by Jeannie Moon
His mother patted his cheek. “You’ll make it work. I have faith in you and your powers of persuasion.”
Faith. Fan-fucking-tastic.
She left him in his room, and Nick had to think about what he was going to say to his fake fiancée to get her to meet his family. The act, in and of itself, that suggested a permanence they just didn’t have. At least not yet.
Pulling his phone from his back pocket, Nick punched in a text.
Need to talk to you. Can I come over?
The response came quickly. Sure. Is everything okay? There are ton of people in the house. Did someone die?
She wasn’t joking about that. No. Nothing like that. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.
Probably sooner than that. He made his way downstairs, through the house, and out the back door without stopping to talk to a single soul. He even waved off Nona, knowing he was going to catch crap for it later.
The walk to the cottage felt like an eternity. As he approached the front porch, he saw Gertie’s head poke around the side of the house. “Hey, girl.”
The dog turned and headed toward the side of the house that faced the water. That’s where he found Jordan, sitting on the back deck, with Gertie keeping watch for birds and squirrels. The dog didn’t even bark when he came over anymore.
“So,” Jordan said. She was looking out at Jennings Bay, the blue water shimmering in the late afternoon sun. “What’s going on over there?”
“It’s complicated.” Nick rubbed his jaw nervously. “But my whole family is here. Aunts, uncles, cousins—I think the only one missing is my sister, and she should be here right after dinner.”
“Dinner? I guess you won’t be coming over for a movie.”
Nick was hesitating, and he shouldn’t be. He just had to ask her. That was all. “No, but, ah, do you want to come have dinner with my family?”
Jordan locked eyes with him, and he was trying to read her expression, but he couldn’t. She wasn’t giving him anything to work with.
“I know it’s more than you need right now, and I can make you excuses, but that just means they won’t leave. They’ll stay until they get what they came for.”
“Uh huh.” She grinned. “And that’s me?”
“Yep. They’re relentless.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Nick rocked back on his heels. “So, what do you say? Dinner?”
“Hmmm…” In a move that shocked him, Jordan stood. He noticed under her wrap that she’d changed her top. Her hair was down and she’d put on a little makeup. “I thought you’d never ask.”
This woman would never stop amazing him. “You’re sure? It’s a crazy that’s like nothing else.”
The corner of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. “It’s okay. I like crazy. And I love big families. Always wanted one. The crowd will be good for me.”
Stepping into her, Nick’s hands settled on her waist, feeling the curve of her body beneath them. “My aunt Joy is going to ask how many kids we are going to have. So be prepared.”
She didn’t say anything as she let Gertie in the house, and closed the door. “You’re the one that needs to be prepared, Doctor.” Jordan took his hand, while she led him to the path back to the house.
“Why do I have to be prepared?”
“Because you’re going to have to tell your family that I want six kids.”
Nick stopped short. “Seriously? Six?”
“Yep. At least.”
“All right,’” he said on a laugh. “Six it is.” How about that? Nick didn’t tell Jordan he’d give her those six kids whenever she wanted them. They could get started after dinner as far as he was concerned.
*
Her intention was to help Nick relax. The look on his face when he talked about his family was complete dread. The poor guy was totally overwhelmed. Not that she wouldn’t be; Jordan fully expected to feel like a fish out of water. But the Rinaldis, especially Nick, meant something to her, and she wouldn’t let them down.
They were halfway to the house when she heard a roar come from inside. Great belly laughs, giggles, a slew of voices all talking at the same time. It was terrifying and thrilling all at once. Jordan envied big families, especially growing up the way she did. She loved the closeness; sure, she knew there was bickering, differences of opinion, but it was the one thing she always missed having just her dad.
Thankfully, Nick hadn’t let go of her hand, not that she expected him to. They were holding onto each other for mutual moral support. Crazy as it was, the two of them were in this together, fake engagement and all.
Strangely, the fake engagement felt more real than the one that was going to send her down the aisle last summer, and Nick was more of a fiancé than Chase had ever been. Jordan pressed her free hand flat on her belly, hoping to steady her nerves.
“Just stick close to me,” he said.
Jordan nodded and walked in the house, ready for anything. She wasn’t disappointed. As soon as she stepped through the door, everyone stopped talking. Everyone.
Lifting her hand to wave, Jordan put on her best smile. “Hi.”
That was all it took. At least a dozen people surrounded her. They shook her hand, patted her cheeks, gave her hugs, and most of all they welcomed her to the family.
“She’s a looker, Nicky.” A man who looked similar to Nick’s father grabbed both her hands. “Hey there, beautiful. I’m Uncle Joey. So nice to meet you. Boy, you’re a tall girl.”
Jordan was a couple of inches taller than Uncle Joey without her boots on. “It’s nice to meet you all, Nick has told me so much about you.”
“Uh oh. Whatever he told you, it’s not true. We’re not that bad.” Another dark-haired man, presumably the third Rinaldi brother, gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m your uncle Mike, sweetheart. The youngest and most charming of the brothers.”
“Uncle Mike is also the family flirt. Lay off, Uncle Mike. She’s taken.” Nick was lacing his comments with good humor, but that was definitely a shot across his uncle’s bow.
