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He smiled at her.  “You sure know how to throw a punch, Toots.”

She raised an eyebrow and glared at him.  “Jess.  My name is Jess.”  She inclined her head toward the lake behind Ben’s house.  “There are three of them out there with telephoto lenses.”  She walked over to him and ran her hand down his arm. She smiled.  “Whatever your plan was, I guess it’s working.”  She stood on her tip toes and kissed him, before leaning in and whispering, “Now what, wise guy?”

She’d spent the day with this infuriating and controlling man.  Ben had accused her of trying to direct her family like actors on a stage.  Had he even met his brother Joey?  She’d followed his direction all day.  “Smile like you’re glad to be here with me.” “Hold my hand.”  “Now laugh because I just said something funny.”  She’d been doing improv all day and she needed a break, but with the paparazzi camped outside Ben’s house with telephoto lenses she wasn’t going to get one any time soon.  She still had to act like the happy girlfriend.  And she had no idea why.

He picked her up, sat her on the island and moved her legs apart so he could stand closer.  He looked into her eyes. Before leaning down and kissing her.  He told himself it was so the paparazzi could get their candid shots and move on. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him closer.  She leaned into him and whispered into his ear.  “Take it easy big guy.  It’s called acting.”  She leaned back and looked onto his eyes.  Where had she seen those eyes before?

Her cell phone buzzed.

“Jams.  What’s up?”

“You coming home for dinner?  Mom and Ben have made up and Mom wants everyone home.”

Still looking in Joey’s eyes, she responded, “Okay.  On our way.”

Chapter 14

the eyes have it

“Okay, wise guy, we have a family dinner to attend.”

Great, now he was going to meet the rest of the Parkers.  He’d told Ben last night that they were even, but before this gig was over, the old man was going to owe him big time.

“Now, get me down.”

He lifted her from the island and took a step back as he stood her in front of him. He leaned in, putting his hands on the island on either side of her, pinning her against the island and kissed her again.  We have to make it look good for the cameras, don’t we? He told himself again.

She smiled at him.  “Let me go,” she whispered.

He kissed her again and stepped back. She walked around and poured her drink down the sink, put the glass in the dishwasher and nodded her head toward the garage.  “Let’s go.”

In the privacy of the garage, where she was sure no prying paparazzi could see her, she punched his arm.  “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you, wise guy?”

“Hey, just playing my role, Toots-er-Jess.  Just playing the role of the love sick boyfriend.”

He opened her door and helped her in.  She was wearing jeans and a pair of those five inch heels she was famous for, but it was still an Escalade, and she was still just a little bit of a thing.

“Do we want them to follow us or not,” he asked.

Good question,” she thought.  The paparazzi already knew where her mother lived.  But she knew what this family dinner was about and the family didn’t need any tabloid company.

“Hell if I know.  They already know where Mom lives.”  She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. “No stunt driving in my mother’s SUV.”

He backed out of the drive, and carefully drove the few blocks to the Parker residence.   Ben’s Navigator was in the driveway.  As instructed earlier in the day, Jess sat and waited for Joey to come around and open her door.  He helped her out and held her hand as they walked into house.

Lane looked up.  “Paul, it’s good to see you.”

Together, Ben and Jess said, “Not Pauli, Joey.”

“Lane, may I present my brother Giuseppe Gabrielli Bellini?  Joey, my fiancée, Lane Parker.  Her sons, Jackson and Jamison.”

The Parker brothers each stepped forward and shook Joey’s hand.

“Jake.”

“Jamie.”

“Nice meeting you,” Joey said, as he stepped forward to shake Lane’s hand.  He looked back at Jess, as if to say now what?

She looked at her mother.  Pauli had a huge crush on her mother.  It was the way she’d gotten her first pair of shoes out of him.  Pauli had bought her silence and she’d promised not to tell Ben that he was crushing on Lane.  But Joey had barely looked at her mother.

Someone had brought Jack Stack.  “Y’all go into the family room,” Jess said.  “The boys and I can get things ready.  Are we eating in the kitchen?”

Lane walked into the family room, followed by Ben, who protectively and proprietarily had his hand in the small of her back, and Joey brought up the rear.

“Joey, you went to L.A. and got Jess and brought her home last night.  Thank-you.”

“No worries,” he said, as he looked anxiously toward the kitchen.

“Dinner’s on,” Jess said.

Joey stood back as the family took their assigned seats.  Lane at one end, Ben at the other, the Parker brothers on one side and Jess on the other leaving an open spot next to Jess.  The family joined hands.  Lane looked at Jess.  Wednesday night, Jess’s night to say grace.

“Father, we thank you for the food you have placed before us and ask that you bless all of the hands who brought it to us.  We thank you for our family and ask that you bless and protect us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen”

“Thanks, Jess.  Before we start eating, your mother and I have an announcement to make.”  Ben looked at each of the Parker kids.

“Father Palmert is meeting us at the Church at 8:00.  Your mother and I are getting married tonight.”

Lane smiled.  “Our plans were put on hold last month when Jess had to rush back to L.A., and now we’re in a little hurry.”  She looked at Ben as she said, “We’re expecting a baby.”

The Parker boys looked at Ben, and they didn’t look thrilled.  For a minute Joey thought there might be bloodshed and no one said anything for a couple of beats.  Then Jess spoke up.

“Congratulations, Mom.”  She pointedly looked across the table at each of her brothers. “That’s great news, isn’t it boys?”

“It’s all good,” Jake said, but he was thinking that someone ought to have a talk with Ben.

Jamie looked across the table at his sister.  She didn’t know the rules that Ben had taught him.  Rule three: always wear protection.  Besides, he’d told Ben he wasn’t allowed to spend the night and he was sure that Ben knew what he meant when he’d said it.  Guess the rules didn’t apply to everyone.  Jamie’s eyes flashed.

Jess looked from Jamie to Joey to Ben.  That’s where she’d seen those eyes, they belonged to the Bellini men… and to her baby brother.  How was that even possible?

“So, Mom, tell us the story of when you met Ben,” she said.

Lane laughed.  “You kids know how Ben and I met.  He came to pick up the things for the church’s garage sale.”

Joey was sitting next to Lane.  He looked at her.  She was glowing as she looked across the table at his brother.  The brother he thought was a confirmed bachelor was glowing as he looked back at Lane.  WOW.  Married with a baby on the way.

“I’m not sure whether I should extend you best wishes on your upcoming marriage or congratulate you on the blessed event,” Joey said looking at Lane.

“I think both are in order, Joey.  Thank-you.”  Lane smiled as she patted his hand.

Ben looked at Joey.  “You bring a suit?