Right after Jack Romano kills in man in the line of duty, he finds out his bemoaned first love's wife has died in childbirth and his ex-lover killed himself, leaving their sickly newborn to Jack. Carlo Del Monte has been chasing Jack for nine months and sees the baby -- Isabella, Bella for short -- as an opportunity to get Jack in his house, as well as his bed, permanently. The two men set up housekeeping with the help of friends and Carlo's big Italian family. Then little Bella ends up in the intensive care since she lacks immunity to childhood diseases. Can Jack and Carlo find their way in this new relationship? As partners, husbands, fathers? Will the two be able to form a strong bond ... and an even stronger family?

Beau's Baby

“I plan to be good to both of them.” Carlo began to read the menu.


“What do you want? I don’t have all day.” Marianne tapped her pencil on her pad.


Carlo chuckled. “I’ll have the meatloaf and mashed. Do you have any vegetables other than peas?”


Carlo closed the menu. “I’ll take them.”


“They come with the peas.” He laughed out loud.


“Okay, peas it is.” Carlo spotted Jack down the counter headed toward the table. Jack came and sat across from him in the booth.


“Now you have to tell me how you could possibly think Beau was going to murder his wife.” Jack’s fingers drummed on the table, a tell-tale sign letting Carlo know that Jack was pissed.


Chapter 5