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"Melly?" Nicole asked, glancing around "Is she here?"

Even as she asked the question, Nicole spotted the beautiful redhead standing by the couch It wasn’t hard to believe she was a ht nose, full, pouty lips, flowing red hair and stick thin The woman looked like she was born to walk the runways of Europe and grace azine covers

Nicole was suddenly very aware that she was dressed like a bum, completely makeup free, and that her hair was a daht, life could be so unfair at tiht away, she produced a perfectly sincere sreet the woman her brother loved

"Hello, Melly It’s so nice tothe wo it warmly

"It’s Melanie," the woman said, with a cool smile as she retrieved her hand "Only Joey calls lanced toward the men and then turned to head for the kitchen "I’ll put coffee on"

"I don’t drink coffee," Melly announced "It ages you prematurely"

"Well then I’ll put water on for tea," Nicole said,a little more quickly

"Tea is as bad as coffee," Melly announced as if she should know that and added, "Just hot water with leh her teeth as she escaped into the kitchen

She only realized that Jake had followed her when he said, "I’ll o visit with your brother and Melly"

Nicole griet out soerator earlier"

"Cake?" Jake asked with surprise

"Mht it while she was here" Grinning, she added, "She has a sweet tooth"

"What kind of cake is it?" Jake asked with interest, e over her shoulder "And why the hell didn’t I see it when I wasour snack?"

"It’s double chocolate," Nicole answered, pulling out a large carton of orange juice, another of milk, and a couple of creaerator "Because I hid it so the boys wouldn’t gobble it down They have a tendency to inhale everything"

"Yeah, they do They were always like that," Jake coet out of the way as she pulled the cake out and turned to set it on the counter

Nicole started to take the lid off, and then paused and frowned "I suppose if she won’t drink coffee, Melly probably doesn’t eat sweets either"

"Yeah, she does," Jake assured her absently, his attention on the cake "She plans to puke it back up afterward"

"What?" Nicole turned to hi to her and then s chocolate cake, of course But when you said you were putting on coffee, she hoped you would serve a sweet too She’s starved, wants to gorge on two or three pieces, and then slip away to the bathrooe it to avoid the calories"

"Geez," Nicoleat the cake It seemed a terrible waste to feed it to Melly just to have her puke it up afterward "Maybe I won’t put it out"

"Good Save it for later We can watch a rin

Nicole smiled faintly, but then her expression turned serious and she said, "Please don’t read Joey and Melly while they’re here, Jake It’s kind of rude"

His grin died slowly and he nodded "You’re right I hated it when my mother and the others read me I shouldn’t do it I’ll try not to"

"Thank you," sheout to place a hand on his chest to balance herself as she leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek At least, she meant to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head at the last moment so that her lips landed on his

"Is that chocolate cake?" Joey said behind them just as their lips brushed across each other’s

It was probably a good thing, Nicole admitted as she turned to smile and nod at her brother The way Jake affected her, she very well ht here in the kitchen

"Good," Joey said grimly "Chocolate is Melly’s favorite"

"Oh, that’s nice," Nicoleit after all Forcing a sested, "Go sit down and relax, Joey We’ll be out in just a minute with coffee and cakeand water and lemon," she added quickly when he frowned Truly, it had just slipped her ht We shouldn’t leave Melly alone It’s rude," Joey said with forced cheer "Besides, you should get to know her She’s going to be your sister-in-law so out the coffee and cake when it’s ready," Joey added grimly and then arched an eyebrow and added, "That’s what he’s here for, isn’t it?"

Annoyance slid through Nicole at the comment Jake was more than just a cook/housekeeper to her now, but she wasn’t sure just what that more included yet However, Dante and Toive thiswhatever this was, a chance

"Then he can come back in the kitchen and cook or clean or whatever while we visit," Joey added firmly and Nicole felt herself stiffen

"Actually, then he can visit with us so that you can get to know hi, "You never know, he ht be your brother-in-law some day"