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guest rooms? Make sure they’re comfortable.”
    â€œThey’re staying with us?” I asked.
    â€œYes, Gia. They’re staying with us.” Dad said.
    â€œLike in the house? In the house with us? Here in the house . . . with us?”
    Dad shot me a look that said , is there a problem? and I replied with clear panic in my eyes. Of course there was a problem! I was going into cardiac arrest.
    â€œFollow me, man,” Mike said, motioning toward Chris.
    On his way past me, he gave me a knowing look. No doubt he was going to enjoy making fun of my nervous flailing later. I narrowed my eyes at him just before he left the room, sending him a warning.
    â€œI’ll give you boys some time to get settled in before dinner,” Dad told Kenny.
    â€œThank you, sir,” Kenny replied, with a shake of his head. “But we’re pretty adaptable. In fact I’d like to spend this time discussing the details of this arrangement, if that’s alright.”
    â€œYes, of course. We can talk in the other room.”
    â€œWe’re having apple pie for dessert,” I blurted out to the room, and Dad raised an eyebrow. In fact, I had practically yelled it, and very aggressively.
    â€œGreat,” Jack said, as I forced myself to lock eyes with his. “I love apple pie.”
    â€œYeah, me too,” I said with an overly enthusiastic nod. “It’s . . . good stuff. Apples, you know. Love ‘em.”
    I absolutely hate apple pie. Fruit should not be warm. It’s a sign of witchcraft.
    â€œGia, can I have a quick word with you?” Dad said, and I gave him a questioning look.
    Dad gave Kenny and Jack a tight smile, wrapped his hand around my elbow and gently led me out of the room.
    â€œWhat?” I said, the moment we were out of earshot.
    â€œDon’t,” Dad said sternly, dropping his grip from my arm.
    â€œDon’t what?”
    â€œDon’t! I’m not an idiot, Gia. I can see that Jack is an attractive young man, and I can see this isn’t going to end well.”
    My jaw dropped so low, I was surprised it actually didn’t hit the floor like in the cartoons. “Dad!” I cried, hoping my outrage would mask my embarrassment. The damn apple pie comment had totally given me away.
    â€œI don’t want you crossing any lines. I’m serious.”
    I crossed my arms defensively across my chest. “Oh, so now I’m the only one capable of crossing a line? You invite strangers into our house to trail your kids around all day, and I’m the problem?”
    â€œI’m doing this for your own good!” Dad shot back, and I rolled my eyes. “And you can drop the attitude, it’s not going to work with me.”
    I uncrossed my arms and gave him the most innocent look I could muster. “Fine,” I said, with a noncommittal shrug. “I was willing to give this a shot for you. But if you don’t want me to be nice to the bodyguards, then I won’t be.”
    â€œThat’s not what I—”
    â€œI’m just following orders.”
    â€œGia th—”
    I spun on my heel before he could stop me and practically ran back into the living room. Well jeez; I wasn’t some crazed promiscuous lunatic who couldn’t control her hormones. Sure, I spent a lot of time lusting after guys who weren’t my boyfriend, but you don’t introduce a girl to Chris Pine and then expect that she won’t start planning an imaginary wedding.
    Besides, the bodyguards were a complete joke; it’s not like we even needed them. They could leave as quickly as they came in. Kenny and Jack, who were talking quietly, stopped and looked at me expectantly when I suddenly marched back in the room.
    â€œLet’s go,” I said sharply to Jack. “Look alive.”
    He gave me a surprised look and glanced at Kenny, who had his eyebrow raised so far up his head, I doubted it was coming