by Ali Parker
"Dramatic." Drake turned to walk to his office. "When you witches decide you're not going to gang up on me, just let me know and I'll come back out. Halloween was a few weeks back. Put up your brooms before you scare the customers."
He chuckled as they started to bicker back and forth playfully. The sound left his heart full of gratefulness for the two of them. Though each had tried their damnedest to get him in their beds after he hired them, they both backed off when he pushed a little.
He wasn't planning on falling in love. Not ever. It was too dangerous for anyone to get involved with him. His mafia family back in Chicago would always be in the rearview mirror. The day would come when he would wake up with a gun in his face and no choice but to come take his rightful place inside of the syndicate. No woman deserved that fate.
And yet, Sicily had burrowed her way into his heart with her unwillingness to relent. There was nothing better than a good chase, and being denied? Oh fuck no. That wasn't happening. It just pushed him to go after her more intently, and taking no for an answer wasn't going to happen. Finally, she melted.
He just hadn't expected to fall so damn hard. It had been eight months since they met, two months since they started dating exclusively and now he wanted her to move in with him.
"Hell, she got you to work in a bakery. She's far more dangerous than anyone back home." He snorted and walked into his office, closing the door behind him.
A soft knock on the door seconds later had him grumbling.
"What?" He opened the door, forcing his tone to soften a little.
Jasmine nodded over her shoulder to the young guy standing behind her. "This is Benjamin Wolney. He's here for his interview."
Drake gave the guy a once-over. He was far too thin to want to work at a gym. He looked like his days had been spent denying his mother's offering of breakfast, lunch and dinner.
"Ah. All right, come on in, kid." Drake moved back as the guy walked in.
"Let me know if you need anything. I'll be watching the front, but Violet is headed over to help Sicily." Jasmine smiled. "Seems like the whole town wants a cake for this or a pie for that, and seeing that Sicily is the only baker in town still..."
"All right. Tell Violet to go now and call if they need me over there, and I'll head that way after the interview. Thanks." He closed the door and turned to face the guy. "So, Benjamin?"
"Call me Ben, please." The guy walked toward the desk and sat down on the other side of it, his eyes filled with intelligence. He didn't belong in a gym, but who was Drake to make a call on the kid before learning a little more about him? There was nothing he hated more than being judged, so he tried as hard as he could not to pre-judge anyone.
"Sure. Tell me what brings you in today, Ben." Drake sat down and lifted his hands, palms up. "Why the gym in town?"
Ben smiled. "I know it seems silly, but I'll be a senior next year, and all I want is to fit in somewhere. I figured if I started putting some time and energy into making myself feel better, then I would be more willing to talk to girls and stuff. You know?"
"So why not get a membership? We have a pretty small fee for high school guys looking to get in shape. Why try to get a job here instead?" Drake leaned back and clasped his hands over his stomach, finding it a little softer than he remembered.
Sicily and her damn baking.
"Because I need to make some money to buy a car." The guy moved to the edge of his seat. "I'm a real hard worker. I have a job down at the grocery store right now, sacking groceries, but I need something that helps me focus on making myself better. I think this place would benefit from me, and I know I would get in shape working here."
"What makes you say that?" Drake couldn't help but let the smile on his face grow a little. The kid had spunk.
"You guys are fit, and those ladies at the front desk are beautiful. I'd feel like a heel if I didn't get myself looking the part of working at the gym. I promise you that you're not going to regret hiring me. I'll start at minimum wage and do anything you need me to do, Mr. DeMarco. Just give me a chance. Please?"
Drake studied the kid for a minute. The opening was for someone to help at the front, and clean up the place in the evenings. It wasn’t glamorous, but Drake understood the kid’s focus. It was smart. It's one of the reasons he found himself in shape. He started hanging out with people who were focused on taking care of their bodies.
"All right. Let's give you a chance." Drake stood and extended his hand. "The holidays are crazy out there, so I'll give you a call as soon as Jasmine puts together a schedule for you."
