Untangle My Heart (Tangled Hearts) (14 page)

For Mario’s sake, after Sal had gone to jail, Kate had tried to show empathy rather than pleasure at seeing him hauled off to jail. No easy task for even the most skilled of actresses.

“Well, seeing that you are my brother’s widow and I just got out of prison, I thought maybe I’d let you make me dinner. You always made the best lasagna.”

“I seem to recall your mother’s lasagna being pretty damn good, too,” she fired back. “Go beg her for food.”

“I could, but Ma can’t give me the things I’ve gone without for the past six years,” he said, his eyes traveling down the length of her body. “But you can, if you get my meaning.”

“Go to hell, you bastard.”

He lunged. She was ready, though, and side-stepped to avoid his grasp. But in her haste, her foot slipped on the ice, forcing her to grab onto the statue for support. Now he stood mere inches away.

“Kate,” Lucas called from across the garden.

Her eyes met Edward’s and she knew he correctly interpreted the situation when he bent down to whisper into Lucas’s ear and the boy took off.

“There you are, luv,” Edward said, strolling toward them until he stood next to Kate. Offering her a hand, he helped her up and laid a possessive arm around her. “Everything all right here?”

“Sal was just leaving. Weren’t you, Sal?” she said.

He took a step closer but stopped when Edward put himself between them.

“You want to choose your actions and words carefully, mate,” Edward said in a threatening tone she’d never heard before.

Sal glared at her. “This isn’t over. You’re going to pay for what you did. I’d watch my back if I were you, sis.”

With another of his blood-freezing smiles, he slinked away.

When he was gone, Edward faced her and grasped her shoulders. “Did he hurt you? Are you all right?” he demanded, concern etched across his face.

“Y…Y…Yes. I’m fine,” she said, annoyed at the trace of fear in her voice. “Thank you for finding me and getting Lucas away.” She felt the trembling start and struggled to control it, not wanting him to know how freaked she was by the unwelcome encounter with Sal.

“You’re safe now. He’s gone.” Edward pulled her to him. “Who is he? He called you sis. I haven’t met him, but I know that’s not Nick.”

She pulled back, feeling in control now. “That’s my former brother-in-law, Salvatore DiSilva, Mario’s brother. Apparently, he just got out of prison.”

“What did he want with you? Why did he say you’d pay for what you did?”

“Sal was in jail when Mario was killed. He hadn’t witnessed the slow demise of his brother and probably picked up whatever he knew of the case from the papers or his contacts on the outside, who I’m sure didn’t put the fault on Mario.”

“So he blames you for his brother’s death?”

“It appears so. He was also looking for a booty call.” She shuddered at the thought of the man even touching her.

Edward paled, but behind it sparked the heat of anger, which he quickly replaced with concern. She placed a hand on his forearm. “It’s okay now. Sal’s gone and it’s over.”

“Are you mad? Did you see his face? It’s far from over.”

“I’ll talk to Nick. He’ll know what to do.”

“I won’t have this nutter threatening or hurting you.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m not your responsibility to protect.”

“Maybe not but you have it.”

“Even if I don’t want it?”

“Yes. Let’s go find Lucas and the others.”

Still shaken, she let Edward pull her toward the church. While a part of her didn’t want to involve him, the more reasonable part was grateful for his presence and the strength she could draw from him. She would need all the strength she could muster to deal with Sal.

****

“Quick, grab this before I drop it.” Kate shoved a Chinese food take-out bag into Karen’s unsuspecting hands and swooshed into the apartment.

“Oh my gosh, Kate. What did you bring?” Karen asked, pointing at one of the many bags Kate juggled.

“A few things to celebrate the big unveiling.”

Meghan rounded the corner. “Just so you know, we’re not using the word ‘big’ around Karen anymore.” Then she grabbed a second bag from Kate and whispered, “She’s a little sensitive about her size.”

“I heard that,” Karen called as she waddled down the hall.

Kate watched her friend with fondness and remembered her own final months of pregnancy. The waddling was something she’d always swore she’d never do. But even carrying only one child, she had found herself helpless to the waddle. Watching one of her two best friends in that state brought a giggle close to the surface.

Meghan watched her face. “You’d better not let her see you laugh.”

