His what now?

It's too much. I forfeit. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. No one said anything about family dinners, Max! What the h.e.l.l? How does your mother know about me? What did you tell her?"

A slow grin spreads across his face. "You're freakin' out."

I sputter indignantly, "What? No. No, I'm not. I'm just curious as to why your mother is asking me to dinner when we barely just saw each other naked, and sorry, but I don't know why you need a toothbrush here, 'cause we said we were just going to be having s.e.x, you know? s.e.x and friendship sounded fun, but not when it comes with a blue toothbrush in my bathroom! And-and-and I think I need a paper bag." I pant, breathless. "Give me a paper bag!"

The stupid man just laughs. "You're a trip." As I continue to hyperventilate, he utters, "Mom called this morning to see if I wanted to do breakfast there, but I told her I couldn't, because Ceecee and I were doing breakfast with you. She asked about you. I told her we were seeing each other. I told her that it was sudden, but it was happening. She got excited 'cause she's my moms." He leans over, taking my chin between his fingers. "I haven't dated in a really long time. I told you I wouldn't keep you a secret, cupcake. I don't regret what happened last night. Sure, it didn't go exactly as planned, but it was still amazing, because it was with you. And I want more of you."

Wow. Talk about putting it out there. That was awesome. I'm totally okay with that.

Heat blooms in my middle. I suddenly want to rip off his sweats.

His face falls. "Unless...I mean, unless you're having second thoughts." He holds up his hands and blurts out, "Which it's okay if you are. I don't want to pressure you or anything." He nods as if rea.s.suring himself. "If you don't want to do this, just say so and I'll back off."

I smile, because we both know that's a lie. Max doesn't know how to back off. Shaking my head, I admit, "This is happening so fast. I panicked, but I'm okay now." Lifting my head, I look him in the eye. "I want to do this."

He throws himself face down on the bed. I hear a m.u.f.fled, "Thank f.u.c.k for that," and I chuckle, running a hand through the back of his hair in consolation.

Standing, he checks his cell phone. "Okay. You're good, I'm good, and we're good. Let's go get Ceecee."

I look up at him in confusion. "You said ten am."

He looks like he wants to laugh. Much to his credit, he doesn't. "It's ten-thirty, babe."

My eyes widen. Jumping up, I rush to the bathroom. As soon as I look in the mirror, I'm surprised it doesn't explode from the offence my appearance is causing. My hair is knotted, my face is a mess from last night's makeup, and the tank I threw on sometime during the night reads 's.e.xy Beast'.

I groan knowing Max has officially seen me at my worst. "Oh my G.o.d, Max, you have to give a woman sufficient time to get ready for things. Breakfast takes a good half-hour to get ready for. Dinner takes a decent hour and a half. Now you're here and waiting, the pressure's on! You can't do that to a woman!"

His tall, muscular frame blocks the bathroom door. "Sure I can." At my murderous glare, he puts his hands in the air and retreats, "Okay, okay. Take your time. We're not in a hurry. I'll be watching TV."

It takes me thirty-five minutes to scrub my face free of makeup, brush my teeth, wash and dry my hair, change my sheets, apply light makeup and gloss, and change into my favorite faded and ripped jeans, a white tee, my flip-flops, and a pair of Ray-Ban aviators.

As I walk into the kitchen, I grab my cell from its charger and call out to Max. "Let's go, bonehead."

He switches off the TV and walks behind me to the front door. As I move to open the door, I'm pulled back with a swift yank. One arm moves around my waist, holding me prisoner, while the other palms my a.s.s. He utters roughly, "Looking good, Lena. I like you in jeans."

Mouth suddenly dry, I prepare to snap back a sa.s.sy retort, but all that comes out is a breathy, "Oooooohh."

He turns me, trapping me between the front door and him. His golden eyes hood and my nipples bead involuntarily. Leaning down, he brings his face down to mine. Dear G.o.d, he smells like the tears of a unicorn. His lips barely touching mine, he utters, "You look beautiful", and then he smacks a light kiss to my lips. Standing tall, he takes my small hand in his, coc.o.o.ning it. "C'mon, I'm hungry."

I barely have time to shut the door behind us as I'm dragged down to his truck.

Max I smile to myself as I drive hand-in-hand with Helena.

Oh man.

She is going to kill me.

Helena I hum along with the radio, smiling to myself. I discreetly look down at our entwined hands resting on the center console. It's been a long time since I've just held hands with a man. And it feels nice. A little too nice. Nicer than I remember it. Or maybe that's just because it's with Max.

We pull up to a nice big house in the suburbs. Max turns off the car and turns to me. "Come inside with me."

Umm... no.

