“Sounds a little—”
“Incorrigible,” Aubrey laughed. “I’ve married into a family of incorrigible and gorgeous men.”
“Gorgeous, definitely.” Nina grabbed an oven mitt. “The funny helps with the whole god’s-gift thing, though, when it comes to the Travatis. If they didn’t have that sense of humor, then I couldn’t stand any of them. That’d be pretty damn tough, seeing as you’re married to one.” Nina opened the oven and slid a tray of crab puffs onto the rack. “Gwen, you wouldn’t use that app, would you?”
Gwen shook her head. “Probably not. I’d get my heart broken every which way. I’m holding out for real love—the kind with a proposal and a ring and a wedding and then the kids. Call me old-fashioned, but that’s what I want.” She picked up a tray of finished appetizers and walked to the kitchen table.
“Not old-fashioned,” Aubrey said. “I wanted that too.” She rubbed her pregnant belly. “Had to have a child nearly grown and a marriage fifteen years later, but I got what I wanted.” She smiled. “Worth the wait.”
“I guess casual works for Leo,” Gwen sighed. “He gets what he wants and has a new woman on his arm every six weeks.”
“I think the type of woman that Leo dates does want what he wants, a convenient arrangement,” Nina said. She washed her hands in the sink. “I’ll be interested to see how many other women in the world think that will work for them.”
Aubrey lifted a stack of linen napkins and walked to the table. “And to be fair, Leo is honest with them. They totally know what’s up going in.” She pressed her hand to the side of her belly. “Oooo.”
“You okay?”
Aubrey smiled and grasped Gwen’s hand. “Feel that.” She pressed Gwen’s fingertips to her round belly. “Must be from the hot chocolate I drank.”
A thud vibrated against Gwen’s palm. Her chest warmed and a smile broke over her face. “Amazing.”
“It is,” Aubrey said. “I can’t wait to meet the baby.”
“Who can?” Gwen added.
“You still refusing to find out the sex, sister dear?” Nina wiped her hands on a dish towel that hung from her chef’s pants.
“We’re going old school. Justin and I want to be surprised.”
“Damned inconvenient for the baby-gift-buying crowd,” Nina mumbled.
“You don’t have to wait much longer.”
“Just twelve more weeks,” Gwen added.
“Then it’ll be time to get that bun out of the oven.” The timer sounded on the stove and Nina pulled open the oven door. “But these are done now.”
Gwen laughed at the timing. Her life was brilliant and filled with nearly everything she wanted. Loneliness still pinched her insides, but she had good friends and a growing business and who knew, someday, maybe someday soon, she’d have everything she ever desired.
*
Gwen Fleming was not Leo’s type. Not. At. All. She was much too good-natured, with an easy smile and effortless charm. Gwen was rounder and fuller than the typical waifs he bedded, but then that was kind of a casualty of his lifestyle, wasn’t it? He’d found the typical woman who wanted a “convenient arrangement” was a certain type. Usually cool, aloof, and really looking to bed and head out. No commitment. No strings. He wouldn’t admit those facts in that kitchen with the gaggle of girls, but yes, a convenient arrangement did take a certain type of woman.
He walked into the living room, where his brothers and nephew had gathered, the TV blasting pop tunes. The rest of the partygoers hadn’t arrived yet; they had been invited to come closer to eight.
“How’s the new app coming?” Justin asked, handing Leo his usual whiskey neat.
“Business? Do we have to talk business now?” Devon asked. He threw a handful of wasabi peas into his mouth. Devon’s complaint didn’t surprise Leo. With a federal indictment hanging over his head, the youngest Travati brother undoubtedly wanted to think about anything other than work.
“We’re on schedule to launch.” Leo sipped his drink. “Looking at end of March.”
Anthony elbowed Justin in the ribs. “You have a launch then, too.”
Justin took a long, deep breath. “If all goes as planned, and I’m told it often doesn’t with babies, she’ll deliver on the twenty-ninth.”
“Names? Sex?”
“Possibly Nicolette for a girl and Nico for a boy.” Justin took a sip of red wine. “Nothing definite.”
“You still don’t know if it’s a boy or girl?” Anthony cocked an eyebrow at his brother, and Justin shook his head. “How’re you planning? How can you possibly plan when you don’t even know the sex?”