It was good he was home, to protect his baby sister from his dad’s rigid thinking. “Getting away lets you see the world, and it makes you learn what you want. And you never know—sometimes kids come back.” He swept his hands wide, demonstrating that he was, after all, home.

His dad wagged a finger. “Sometimes what you want is right here in front of your nose.”

“Maybe.” Leo was glad he’d gotten away. Gia, who was eighteen, didn’t seem to have that same desire to leave. With his dad talking like that, why would she?

His dad set down the menus and looked at Leo. “You’re a good boy, Leo, to come back and help us.” He patted his cheek like he was a kid again. “But find a wife, okay?”

“Dad, enough with the wife thing.”

“It’s the only solution.”

Leo tossed up his hands, his patience cracking. “Fine, why don’t I just marry the next woman who walks in here? That would solve everything.”

“Don’t get smart with me, Leonides,” his father said, shaking his finger. “If you’re really serious, you’ve got to plan for the future. No maybes. No try it for a year and see what happens. People have a certain faith in the restaurant. They want a family man with family values, not a Romeo who’s going to hit on their daughters and make them feel uncomfortable.”

Leo bit his tongue. “I would never hit on their—”

There was a quiet rap on the big back window, then a face appeared. A pretty face with sparkling blue eyes. A ponytail full of thick, black hair. And a white apron with smears of chocolate on it…an apron that gave just a hint of the curves hidden underneath.

Tessa.

His dad got up and opened the door.

What? He was letting in “the enemy”? After giving seven reasons why Leo couldn’t go help them a few minutes ago?

“Here you go, Mr. Castorini,” Tessa said brightly, handing him a white bakery box wrapped with a brown-string bow. “There’s plenty, so give one to Gia, too, okay?”

“Thanks,” his dad said very softly, immediately setting the box down on the table and fidgeting his hands. He looked…busted. How long had he been letting Tessa in? And accepting secret gifts of pastries from her? This was bizarre.

“Nothing for me?” Leo teased.

When she looked over and saw him, her cheeks colored a little. “There’s enough for everyone. Even you.” She barely gave him a glance; then she was back to his dad.

Smiling sweetly. Had he ever seen her do that? Usually if she smiled at him, it had a grenade attached in the form of a whopping one-liner.