by Ali Parker
"Yeah." Sicily pressed the talk button on her phone. "This is Sicily."
"Hey, you okay?" Drake.
"Yeah. I actually just woke up. My damn alarm didn't go off." She sighed and ran her fingers through the tips of her hair, trying to pull out a few remaining tangles.
"That's a good thing this morning."
"Are you up there?"
"Yeah. Jake called me in. You need something?"
"Is Martin's truck there by the shop?" She slumped down on the couch, feeling incredibly tired suddenly.
"No. Jake cleared him out. He locked the shop up and headed home. Good kid for sure."
"Yeah, he is. Be careful and text me when I can get back up there."
"I will. I want to talk to you about something today. I'll find you a little later."
"Okay." She almost told him to be careful again, but stopped herself. He was starting to matter a little too much. It was an emotion she couldn't afford. He obviously had feelings for her too, but his seemed more like the need to have someone in his life, not specifically for her. Hers were completely about him. She didn't need anyone filling her time and sucking her energy dry, but for him... it almost seemed like a positive result of sharing in a relationship deeply together.
They hung up and she got up and walked into the kitchen. Kari handed her a steaming mug of coffee, the cream coloring the liquid perfectly. She took a tentative sip and sat down with her friend at the kitchen table.
"Did you guys have fun dancing last night?" Sicily set the cup down and forced herself to relax.
"We did, but we missed you and Drake. You should have come."
"Yeah, I know. We're just dealing with a few things individually, so it was good to have a night off."
"Did he come by and see you?"
"Yeah. How did you know that?"
"Jake forced him to. He's been worried about something lately and Jake said he's not opening up at all about it, not that he's an ‘open’ kinda guy anyway, but it's gotten worse, like he's retreating into a shell." Kari ran her finger over the rim of her coffee mug. "I guess Jake's just worried. He only has a few friends and I know Drake means a lot to him."
"We talked about some of it, but I'm honestly trying to be careful, Kari. I'm not in a good place in my own life right now. I need to fix all the problems in my own world, with my own health, and then Drake and I can see if there is something between us."
Kari snorted softly, a smile spreading across her pretty face. "Jake and I never would have gotten together if I had to fix myself before we considered it, and... I never would have been fixed without him. He's the reason I'm getting over the pain and rejection of what Frank did. Every day he reminds me how precious I am to him. How much his life means because I'm in it."
Sicily lifted her fingers to her eyes and brushed her tears away. How many tears had her sweet friend cried because of Frank?
Sorry ass bastard.
Jake had started Kari down the road of healing and she had done the same for him.
Maybe it wasn't about getting cleaned up, or thin, or made well before looking for love, but just allowing love to find her in the midst of her messiness. It was the thing that beckoned Jake and Kari to heal - together. Was that the same story aligning for her and Drake?
It was almost too much to hope for.
Kari reached over and patted her hand. "I need to get going. Lisa is showing a house with Marc and I have a shoot at one of the convalescent homes today. Miss Margaret Johnson is turning one hundred."
Sicily smiled and wiped her tears away. "Thanks for the talk. I'm sure we'll figure it out."
"I think you will too. One more thing and I'll leave you alone." Kari squeezed Sicily's shoulder, the look on her face loving concern.
"Sure." Sicily reached up and covered her friend’s hand with her own.
"I would rather love a million times and lose than never to have felt the high that love takes you on. Every minute of that bliss is worth all the pain and suffering that comes when something doesn't work out. Take a risk. I know without a doubt that you'll be pleasantly surprised."
"Thanks, Kari." Sicily patted her friend’s hand and turned to rest her arms on the table.
She waited until Kari slipped out to pick up the phone and call her brother, Johnny. She hadn't had a chance to talk to him in far too long and just hearing his voice would bring her comfort, no doubt. He was a rock in her life and she in his.
"Hey, Bluebird. How are you?" Her brother's voice brought a smile to her face.
"I'm good. Just sitting at home, waiting for the fire department to clear a fire on the town square where my bakery is."
"Oh no. The bakery didn't get in the way of the flames, right?"
"No. Not that I know of. I just feel really bad for the shop that did catch on fire. The owner is a bitch and a half, but her little elderly mother runs the place. She reminds me of a thin, white version of mom."
Johnny laughed loudly. "Okay... I'm going to leave that one alone. Tell me when you're coming to visit me."
"Maybe over the holidays? I know Kari is hoping that we'll go to Texas, but maybe I can slip away for a few days back at home."
"Yeah, well, New York is only four hours in your car. It's not that far, silly girl."
"Yeah, well, Maine is only four hours in your car. Get in it and let's have dinner tonight." Sicily smirked, loving the opportunity to goad her big brother in any way possible.
"This is true. Tell me what you've been up to. Any man in your life trying to take your time? I could use whooping someone's ass."
Sicily chuckled, knowing good and damn well her brother would love to put a hurting on anyone she dated. He was a miserable father figure in high school and college. Her own father hadn't been a part of their lives since they were younger.
"Actually, the guy who owns a gym here in town seems a little sweet on me, but I'm not too sure about him."
"Does he drive a hog?"
"Yep. That's why I'm thinking I should stay away."