"Excellent." The kid was bouncing on the balls of his feet. "You're not going to regret this."
"I don't think I will either." Drake walked to the door and opened it. "Make sure Jasmine gives you the paperwork you need to fill out before you leave. Just bring it back with you next time."
"All right. Thank you again, sir." Ben almost shook Drake's hand off his arm, but finally relented and turned, walking down the hall as a soft, 'Yes!' resounded out of him.
Drake chuckled and walked back into his office, pulling out his phone. He called Jake and sat back down at his desk.
"Hey, man. You headed this way?" Jake's voice was almost overpowered by the sound of a machine running in the background.
"I'm at the office, but yeah, I'll be there soon." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I just hired a kid named Benjamin Wolney. His dad owns the grocery store in town, right?"
"Yeah. They're a good family. Ben was at my school when I arrived. It was his eighth-grade year. Good kid for sure."
"All right. I figured you would know him."
"You would too if you stopped hiding out all the damn time." Jake chuckled.
"It's for the better. I promise." Drake walked to his locker in his office and pulled out the light blue phone his older brother, Demetri, would use to call from time to time. Life was far too weird to share with too many people.
The less they knew, the better.
Chapter 2
Sicily
"Oh, thank you so much, Sicily. This is just beautiful." The older woman in front of Sicily had tears in her eyes. "This is for mine and Thomas' fortieth anniversary."
"I know. I got to put the 'happy 40th anniversary' on the front. I assumed it was for you. I'm excited for you." Sicily reached out and touched the woman's shoulder. "Forty years is something to be incredibly proud of."
"Yeah. He's still my best friend." The woman wiped at her eyes and handed Sicily her card. "Well, let me pay for this and get home. I'm sure he's asleep on the couch, making music with his snores."
Sicily chuckled and walked to the register. "You don't know of anyone who might be looking for a part-time job, right, Mrs. Walker?"
"Hmmm..." She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. "You know, I think Judy's mother, the one that used to watch the bakery across the road, would love to have a part-time job baking."
Sicily stiffened, but forced herself to relax. Debbie, Judy's elderly mother had been nothing but good to Sicily, and all of them, since they got into town. Just because Judy was a scammer, a liar, a cheat- Sicily forced herself from going down her current line of thinking. Everything was settled from the scandal Judy put her through a few weeks back. There was no reason to look in the past when the future was so bright.
"I like Debbie. She's a good woman." Sicily tore the slip from the register and walked it toward Mrs. Walker. "If you're friends with her, just tell her that I'm looking. I'm not sure she would be comfortable with me after all that stuff that happened between our families."
"Oh, please." Mrs. Walker signed the receipt as the doorbell rang behind her. "That was all Judy's doing, and her life has unraveled pretty quickly thanks to her indiscretion."
Michael Carrington walked up and gave them both a smile. "Whose indiscretions are we gossiping about, ladies? I haven't been in town too long, but I've noticed a few things."
Mrs. Walker laughed and extended her hand
as her cheeks tinted pink. "I'm not sure we've met, but we should."
Sicily chuckled. Five minutes before the older woman was doting on her husband, and now with the handsome billionaire who had everyone in Bar Harbor buzzing in front of her, she was a complete flirt.
"Michael Carrington. Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Sicily held her breath as Mrs. Walker’s smile faltered just a little. The dreaded ma'am. It meant Michael thought she was too old to do anything but respect, which was welcomed by most. From the look on Mrs. Walker’s face, she wasn't feeling welcoming.
"Michael. What brings you in today?" Sicily pulled the conversation toward her before waving off the older woman. "See you around, Mrs. Walker. Merry Christmas and tell Thomas I said congratulations on so many great years together."
"Will do, dear." She picked up the cake and walked toward the door, stiffly.
"How are you?" He turned and pressed his hands to the counter, leaning in. His blue eyes were almost lit up, beautiful and breathtaking. How Lisa turned him down in favor of Marc was beyond Sicily. Marc was fun, but Michael was dreamy... and older. And rich. And-
"I'm good." She forced herself to stop being a fan-girl. "Did you get some good feedback from our event last month at the fire station?"