“Oh, come on, how can she not waddle? She’s like fifteen months pregnant with ginormous twins. I think she might need to celebrate their first birthday when they come out.” Kate said.

Meghan laughed and then clasped her hand over her mouth. “Stop it,” she said, amusement still in her eyes. “I’m dreading the day when I’m big like that. I’m already self-conscious around Charles.”

“Why? He isn’t giving you a hard time about the weight is he?”

“Quite the opposite. He’s obsessed by my changing shape. He won’t let me wear a nightgown to bed and he’s constantly touching my stomach.”

“Oh, you poor baby,” Kate crooned, wrapped her arm around Meghan, and followed Karen toward the kitchen. “It sounds really tough to have your husband worship your naked body.”

“Did you tell her about the endless sex?” Karen asked as she handed Meghan plates from the kitchen.

Meghan flushed. “Well, there’s that, too. It seems my pregnancy seriously turns him on. Things were hot before we got married but now...” She fanned herself and nodded at Karen. “And you should talk. Has your weight deterred Mark from wanting you?”

“Not a bit. Like Charles, Mark seems turned on by it,” Karen said. “And I don’t get it. I’m not sure I’d want him as much if he gained fifty pounds.”

Kate removed the containers of food from the bag and arranged them on the table while Meghan set out the plates.

“Yeah, well now I feel really bad for
both
of you. Regular, scorching sex with your husbands. It’s a crime. Meanwhile, I’ve almost forgotten what sex feels like, it’s been so long,” Kate said.

She had so much built up sexual tension she’d almost had an orgasm while Edward massaged her feet the other night. The man knew exactly what he was doing with those talented hands, and damn if he didn’t seem to be completely aware she’d been turned on—and probably was himself.

“You’ve only yourself to blame,” Meghan said. “You’ve got a man all willing and ready, and all you do is push him away.”

Kate sighed. “Part of me wants to jump Edward and have my way with him. The other part is just…”

“Scared?” Karen finished for her.

“Yeah.”

“Of him being the wrong guy?” Meghan asked.

Kate shook her head. “Of him being the right one and hurting me.”

“Oh, sweetie, you can’t think like that,” Meghan said. “Edward is nothing like Mario. He would never hurt you.”

“I know he wouldn’t hit me. Actually, sometimes I get the sense that he gets turned on when we fight. He gets all cool and indignant, but there’s something in his eyes like he wants to kiss the stuffing out of me. Weird, huh?” she said.

“More like hot. And we thought Charles and Mark were odd for being turned on by our pregnancies. Mark is definitely not turned on when we fight, but the make-up sex has always been fantastic,” Karen said.

“And then there’s Lucas,” Kate said.

“The little boy from the orphanage, right? What’s he got to do with Edward and you?” Meghan asked.

Kate took a deep breath. “I’m considering adopting him.” She watched the expression on their faces go from stunned to happy.

“Oh, my God,” Karen said.

“So, you’re seriously thinking about it?” Meghan said.

More than she’d ever thought about anything.

“Yeah, I am,” she said. She reached into her purse and grabbed her phone. “Here are some pictures I took.”

She handed Karen the phone.

“Oh, he’s adorable, especially with the missing front tooth,” Karen said.

“And look at Edward with him. He appears very natural,” Meghan said.

“Surprisingly he is. And Lucas idolizes him,” Kate said.

“Oh, and I love this picture of the three of you,” Karen said. “You look like a family.”

The reality of watching her best friends fawn over the pictures overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t stop the tears pooling in her eyes from falling.

“I know,” she said. “Now do you see why I’m scared?”

“You and Edward want each other. You both obviously care for Lucas. It makes sense for all of you to be together,” Meghan said.

“I don’t think Edward wants to be tied down to a woman permanently, let alone a six-year-old,” Kate said. “And then there’s the whole love thing.”

“What, you can’t see yourself falling in love with Edward?” Karen asked.

“I wouldn’t want Edward to feel compelled to be with me because of Lucas. I have no doubt I can raise Lucas myself. I wouldn’t be the first single mom out there. But Edward and I…I can’t convince myself I have feelings for him just so Lucas can have a father. That wouldn’t be fair to any of us. If I get involved with someone again, it has to be for keeps.”

