“For someone who flies trillion-dollar planes for the government, you’re sure immature,” she says and sticks her tongue out at him.
“Is that what you do?” I ask as he laughs at Addie.
“They’re not trillions of dollars, but yes. I fly jets for the navy. Currently stationed in Europe.”
“That’s amazing; welcome home. How long do you get to stay?”
“A few days,” Mia says with a pout. “He thought it would be fun to visit friends in Scotland before he came home this time.”
“Rude,” Addie says, glaring at Landon. “How dare you have a life?”
“How do you deal with these women?” he asks me.
“It’s a hardship, that’s for sure,” I reply and tug Addie against me so I can kiss her temple. She smells like fresh apples today. Her hair has purple highlights and is pulled back into a loose braid that falls to the middle of her back. She’s dressed simply, in a tank top with a ruffled front and a long black skirt with sandals.
She’s as comfortable as I’ve ever seen her. This is her family.
“You haven’t been home in eighteen months,” she says primly. “You didn’t even come home for our grand opening.”
Landon cringes. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t get home for it. But I’m coming for dinner tomorrow night.”
“If you stayed through the weekend, you’d get to hear Jake sing,” Mia says, batting her eyes.
“It’s called AWOL, Mia,” he reminds her. “I don’t get to decide how long my leave is.” Then he turns to me and tilts his head. “I thought I recognized you. Jake Knox, right?”
I nod, surprised that Mia didn’t already tell her brother that I’ve been playing at her restaurant.
“I liked your stuff,” Landon says and snatches a carrot off a nearby table. “I prefer the stuff you produce now.”
I cock a brow. Most people don’t know that I produce.
“Stop acting like you don’t know he’s part of our circle.” Mia rolls her eyes. “He’s been doing the big-brother thing and had a background check done on you.”
Now both eyebrows climb into my hairline. “Really?”
“You’re working with my sister and sleeping with a woman I love as if she were also my sister. You bet your ass I did.” He smiles and claps me on the shoulder. “But you came out clean.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Either you’re an upstanding citizen, or you haven’t been caught yet,” he says while chewing his carrot.
“Did you really just say that?” Addie demands, but Landon just continues to stare at me, and the message is crystal clear:
Fuck with them and I’ll kill you and make it look like an accident.
“You don’t have anything to worry about from me,” I assure him soberly. “This one”—I point to Mia—“worships the ground I walk on, and this one”—I point to Addie—“can’t get enough of me. It’s embarrassing how they dote on me.”
“He’s delusional,” Addie says dryly as Mia simply rolls her eyes and runs off to greet several guys who just walked into the backyard. Three of them are carrying guitars.
“Did you hire a band?” I ask in surprise.
“No, my friends just like to jam around the fire.” Landon grins and flicks Addie’s nose as he walks by to greet his friends. “Maybe you can play with us later.”
“I didn’t bring a guitar,” I call out to him.
“I have a few you can borrow.”
“You totally don’t have to play,” Addie says and shakes her head. “But knowing his friends, they’ll go all fangirl on you when they meet you. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. After five minutes they’ll be normal again.”
She nods and then smiles as an older couple come out the back door of the house, arms loaded with plates and bowls.
“Let us help,” Addie says and steps forward, but the small, dark woman simply shakes her head and sets the bowl on a table.
“You’re a guest, mi amore.” She cups Addie’s face in her hands and tugs her down so she can kiss both of Addie’s cheeks. “You stay away too long.”
“I’m sorry, Mama, we’ve just been busy with the restaurant.”
“Our Mia says the same,” the tall man replies sternly. “You work too hard.”
“Mama, Papa, this is Jake. These are Mia and Landon’s parents, Noemi and Giovanni Palazzo.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” I say, shaking Giovanni’s hand, and then suddenly, my own cheeks are being tugged down so Noemi can kiss my cheeks as well.
“You’re handsome,” she says with a wink. “You’re keeping our Addison on her toes, yes?”
“I’m trying,” I reply with a laugh. “But I think she’s keeping me on my toes.”
“Good girl,” she says with another wink. “You be at home here, Jake. Eat, or I’ll feed you myself.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m here!” Cami announces as she joins us, getting hugs from Mia’s parents, then snatches a cookie from the table. “God, I’m hungry.”
“Thanks,” Landon says, gripping Cami’s wrist in his fist and guiding her cookie to his own mouth, biting off at least half of it. “I’m hungry too.” He winks and walks away, chatting with some friends.
Cami simply swallows hard, clenches her eyes closed, takes a deep breath, and then eats the remainder of her cookie.