by Penelope Sky
“Do you have to work tomorrow?”
His question brought me back to the conversation. “No.”
“You want to have dinner with me?”
“I always have dinner with you.” We were together almost every single night, sleeping over at each other’s places in an unpredictable pattern. We usually cooked something at home and watched TV on the couch. Our nighttime routine was to go to bed, have sex, and then fall asleep.
“I mean go out to dinner with me.”
“Oh…sure.” I didn’t mind going out to a restaurant with him, but to be honest, I preferred eating at home. When we were out, I couldn’t touch him the way I wanted, couldn’t say whatever popped into my mind because it was too inappropriate for a public place.
“Balto and his wife will be joining us too.” He smiled slightly, as if he anticipated my tantrum before it even happened.
“Wow…back up.”
He chuckled.
“What do you mean, they’ll be joining us?”
“As in, they’ll be sitting at the same table as us, sharing an appetizer with us.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s rude not to share.”
I slapped his arm because now wasn’t the time to be a smartass.
He chuckled at my venom. “It was their idea.”
“Because Cassini wants to fight me?”
Now, he laughed. “No. And if she did, you would kick her ass, baby.”
I was still mortified by that night. I wouldn’t be able to look them in the eye ever again.
“Come on, it’s not a big deal.”
“Uh, you weren’t there. I slugged your brother like I was a bully on the playground.”
“And I wish I had been there. Would love to see my woman kick my brother’s ass.”
I glared at him. “This isn’t funny.”
“I don’t know…”
I smacked his arm again.
“Baby, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. They don’t dislike you.”
I covered my face with my hands. “Ugh…”
He grabbed both of my wrists and pulled them from my face. “I thought my baby wasn’t afraid of anything?”
“I’m not…except humiliation.”
He brought my wrists to his lips and kissed each one. “Come on.”
“Why do we have to have dinner at all?”
He shrugged. “My brother wants to meet you—properly. He’s my closest friend, so it makes sense that he wants to spend time with the woman I’m seeing.”
This was supposed to be a fling, not a relationship where we met each other’s family.
He seemed to read my thoughts. “I’ve met your friends.”
“But you haven’t slapped any of them…”
“On the ass, maybe.”
My eyes turned to fire.
He smiled, telling me it was a joke. “You and Cassini will get along well.”
“Uh, I really doubt it.” I remembered the way she threatened me when I struck her husband.
His arm wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me close. “I know you’re embarrassed, but I think it’s a lot more embarrassing not to show up. Then they’ll think you’re weak, that you don’t have the spine to look them in the eye, have the balls to keep your confidence, have the poise to laugh it off like the funny story it is.”
Damn, he got me. “Alright…”
He parked his truck at the curb and turned off the engine.
I looked through the windows at the tables inside the restaurant. It was a busy night, the tables full of couples and families. I could feel his stare against the side of my face. “This is gonna be weird.”
“Only weird if you make it weird.”
I turned back to him, seeing the outline of his pecs in his shirt. He was so muscular and firm that the clothes he wore couldn’t hide how fit and sexy he was. It left little to the imagination, but when he was naked, it was so sexy. “I meant because you’re twins. There will be two of you…”
“My brother and I are nothing alike.”
“Really? Because he grabs his wife’s ass exactly the way you grab mine.”
He grinned. “Baby, that’s just a man thing.” He opened the door and got out.
I joined him on the sidewalk, and we entered the restaurant. Heath wrapped his arm around my waist and guided me to the table, seeming to know exactly where his brother was sitting.
We approached the table, seeing Balto with his arm around his wife’s shoulders, looking at her like he didn’t hear a word she spoke, just watched her lips move because he was utterly infatuated with her.
I got that same look from Heath all the time, and now that I saw it from an objective view, I realized just how potent it was, how lucky I was that I had a man who looked at me like that. I was jealous of their affection even though I already had that chemistry with someone.
Heath cleared his throat and pulled out the chair for me. “Make out later, alright?”
Now that I was face-to-face with them again, the nerves got to me. My heart raced so fast, and I felt so out of place, not my usual confident state.
Heath sat beside me, his arm moving over the back of my hair just the way Balto’s did with his wife.
Balto slowly turned his gaze to his brother, his blue eyes just a tad bit more hostile than Heath’s usually were. “Would you rather me kick your ass instead?”
Heath grabbed the arancini balls from the center of the table and dropped them on his plate before he ate one whole. “I’m too hungry right now.” He placed one on my plate. “These are good, baby. Try one.”
He just called me baby in front of his family, and I was too nervous to enjoy it. I sliced my fork into the rice ball and took a small bite. “Yeah, they are good.” I put the fork down and stared at them both, the memory of that night fresh in my mind. “So…I’m super sorry about that night—”
“Don’t apologize.” Balto cut me off with his deep voice, sounding just like Heath. His face was still slightly bruised, but he’d healed pretty well. “Honestly, when you did that, I knew you were perfect for my brother.”
