Bell let out a tinkling laugh that settled somewhere deep inside my chest. “I’ll see what I can do about that. We just hiked Orcas, so I’m sure I’ll be eating my fair share tonight.”

Rocco clapped. “We must hurry, then. Take any table you like. I’ll bring out some appetizers, on the house.”

Bell led us to a table against the wall towards the back of the restaurant, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she didn’t want any passersby to see us. I didn’t blame her. I was sure people would talk if they saw us on what looked like a date.

I pulled out Bell’s chair, and she grinned up at me. “Such a gentleman.”

I chuckled. “I’m trying my best, but you don’t exactly make it easy.”

She shrugged. “Nothing easy is ever worth much.”

She was more right than she knew. Bell and her Yoda wisdom. “Pietro seems like a character.”

“He’s the best. I come in once a week with Will, Ava, and Mia to give Caelyn a night off and to get some one-on-one time with them. Pietro always makes some special dessert for them and has little toys for Ava and Mia.”

“Do you spend a lot of time with them?”

“The kids?”

I nodded. I wanted to know what had happened with Caelyn’s parents, but I didn’t want to pry.

“I do.” Bell toyed with the napkin in her lap. “Kenna, Caelyn, and I kind of formed our own little family. The kind we always wished we’d had.”

I swallowed against the burning emotion in the back of my throat. I hated how alone Bell must have felt. “I’m really glad you have those two. I’d like to get to know them again.” If they were her family, I knew I’d have to win them over, too.

“They’d like that. And the kids would, too. Will could really use a good guy in his life. He doesn’t have many.”

I flipped open my menu. “I could come with you on your next weekly date here.” I wasn’t sure how Bell would react to that idea. Maybe it would feel too much like playing house. Maybe I was encroaching on her special time with Will, Ava, and Mia.

The smile that broke out across Bell’s face told me those concerns were unfounded. “That would be great. The girls love new people, especially ones who pay a lot of attention to them. Will’s more guarded, but you’ll grow on him. It’ll help that you played football.”

“He’s on the team?”

“Yup. Made varsity his freshman year.”

“That’s impressive.”

Pietro appeared, laden with enough appetizers to make a meal out of. “Here you go. These are some of my favorites.”

Bell tsked at him. “This is too much food.”