Michael had been benevolent enough to support the fire department in a large event around Thanksgiving and paid Sicily to host the dessert table. The event raised three hundred thousand dollars for the small volunteer fire department, and Michael doubled that by matching it dollar for dollar.
"Oh yes. It was great." He pointed toward the board behind her. "Can I get a latte with skim milk and a chocolate muffin? I'm headed back to New York later today, but wanted to stop by and get my favorite treat before I go."
"Are you going to see family for Christmas, or just heading back home?" She turned and started to work on his drink. They were becoming fast friends, and something about Michael knowing Drake back in his mafia days gave Sicily some odd sense of peace. If he knew Drake at his worst point and still helped him build a new life, he was the kind of friend that deserved Sicily's attention.
The story was still a little cloudy in her mind, but she had it on her long list of things to-do to get Drake to open up and better explain how he was tucked away in Maine unbeknownst to his family.
"I only have my mother and older brother, Fredrick. They're both in New York. We've been having Christmas dinners at my brother's place for the last ten years. Mom loves the view." He chuckled as if mulling over a private joke. "He's eccentric if nothing else."
"Why does that name sound so familiar?" She turned and offered him the coffee before bending down to pull a muffin from the glass case in front of her.
"He's the owner of several large clubs, but Kadia in New York is the biggest of all of them. I'm sure you've heard about it. The place has been in the news more often than not lately." Michael shrugged. "I'm not one to focus too much on someone else's business. Seems the less you know, the better." He nodded toward the room of tables behind him. "Have a minute to sit with me while I indulge?"
"Always." She plated the muffin and followed him, wondering why in the world a beautiful man like him didn't have someone. She sat down and pushed the plate toward him, her eyes moving around his face as he studied her. If he'd found her before Drake, she wasn't sure she would have turned him down, but then again, he was much more aligned for someone like Lisa. Bold, loud, sexy as hell. Sicily was plain and rather shy when push came to shove.
"What are you thinking?" He smiled and glanced down as he started to work on taking his muffin from the wrapping.
"Just wondering if there is a Mrs. Carrington somewhere that you have tucked away. Or one on the way." He flinched, and Sicily reached across the table, realizing the error of her ways. She squeezed his hand. "Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I just-"
"No. It's okay. I miss my wife, but that was a few years back." He took a big bite of the muffin and leaned back in his chair, chewing slowly as Sicily pulled her hand back and wrapped her arms around herself. The man was complex and so multilayered.
"What business are you in, Michael?"
"I've been in lots of them over the years." He nodded toward the muffin. "This is delicious by the way. My compliments to the chef."
"Baker?" She laughed and forced herself to relax. "I'm sorry about bringing up your wife."
"No, it's okay. I'm not dating, which is what I think you were getting to. Lisa and I tried things out, but it's apparent that she prefers a younger man that she can better control." He shrugged. "I get that. I wanted to be something to her, but alas, I wasn't. I'm not seeing anyone else right now. Maybe the new year has something in store for me. If not, that's all right too."
"She's happy, if it's any consolation."
"It is. I'm glad to hear that." He took another bite of his muffin.
"And my vote would have been for you." Sicily shrugged and glanced over her shoulder as Violet walked in. "Hey, you."
"Hey, Sicily." Violet waved, gave Michael the once-over and walked to the back.
"New employee?" Michael asked before taking a sip of his latte.
"Yeah. She works for Drake out at the gym, but he was good enough to share her. I'm so glad he did. I couldn't run this place without her."
"You should hire more people." He winked and shoved the rest of his muffin in his mouth.
Something about him was so beautifully masculine. He was confident - assured of himself and what he was capable of. Lisa was stupid.
"You asking for an application, Mr. Carrington?" She stood up and gave him a warm smile.
