Page 54 of Books and Hookups

“Oh, no.” I wanted to step in front of Danny and shield him. I couldn’t imagine him sitting in an office all day. “Danny and his brother are going to buy the bar where they work.”

“Ah,” Connie said. “Then I must have misheard about Leo going to see a kitchen space with Gio.”

Danny’s posture stiffened. “Leo wouldn’t do that.”

“Sure, Danny. But if anything changes, let me know. It’s a solid business. You’d sell a lot of insurance with that face.” She reached up and patted his cheek.

“Connie,” Rangi said. “He said he wasn’t interested.”

She tilted her head.“Luciesaid he wasn’t interested.”

When I glanced at Danny, he rubbed his hand over his mouth. I sighed. He was such a people-pleaser that he couldn’t tell his aunt no. I’d already done what I could, so I waited for him to say the right thing.

He glanced at my midsection. “I’ll call you if I change my mind, okay?”

Thatwasn’t the right thing. I glared at him.

Connie’s smile was broad. “Okay.”

“We need to get Lucie some food,” he said.

“It was nice meeting you both,” I said. “Happy anniversary again.”

“Thank you,” Rangi said. “Good luck with the…” Another look at my belly.

Connie’s glittering smile was calculating. “Talk to you soon, Danny.”

As we walked through the doorway to the grassy courtyard, I wanted to put my arm around him. But what would I be protecting him from? His inability to say no to people? That was a problem he needed to solve himself.

“You’re not seriously considering working at an insurance agency,” I said.

“No.” But that “no” sounded uncertain.

“You’d hate sitting behind a desk and wearing a tie.” He wasn’t wearing a tie today. He wore a soft-looking button-down in a green checked pattern that brought out the lighter streaks in his brown eyes. He’d rolled up the sleeves to show off his muscular forearms, sunlight sparkling on the dark hair. I swallowed and looked straight ahead at the tables of food.

“Maybe,” he said. “I’m not the only person I have to think about.”

I stroked my belly. “The baby will be fine. I’ve got health insurance.”

“Doctor’s visits aren’t the only cost when you have a child,” he said gently. “Daycare is expensive. So is college.”

“Daycare.” My head felt light. “I hadn’t thought of that yet.”

Like he could sense me wobbling, he threaded my arm through his. “I can switch up my schedule so I can take care of her while you’re at work. My family can cover for us in an emergency, like if you have to travel.”

The ground steadied. “That sounds good.”

“We’ll be fine. We’ve got some time. Now, what do you want to eat?”

I stared at the table loaded with food. “Everything.”

Danny wouldn’t let me try any of the cured meats or soft cheeses, but there were plenty of other things to eat. When we’d filled our plates, he led me to a table headed up by his mother. I recognized her from the baby shower I’d walked in on when I’d told him about the pregnancy. That seemed so long ago.

I sat next to Leo, and Danny sat on my other side, next to his mother. Across the table were a dark-haired man and woman and a blond woman, all in their twenties.

“Ma, you remember Lucie,” Danny said. “Lucie, this is my mother, Carrie. You know Leo. And these are my other siblings. Elena and Tony—they’re twins—and Giuliana.”

“Hi.” I nodded at them. Did they all know about the baby? They must, right? I didn’t have any siblings, but if Carrie had told her sister, Danny must have told his siblings.

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