I smile and suggest, "Shouldn't I just wait here while you get Ceecee? We'll be late for breakfast."

He shrugs. "So we'll catch lunch. C'mon, cupcake. My mom will be upset if you don't come in."

My smile falls. "Yeah, I guess she would be." But I don't move to exit the car.

He stares me down. "Were you born in a barn?"

I try hard not to laugh at that. Instead, I cross my arms over my chest and return, "Jesus was born in a barn."

Max makes a pffft noise. "Look at where it got him." At that, I laugh. He pleads, "Just a minute, that's all. Please?"

Who could refuse a begging Max? I sigh exaggeratedly long. "Okay, okay. One minute. That's all."

He opens the pa.s.senger door for me, takes my hand, and walks me down the drive to the front door. He opens it without knocking and I hear the sounds of multiple women chattering in the kitchen. I suddenly want to disappear.

I try to dig my flip-flop-covered heels into the floorboards, but Max drags me along, completely oblivious. As soon as we come into view, a pretty, short, mature woman rushes over to us. She chatters away in a language that sounds to be Spanish. Reaching up, she takes Max's cheeks in her hands and pulls him down to her. She kisses his cheeks and forehead while still talking in rapid speeds, and then pats his cheek adoringly.

And Max just stands there, no fight in him. It's the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Then she looks over at me. She gasps, placing a hand to her heart. She looks back at Max and tells him, "She is beautiful."

My cheeks heat.

He adds, "I know. I told you so. Gorgeous."

My cheeks flame.

Taking a step towards me, the woman reaches out and takes my hand in hers. "h.e.l.lo, Helena. I am Cecilia. I have seen you before, but never so close. You are a beautiful woman, and my son is a lucky man." She speaks with a slight accent and I warm to her immediately.

Smiling, I squeeze her hand and respond, "Thank you, but he's not as lucky as I am."

I know Max must think I'm saying this for show, but I'm not, and I see the pride shine in her eyes. With that short sentence, I've won her heart. She stands taller and nods. "Come. Let's eat."

Eat? What?

I look over at Max and he mouths, "Sorry," not looking at all apologetic.

My blood boils. I've been had.

He takes a step toward me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. He whispers into my ear, "I'm sorry. I knew you'd panic, so I didn't tell you. It's just us and my sisters. Relax."

Just as I open my mouth to hurl whispered-abuse at the man-child, Ceecee appears in the hall. Face of stone, she approaches. "So, is it true? Are you dating?"

t.u.r.ds of fury, she doesn't look happy. I shrug lightly. "Yes, honey, we are."

Max doesn't say a thing, just squeezes his arm around my shoulders in silent support. When Ceecee lowers her gaze in thought, Max asks her, "What are you thinking, baby?"

She looks up at us. "I think I'm okay with that."

I'm so surprised that I don't realize I've blurted out, "Really?" until it's already out.

She smiles up at me. "You're cool, Helena. I like you." Suddenly, her face turns cautious. "But you're still going to be doing sessions with me, right? And teach me how to cook?"

I'm not sure about what James will have to say about this, but rather than tell her that, I state confidently, "Nothing could stop me." And I mean it.

Smiling shyly, she answers a hushed, "Cool."

Max pulls me into the kitchen, where Leti, Maria, and Isa are cooking up something that smells delicious. Walking right into the fray, Max puckers up as they take turns kissing his cheek. Feeling like an intruder, I raise my hand and utter a nervous, "Hey, guys."

Isa is the first to pounce on me. Literally. She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight. "Thank G.o.d it's you! When mom told me Max was dating someone, I thought she'd be some ditzy blonde moron!"

When she releases me, Maria steps in to take her place. Hugging me, she utters into my hair, "I know, right? I thought she'd be some club floozy, but when Mom said it was someone we knew, I thought maybe Mimi had swapped teams." She kissed my cheek as she pulls away, smiling. "I'm happy for you two." A sudden bubble of emotion hits me hard, tightening my throat.

Leti, the oldest sister, steps forward, arms extended. I walk into them and she wraps me up in a warm, sisterly hug. She whispers into my ear, "He's been lonely too long. Thank you, Lena. Welcome to the family."

I close my eyes tightly, begging the tears to retreat, but one strays, trailing down my cheek. As I pull away and swipe at my cheek, I force a laugh. "Well, s.h.i.t. Go ahead and make me cry, why don't you?" The sisters smile at me in a way that says 'you're welcome'.

Arms snake around my middle. Max places his lips at my cheek and reprimands his sisters. "Hey, this is our first official date. No making my woman cry."

His woman. Ugh. Too many feels.

The front door opens, and a familiar deep voice calls out, "We're here."

