Dominic Rossi was the type of husband who gave husbands a good name. The type of guy for whom the expression tall, dark, and handsome had been coined. The type of guy who exuded humor and heart along with a can-do attitude. He was the former president of the Bank of Archangel, but his passion was making wine.

And babies with his pretty wife, apparently. Natalie eyed Tess’s apron. Viewed from the side, the bump was impossible to miss. “Are you pregnant again?” she asked in a low voice.

Tess answered with a redhead’s classic blush and a grin of delight.

“She promised me a sister,” said Trini. Dominic’s daughter, now in high school, threw a glance at her brother Antonio, who had stepped away from the table to amuse Tess’s two sons by chasing them around with his grape-colored hands. The little boys, known as Thing One and Thing Two, responded with squeals of glee.

“That’s great,” Natalie said. “Congrats, you guys.”

The Rossis made the whole blended-family thing look easy. An illusion, Tess had assured her. Natalie knew it had been challenging to put together Dominic’s kids by his first marriage and the two he and Tess had had together. But there was no denying that in moments like this, they looked happy and secure. It was impossible to miss the undercurrent of passion Dominic and Tess shared.

“People say the third time’s the charm,” Trini pointed out. “Why do they say that?”

“Good question,” Natalie commented. “And does it imply the first two times are not charmed? Because when I look at those two little guys, I see something pretty special.”

As she spoke, Thing One plopped a fistful of discarded grape pulp on his brother’s head. The younger one howled with outrage.

Dominic’s sister, Gina, wiped her hands. “I got this, Tess.”

“Thanks.” Tess settled herself on a stool and looked at Natalie. “So … Where’s Rick tonight?”

“Not sure. He had a test flight late this afternoon.”

“You look like you had a tough day,” Tess observed.

Natalie didn’t bother denying it. “So I got this giant promotion at work …”

“Hey, that’s great,” said Tess. Something must have flickered in Natalie’s face, because she added, “Isn’t it?”

“It all seemed like a fine thing. The company had a little party, even, because I put together a big deal for them. My mom was supposed to come up from the city, but she never showed. Which is probably a good thing, because it turns out the whole promotion was a ruse to isolate me so I don’t have to work with anyone.”

“What?” Tess’s hands flew expertly through the grapes. “I don’t get it.”

Natalie sighed, staring at the ground. “I’m a toxic boss.”

“No way. You’re one of my favorite people.”