“This is my brother Lucio, his wife Delilah, my sister Daphne, her husband Leo, my oldest brother Angelo, and his fiancée Tilly.”
I stand in stunned silence as Vinnie points to each sibling and their respective partner as we stand in the living room. It’s like I’ve walked into the twilight zone where everyone’s beautiful and muscular. The genes in this family run deep and strong.
Vinnie pulls me closer. “This is my girl, Bianca.”
I’m not the only one gawking. They’re looking at me like I’m an act in a sideshow. I almost wonder if I have something on my face because their eyes are hard and fixed on me.
“You brought a girl to dinner?” Daphne, his sister, asks like she’s in shock.
“Not just any girl, Daphne. My girl.”
He keeps calling me that, along with baby. Over and over again, he drives the point home, even though we haven’t had a conversation where we’ve solidified our relationship status.
Angelo nods slowly as a smile spreads across his face. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
I lean over, their eyes still on me, and whisper in Vinnie’s ear. “Why are they looking at me like that?”
He looks down with a small smirk and his hand firmly on my hip. “Because I never bring anyone to dinner.”
“Never?”
Vinnie shakes his head.
“Why me?” I ask as my belly flips.
“Because, baby, I told you…” He pauses and ticks his head toward his siblings. “You’re my girl.”
He’s already said that, but it doesn’t help explain anything.
“We’re happy to have you here, Bianca,” Lucio says as he bounces a tiny baby in his arms. “It’s not every day Vinnie brings home a girlfriend.” Lucio makes a funny face as he says the last word, as if it’s foreign on his tongue.
“It’s never happened.” Daphne steps around Lucio and Angelo and holds out her hand to me. “It’s wonderful to meet you.” Her eyes go to her brother. “It’s nice to see my brother is settling down.”
I know what she’s saying without her actually saying the words. Vinnie’s a player. I knew the type in high school and college. The big man on campus with so many girls fawning over him and vying for his attention it was bound to go to his head. I can’t even fathom the number of women Vinnie’s been with, and the very thought makes my stomach twist into a tight knot.
“Is Vinnie here?” a woman calls out from the next room.
“He is, and he brought a girlfriend!” Daphne yells back.
The woman runs out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and wielding a spatula like it’s a sword, and she comes straight toward us. Her beautiful red hair bounces near her shoulders when she stops right in front of us. She grabs Vinnie’s face, smashing his cheeks in her palms like he’s a little kid. “Baby,” she says and kisses his cheeks near her hands. “You look good.” She studies him for a second, thankfully, ignoring me. “You look happy.”
“I am, Ma,” he says, but his words are garbled. “This is Bianca.”
His mother releases her hold on him and takes a step back to look at me. Her eyes sweep from my face down and then back up. “Well, aren’t you a looker.” She smiles and moves closer. “High cheekbones, beautiful golden skin, hips perfect for baby-making.”
I give Vinnie the side-eye. I’ve never had anyone describe my hips as perfect baby-makers. I’m not a twig, never have been and never will be. But baby-maker?
“Hi,” I say nervously and fidget with my hands because I don’t know what else to do.
His siblings are in shock that I’m here, and his mother, much like my grandmother, already has us starting a family.
Awkward.
“You’re absolutely stunning.” His mother smiles before reaching out, handing Angelo the spatula and grabbing me into a bear hug. Vinnie’s hands disappear from my hips, giving me over to his mother without hesitation.
“She’s a writer, Ma,” Vinnie says proudly. “A good one too.”
She pulls her head back, looking at me in awe but still holding me so tightly, I can barely breathe. “A smart girl. Santino!” she yells over her shoulder. “Get your ass in here and meet Vinnie’s girl.” She smiles at me. “Sorry, he’s watching the Sox in the den.”
“Well, at least it’s not the Cubs.” I laugh.
A handsome older man, not as built as the younger ones, steps into the living room. He’s mumbling to himself as he walks toward me, but as soon as he looks at me, his eyes light up. “Bianca,” he says like he knows exactly who I am. “Vinnie’s told me a lot about you.”
More heat creeps up my neck, filling my cheeks, which I didn’t think was possible because I’m already completely embarrassed by the greeting his family is giving me.
“He has?” I turn and eye Vinnie, wondering what he’s been saying about me.
Vinnie pulls me back to his side. “Was I right, Pop?”
“You were right, son. Beautiful and smart. I’m Santino,” he tells me as he grabs my hand and brings it to his lips. “But you can call me Tino.” He sweeps his lips across the top of my hand ever so lightly.
The men in this family have charm, looks, and more muscles than human beings should be allowed to have. It’s ridiculous. It’s like I stepped into one of my books. But it’s not fantasy; it’s reality.
“Tino,” Vinnie’s mother says, pushing him away from me. “Stop pawing the poor girl.” She hooks her arm through mine and ushers me toward the kitchen with Vinnie still attached to me. “We’re eating in ten.”
I fully expect the rest of the family to go back to what they were doing before we arrived, but they don’t. They follow us and take seats around the large table as Vinnie pulls out a chair for me.