"Oh, hell no. I told you not to date a bike rider. Those bastards are just looking to score."
She laughed again, leaning back and enjoying the moment with her brother. "Not this one. He's quite the gentleman."
"It's a ploy. Don't fall for that shit. We all use it." He laughed again. "Tell me his name so I can call it out loudly when I get into town. I'll challenge him to an old-fashioned ass duel."
"How old are you?" Sicily couldn't help but smile harder.
"Old enough. This playboy got a name?"
"Drake."
"That's trouble right there. Last name?"
"DeMarco. Don't go messing with him either. He's a good man, and we're just friends right now."
"Why does that damn name sound so familiar?"
"No clue. He's not from New York, so it's not like we should know him." Sicily stood up and pulled the phone from her face as it beeped. Martin was calling in.
"Still. It's too familiar. I'm going to do some digging."
"You do that. I have to run. My employee is calling in on the other line. I love you."
"I love you too. Steer clear of Mr. Muscles until I figure out why his name leaves a cold chill down my back."
"Will do, Bro." Sicily hung up and rolled her eyes. Her brother would forever be overprotective. Drake was a simple guy with a rough past, like most men who grew up in Chicago or New York or LA. Big cities always opened up the grand opportunity to get swept up in the sexiness of crime and power. Hell, she would have done the same if her mother hadn't been center stage in her life.
She flipped over to Martin's call. "Hey. You okay? I'm so sorry about not being there this morning. My damn alarm didn't go off."
"I'm good, but the police were there and they want to question us on the fire."
"Us? Why?"
"Because they have us down as suspects seeing that we're the only other bakery in town. Ridiculous, I know."
Sicily let out a long sigh. "Are they wanting to talk
to us now? Down at the station or what?"
"They are doing the investigation tonight and tomorrow and then Monday morning first thing we need to be there. I told them I would relay the message."
"That sucks." Sicily rubbed her hand over her stomach, nervousness rising up inside of her. She didn't have anything to hide, but cops made her feel like she was hiding something nevertheless.
"Yeah. The square is closed today, so no worries on coming in. Enjoy your day off and I'll see you after I get out of church tomorrow."
"Okay, kiddo. Thanks for everything." Sicily walked to the kitchen window and glanced out at the beauty afforded them all by fall sweeping in and coloring their world.
"Don't call me that, silly woman. We're only six years apart."
"True. Just call me old lady. Wait... don't you dare."
Chapter 9
Sicily laid around the house for as long as she could, the day turning into afternoon much too slowly. She cleaned every room, including Lisa's, which was a hot mess. Laundry was done and the cabinets in the kitchen were reorganized. She finally resigned herself to going to the gym to waste a few more hours before everyone would be back home. Drake was most likely with Jake wrapping up everything related to the fire and she could just be comfortable in the gym.
No holding in her tummy and trying to breathe through her nose and not pant. Why did the only gym in town have to be owned and operated by the hottest guy in her life? The one she wanted above her at night and wrapped around her in the wee hours of the morning?
Changing into a pair of tight workout pants and a tank top, she stopped by the bathroom mirror and turned her nose up. Getting in shape was going to take forever seeing that she had started to slip again on her diet.
"Get it together," she growled at herself and leaned into the mirror, trying to find something she liked. Her nose was okay. Rolling her eyes, she walked out of the bathroom and grabbed her keys before she changed her mind. The gym was just five minutes up the road. If she saw Drake's truck she would just leave. She wasn't in the mood for batting him off. Today was the type of day where she knew without a doubt that she would just cave in and take a page from Marc and Lisa's book.
***
The brilliance of the crimson and burnt orange leaves stirred around her feet as she walked into the gym. She paused at the door and bent over, picking up several that had blown in with her.
Violet glanced up from the front desk and chuckled. "Sicily. Leave those there, girl. They are part of the decor this time of year."
"Right? I swear I brought all of them in with me." She paused and looked around the gym while still holding the door.
"He's still downtown. Not sure when he'll be back."
"Oh good. I just need a free day to walk on the treadmill or swim laps. I'm not in the mood for my drill sergeant, though you don't get to tell him that I said that."
Violet acted as if she were zipping her lips. "Not a word."
Sicily smiled and walked to the desk, signing in and picking up a towel. "Thanks."
"Anytime."
The gym was quiet, but it was late afternoon on a Saturday. Most people were curled up on the couch watching the latest football game or sound asleep in the comfort of their beds. She was at the gym, loathing the idea of working up a sweat.
She popped in her ear-buds and got on the nearest machine while mentally coaching herself to get pumped up over working out. A buzz in her ear had her pulling her phone to her face. It was a text from her brother to call him. She started to ignore it until he added the word, 'now' to the next text.
Letting out a long sigh, she dialed his number and glanced up as Drake walked in the front door, blowing in a few leaves of his own. He paused and picked them up, his movements only seeming to bring her attention to the thickness of his shoulders and the curve of his upper arms.
How wicked hot he must look under those clothes.
"Hey. Where did this guy grow up?" Her brother's voice filled the ear-buds.
"Chicago. Are you seriously looking into him? I'm twenty-three, Jon. I don't need you babying me."