“You are a very pretty girl,” a woman said. She had neatly styled dark brown hair, and big dark eyes, with pleasant crinkles in the corners. “But you’re so thin. Babies need nourishment.”
Ah, Jordan thought. Babies. “You must be Aunt Joy.”
The woman didn’t know if she should be happy or offended that Jordan knew who she was. Her eyes darted around the room at different relatives, wondering if anyone gave her up. “I’m Joey’s wife. The two boys stuffing their face with cheese are my sons, Dominic and Jimmy.”
“There’s so much going on,” Jordan was desperate to change the subject. “Can I help with anything, Lina?”
“Honey, you go get acquainted with everybody. There will be plenty to do later.”
Aunt Joy led Jordan into the living room, where Nick’s mother was seated with another elderly woman.
“Hello, sweetie.” Bella rose and kissed Jordan on the cheek. “Jordan, this is my mother, Antonia Lucchese. Nick’s other grandma.”
Nick entered the room and stopped short. “Grandma. I had no idea you were here.”
“I just got here, Nico. Came out from the city to meet your bride. I thought you would bring her to meet me, but when you didn’t…”
Jordan jumped in. “That’s my fault, Mrs. Lucchese. My father is very ill. I’ve been with him every minute, and Nick has been so supportive.”
“That’s true, Grandma, and I’m sure you heard that Jordan is recovering from pneumonia. It’s been a difficult few weeks.”
Hesitantly nodding, his grandmother gently patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Come sit. Tell me about your people.”
“My people?” Jordan didn’t know what to say. Her people? She didn’t have a large family, and she couldn’t make one up. “Uh, okay. I was raised by my father. My mother was killed in a car accident when I was six. I have an aunt who lives in Chicago.”
With a wave of the older woman’s hand, she realized that wasn’t cutting it. �
�Your people. Where are you from? You’re tall, blonde, and blue-eyed. You, young lady, are not Italian.”
Nick closed his eyes, pained.
Jordan was getting the sense the old lady wanted to know if she was worthy of Nick. Fine. She wanted her people, Jordan would talk about her people.
“My mother was English. She and her family immigrated to the United States right after World War II. My grandfather found work here as an engineer. My father’s family has been in Compass Cove since the 1600s. In fact, the compass legend—I’m sure you’ve heard it—centers on one of my ancestors, Lucy Velsor.”
Nick’s grandmother was unimpressed. Jordan didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t talk about her family much because the connection to the town legend always made her feel pretentious. Obviously, that wasn’t the case with Mrs. Lucchese.
“That’s very nice, dear. So, your people are from the north.”
“Yes, my father’s family is Dutch. There are still some distant relatives in Holland.”
“I see. Well, my grandson apparently loves you.” Nick’s grandmother then turned her face straight ahead, and tapped her cheek. Jordan was confused. She looked at Nick, who looked stricken, but mouthed the words kiss her cheek. Jordan nodded, and did what he told her to do.
Satisfied, his grandma turned, and appeared to smile. At that point, everyone in the room exhaled. “Now, let me see your ring.”
Jordan held up her hand, happy to show Nick’s family the heirloom ring on her finger. “It’s lovely, isn’t it? It’s an antique. It’s been in my family for over two centuries.”
“Your family? You’re wearing your own ring?” Aunt Joy was shocked.
“I’m having a wedding band made to match it,” Nick said. Jordan had to give Nick credit, he was fast on his feet. “This ring has tremendous sentimental value to Jordan’s family. I’m glad she’s wearing it.”
Nick’s mother smiled. “It also has quite a connection to the town, Mom. This is the ring that was given to the woman who owned the compass. You know, the one from the story Jordan mentioned.”
“The one in that little shop in town? The story about the widow and the compass maker?” She looked back at Jordan. “That ring?”
Now she understood.
“Yes. The same one.”
Grandma picked up her hand and examined the ring again. “Well, it must be good luck.”
There was more exhaling. Jordan considered it another victory, especially since everyone in the room was now breathing again.
“So,” Grandma began. “You say your father is ill, and I’m not getting any younger, so when are you two getting married?”
Damn. It was the question neither she nor Nick knew how to answer. Obviously, they hadn’t set a date because the engagement wasn’t the real deal. They might have been testing the waters with each other, but there was no telling how all this was going to go.
“We’re working that out, Grandma. But there are a lot of considerations.” Nick answered as vaguely as possible. And Jordan was thankful, even if she was a little sad.
“You two better not wait too long,” Aunt Joy said. “Neither of you are getting any younger either. When are you gonna start having babies?”
Considering she and Nick hadn’t even slept together, it could be a while. Not that she didn’t think about going to bed with him. No, Jordan thought about it all the damn time.
Startled, Nick took Jordan’s hand, and started pulling her toward the hallway that headed upstairs, shocking the three women in the room.
“Where are you going?” His mother finally found her voice. “Nick?”
“You three want babies? We need to get started. Is that what you want?”
“Nicholas Rinaldi, have you lost your mind?” His mother was horrified. And it was awesome. It took everything Jordan had not to burst out laughing.
