Page 31 of Just for Him
He grinned. “No problem. I’ve got your back, bro.”
I showered quickly then left the Y, intent on making it to the bookstore before my shift started in a couple hours. I tried to tell myself I was overreacting. After all, Haven had already met Dom, Sofia, Nick, andNonno, and she seemed to be taking them all in stride. In fact, according to Nick, she and Kat had become friends. However, none ofthemwere the type to put her under the magnifying glass and give her the third degree.
My worst fears were realized when I walked into the bookstore and heard a chorus of familiar female voices. A look toward the coffee bar confirmed that Gina, Val, and Sofia were there.
Haven’s gaze lifted to me, and then three other pairs of eyes followed in rapt interest.
“Sorry, man,” Nick said from my right. “It was a surprise attack.”
I snorted. Dom, at least, had my back, but Nick wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement.
I took a deep, fortifying breath before making my way right over to where they were all gathered. Haven watched, no doubt as interested in what I was going to do as my female relatives were.
In a bold move, I stepped behind the counter, put my arm around Haven’s waist, and kissed her soundly. It was time to let Haven, and everyone else present, know how I felt about her.
Thankfully, after a brief moment of surprise, she went with it and returned the kiss with equal fervor. Then I turned and faced the others in challenge.
Gina and Val were grinning in triumph. Sofie just looked happy.
“Resorting to spying, ladies?” I accused.
“Well, you weren’t bringing her around, so we had to take matters into our own hands,” Val said without apology.
“Or, you could have just minded your own business.”
“Like you did when you threatened to run a background check on Kyle Latoniata?” she challenged.
I shrugged, remembering the guy who’d had his eye on Gina. All the women thought he was “hot” and “edgy,” but I took one look at the guy and saw trouble waiting to happen.
“He had shifty eyes.”
Val smirked. “And a really big—”
“The point is,” Gina said with a timely interruption, “that Kat has been telling us how awesome Haven is, and we wanted to meet her and see for ourselves.”
“And now we have to get back,” Sofia said, rising. “It was a pleasure meeting you again, Haven. I’m glad it was under more pleasant circumstances this time.”
“You, too,” Haven answered.
“See you Sunday, Vin,” Val said with an answering challenge in her eye. “And bring Haven.”
She-devils.
I waited until they left to turn to Haven. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. They’re just looking out for you. Something tells me it works both ways.”
She had me there. “You’re not wrong.”
As she moved away to clear the cups and plates, I asked, “So, what do you think about Sunday dinner? Will you come?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether you actually want me there or you’re just caving under pressure.”
I wasn’t sure what bothered me more: the idea that she really didn’t have an inkling of how far gone I was, or that I could be so easily swayed by my family’s demands.