"There's a lot of shit on the DeMarcos from Chicago. Looks like they are beyond wealthy, and if I know money, this is dirty money."
"He mentioned having a rough past. Leave it alone, okay?" Sicily whispered into the phone and waved at Drake as he moved toward her. "I have to go."
"Fine, but steer clear of this guy and do me one favor."
"Sure, yeah, okay. What do you want?"
Drake stopped in front of her and nodded toward the phone. She nodded and he started to go, but she reached out and took a hold of the sleeve of his shirt, stopping him and almost falling off the machine.
He reached around it and pressed the stop button as she smiled her thanks.
"Just find out if he's involved in the Castaletta family. They are Chicago-based too. From what I can tell, these two families are deeply intertwined. I'm not good with that, Sis. These Castalettas are bad people, like kill-you-in-an-alley bad."
"What are you saying?" Sicily pressed her ear to the phone.
"I'm saying that if he's involved in the DeMarcos that are linked to the Castalettas, you need to steer clear. He's not on the up and up. We've all heard the stories of these mother fuckers. They are the oldest mob in the US and they don't fuck around. Don't get wrapped up in that. Makes my gang days look like a fairy tale."
"All right fine, but this is ridiculous." She hung up and laid the phone on the machine in front of her before turning her attention to Drake. "Hey."
"Hey. Everything okay?" Drake nodded toward the phone. "Not my business of course."
"Yeah, just my older brother being himself."
"Protective?"
"Insanely so." She laughed, realizing how much she enjoyed him being there. Why was she hoping he wasn't going to be at the gym again? Oh yeah... her wicked tight outfit.
She crossed her arms over herself, but Drake reached up and tugged them back down.
"Don't. You're beautiful. See through my eyes."
She nodded, not quite sure how to answer him. "What happened this morning down at the square?"
"Someone set fire to Judy's. Never in all the years that I've been here have I seen anything like that."
"Was it on purpose?"
"Absolutely. Jake found the remnants of the jar of gas that was wrapped in a t-shirt, lit on fire and thrown through the front window. The blaze started with the curtains up front."
"God that's scary. Any suspects besides me?" Sicily gave a wry smile.
"I'm not sure, but why would you be a suspect?"
"No clue, but Martin called and I'm due down there on Monday morning."
"I'll go with you." Drake reached out and touched the side of her arm.
"You don't need to go with me. I'm a big girl. Like, really big." She laughed and squeezed her hips.
He shook his head. "Don't do that. I like those hips a lot. Don't judge yourself. Everyone else is going to do that enough for us."
"I've been judged my whole life. Seems like if you just get ahead of them and judge yourself, turning it into something humorous, they will leave you alone." She shrugged, not quite sure why she would point out how chunky she was to the one man she wanted in her life.
"I understand completely. I've spent the last ten years of my life running from a past that would leave me without anything in my future should people know it. Being judged is my greatest fear."
"Me too." She glanced down and pressed a few buttons on her phone, not quite sure where the conversation should go from there.
"Have dinner with me tonight?" He slid his hand over the front of the phone. She couldn't help but admire his fingers, her mind taking her down a few paths that would simply leave her needy and willing to break her own rules where he was concerned. How good would it feel to have his fingers wrapped around her hair? Kneading her ass while he took her over and over again.
She glanced up and nodded, her calm destroyed as she panted
softly.
"You okay?" He reached up and touched the side of her face. "Don't overdo it on this machine today."
"I'm good." She pulled his hand down, not needing any additional stimuli. "Hey... Can I ask you something personal before you leave me to my grueling workout?"
"Anything."
"You said last night that you weren't actually a DeMarco. That your real father was someone other than Demetri's dad. Who was he?"
Drake glanced around the gym before lifting his gaze to her. "Don't repeat it. Promise me?"
"I promise." She reached out and brushed her fingers down his shoulder, unable to help herself.
"Don't judge me either. You're the one person I want to impress. This isn't impressive."
"Trust me." She squeezed his shoulder softly, her heart aching in her chest for what she knew was coming. The fact that he wanted to impress her shook her to her core.
"My father is a horrible man and he does horrible things. I've been running from him for all of my adult life. My brother D has me finally hidden away. This time it seems to be working."
"Drake. Who is he?"
"Joe Castaletta."
Chapter 10
Sunday was a day of rest, and happened to be the only day Drake DeMarco had off from his beloved gym. It was a lazy day to watch football and lounge around on the couch, wash a few loads of clothes, and eat his one cheat meal of the week. Rest was the last thing on his mind when he woke, his stomach a torrent of knots as he tried to walk through what went wrong with his latest obsession.
Something about the look on Sicily's face the day before at the gym told him that she knew more than he wanted her to about who he was before moving to Maine. She'd changed her tune about going to dinner with him and seemed far more interested in running on the treadmill than giving him another second in her presence.
"Weird," he grunted and got out of bed. Being a bachelor had been a necessity for a while, the need to ensure that he was safe in Maine had left him lonely. She was the first girl in five years who hadn’t been a planned one night stand in another town over just to release some of the overload of testosterone that burst through him on a regular basis.