"No, I'm not. I have an accounting firm with one of my partners in New York, and am looking to invest in a brokerage that's run by two young guys that are doing far better than anyone assumed they would. I'm thinking they need a silent investor." He smiled. "That's where I come in."
"Hmmm..." She backed up. "I like the idea of a silent investor. You just hand over money and keep quiet?"
"Yes, and watch from the sidelines, stepping in only when it's apparent that I need to."
"So a watch dog?" She wagged her eyebrows, enjoying the sound of his deep chuckle.
"Very much so." He lifted his cup. "Merry Christmas, to the best baker I know."
"Flattery will get you nowhere." She turned and walked back to the kitchen, wondering more than ever how Drake and Michael's paths crossed. Michael couldn't have been involved in the mafia. He just didn't fit the bill.
Chapter 3
Drake
The gang was gathered at Sicily's, and the smell of coffee and wassail was in the air. Drake breathed in deeply as he leaned against the wall in the kitchen while Sicily prepared a few snacks for the evening. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
"What?" Her voice was soft, sexy, inviting.
"Just admiring you. That all right?" He lifted his hand toward his mouth and bit his thumb nail. "You need to gain a little bit of weight, baby. Your butt's shrinking."
Her cheeks turned a light pink, leaving him to chuckle deep in his chest. "Stop it. I'm happy with where I am."
He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head as she snuggled against him.
"I love you just how you are too, but I do remember holding on to a little more ass a few months back. Can we work on maybe just putting on ten pounds?" He laughed as she paused what she was doing and huffed.
"Never satisfied!"
"I'm always beyond satisfied by you." He leaned around and kissed her cheek before snagging a few carrot sticks from the veggie plate she worked on. "Stop being difficult and eat a cupcake for me?"
"Drake DeMarco." She elbowed him in the stomach playfully and spun around, snagging the other half of the carrot from his fingers. "First you bitch about my cooking being too fattening, and now you want me to eat more of it?"
Lisa walked in with Marc in tow. "I love Sis's cooking. Best baker in the whole damn world."
"
That's because she burnt down the other bakery." Marc winked at her as he moved up behind Lisa.
Drake growled softly, warning the young playboy. He was almost too much, but the girls loved him, so Drake would put up with him. Marc reminded him of his youngest brother, Freddy, who played around too fucking much. The only difference was that Marc wasn't the head of a drug ring and didn't smoke more than he sold.
Sadness rolled through Drake, and he forced himself to pay attention to the conversation going on around him as he rubbed his chest.
"What do we have to eat?" Lisa moved closer and smiled over at Drake. "You all right? You worried about your heart? You've been rubbing it a lot lately."
Concern moved across Marc's face as he turned his attention to Drake. "You good?"
"Yeah. Stop fussing over me." Drake chuckled and grabbed a few more carrots before popping Sicily's butt and walking into the living room. Both Marc and Jake would be concerned about him for a while.
Drake hadn't planned on telling anyone that he lost his mother at the end of October due to cancer, but it spilled out of his mouth at the Christmas tree farm earlier that day with the guys around him. He'd held himself together emotionally, which he was grateful for, but he'd still confessed to them.
His mother was a good woman, a strong, solid woman. She deserved better than she got in the end, just being Joe Castaletta's mistress, but that was her choice.
"Let it go," Drake mumbled under his breath as he walked to the front door.
"Where you going, man?" Jake's voice stopped him.
"Just outside for a few minutes. I just needed to get a little bit of air. I'm allergic to the tree." He rubbed his nose as the burn of allergies started to worsen.
"Oh shit, really? Why didn't you tell us?" Jake wrapped his arm around Kari's shoulders and pulled her against him, but kept his attention on Drake. "We could have dragged that damn thing back to the truck so you didn't have to touch it."
"It's all good. I got some meds in the truck. I'll get me a couple while I'm out there." He opened the door and walked out into the cold, jogging down the steps and breathing in the icy air around him. Snow two feet deep sat around the house, and the lake behind him was frozen solid. It was a winter wonderland, but something he was almost too used to seeing, having spent his youth in Chicago.