“Making six kids could take a while.” Jordan shrugged her shoulders. “And my biological clock is ticking.”
“Do twins run in your family?” Nick wondered. “It could save some time.”
“I’ll find out.”
That did it for his aunt Joy. She burst out laughing. “You two are wonderful.” She came over to each of them and gave them loud smacking kisses. “That’s the way to tell us to butt out of your business. Well done.”
Still holding her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, Nick smirked, and Jordan felt little popping sensations in her ovaries. Those damn ovaries. Jordan was starting to think they actually knew what they were talking about. The thought of having babies with Nick, of being with him, seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
It wasn’t that they didn’t care about each other, they did. But Nick was keeping part of himself locked up tight. And after what had happened with Chase, Jordan needed him to open up before she went all in.
*
They weren’t leaving. Nick sat on the back porch, listening to the creaking of the old swing, sipping a mug of hot coffee and wondering when the hell his relatives were going to go home. What made him smile was that Jordan was in there playing Monopoly like she was betting the family fortune. The woman was competitive, and watching her handle his uncles was so much fun.
He heard her laughing, big and bold, and it was coming closer. When the door opened behind him, she was trash talking his uncle Mike.
“You keep whining, Mikey. Just remember, I won, even though you were stealing from the bank.”
The door closed, muffling the noise from inside. “Having fun?”
“Oh, my God. So much. This is exactly what I needed.”
“And to think I was worried about you with them.”
Jordan sat next to him on the swing, settling her body right against his.
“You’re so lucky. I mean, I get how they could be overwhelming, but there’s so much love in there.”
“I know.” He did, and seeing it through her eyes was a good reminder. “We’re up to our neck in the engagement story now, though.”
Resting her head on his shoulder, she sighed. “I know. But, everything just felt right. It will all work out.”
He thought about that. It did feel right. Watching her help with dinner, teasing his cousins, having her cuddled next to him, all of it felt right.
“Let me walk you home. It’s getting late.”
“I’m not going to sleep. I’m too wound up. I’m probably going to watch the movie I’d picked out for us.”
He glanced down. “You want company?”
Looking up, Jordan bit her lip and nodded. “I’d love some. There’s a couch and a blanket all ready for us.”
Seeing her eyes sparkle in the porch light, his heart crept into his throat. It was good to see her happy. Everything inside her came alive. Which was why Nick wanted to spend time with her. It might not have been the best idea, since both their hearts were on the line, but what was life if you couldn’t live a little bit dangerously?
Chapter Fifteen
On Monday morning, Lina was sitting at a table in the café, watching the breakfast crowd thin out and going over her inventory for the next few days. Rinaldi’s Café was the hub in Compass Cove. There were regulars who came in every day, some who came in once a week, and others who stopped in sporadically. But the food was good, the prices fair, and Lina was proud of the business she and Angelo had built over the years.
It hadn’t been easy. There were times when she was trying to raise a family, that she was up making pastries at 3:30 in the morning, but in the end, it had all come together. Family and friends pitched in, kids got raised, and she grew to appreciate the special place she’d chosen to live.
Oh sure, no place was perfect. Compass Cove had its snobs, its mean girls and boys, its social challenges—but none of that outweighed all the good people who were part of this community.
Nursing a second cup of coffee, Janet plopped in the booth across from her. Her long-time friend, no doubt, had heard about the family dinner and wanted to know wha
t everyone thought about Nick and Jordan. Whereas Lina wanted to know what Nick and Jordan were thinking about the family dinner.
The truth was, there was nothing for Lina to tell. And if she listened to her son and husband, she would know it was none of her business. She’d mumbled, “Family was family and it was always her business.”
She and Nick had crossed paths briefly when she left this morning. He was on his way back from Jordan’s cottage, looking rumpled, and Lina was heading out to work. He didn’t say much, and for once, she didn’t ask.
“So?” Janet leaned forward waiting for Lina to dish. “How did it go?”
“All right. Everyone loves her. They went back to her place after dinner to watch a movie. He didn’t come home until morning.” Lina stopped talking when a server brought Janet a mug of herbal tea and the honeypot. “He said he fell asleep on the couch.”
“Gosh, I hope that’s not true.” Janet slumped back. “What do you think about this?”
Lina shrugged. “I don’t know. I just want them to be happy. They both deserve it.”
“Anything we can do to help?” Janet was determined.
“Angelo and Marco have told me to stay out of it. Which means you have to stay out of it, too.”
“Pfft. And you’re going to listen to them?”
Her friend knew her well. “I’m going to try, but I agree, they have to get out of their own way.”
“Can I join you two?” Her daughter-in-law appeared without warning.
Lina scooted over in the booth, making room for Bella. “What do we really know about this Jordan? Is she a gold digger? Is she just trying to get her hooks into a doctor? I mean, she completely charmed everyone, even my mother, but I don’t know much.”
“He couldn’t do better,” Lina said. “And she’s no gold digger. Really, Bella.”
“Jordan is a prize, Bella,” Janet said. “You don’t have to worry.”
“No? I heard she dumped her fiancé the night before her wedding,” she whispered. “Didn’t give back the ring.”