Rebel and Jo are next to us a moment later.

  “What’s going on?” Rebel asks, the two of them casting a shadow over me as I try to enjoy the afternoon sun.

  “Mello’s ready to start a family,” Tamara lies.

  “Not what I said,” I mutter.

  “What?” Jo gasps. “For real?”

  “Yes!” Lily screeches, filled with so much glee, I’d even be excited if they weren’t talking about me.

  Rebel laughs. “Why doesn’t he look excited, then?”

  “I’m right here. You can ask me,” I tell her.

  She kicks at my chair. I don’t need to see it to know it’s her. “Then why aren’t you excited?”

  I lift my arm, staring up at Rebel as the sun surrounds her with a halo of light. “Because I said I want to settle down, but I never said I was ready to start popping out kids, being tied down to family life filled with no fun.”

  “We have fun,” Gigi argues. “Who here doesn’t have fun?”

  I turn my head and narrow my eyes. “Your idea of fun and mine are two very different things.”

  She shakes her head and whispers, “Moron.”

  “Seriously, though. What’s your idea of a good time now that you have a husband and a family?”

  “There’s no difference except I know who’s going to be sleeping next to me every night.”

  I let out a bitter laugh. “There’re lots of differences. Do you sleep in on your days off?”

  She purses her lips. “No.”

  “Kids,” I mumble. “I just want to try a relationship. I don’t know if I’m ready or able to get married and do the whole one-person thing, but I’m willing to try.”

  Rebel sits down on the lounger next to my legs, waving her hands for me to scoot over. “The whole one-person thing?” She giggles. “You’re an idiot sometimes.”

  “Only sometimes?” Gigi asks her.

  “Mello, babe.” Rebel places her hand on my shin, giving it a light squeeze. “You’re like your brother in so many ways. Did you ever think he’d settle down and do the one-person thing?”

  I stare at her, thinking if I had a woman like Rebel, I’d figure out a way to do the one-person thing just like my brother did. “I didn’t for a long time, but I knew once you were back in the picture along with Adaline, he wasn’t going to let you go again.”

  “We just have to find you your person,” Jo says, like somehow it’s that easy.

  “And that would be?” I ask her.

  She shrugs. “There’s someone out there for everyone.”

  “Who would be his match?” Lily asks no one in particular, staring out across the lanai at my grandparents’. “Who could we set him up with?”

  “Hmm,” Gigi mutters.

  “Lemme think,” Tamara says.

  “You know…” Jo adds.

  Lily sits up, placing her bare feet on the cement and looking toward the women who are on the other side of me. “Who?”

  “Yeah, Jo. Who?” I ask, curious.

  Jo taps her chin and glances upward. “No, I forgot she’s knocked up.”

  “Yeah, let’s skip that one.”

  Rebel smacks me. “Single mothers are very good catches.”

  “Babe, you were a good catch, but not all single mothers are a good catch. And the last thing I need is to be playing with the emotions of someone who may get attached too quickly. It’ll be hard for me to break their heart.”

  Rebel rolls her eyes. “You’re not the heartbreaker you think you are.”

  I pull myself up to a sitting position. “I never said I was a heartbreaker, but I’d hate myself if I had to break a single mom’s heart. I’d rather be with someone who didn’t have extra—”

  “If you say baggage, I’m going to punch you in that pretty face,” Rebel tells me, glaring at me.

  Lily pats me on the shoulder. “We’ll find you someone. I promise.”

  “Are you sure you can give up your barfly, whorish ways?” Tamara asks me.

  “You gave up yours, didn’t you?”

  “Oh shit,” Gigi gasps and covers her eyes with her hand. “He’s looking to die.”

  Tamara drops a shoulder. “Wanna say that again, cousin?”

  “Nope. Not particularly.”

  “Just leave it to us, and we’ll find someone you can’t resist. You keep dating all the wrong women. It’s all about the perfect match,” Lily says.

  “And that would be?” Jo asks.

