Free Exploding: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection #1) by Tuesday Embers

stretching like a cat under her peach and cream colored comforter.
    “I’m keeping you up. You should go to sleep the second after you tell me when I can take you out on a date. The phone is nice, but I can’t see those sexy legs over the phone.”
    “You can see your own sexy legs just fine,” she teased.
    “Sure, but mine are all hairy. Not the same.” His tone changed. “I can take you someplace out of the city, if that works better for you.”
    “James, it would have to be far out of the city, and I would meet you there.”
    James frowned. “I haven’t been on an actual date in a long time, but isn’t the guy supposed to pick the girl up?”
    “Not if the guy doesn’t want his plates run by Carrigan.” Fallyn sighed, closing her eyes. “Carri’s a cop. You sure you don’t want to just cut your losses? I can’t imagine you’d have a hard time finding a date without all the drama.”
    “I want to see where this goes. Saturday night. There’s a hole in the wall restaurant on the west end of the city I think would be perfect. Cesca’s Eatery. Do you know it?”
    “We can’t go there.”
    “Your brother works there, too?”
    Fallyn sighed. “No, but the family who hates mine owns Cesca’s, so that’s off limits. Anything on the west side is a no-go zone.”
    James frowned. “I’ve never run into so many obstacles before. How about Mexican Vila in Clintondale? Do you know it?”
    Fallyn shook her head. “No, which makes it perfect. Eight o’clock?”
    “See you then, flour girl.”
    Fallyn went to sleep within seconds after they ended the call. She drifted off into dreamland with a smile on her face.

10
The Magic of a Good Cannoli
    S aturday couldn’t come fast enough . Fallyn smiled through each custom cake she made, knocking out the orders with renewed gusto after a solid night’s sleep. Her dreams had been filled with mischief, involving James and his playful smile. She called him on her lunch break, grinning at the lightness in his tone when he spoke to her.
    “Who’s that?” A voice asked from behind her. She hadn’t heard anyone enter the kitchen, and jumped at the intrusion.
    Fallyn whirled around, her cheeks pink at getting caught. “Oh, hey Kill. It’s one of my vendors. Larissa,” she said into the phone, making sure James caught the message to go covert ops. “My brother’s here, Larissa. I’ll work out the details later about the icing.” She hung up before James could answer and give away the fact that he was a man.
    Kill nodded, kissing her on the top of her head in greeting as he took off his jacket. “Hey, Fal. I had a break from the restaurant, so I thought I’d come by and let you put me to work.” He rolled up his sleeves and put on an apron, frowning at the girly color. “Don’t you have any plain white aprons?”
    “Nope. And you don’t have to do that. On your breaks from work, you’re not supposed to work.”
    “I don’t mind. I’ll start in on the dishes while you make a list for me.”
    Fallyn wanted to argue further, but knew there was no point. Killian was the eldest, and what he said went without question throughout the O’Keefe family. He was fifteen years older than Fallyn, which made him almost old enough to be her father. Killian treated her like she was his favorite child.
    She wrapped her arms around Killian’s waist and buried her face in his chest, smiling as he softened. “We have to hang out soon where no work whatsoever’s involved. I’m getting old, and it doesn’t suit me.”
    Killian nodded into her hair. “I told you this business would be too much for you. How about I have Declan start working here in the evenings with Kristy? Then once he gets the hang of it, he can take over.”
    Fallyn stiffened. “That’s not what I meant. No, Kill. This is my business. It’s supposed to feel like this. If you wanted a few hours to just hang out with me, I wouldn’t suggest you stop working forever.” She shrugged out of the