“So you’re not in love with him?” Meghan asked.

“I don’t know what I am. I care for him, and I definitely lust after him. But could that turn into love? I don’t know.”

“You won’t know unless you give it a try,” Karen said.

Kate shook her head. “I know, but I can’t, especially if I adopt Lucas. The timing to start a relationship couldn’t be worse.”

“I think you’re over-analyzing things. Six months ago, I was in your shoes, afraid to give in to my attraction for Charles. I finally had to stop listening to my head and start with my heart,” Meghan said.

“It’s easy to say all this now, but you had to come to that realization in your own way and time,” Kate said.

“You’re right. Only you know what’s best for you.” She reached across the table for her hand. “A wise friend once told me if it’s meant to be, it will be,” Meghan said, shooting Karen a glance.

“And we’ll always be here to support you. Even when we think you’re being an idiot,” Karen said with a smile. “Now, let’s clean up and start working on the nursery.”

****

Kate knocked on Edward’s door a second time.
Where the hell was he?
Just as she raised her fist to start pounding, he opened it.

“Good morning. You’re early. You did say seven, right?” he asked, putting his arm into the sleeve of a button-down shirt.

Kate tried not to stare at his bare chest, but it proved impossible. Not when his shoulders were so broad and skin so smooth it made her want to run her mouth down the length of it. Then there was the low cut of his jeans that made her wonder if he wore anything under them.

She shook her head. She really needed to get laid soon and by damned if she didn’t want anyone but him. The thought of going to a bar to pick up someone didn’t interest her in the least. Where was some chocolate or ice cream—the woman’s equivalent to a cold shower—when you needed it?

“Are you going to come in, luv, or are you going to stay out there and continue to gawk?” he asked, a devilish smile on his face.

Scowling, she pushed her way into the apartment, the musky scent of his soap invading her nostrils as she passed by him.

“Sorry to come early, but my mother called during the night. There was a break-in at the restaurant,” she said.

He closed the door and turned to her. “
What?
Last night?”

She watched, with regret, as he buttoned up his shirt.

“My parents got a call from the security company around three this morning. My father went over to meet with the police and assess the damage.”

“How bad is it?”

“Bad enough to potentially mess up our grand opening on New Year’s Eve. Someone took something sharp and used it to scratch up the recently finished hardwood floor. The glass behind the bar was shattered, several tables broken. Someone spray painted the walls in the private dining room. The worst, though, is that someone bashed in the main oven.”

“Does your father know if it still works?”

“He’s not sure. Daddy’s going to have someone come out and assess it.”

“All right. We’ll handle it when we get down there.”

The fact that he included himself in what needed to be done didn’t go unnoticed by her. And while she knew none of this was his responsibility and he didn’t
need
to do anything, she loved that he wanted to.

“The more immediate problem is that a good portion of the food for tomorrow’s Christmas party was in the refrigerator and the asshole who broke in also thought it would be fun to disconnect the fridge. So all of the food has to be thrown out and repurchased.”

“It’s a good thing we planned to go down today. Will we have enough time to replace everything?”

“With all hands on deck we should be able to. Mama called the women who helped us plan the party and they’re coming over to the pizzeria to help us cook. Thankfully my mother keeps lists of everything. She reproduced the grocery list, and they’ll hit the store as soon as it opens.”

“What can I do to help? I’m not much of a cook, as you know, but with some guidance I’m not too bad.”

Kate smiled, remembering a few of his attempts at cooking. Omelets with some egg shells and slightly burnt bacon. Edward’s cooking skills were definitely a work in progress.

“Yeah, I seem to remember your talents don’t particularly lend themselves to the kitchen,” she teased, giving him a friendly nudge in the arm.

“I’ll try and not be crushed by your low opinion of my culinary skills,” he replied with a scowl.

His skills were more proficient in the bedroom, among other rooms. She turned away before he noticed the flush that crept into her cheeks at remembering his demonstration of said skills in the kitchen of her apartment.

“If you drop me off at the pizzeria, maybe you can head over to the restaurant to see how bad everything is. I’ll work with my mother and the other women to start preparing the food.”