  “We’ll talk about it later when he’s not around. It’s best if he doesn’t hear the conversation,” Lily replies.

  “I think it’s best if I’m here for the conversation,” I argue.

  “I think we should set you up on a trial run with someone we know can test you and your dedication. We’ll get some feedback, and then we can find you your forever person,” Lily says, still taking the lead.

  “That’s stupid,” I tell her.

  “No, it’s not. Just leave it to me. I got you.” Lily smiles.

  “He needs a freak in the sheets, Lily, not someone who knits for fun,” Gigi says.

  Lily throws her the middle finger. “Those women are some of the biggest freaks. Don’t judge a book by its cover, babe.”

  “Oh, okay,” Gigi teases. “I’m totally sure they’re wildcats in the sack.”

  Lily crosses her arms and glares at Gigi. “He needs to get to know whoever it is before he sleeps with them. He’s always too quick to jump into bed with women. He needs to slow his roll.”

  “Oh boy,” Rebel mutters. “This should be interesting.”

  “Interesting is never a good thing,” I tell her.

  Rebel taps my leg again. “Don’t worry, brother. We got you. Do you trust us?”

  I look around at their hopeful faces. The one thing I know about my crazy-ass cousins is they’ll never do me wrong. Even if they think I’m an asshole sometimes, they only want the best for me.

  “I do,” I say, sealing my fate.

  6

  The front door to the shop opens, the bell above it ringing loudly. “Hello?” A woman’s voice echoes into the work area. “Lily? You here?” The voice is familiar, but I can’t place who it belongs to.

  “Yeah, babe,” Lily calls back.

  “Be right there!” Lily then yells to her, giving me a devilish grin as she leans forward, getting close to my face. “She’s here for you. Not me.”

  My eyes narrow, and I drop my voice low so the girl doesn’t overhear us. “What did you just say?”

  “She’s one of my good friends and wants a tattoo, and the bonus is, you know her too.”

  I raise my eyebrows and clutch my chest. “Oh. You scared me for a minute. How’s that a bonus for me?”

  Lily gives me a nervous smile. “Don’t get mad, but…”

  Nothing good starts with Don’t get mad, but. Not a goddamn thing. Especially when it comes from the mouth of a Gallo.

  “But what?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.

  “She may be here for a little more than a tattoo,” she says, her voice rising on the word may.

  “Lily,” I warn, but I can’t find it in my heart to be pissed at my cousin.

  “Oh, hush. She’s dropping in for a consult today, but I think she’s the one for you—or at least someone who can ease you into a relationship or the idea of being in one.”

  “The one?”

  “She’s perfect, Mello, and you two had chemistry.”

  “Had?”

  “You met her a few times, but she’s been hanging out with us and comes to book club, where we don’t always talk about books.”

  Oh, goodie. A Lily book-club girl. She probably wants a rose on her arm or something like that. It’s what most newbies to tattoos always get as their first one.

  “She’d better not be someone I’ve slept with already.”

  Lily laughs, waving her hand. “Oh God, no. You only met a few times, but she’s going to be great at giving me feedback so we can move you in the right direction. We have to work out a few of your chinks first.”

  “Kinks or chinks?” I ask, waggling my eyebrows, trying to find humor in a situation where there is none.

  “Your issues,” she explains, sucking the fun right out of the possibilities.

  But then again, how much fun could I have with a bookish chick? Probably not much since I don’t enjoy sniffing books and discussing the easter eggs an author drops in as clues.

  “I don’t have issues when it comes to the ladies.”

  “Uh, yeah, you do when it comes to commitment. And she’s going to help me help you learn how to slow things down.” Lily turns her head toward the front of the shop. “One more minute, sweetie,” she calls out before turning back to me.

  “No rush. I’m sitting here finishing my book. One minute, one hour, it’s all good.”

  Fucking fabulous.

  She carries books with her, and time doesn’t seem to matter to her when she’s licking her finger, swiping the pages. Sounds like a rip-roaring good time.

