“So, you’re a house husband who gives me shit ’bout being whipped?” Wyatt laughed again.

Romeo reached over and punched Wyatt hard enough in the arm that it would likely leave a bruise. “Say another swear word, and we’re having it out the next time we’re both at the Cellar.”

“You think I can’t take you?”

“I know you can’t take me.” Romeo growled. “I got twenty pounds on you.”

“We’ll just teach them to swear in Italian,” Nova said in a very practical voice as he reached past Wyatt and helped himself to some calamari. “Then the hicks won’t have anything to bitch about.”

“Casanova, I swear to God, if they start swearing in Italian after you leave, I’m coming to New York to bury you.”

Nova laughed as he stood there chewing. His dark eyebrows were raised as if Romeo had just challenged him.

“You need any help with the cooking?” Tabitha asked, obviously trying to come to Nova’s rescue.

“From an eight-months-pregnant woman?” Romeo snorted. “No, I make it a point not to ask pregnant women to do anything. You should get off your feet.”

“But I’m fine.”

Romeo looked at her stomach and then said, “You’re our guest. Go sit down.”

“There is not enough therapy for you.” Nova laughed. “Jules’s pregnancy fucked you up for life.”

Romeo put a hand to his face and took a deep breath. “Madonn’, Nova, you say ‘fuck’ one more time—”

“You just said it.”

“Okay, everyone get outta my kitchen.” Romeo gestured to the living room. “Nova, help Wyatt get the presents out of his car. Tabitha, go relax. I got this.”

* * *

Wyatt ate too much.

It made him tired and lazy.

He was sprawled out over Jules’s leather sofa with his head on Tabitha’s thigh and Freddy sitting on his chest while he watched Tino help Charlie tear into the presents Wyatt and Tabitha had gotten him. Freddy was chewing on the tag hanging off the ear of a teddy bear. Jules jumped up from her seat on Romeo’s lap and yanked the bear out of his hand. She tore the tag off with the quick reflexes of a natural athlete, but she wasn’t fast enough.

Freddy was frozen with a silent scream now that his hands were empty. Even when Jules handed it back to him, he wasn’t interested anymore. The wail that burst out of him made Wyatt’s ears ring.

“Oh hell.” Wyatt laughed as he looked at his nephew. “Your mama’s mean.” He lifted him up, holding him over his head. “Come on, Freddy boy.” He was still howling, and Wyatt gave up. He handed him back to Jules. “You did it, Ju Ju. Now you got to fix it.”

“Man, they got lungs. You can hear them down the block.” Clay shook his head as he pulled Melody tighter against him. “That’s one thing I ain’t looking forward to.”

“Nah, that boy’s gonna be quiet as can be. He’ll just scowl at everyone.” Wyatt waved off the concern. “Ours too. She’s got half Tabby Cat in her. She’ll be nothing but sweet. These two wail ’cause they’re like their mama.”

“You can dry that one out and fertilize the lawn. Both of you are gonna be eating your words,” Jules said as she sat down next to Tino and found another present. She handed it to Freddy, who was still mad. “I cannot wait for these babies to be born.”

Tabitha rubbed at her back. “You and me both.”

“That ain’t even a lie,” Melody agreed as she shifted next to Clay, trying to curl into him despite her large stomach. “I’m ’bout tired of being pregnant.”

“I think we ought to place betting odds on which of you goes into labor first,” Nova suggested as he opened a gift Tabitha handed him. “Tabitha’s due sooner, but she’s having a girl. That boy of Clay’s has gotta be nine pounds at least. I think Melody’s gonna go first.”

Wyatt pushed his boot against the back of Nova’s head and grinned. “No gambling in my town, boy.”

Nova swiped at his hair. “Wyatt, you touch my hair again—”

Wyatt tapped his foot against Nova’s head again—just because.

Nova shoved at Wyatt’s foot in annoyance and then pulled the lid off the box and looked down at in surprise. He turned to Tabitha, shock showing on his tan face, when so little in life surprised him.

Tabitha smiled. “I’m sorry it’s not a better copy of it, but the fella who negotiates my contracts hasn’t read it yet.”

“What is it?” Tino looked over Nova’s shoulder to see. “A stack of paper. Yeah, that’s something he’d probably like.”

“Shut up, Tino.” Nova picked up the large stack of bound white pages. “You started a new series?”

“I did.” Tabitha nodded. “Good thing too. Everyone loved Nico so much in the final Sapphire County book, it was lucky I’d already started writing his series.”

“Tabitha,” Nova whispered as he looked at the title page.

Wyatt had seen it. He knew what Nova was reading.

Untamed Hearts, A Heroes of New York City Novel by T.C. Rennoc

Nova turned around and looked at her with uncertainty that was unusual for him. “But my story isn’t for children, even in fiction.”

“No, it isn’t,” Tabitha agreed. “This one is strictly for teenagers. It’s darker and more violent than the others, but I think you’ll like it. Dark heroes are amazing too. I’ve seen them do great things. I believe in them every bit as much as I believed in the first set of heroes.”

“Am I in there?” Tino asked as he looked over Nova’s shoulder again, now obviously interested. “Does that mean someone sexy and badass has to play me in a movie?”

Tabitha gave Tino an indulgent smile. “You’re in there. Very much so.”

“Thank you.” Nova held the book for a moment, and no one said anything, because the emotion was suddenly palpable. Even the babies stopped ripping at wrapping paper as if sensing the change in their uncle. “This means something.”

“Is it a good memory?” Tabitha asked.

Nova turned around and smiled at her, his dark eyes glassy. “Yes, it is.”

“I’m so glad.” Tabitha nodded as she wiped at her cheeks. “Dark heroes deserve happy endings too.”