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.”