“Did Heath tell you about the first time we met?” Cassini looked at me, her long dark hair that was almost black, with almond-shaped eyes and a beautiful smile. She had a glass of water in front of her while Balto had a scotch.
“No.” I ate the rest of the rice ball on my plate. “What happened?”
Heath chuckled. “I was an asshole, basically.”
“Or should I not tell it?” Cassini asked. “Don’t want to throw you under the bus in front of your girl.”
Heath shook his head. “I have nothing to hide. Catalina knows my dirtiest secrets, and she still wants to be with me…” He turned his gaze on me, wearing a slight smile. “So, I think she can handle it.”
When he looked at me like that, I knew I could handle anything. Those eyes…that smile…the thick chords in his neck. He was the sexiest man in the world…and he was all mine. I turned back to Cassini.
Balto was still staring at his brother, wearing a serious expression.
“Alright,” Cassini said. “He was living with us at the time and stopped by, pretending to be Balto. We shared a few words and then—”
“She smashed a lamp over my head,” Heath finished. “And pointed a gun at me.”
I turned to him, both of my eyebrows raised. “What?”
“Yep,” Heath said. “Look at us now, we’re brother and sister. So, if we can get past that, you guys can get over this.”
I turned back to Cassini, seeing her smile at me.
Balto continued to stare at his brother.
When the waiter came over, Heath ordered a bottle of my favorite wine for us to share.
He didn’t even need to ask.
“Barsetti Vineyards?” Balto asked, his eyebrow raised.
Heath shook his head. “Leave it alone.”
“What’s wrong with Barsetti Vineyards?” I asked, catching on to their tone.
Balto gave a slight shrug. “Don’t have a problem with the wine. Just the family.”
“It’s a long story,” Heath said. “But the Skull Kings and the Barsettis don’t mix. We’re like oil and water.”
The waiter brought the wine, uncorked it, and poured our glasses.
“But I’m willing to put aside our differences for you.” Heath clinked his glass against mine. “You guys ready to order?”
“I’m always hungry.” Cassini placed her hand on her stomach. “Well, we both are.”
Now I looked at her with new eyes. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded as she continued to rub her stomach.
“Oh my god.” I turned to Heath. “That means you’re going to be an uncle.”
“A terrible uncle,” Heath said with a chuckle.
Balto ordered. “I’ll take the tenderloin—well done.”
“No.” Cassini grabbed his menu. “He’ll have the salmon. I’ll have the garden salad with chicken.” She handed the menu over and gave him an annoyed expression. “We agreed you would cut back on the red meat.”
Balto turned to his brother, his nostrils flaring slightly. “Alright, baby.”
Heath found it entertaining; it was obvious by the way he smiled. “I’ll have the tenderloin—just to be an asshole.” He handed over the menu.
Balto lifted his glass to his lips and whispered. “Fucking bastard…”
“Sorry, did you say something?” Heath asked. “I don’t speak pussy.”
Balto slammed his glass down.
Cassini grabbed his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Chill.”
I didn’t laugh, but the exchange between the two men was comical. “I’ll have the soup and salad. I’d like to add salmon to my salad, please.” I handed over the menu and watched him walk away.
“You’re the one ordering Barsetti wine,” Balto grumbled. “You’re the biggest pussy here…”
Cassini slapped his wrist. “None of that. We’re having a good time.”
“A good time?” Balto asked incredulously. “Heath is being a dickface.” He turned to me. “Why don’t you punch him in the face like you did to me? Then you and I will be even.”
Heath turned to me, a little smug. “That would be pretty hot.”
Balto rolled his eyes and drank from his glass.
Heath moved his hand to my thigh under the table, giving my bare skin a gentle squeeze. Then he leaned in and rubbed his nose against mine, not afraid to show me the same affection he showed me behind closed doors, not being a different person just because we were out in public. He was the same man, just a little more relaxed now that he was with his family.
When he pulled away, I looked at his family again.
Cassini was watching us, a slight smile on her lips. “You guys are both pussies. Just leave it at that.”
Heath leaned into me and kissed the corner of my mouth. “If this is what it’s like to be a pussy, I don’t mind it.” After he held my gaze for a few seconds, he faced forward again, grabbing his glass and taking a drink.
I had to force myself not to stare at him, to think about the other people at the table. I thought it would be awkward after what happened on the sidewalk, but now that the ice had been broken, it felt right. “Do you know what you’re having?”
“A boy,” Balto answered. “A little man.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” I said. “Got a name picked out?”
“No,” Cassini said. “No idea. But we’ve got time.”
“Heath is pretty nice…”
Balto gave him a cold look. “I would never do that to my son.”
“Oh, shut up,” Heath responded. “I’m gonna pretend to be you all the time and teach him shady things.”
“I’ll kill you,” he snapped.
“Or I’ll kill you and pretend to be his dad forever.” He shrugged and swirled his wine.
“Baby.” Balto turned to his wife. “This was a terrible idea.”
She patted his arm. “He’s just teasing you.”
