guests. “Tuesdays are usually pretty slow,” she informs me, “but I keep busy doing whatever needs doing -- busing tables, loading the dishwashers, bringing out orders, even prepping food.”

“I’m happy to pitch in on any of that.” It’s kind of fun to see how everything works “backstage,” and I’d rather stay busy anyway.

Brando and his crew seem to have a good rhythm down, working together without any yelling or profanity. “This would make a really boring reality show,” I whisper to Kami.

“Right? All this bonhomie and getting stuff done right the first time. Mistakes do happen, of course, but Brando isn’t a grouchy boss.”

He’s not a grouchy anything, so far as I can tell. But then, it’s still not quite twenty-four hours since I first met him.

The first sign that this is not a normal Tuesday night comes when Vanessa, one of two waitresses on shift, rushes into the kitchen and over to Gastone, who’s been checking supplies. “The dining room is full. We need another waitress.”

“Full?” he repeats in obvious disbelief.

“There are close to fifty people out there, and more lined up for seats.” She starts entering drink and appetizer orders into the restaurant’s computer system.

Gastone exchanges a look with his boss and heads for the dining room. He’s back in under a minute, talking under his breath to Brando, whose eyes come straight to me.

“What the heck?” I say, knowing something’s up but utterly baffled as to how I could be involved in any way.

“Holy shit,” Kami says softly.

“What?” I demand.

“It’s an invasion. Has to be.” Before I can ask her what the hell that means, she’s on her feet, making her own excursion to the front of the house.

She comes back with a startlingly smug look on her face. “What’s an invasion?” I ask as soon as she gets close.

“Tell you later. We’ve got to pitch in.” She eyes my outfit critically. “Not quite the official uniform, but it’ll do. Let’s get these appetizers out.”

I take the plates she hands me and follow her out to where the guests are seated. Sure enough, the place is packed. A murmur runs through the room, and I look around, trying to figure out what they’re responding to.

It gets weirder. Everyone keeps smiling at me. Not in a let’s-be-polite-to-the-help way; in an it’s-so-nice-to-see-you way.

Kami’s gotten mysteriously tight-lipped at the same time. She keeps leading me into the kitchen and back out to the dining area, delivering drinks and food, until we’ve been to practically every table in the place.

My boots are comfortable enough for some casual club dancing, but they’re not designed for waitressing. I have a new appreciation for what a tough job it is, and I’m not even taking the orders.

By the time a third waitress shows up and Kami decrees it’s break time, my feet are throbbing. We sink into chairs in the small office tucked into one corner of the building. For now, we’re the only ones in there, and I don’t waste time.

“Kami, I don’t mean to be rude, but what the fuck is going on?”

A slow smile warms her face. “The family’s checking you out.”

“The fa— you mean Brando’s family?” I flash back to what he said on the way up here from the city, about his clan showing up. “All those people are Adamos?”

“Except for one or two tables, yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Didn’t want you freaking out, like you are right now.”

I bury my face in my hands. “Holy shit. Did Brando know? He did, didn’t he?”

“Well, yeah.”

“And he just … just let me …”

“Sweetie.” Kami’s tone is sympathetic. “If the family wants to check you out, they’re gonna check you out. If we hadn’t gone out there, they would have found excuses to wander back into the kitchen.”

“Oh my god.”

“So he was in a bind. Trust me when I tell you that nosy Adamo mamas are like a gravitational force; there’s no resisting them.”

“Mamas.” I grab Kami’s hand. “Was his mother out there?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t believe this. My Big Fat Greek Wedding has nothing on these people.” I shoot a glance at Kami. “No offense.”

She grins. “None taken.”

“How did they even know I was here? I’m sure Brando didn’t tell them. Did you?”

Kami shakes her head. “Nope. Scout’s honor,” she says when I look skeptical. “Anyway, Adamo mamas are psychic.”

“Psychic?” I stare at her in dawning horror. “She doesn’t … I mean …”

“Oh, yes,” Kami says matter-of-factly. “She knows you two have been doing the business.”

Covering my face again, I groan, “Kill me now.”

“Gotta tell you something.”

I peek through my fingers. “What?”

“Not everyone gets an invasion.”

That gets my attention. “I thought Brando said it was sort of a tradition.”

“It is. But not everyone gets one.”

I squint at her. “Who doesn’t get one?”

“It’s not like there are hard and fast rules or anything. But, generally speaking, an invasion is a sign of approval.”

I fling my arms out. “How could it be a sign of approval when they hadn’t met me yet?”

“Like I said. Psychic.”

I shake my head, giving up on trying to figure out Brando’s relatives. “At least once they’re done eating, this can go back to being a quiet Tuesday night.”

Kami laughs. “Nah, they’re gonna have a party out there. They’ll be here all night. Any minute now, they’re gonna start singing.”

I slump back in my chair. “I think this would be a good time for me to wander outside and get lost in the woods.”