Turning to Nic, I asked in a whispered voice, "Why is it so important for me to be Greek?"
He shrugged. "I don't think it is honestly. Not with Kilyn being Irish and all. She's just giving you a hard time."
"Why?" I asked in a hushed voice.
Nic flashed me a panty melting smile. His dark hair was messy and he hadn't shaved in a few days. I wanted to run my fingertips over his scruff and imagine it between my legs. My cheeks heated and Nic's smile grew bigger and sexier. "What are you thinking about, Gabi?"
Sinking my teeth into my lip, I replied, "It's probably better I keep it to myself."
"So, Dad, did you get that junker car running yet?" I was pulled out of my naughty daydream by Thano. Looking his way, he leaned back and rubbed his satisfied belly.
Dimitris stood. "Junker my ass. I'll show you what I've done. Come on, dessert can wait."
All four men stood, but Kilyn and Phoebe stayed seated so I did as well. I wondered if the other Drivas men were dominating like Nic had a tendency to be. I didn't mind it at all. As a matter of fact, I found that it turned me on.
Nic leaned down and brushed his lips across the skin under my ear. My whole body shuddered and I was positive Katerina noticed. My cheeks heated.
"I'll be back baby. Don't move from this spot."
I nodded. "I won't."
He moved and pressed his lips to mine. "Good girl." The authority in his voice had me squeezing my legs together to keep the throbbing at bay.
My eyes swung up to meet Kilyn's. Thano was whispering something into her ear and I could tell she was feeling the exact same way as me.
When they walked away, she looked at me and said in a soft voice, "Kind of hot when they act all caveman, isn't it?"
I nodded and attempted not to blush again.
Katerina walked back in with Agnes and Maria. Or was that Sophia?
"Ahh. The best part of the meal, isn't that right, Gabriella?"
"It's one of my favorites," I answered.
Dish after dish after dish was placed on the table, replacing the plates of food that had been sitting there.
"Eat! Eat up!"
Phoebe and Kilyn dug in like two hungry animals that had been deprived of food. I knew if I refused, I'd be insulting Katerina, so I grabbed a small piece of a few different desserts.
Katerina pointed to each one to tell me what they were.
"That is ekmek kataifi, those are koulourakia, and this right here is Yiayia's famous phyllo pastries."
"Hmm, everything looks so delicious."
Yiayia picked up my plate and put a piece of baklava on it. "Eat. You need to fatten up for the babies."
Kilyn groaned as did Phoebe.
"Oh, Yiayia, stop that!" Katerina said with a laugh.
"Babies?" I asked in a panicked voice.
Katerina scooped more desserts onto my plate. "Kourabiedes, also known as Christmas butter cookies."
My eyes met hers as I repeated, "Babies?"
She nodded, but didn't utter a word. It was like she was letting the old lady break the news to see if I'd run or not.
Well, she had no idea who she is dealing with. My eyes caught a familiar dish.
Smiling, I reached for the dish. "Diples. My mother made something similar around Christmas time."
"She probably made these," Katerina added.
Yiayia added to the conversation. "The damn Italians. Always ripping off the Greeks."
Katerina gasped then giggled. "Yiayia! Don't be mean to our lovely Gabriella."
Yiayia waved Nic's mom off with her hand and shoved a truffle ball of some sort into her mouth.
Kilyn cleared her throat, getting my attention. "So, Thano said you were heading to Italy."
I swallowed hard. With a slight smile, I nodded. "I am."
"How exciting!" Phoebe said. "Have you been before?"
With a wider smile, I replied, "Lots of times. My family used to go every spring or early summer."
"Do you have family there?" Katerina asked as she sat down.
I froze.
Stick to the plan, Gabi. Stick. To. The. Plan.
"Distant relatives. Family that we would see very briefly on our visits. One of them still owns my parents' bakery that they left behind when they came over to the US."
"Really? Do you speak with them often?"
The lump in my throat was growing by the second.
"No. I haven't really spoken to any of them in a number of years."
"Where will you stay? I mean if you don't have close family there."
"At a hotel not far from the bakery. I grew up spending my summers there, so I know my way around pretty well."