“Or am I?” Heath shrugged. “Cassini and I would be great together—”
Balto grabbed his steak knife even though he wouldn’t use it for dinner. “I’ll slit your fucking throat.” It was clearly a joke, but that didn’t matter to him.
“Balto.” Cassini pulled the knife out of his hand and put it on her side of the table. “Your brother likes to get under your skin, and you’re making it so easy for him to do that.” She rubbed his arm to calm him down.
Heath turned to me, a slight smile on his lips. “This is fun.”
Damien and I teased each other, but we never took it this far. It was a side to Heath I was unfamiliar with. He was playful, sarcastic, funny. He wasn’t just the intense man that I knew best.
“Anyway…” Cassini turned to me. “Tell us about yourself.”
“Where did you learn to punch like that?” Balto asked, grabbing his scotch and taking a deep drink.
“This guy I used to date a few years ago.” He taught me everything I knew, and he was right, it probably saved my life.
Heath didn’t react to my comment even though it probably annoyed him. After our last fight, he knew he had to work on things as much as I did.
“And I’m a dancer—for the ballet.”
“You’re very talented,” Balto said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Have you come to the show?”
He nodded to his brother. “Heath dragged me along a couple weeks ago. Not really my thing, but he wanted me to see you dance.”
I turned to Heath, surprised he would bring his family along.
“I wanted to show off how hot you were.” His hand moved to my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze, leaning close to me to show me the affection in his eyes.
“For the record, I do not think you’re hot.” Balto raised his hand and looked at his wife. “Heath is just trying to throw me under the bus.”
“You don’t think I’m hot?” I asked, pretending to be hurt.
Heath immediately caught on to what I was doing and grinned.
Balto faltered at the question. “Uh…”
“You think I’m ugly?” I asked, pouting my lips.
“No, that’s not what I said,” Balto said quickly. “You’re very beautiful. I just—”
“Excuse me?” Cassini snapped, playing along. “Did you just check out another woman while your pregnant wife is sitting right here?”
Balto looked away and sighed before he grabbed his scotch and took a drink. “Fuck all of you.”
Summer heat hung on by a thread, about to slip through my fingers and disappear for nine months. The nights started to get cold, and while I continued to wear dresses, I paid for it dearly.
We said goodbye on the curb of the sidewalk, their truck somewhere farther down the road.
Heath kept his arm around me, trying to keep me warm.
“Thanks for dinner,” Balto said. “But it was the least you could do after being an ass all night.”
Heath shrugged. “It’s the least I could do since I’m the richer one.”
Balto narrowed his eyes. “Fuck off, Heath.”
“Ooh…did I strike a chord?” The taunts never ended.
Cassini reached out and shook my hand. “It’s nice to formally meet you—on much better terms.”
I laughed. “Thanks for giving me another chance. And, again, sorry about before…”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “It’s a funny story we’ll tell years down the road.”
I stared at her blankly as I focused on what she’d said, the implication of her words. Did that mean she and Balto expected me to be around for a long time? Or was that something Heath had said to them? Or was I simply reading too much into it?
Balto extended his hand to me next. “It was nice to see you again.”
I gave him a firm grasp and nodded. “You too.”
He pulled away and tapped his fingers against his cheek. “Keep up the good wor
k. More women need to know how to throw a punch.” He turned to his brother next and didn’t show him physical affection before he turned away. “Night, asshole.”
“Night, bitch.”
As Balto walked away with his arm around his wife, he raised his hand and flipped him off.
Heath called out after him, “Love you too.” He turned to me next and wrapped his arm around my waist before he walked me to the truck. “My place or yours?”
Seeing the way he interacted with his brother made me adore him more, for reasons I couldn’t explain. It humanized him, showed a playful side I’d never met before. It was sexy. “Yours.”
“You got it.” He opened the door for me.
I eyed the gesture in surprise.
“What?” he asked. “I can be a gentleman.”
I smiled before I got inside.
He drove us to his place, pulling into the underground garage before we entered his fortress.
I walked to his bedroom, my stomach stretching out my dress because I had way too much to eat. Those glasses of wine along with the bread and appetizers filled my stomach because I was distracted by the good conversation. “I liked your brother and sister-in-law.”
“Cassini is great. Balto…” He pulled his shirt over his head then removed his jeans. “He’s a drama queen.”
I chuckled. “I know you don’t really think that.”
“I do think he’s a bitch.”
“You don’t think that either.” I turned to him, unzipping the back of my dress so it could peel off my body and fall to the floor.
He sat on the edge of the bed in his boxers, his back perfectly straight because he carried himself with such discipline. His eyes immediately glanced over my body, seeing me standing in my bra and panties. He didn’t argue with me, choosing to stare at me and let the conversation die.
I stepped into his closet and opened one of his drawers, pulling out a silver handgun. I came back to him, pointing it toward the ceiling.
He watched me. “What are you doing, baby?”
“You said you would get me a gun and show me how to use it.” I moved to the spot beside him and sat down, aiming the gun at the opposite wall.
“I remember. But now that you have me, I don’t see why you need a gun.”