  I roll my tongue piercing between my teeth and over my lip, trying to stop myself from raising my voice. “Are you fucking serious with this?”

  “Totally.” She nods, a huge smile on her face, looking like she does at Christmas. “I’ve put a lot of thought into this. I can’t fix you unless I know what’s broken, and she’s perfect for this.” She stands but doesn’t leave, just claps her hands together like she’s about to open the Christmas present she’s been dying to get her hands on. “She’s like the romance whisperer, and since you two know each other…she was my first choice.”

  I peer up, trying not to look at her like she’s a total weirdo goofball, but she so is. “Why is she perfect, Lily?”

  “Well,” she says, biting her lip like she knows a secret I don’t. “Because she’s drop-dead gorgeous.”

  “Debatable and subjective,” I mutter.

  “She used to be a model.”

  “Then she’s not that pretty if she used to be.” I cringe when I say those words because I’m being a dick.

  Lily leans over, hands on her hips, sticking her face right in mine. “No, jagoff. She used to model full time but got sick of all the travel. She is literally going to make you drool.”

  “Okay,” I snort, but my gaze moves toward the front of the shop, where there’s only a single red shoe tip visible. “Why else? ’Cause I’ve fucked beautiful girls before, babe.”

  She clicks her tongue, chuckling. “You’re not going to fuck her, Mello.”

  “Hot chicks dig me. Hell, all chicks dig me. I’ll have her under me in a day.”

  “She’s a virgin,” Lily blurts out.

  It’s like a slap in the face and a challenge at the same time. My eyes widen, my heart beats a little faster, and my dick gets completely hard. “She’s a what?” I whisper, swallowing my tongue because this could be bad, really bad—or maybe good, so, so very good. “You’re shitting me.”

  “I’m not shitting you.” She cocks her head, giving me a small laugh. “So, no matter how hard you try, you’re not getting in her pants. But she’s promised me to take great notes. Think of her as your teacher for the next month.”

  “You are totally shitting me.” Jesus-fucking-Christ, this is going from bad to worse, sounding more like school than a good time. “And what the hell with taking notes?”

  Lily nods again, her smile only widening. “Yep. We’re going to nail down your issues and fix them so you can find your HEA.”

  “My HEA?”

  “Your happily ever after.”

  I roll my eyes this time. “One, I’m not broken, babe. Two, fake dates aren’t going to work because I won’t act like me, so her notes will be worthless. And three, what’s going to make me even want to try if there’s no chance of getting laid in any way?”

  Lily taps her chin, but the curve to her lips doesn’t go away. “One look at her and you’ll chase that tail, no matter where she goes or what she gives. You’re going to try harder than you’ve ever tried before, Carmello Caldo. Of this, I have no doubt.”

  “You’re getting me excited here, Lil. I need a moment before I can walk out there and see her,” I tease, giving my little cousin a wink.

  She groans a slew of curse words under her breath. “You seriously have a problem.”

  “I do not. Ask the women I’ve been with. No problems for me, love. And I’m totally fucking with you. I don’t walk around with my dick hard all the time.”

  “Thank God,” she mutters.

  “Only sometimes. I’m a man, Lil. My body just does shit I can’t control.”

  “Up,” she demands, motioning for me to rise. “It’s time to get ready to meet your teacher for the next month.”

  “Ooh, is she going to paddle me?” I ask as I stand. “I’ve been a bad, bad boy.”

  Lily purses her lips. “You’re going to be a tough nut to crack.”

  “Literally,” I whisper.

  “It’s just a short time, Mello. And afterward, we’ll have you on the road to your greatest desire and one step closer to a family.”

  “After a month, my greatest desire will be an orgasm.”

  Lily rolls her eyes again until the blue disappears.

  Then it hits me.

  Duh.

  There’s always a loophole.

  “Wait, I can see other people, though, right?”

  “You want to date?” she asks.

  “Well, no, but I’d like to bang some chicks, or I’ll seriously have blue balls after a month of nothing.”

  Lily grabs my wrist, raising it between us. “You have a hand, darling. You’ll get used to using it.”