Oh no.

Max stiffens. I pinch his arm and he flinches, "Ouch! Hey, what was that for?"

I step out of his arms and whisper in a very deep and exaggerated Max voice, "Don't worry; it'll just be us and my sisters!"

He shakes his head. "I didn't know about this." When I eye him, his eyes widen and he throws up his hands. "I swear!" He seems genuinely surprised to hear Nik's voice. When his mother comes back into the kitchen, he asks a hushed, "Mama, what's happening? I thought I said only the girls."

She walks past him and shrugs. "There is too much food for just the girls. When I cook for the family, I call the family." She heads back into the pantry and Max stands there looking stunned.

He turns to me, outraged, then points to the pantry. "She set me up!"

Nik and Tina walk into the kitchen, Tatiana and Ava in their arms. Tina beams when she spots me. "Oh yay! I'm so glad you're here!"

She puts Ava on the ground then hugs me tight, rubbing my back, poking me with her protruding belly. "I've missed you. We never get time to talk."

Nik leans down and kisses the top my head. "Sweetheart."

I open my mouth to speak, when the front door opens again. These voices, I know. I cringe. Nat walks into the hall and sees us standing around. "'Sup, guys?" She glares at me. "You wanna tell me why you don't answer your phone?"

I mutter acidly, "I didn't answer, 'cause you were calling."

She swoops me up into a hug. "You know what? I don't even care you're a wh.o.r.esaurus to me. It's too nice of a day to be p.i.s.sy." She releases me then punches my arm. Hard. When I wince, she smirks. "Yeah, as if I'd let you get away unharmed."

While I rub the sting out of my arm, Trick and Lola come in from the back of the house. Trick shrugs, looking mildly annoyed. "What's goin' on here? I thought we were gettin' our eats on?"

Lola rolls her eyes, taking turns hugging us all. I reach out to hug her, and she mutters, "It's always about food with these men."

Someone squeezes my bottom. I turn quickly to find Mimi smiling down at me. "Hey, babe."

Smiling, I wrap my arm around her super tall, reed-thin body and lean my head on her. "Hey, yourself."

Trick walks by and kisses my cheek, then calls out to Lola, "I was promised food, woman!"

No one even seems to think it's remotely weird I'm here. Thank G.o.d. Cecelia makes her way out of the pantry. She spots the new arrivals and takes turns kissing them all and shooing them out onto the back porch. When I step outside, I take in the beautiful backyard. Under the covered porch is a long outdoor setting that will seat all us adults and children quite comfortably. Nat was right. It is a nice day. The sun is shining and there is barely a cloud in sight. I close my eyes and let the light breeze flow over me. I feel at home here.

Leti steps outside with a large tray of bacon in her hands. "Sit, everyone. The food's ready."

I step forward and ask, "Can I help with anything?"

She smiles over at me. "Yeah, you can actually. Park your a.s.s and eat before these greedy men scarf it all."

I smile and roll my eyes, taking a seat in the very middle of the closest side of the table. Max takes the seat on my left side and moves it away, and then sits on my right side. Ceecee wheels herself into the now-open spot on my left, and smiling, I reach down and squeeze her hand. "You've been exercising, young gra.s.shopper?"

Wide eyes, she looks up at me and nods enthusiastically. "Yeah, I have. And dad doesn't even need to remind me."

"That's awesome, honey. I am so proud of you. Any cramping?"

She smiles softly down at her lap. "Nope. None."

My heart soars. You couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. "That's because you're a champ."

When everyone is seated and chatting away, Maria places the last of the dishes on the table and announces, "Let's eat!"

The men dig in first. I'm not surprised to see Nik hand the plate he has just filled to Tina. He's always been too sweet for his own good. No wonder women love him. He's s.e.xy and attentive. I sit there, waiting for the hungry males to get their fill before I stack my plate.

There is so much food. There's pancakes, eggs cooked two ways, bacon, sausage, paella, b.u.t.tered flatbread, spicy baked beans, tortillas, baked tomatoes, pan-fried garlic mushrooms, cubes of potato sauteed in b.u.t.ter, freshly made salsa, and quiche.

Oh my gads. Secretly, I'm ecstatic to be here.

I turn to Ceecee, stand, and take her plate. "What are you having, honey?"

She looks down at the plate, and then back up to me. I suddenly realize that Ceecee may not like people getting her food anymore. So when she responds, I slump in relief. "Scrambled eggs, bacon, and a pancake for now."

I set her plate down in front of her then run my hand over her pretty auburn hair, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Bon appet.i.t."

The men have stacked their plates, but I turn to see Max's plate empty. I look up at him in concern. "You okay? Why aren't you eating?"