To say this is overwhelming is an understatement. “You should’ve warned me,” I say as he kisses my cheek, but I keep my voice low enough so no one else can hear over their own chatter.
“So, Bianca, what do you write?” Daphne holds a bottle of wine in the air, tipping it toward me.
I nod because even though it’s barely noon, I could use a drink. “I write novels.”
“Romance novels,” Vinnie adds. “Hot as hell ones, too.”
Daphne’s face lights up, and she glances at Tilly and Delilah. “We love a hot read. Maybe we’ve read you. What’s your writing name?”
“Bianca May.”
“Oh. My. God. No way.”
“Way,” I say with a smile, assuming she’s read a book or at least heard of me somewhere.
“We have two celebrities sitting at the table,” Tilly says with a small chuckle. “A superstar quarterback and a big-time romance author.”
“I don’t know about all that.”
“Don’t be modest, sweetheart,” Tilly says. “Take credit where credit is due.”
“I love your books,” Daphne says, “and I agree with Tilly. You’re a rock star.”
Mrs. Gallo comes to stand at the edge of the table, again wielding the spatula she had in her hand when we first arrived. “Should I read them?”
“No. Don’t.” My answer is quick and confident. The last thing I want is my guy’s mom reading my books.
My guy?
Oh sweet Jesus.
Now I’m starting to sound like Vinnie. Where did that come from? I’m still in my don’t-have-time-for-a-man-or-the-distraction hiatus, or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
In the last ten days, I’ve spent more time with Vinnie than I did with some of my past boyfriends I’d dated for months.
“Ma, they’re right up your alley,” Delilah tells her as I fidget with my hands in my lap, trying to stop myself from running out of here in sheer panic.
“How dirty?” Mrs. Gallo asks.
“Dirty with a capital D.” Daphne laughs.
“Must be great to date a romance writer.” Lucio smirks.
Vinnie rubs the back of his neck because he’s seen the reality that is an author’s life. Romance or not, I’m a hot mess, locked away in my apartment and sometimes not smelling or looking my best.
“It’s different.” He slides his arm under the table and places his hand on top of mine.
“Maybe she can teach you about romance,” Angelo says as he crosses his arms, giving Vinnie a funny look.
I grab my wineglass with my free hand, gulping it down like I’ve been walking in the desert for days.
“I know all about romance, brother.”
“Fine.” Angelo sighs. “Maybe she can teach you about love.”
I choke and start coughing uncontrollably. Vinnie rubs my back, and the entire table goes silent. Although I’m gasping for air, at least no one’s talking about love, romance, or being a couple anymore.
“Are you okay, baby?” Vinnie asks with those big green eyes, looking so damn cute.
I nod and clear my throat, trying to wipe away the tears from my eyes. “I’m great. Never better,” I rasp.
“How’s training camp going?” Mr. Gallo asks like he’s reading my mind and throwing a Hail Mary my way.
“It’s great.” Vinnie’s hand hasn’t left my body. “I think I have it locked down.”
“Is the position the only thing you locked down?” Angelo shifts his eyes to me and then back to his brother.
Vinnie leans forward, eyes narrowed on Angelo. “I’ll have it all locked down soon.”
“What are we talking about?” Tilly asks as the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen climbs into her lap.
“Nothing,” Angelo says, smiling at his girl.
“Whatcha want, baby doll?” Tilly asks the little girl.
“That’s Angelo’s kid, Tate,” Vinnie whispers in my ear.
“I was wondering…” Tate pauses like the wheels are spinning in her head or she knows what she’s about to ask is something big enough that she needs to draw it out as long as possible. “If maybe after dinner…” She toys with the necklace around Tilly’s neck and looks at her with the biggest puppy-dog eyes I’ve ever seen. “…I can pick out two cupcakes for dessert.”
“Just one, Tate,” Angelo tells her.
Tate’s shoulders sag forward. “Please,” she begs Tilly like she didn’t even hear her father.
Tilly brushes a few strands of hair behind Tate’s ear. “Your daddy said one.”
Tate lets out a loud huff. “Fine, but I’m picking out the biggest one I can find.”
Tilly laughs. “Whatever you want, sugar.”
“Everyone, off their ass. The food’s ready,” Mrs. Gallo says with her back to us as she opens the oven door.
Vinnie leans over. “Her cooking sucks. Just be warned. Don’t take too much.”
I lift my eyebrows, figuring with all these kids, she was probably an excellent cook. None of them look like they’ve missed a meal a day in their entire life.
“Okay,” I whisper with my mouth so close to his, I could kiss him.
That’s the problem.
I haven’t wanted a man as badly as I want him in so long. That should be a great thing for someone who lives romance. But for a girl on a deadline, it’s the worst possible thing ever.
Instead of pecking away at the keyboard, I’m daydreaming about Vinnie and his big hands, not to mention the other parts of him that set my body on fire.
How in the hell did I let myself fall for a guy this hard and this fast when I’ve sworn off men?
It’s the Vinnie Gallo effect, and I am swept up in it.