  “My hand?” I gawk at her. “I’m not ten.”

  “Ten?” she whispers, her lip curling in disgust. “You were masturbating at ten?”

  I shrug, pulling my hand away. “Maybe nine. I don’t remember, but I didn’t have hair on my balls yet.”

  She pretends to gag, but I ignore her. “Boys are so gross.”

  “So, sex with other chicks…a yes or a no?”

  “Do you really want your forever?”

  I think on it.

  Sex or forever?

  Sex or forever?

  God, that is a damn hard choice.

  I am a man accustomed to pleasure and haven’t gone without sex for an entire month since my voice changed.

  Could I do it? That is debatable.

  But when I glance at Lily, she looks so hopeful and excited, I don’t have it in me to kill all her happiness and the dreams she has for me.

  I place a hand on each of her shoulders and stare her straight in the eye, promising something I never thought I’d promise. “I won’t sleep with anyone else, Lily. You have my word. I’ll only fake date. If someone’s going to give me an orgasm, it’ll be her or my trusty left hand.”

  “But you’re right-handed,” she tells me, like that means something.

  “I jerk with my left.”

  Her head lurches forward, and she covers her mouth. “I can’t. This is too much.” After a few seconds, she finally stops pretend puking. “She’s really going to have her work cut out for her, and the notes are going to be long. Probably a novel by the end.”

  “I’m going to give her the full Carmello treatment.”

  “Oh God,” she whispers, her eyes wide.

  I smile, knowing I got this shit won even if it’s not a contest. “She’s in good hands. I promise.”

  Lily shrugs off my hands, squares her shoulders, and says, “No, Mello. You’ve got it wrong, baby. I’m not worried about her. It’s you I’m worried about. I don’t think you’re ready for what’s going to happen.”

  “I’m not scared, Lil. Bring it,” I tell her, welcoming the challenge.

  Lily looks at me one last time before going to greet the mystery woman in the front of the shop. “Prepare yourself.”

  “Totally prepared,” I mutter. “I’ll meet you out there in a few. I need a moment.”

  “Don’t take long,” Lily says, giving my shoulder a light squeeze. “Or your future may leave before it starts.”

  7

  “What are you doing?” Those words come from Gigi as she walks through the back door of the shop, finding me leaning over my station, talking to myself while Lily talks to Arlo.

  “Praying.”

  The clicking of her high-heel boots stops a few feet away, and I lift my head to look at her, knowing what I’m going to see. “You’re what?” she asks with her nose wrinkled and eyes trained on me.

  “You heard me.”

  “Well, yeah. But why?”

  I turn my entire body around, placing my ass against the cabinet, and cross my arms. “Did you know Lily’s setting me up with someone today?” I raise an eyebrow.

  Gigi’s eyes widen. “Um…” she mumbles.

  “Thought so.”

  “Well…I…”

  I lift a hand to her. “Save it.”

  The women in this family are thick as thieves. I have no doubt Gigi is in on Lily’s grand plan, along with Tamara, Rebel, and Jo too. Besides being nosy and unable to keep a secret, they have a constant need to try to fix people. And this month’s current target is me.

  “You’re now part of the enemy camp,” I tell her as she stands there, blinking at me, knowing she’s been caught and I’m not overly happy.

  I’d looked into the waiting room as soon as Lily left me behind. To my surprise, it wasn’t a random woman from her book group, but Arlo, someone I’d known…which Lily damn well knew.

  “Aren’t you the one who asked for our help?” she asks me, mindlessly rubbing the back of her neck.

  I tick my head toward the front of the shop. “Yeah, but I thought I’d get some warning, not have her show up at work as a surprise.”

  Gigi gasps. “She’s here? Like, here, as in now, now.”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “Lily didn’t tell me she was stopping by today.”

  “She’s my first appointment. She’s more than stopping by, but at least it’s only a consultation.”

  Gigi’s eyes widen. “Hold up. She’s getting a tattoo?”