Libby’s throat was inches from his face as his hand groped along the back seat. Her breath stuttered in the silence of the car. Was it his imagination, or did her eyes look a little wider?

“Great.” Her voice came out tight, her smile overbright.

He touched his hand to her arm and immediately regretted it. “We’ll be fine. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

The soft cotton of her top was so thin he could feel the heat radiating from her skin. Her breath hitched before she opened the passenger side door with a little more force than was necessary.

“I’m not worried. Not even a little bit.”

Outside, he shrugged into his jacket. Had he totally lost his mind? Bringing a fake girlfriend home to meet the family was a low move. His mother would fall in love with Libby, he knew that for sure. Talk about giving her false hope.

He swallowed down the desire to turn around and take Libby back to her house. As much as he loved his family, it was their fault he’d been put in this situation. If they didn’t put so much pressure on him to be like his brother he wouldn’t feel the need to lie…would he?

He forced himself to think of the wedding, of the years of criticism and scrutiny his aunts and uncles had heaped on him. Of all the things they’d said to his mother under the guise of being “helpful.” He forced himself to think of Sadie, pregnant with his cousin’s child.

The child he’d once dreamed of having.

Bringing a fake girlfriend home might be low, but he wasn’t a cheating son of a bitch like his cousin. Still, he felt like a dick doing this to his family. Especially his ma.

“Let’s go,” he said, holding out his arm to Libby. “It’s showtime.”

She stood taller against him, having changed into a pair of her signature crazy-high heels. As much as he knew his relationship with Libby was fake, he couldn’t help imagining what she’d look like in only those heels. Like dessert and heaven and sex rolled into one, he’d bet.

Her hand rested lightly on his arm, her body pushed against him. She teetered on the unsteady paving of his parents’ front steps. Each bump of her hip sent a shot of heat through him.

He’d spent the afternoon trying not to think about how attractive she was with that mane of red hair and that perky butt encased in faded denim. In all likelihood he’d failed but, judging by some of the looks she’d thrown him, the feeling was mutual.

“You’re asking for trouble in those shoes,” he said, forcing his attention to something safer than Libby’s distracting curves.

“I’m asking for trouble anyway.” She offered him a sly smile as he rang the doorbell. “The shoes are just the cherry on top.”

Paul was about to ask her what kind of trouble she preferred when a thumping noise came from the house followed by footsteps. “You’re not scared of dogs, are you?”

Libby’s eyes widened as she stepped toward the door. “Not really…I don’t think.”

At that moment the front door burst open and the Chapmans’ very large, very excited Great Dane burst forth. He immediately locked onto Libby and jumped up, throwing his paws over her shoulders.

“Oh my God!” She wobbled on her heels, but Paul grabbed her around the waist from behind, preventing her from toppling over and taking the dog with her.

She stumbled back against him, her ass pushing squarely against his groin as she tried to wriggle free from the dog’s grip. If she hadn’t known about his attraction to her before, she would now.

Trust his libido to come back in full force with the one girl who had a “no sex” policy.

“Down, Cavallo!” His mother’s voice rang out over the commotion. “Siediti!”

The dog relinquished, its large tail thumping against the doorframe. Even seated, the top of his head came up to the bottom of Libby’s ribcage. Cavallo sniffed her and then proceeded to wipe a long strip of doggy drool across her jeans.

“I am so sorry,” his mother said, shooing the dog inside. “He gets very excited when we have guests.”

“It’s okay.” Libby blinked, looking down at her jeans and then back up to Paul, stifling a smile. “Excitement is a natural thing.”

Paul tried to subtly adjust the front of his jeans so his hard-on wouldn’t be noticeable, but the quick flick of Libby’s eyes told him he’d been well and truly sprung.

“Ma, this is Libby…my girlfriend.” It couldn’t have come out any more awkward if he’d tried, but the tension would be lost on his mother. Hopefully so would the guilty tone in his voice.

She looked pleased as punch as she held the door open and motioned for them to come inside. “I’m Leone, so lovely to meet you.”

“Sorry to spring this on you. I understand Paul didn’t let you know I was coming.” Libby shot Paul a mock-stern look.

“Not to worry. We always have plenty of food.” His mother smiled warmly and patted Paul on the cheek.

He could practically feel the excitement shimmering off her. “Don’t make this a big deal, Ma,” he said into her ear.

What the hell was he doing? This was his family, his blood. And he was going to parade Libby around like some kind of magician’s trick. A diversion tactic while he tried to make something of himself in the background. Clearly, he hadn’t been thinking. But it was too late now. His ma was trying her hardest not to burst into a huge smile as she closed the door behind them. “Your brother and Gracie are already here, go through to the table. Dinner will be out in a few minutes.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Libby asked. “I feel bad we didn’t bring a bottle of wine or anything with us.”

“Ma won’t let us bring anything to dinner,” Paul said.

“It’s fine, I’m nearly done. You two take a seat and get something to drink.” Her dark eyes shone as she gave one more pointed look at him before she bustled off down the hallway.

“You could have warned me about the dog,” Libby said, looking down at her jeans.

Cavallo milled around, still intent on sniffing out the new person in the house. Libby reached out and tentatively scratched his head, her shoulders relaxing when she realized the big beast wanted a little affection and not a bite of her hand.

“What’s her name?” she asked.

“His,” Paul corrected. “Cavallo. It means horse in Italian.”

“Fitting.” She laughed. “You could have warned me about something else, too.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Bull.” Her hazel eyes glittered. “I thought we agreed no sex.”

“We agreed not to have it, but there’s not a chance in hell of me not thinking about it.”

A pink flush crawled up her cheeks, and she kept quiet. They spent a few more minutes fussing over the dog, and Paul found a tissue so Libby could clean up her jeans.

His mother’s voice carried through the house, her excited Italian revealing to the others that Paul had brought a girl to dinner. Thankfully, Libby seemed to have no idea what was going on. As if on cue, Gracie poked her head out from the dining room, and a big grin spread across her face. No doubt Des had translated his mother’s pronouncement to her.

“Hello!” She bounded out and gave Paul a quick hug. “Who’s this?”

“Gracie, meet Libby.”

“Welcome,” Gracie said, sticking her hand out.

The girls shook hands. “Nice to meet you.”

Gracie motioned for them to come through to the dining room, turning back to wink at Paul when Libby couldn’t see. Des and their father were already seated at the table, both of them subtly raising a brow when Paul ushered Libby inside.

The introductions went round the table with lightning efficiency, and then the food appeared. Over the clattering of cutlery, serving spoons, and appreciative full-mouthed grumbles, Paul watched as Libby drank it all in with wide eyes.

“So, Libby, I had no idea you were dating my brother. How long have you two been going out?” Des asked, though the implication in his question was why is this the first we’ve heard about it.