Sophie was clearly startled by the greeting—and the fact that they were immediately seated at one of the best tables. He understood her confusion. A guy like him shouldn’t be allowed within a hundred feet of a place like this. He should be in back washing dishes, not being led to one of the best tables in the place, with the most beautiful girl in the world on his arm. He didn’t usually come to places like this, despite the fact that he knew most of the chefs in the city. He just never felt comfortable in them, never felt like he actually belonged there.

“Enjoy your meal. I’ll let Chef know you’re here.”

Sophie lowered her voice to a whisper. “Did you have a reservation?”

She was so cute when her eyes went all big like that. So cute that he actually whispered back, “No.”

Just then, his buddy Chris walked up to their table, smiling widely. Jake could see how much his friend appreciated Sophie’s looks. She was by far the most beautiful woman in the room. The fact that she’d put absolutely no effort into it—and that she was utterly unaware of her effect on people—only increased her beauty.

“I’m so glad you’re dining with us tonight, Miss—”

Sophie blinked up at the celebrated chef as she lifted her hand to his. “Sophie Sullivan.”

She licked her lips and as Jake watched Chris’s eyes drop to her sinfully sensual mouth, he realized his mistake in coming here tonight.

He was going to have to kill his friend for looking at his woman like that.

“I’m very happy to meet you, Ms. Sullivan.”

“Please, call me Sophie.”

“Ms. Sullivan works just fine,” Jake interjected.

Sophie looked mortified. “Jake!”

Surprise flickered in Chris’s eyes as he looked between them. You’ve got it right. She’s mine. Forever. So you’d better back off—and quick.

“It would be my pleasure to suggest the tasting menu tonight.”

Sophie smiled that shy, radiant smile, and Jake had a sudden flash of what the rest of his life was going to be like, watching men fall at Sophie’s feet. It was going to be hell.

What if their twins were girls? How was he going to protect them all?

Chris had more women at his beck and call than even Jake could keep track of. Something about the combination of gourmet food, a big ego, and a few muscles seemed to make women salivate. But it was clear that if Jake stepped aside, Sophie would shoot straight to the top of the list, all the others instantly forgotten. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was classy. Smart. And way the hell too good for him.

“The tasting menu sounds fine,” Jake told his friend. “Now get lost.”

Not missing a beat, Chris told Sophie, “It would also be my pleasure to suggest that when you get tired of this guy—”

Jake cut him off with a hard, “Later, Chris.”

This time, thankfully, Sophie wasn’t mortified. Instead, as Chris bowed to her before heading back into the kitchen, she started laughing, one of the sweetest sounds Jake had ever heard. Making her laugh would become his top priority.

“I can’t believe how rude you were,” she said, but she was still grinning. “I take it you know each other.”

He buttered a piece of freshly baked bread and handed it to her. “I taught him everything he knows about washing dishes.”

She bit into the bread, still chuckling, and he enjoyed watching her eat. He’d never taken care of anyone before, had never wanted that kind of responsibility. Now, keeping Sophie safe and healthy consumed his thoughts.

“I also taught him about women. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

Sophie blushed and looked at her plate. “He was just being polite.”

“Don’t you know the effect you have on men, princess? All your perfection, your elegance...you make us desperate to know what you’d look like sprawled naked beneath us in our bed, your silky hair tangled in our hands, your classy mouth begging us to—”

She kicked him under the table, hissing, “You can’t say that kind of stuff here.”

“Jesus,” he said as he leaned forward to rub his shin. “That hurt.”

“My brothers taught me how to deal with guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

A bloody vision of one of her brothers walking into this restaurant tonight and instantly knowing what he’d done to their baby sister was abruptly halted when Sophie exclaimed, “Oh no, I just realized. I should have told Chris that I can’t eat any soft cheese or raw fish.”

Damn it, if he’d read that book the doctor had given them, he’d know that. But just thinking about trying to read all those tiny words on a subject he was already freaking out about made his head swim.

“I’ll go tell him.” He got up and pressed a kiss to her temple. “But if any of these guys try to hit on you, tell them—”

“—I’m taken.”

She was so beautiful as she looked up and declared that she was his, that Jake didn’t care that they were in the middle of the most exclusive restaurant in San Francisco. He had to kiss her.

Her mouth was soft and warm beneath his and he wondered how he could be so stupid. Instead of taking her out, he could have had her all to himself.

Her skin was beautifully flushed as he lifted his mouth from hers and headed for the kitchens.

“Sophie can’t eat soft cheese and raw fish.”

Chris looked up from plating a dish. “She’s pregnant?”

Surprised that his friend got that from his last sentence, Jake nodded.

“Congratulations. She’s gorgeous.”

Jake hadn’t told anyone yet, but suddenly he had to say, “We’re having twins.”

Chris whistled long and low. “Gotta let you know, you keep shocking the hell out of me. Especially since I’ve never seen you with a classy babe like that before.” He cleaned the edge of the plate with his apron. “Since this is yours, I’ll head back out with you.”

Jake grabbed the plate from his friend. “I’ve got it.”

“Fine. But don’t screw up the presentation. I’ve got a reputation to preserve, you know.”

“Yeah, for being an ass,” he shot back, even though he knew it wasn’t his friend’s fault that Jake didn’t fit into a place like this.

It was his own fault. He should have known better than to bring her here. All it did was show her exactly how poorly he fit into her world.