"Order up!"

Gio ducked through the chaos of the kitchen, pirouetting till the baby laughed. "Should we tell your grandpapa that we are here to see him, and we are very hungry?" he asked her.

Jessamine shrieked. She was finally losing that pitch that scraped down his spine like nails on a chalkboard, but it was still enough to get everyone's attention.

"Mi bella," Marcello boomed, delighted when the baby screamed back. "Look who's come to see us, my Emilio."

Before Gio could blink, his papa had scooped his daughter out of her carrier and was feeding her slices of banana that materialized out of thin air.

"How was your flight? Where's Marcus?" Papa asked, wiping banana chunks and drool off Jessie's cheek.

"He's out front talking to Mia. He's not brave enough to come into the kitchen during lunch rush," Gio said, snagging a piece of banana for himself. They both gave him a disapproving look, their identical dark eyes sparkling.

"Nonsense," Marcello said, ducking a hot pan even as he drizzled scalding sauce onto a plate. "It's perfectly safe."

Gio bit his cheek to smother his laugh. "I know, Dad." Jessie spit a piece of banana across the counter, and even the sous chef looked suitably impressed. "I think she's done, Papa. She hasn't had a nap yet, so I'm hoping she falls asleep soon, or she'll be up all night."

"Shall we go say hello to your Dada?" Emilio asked the baby, his stern face twisting into a comical expression. She burbled at him, and he nodded. "I agree. Good manners are important."

Shaking his head, Gio followed them out, ducking and sidestepping like a prima ballerina.

Mia had found Marcus a place to sit, all smiles as she showed him her engagement ring. That was one of the reasons they'd made the trip to California earlier than planned. Gio wanted to meet this guy who thought he was good enough for his little sister.

This time of day the restaurant was almost all regulars, and they greeted Emilio and Jessie by name. At first, Gio found it strange how his parents introduced the baby around, but he could remember how important he felt being recognized by all the regulars when he was barely old enough to remember. Jessie would have all the same experiences here that he had.

Maybe not the broken arm.

Marcus smiled as they approached, getting to his feet to pull Gio in to a kiss.

"You're a sap," Gio muttered, glancing over his shoulder to find his papa detained by an old friend who was cooing over the baby. "I was gone for less than five minutes."

"Six," Marcus said, grinning. "Jessie must have had a snack because she's almost asleep."

"It's the sound of the kitchen," Mia said. "It puts all babies to sleep."

Raising his eyebrow at the shouts and chaos released by the swinging kitchen door, Marcus just nodded. "Whatever works."

"I'll go make sure the orders get put in for Luke and Jay, too," Mia said, winking at Gio as she passed. "It's a good ploy, but you're not going to distract them from Jessie."

"It was worth a try. Sometimes I like to hold my own daughter for a few seconds." Gio shrugged, leaning against Marcus's arm as he watched her walk away.

He'd been thinking about his family more ever since Jessie had been born. When Mia had called to tell him that she'd gotten engaged, he was shocked. He hadn't even known she was dating someone. He felt like a terrible brother.

Then again, watching Marcus and his massive family, he was grateful that he and Mia weren't in each other's pockets like that. Marcus couldn't even sneeze at work before someone was calling Gio to tell them that he was coming down with the flu. It was a bit much, especially when Marcus's offices were almost a mile away from Stern Associates.

Those people were crazy.

Actually, scratch that. Everyone he knew was crazy, himself included.

"What are you thinking?" Marcus asked, pressing a kiss to his temples.

"People are crazy," he said, stretching his back until it popped. He'd spent months in the gym trying to train his body back into any kind of shape after giving birth. This was the first summer he felt comfortable going to the beach. "I'm crazy."

"Why's that?" He wasn't really paying attention, his eyes on the door as he waited for Luke and Jay to show up or on Jessie as Emilio toted her around the room.

"Because I was thinking about asking you to give me another baby," Gio said nonchalantly.

It took a moment to filter into Marcus's brain, but when it did, it was like a shot had gone off. His eyes jerked to Gio's face, pupils blown wide, and he stared for the longest heartbeat of Gio's life. Tension thrummed, electric, and between the two of them they could have powered a city.

"Come on," Marcus said, dragging him toward the door.

Laughing, Gio tried half-heartedly to dig his heels in. "What? Now?"

"No better time. Luke will understand."

"Marcus," Gio said, twisting his wrist free. "We can't just leave Jessie with my parents without asking."

Marcus looked at him, something hot and sexy simmering behind his eyes. "Emilio, do you mind watching Jessie for a few hours?"

"You just try to get her away from me."

"Problem solved," Marcus growled. "Now, are you coming, or do I have to resort to drastic measures."

Intrigued, Gio crossed his arms and planted his feet. "We are not bailing on dinner with your friends."

"I warned you." Bending at the waist, Marcus caught Gio around the hips before he realized what was happening.

"Don't you dare," Gio said, trying to squirm out of the hold without hurting either of them. "Marcus, don't you dare."

"Dare, Marcus, dare," Mia called. Gio flipped her off, still backing across the tile.

Something brushed against his back, and his hesitation as he glanced over his shoulder was just enough time for Marcus to get a solid grip. The world spun as Gio was thrown up and over his shoulder, still laughing.

"I can't believe you did that," he gasped, pounding against Marcus's back. "Put me down."

"Finders, keepers," Marcus said, pinching his upturned ass as they stepped into the summer sun. "Mine."

Gio propped his chin on his arms. "I hate you."

"You love me," Marcus said. "I would have thought this would be right up your alley, since you read Haley Peters."

Throwing his hands in the air, Gio groaned. "You've read it, too, asshole."

"For a guy who reads trashy romances," Marcus said, striding quickly down the sidewalk, "you've got quite the mouth. Fortunately, I know just how to put it to good use."

Gio smiled.