Page 95 of Possession

“I just want to grab the platter.” When Grace made no move to take the baby, Carly slid her gaze to me and offered her child. I was pretty sure I managed not to give the wide-eyed tot the same look of sheer panic that Grace had, but it wasn’t easy. “Just for a sec. C’mon, Mr. Carson, you’ve held her before. She won’t bite you. She’s already been fed like twenty times tonight.”

“You’ve held her before?” Grace frowned as if Carly had just announced I’d had a wild sexual romp with her between the bakery cases. “When?”

“Last time Mr. Carson came in. A month or two ago, wasn’t it?”

“Closer to three,” I said smoothly, reaching for the baby. “And please, call me Blake.” I’d told her that several times, but it never stuck for long.

Gianna went willingly into my arms, curling into me as if she remembered me. Of course, that wasn’t possible. She tipped back her head and nailed me with those big dark doe eyes, studying me and probably finding me hopelessly lacking.

“Hi there,” I said weakly.

She gave me a smile, heavy on the drool.

“Oh jeez, Gianna, not the way to present yourself to a handsome man.” Carly hustled forward to clean up her daughter’s mouth and then she returned to the counter to tug out the tray for our inspection.

Since I currently had a chubby blond vixen-in-training pulling on my tie with chubby fingers, it was hard to concentrate on buttercream frosting and chocolate fondant.

“They all look really good.” Apparently, the sight of me cuddling a baby—sort of cuddling awkwardly—was so shocking to Grace that she forgot to be angry long enough to actually look at Carly’s offerings.

I was glad I couldn’t see exactly how I looked with Gianna now trying to suck on my tie. Big gummy lips sliding up and down, even bigger eyes flashing up at me as if she was daring me to tell her no.

Like anyone could. She was ridiculously cute, and I wasn’t one to be struck dumb by babies or small animals. Then again, I usually didn’t have to hold every warm, sweet-smelling ounce of them in my arms, either.

“Why don’t I make you up a sampler platter to go? You can try a little bit of everything, see which you favor. Then just call in to the shop, and I’ll make sure you get some more out there in Marblehead without having to make the trip in.” She winked and set the platter on the counter, then walked behind it to gather a few white baker’s boxes.

“You’re the sister-in-law he saved. Dante, I mean. He killed his father to save you,” Grace said.

It probably wasn’t manly to duck my head behind Gianna’s, but I figured I was overdue for a lapse or two.

Carly barely hesitated. “You know Dante? Why, of course you do. Mr. Carson mentioned his father was friends with Gio’s father. Giovanni, my husband. Dante’s brother.”

“Call me Blake,” I said automatically.

No one was listening, not even Gianna who was now stuffing a fistful of my tie into her surprisingly large mouth.

I’d managed to save Grace’s perfect knot through a long workday. Unfortunately, I didn’t think the night would survive Gianna Costas’s busy baby teeth.

“Yes, I just met him at dinner. He saved you,” Grace repeated.

Efficiently, Carly put together the boxes. “Yes, he did. Their father had me kidnapped and would’ve killed me if not for Dante. Killed both of us, as I was pregnant with Gianna at the time.”

Grace gasped and glanced at the clearly hungry baby. Either that or my tie just tasted really good. “Her own grandfather tried to kill her?”

Carly shrugged. “He didn’t know I was pregnant, but still. That’s the way of things in their world.”

“And you tolerate it?”

Carly glanced up from her boxes, the first surprise registering on her pretty face. “I love my husband, so of course, I tolerate where he comes from. I supported him until he was able to break away, and now we’ve made our own family.” She turned her attention to the platter. “So, four mini eclair-cupcakes it is. What else would you like to try?”

Grace gripped her throat in her white-knuckled hand and gestured with the other. “We’ll take two of everything there. To go. Please.”

I glanced at Gianna, who was still chowing down. She had no help to offer.

No one did.

Most likely, I’d lost a tie tonight, and probably my girlfriend too.

Chapter 23

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