by Ali Parker
Judged, Second Chance Romance
A Look Behind the Curtain
Sneak Peek
(This is Sicily, Johnny “Ryder” Moretti’s other sister’s story…)
Once Judged, Always Judged.
A past filled with harmful teasing isn't easily overcome. Neither is a history of crime and death.
Sicily Moretti comes from a long line of good cooking and large hips. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Culinary Institute of America, she finds success in sugary treats and rich pastries. Having moved from New York to Maine with her closest friend, Kari and Lisa, she's looking for a new start where the building of her own bakery will be her focus. She's not looking for love, nor is she interested in it. She's been judged incorrectly too many times.
Drake DeMarco comes from a long line of crime, his new life a fresh start. His older, Demetri worked hard to help the feisty alpha male cut ties with who he was born to be, his past completely hidden to everyone in the small town of Bar Harbor. He's invested in the town's only gym and is working hard to keep his attention only on his business, but everything changes when a dark-haired beauty begins to steal not only his attention, but his heart.
With a past that would land him in jail, he's beyond scared to let Sicily in. Good thing she doesn't seem in the least bit interested. Will he finally push past his fear of having her judge his family and their nefarious ways and force her to see him for who he is on the inside?
The past follows them until they turn and face it, reconciling who they once were from who they are to become - together.
Chapter 1
Sicily pressed her forehead to the door of the dressing room and let out a long sigh. Was there anything more depressing than trying on clothes because you couldn't fit into a damn thing in your closet?
"You okay?" Kari's voice was far too soft, her friend aware of her struggles.
"I guess. I just think this is stupid. I plan on losing this extra weight... like now. Spending money I really don't have on clothes that I'm not going to be able to wear soon seems dumb." Sicily moved back and unzipped the pants that fit perfectly. Too bad they were two sizes bigger than she wore back in New York. It had been six months since she, Lisa and Kari had left New York and moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. The need to break away from the big city and start a new life had panned out well for both Kari and Lisa, each of them in happy, healthy relationships.
I'm the only one without a guy. Maybe if I was thinner... Definitely.
"Sicily. Losing weight is a great plan, but you have to have something covering your pretty butt now, or you're going to give all these older people a heart attack." Kari let out a short laugh, and Sicily forced herself to chuckle as well.
The community was more of a retirement locale, but there were still plenty of people their age working and living around them. It wasn't about wanting someone to make her feel pretty or keep her company, but more about fitting in. Being the fifth wheel with her friends was getting old. She would start looking for love as soon as she got back into shape. No one deserved to be with someone who was obsessive about her size and most likely headed toward a heart attack any minute.
She shuddered at the thought, pushing down the memories of her mother's death earlier that year.
"Do those pants fit? They were cute." Kari's voice was hopeful, leaving Sicily to feel like shit that she hadn't told Kari no to her coming. It was traumatizing enough to realize that she needed to step on the scale, seeing that she had gained more weight than she had convinced herself of. Having her best friend, her thin, beautiful, best friend, standing on the other side of the door trying to coach and encourage her was mortifying.
Sicily took a slow breath and turned to look in the mirror as tears burned her gaze. "I'm good."
"No, you're not. I can hear it."
"I just need a few minutes. I'll meet you up front." Sicily swallowed the thick knot that sat in her throat.
Moving back to the small bench in the room, she sunk down on it and pressed her hands to her knees, trying to force herself to pull it together. It was just a few pounds. She would go for a jog that afternoon and start back on her meat and veggies diet at lunch. Owning the best bakery in Bar Harbor didn't mean she had to look the part of a trustworthy chef.
Maybe if she had decided to sell diet products or to bake pastries and treats without sugar or flour or oil. She rolled her eyes and slid her hands into her long dark hair, tugging a little in hopes of letting out a little bit of her angst. How long had she watched her weight to make sure she didn't look like her mother's side of the family? They were Sicilian, and her mother and older brother were far too heavy, their legs thin and middles portly.
"And she died because of it. You will too. Fat ass." Sicily glanced up at herself in the mirror, flinching at the harshness of her words. Being the only one in the room when her mother suffered a massive heart attack had left a severe toll on her and yet here she was, starting to look more and more like the woman she missed every day since her passing.
Sicily angrily wiped her tears away and got up, tugging the pants off and leaving her back to the mirror. She didn't want to see herself without clothes covering up most of her. It was mid-October, and she was so beyond grateful for fall's arrival. Not because of the cooler weather or all of the great events and holidays. It was simply a time where she could wear jeans and sweaters and cover herself up without looking ridiculous. Everyone would be joining her in the comfort of fall attire. Shorts and tank tops and bathing suits be damned.
She checked her face once before walking out of the dressing room, the puffiness around her chestnut gaze leaving it more than obvious that she had wept in the small room and had far too many issues. She paused by the front counter as a thin older woman glanced up.
"Is this all for you dear?"
Sicily kept her head down, making like she was trying to find her card in her purse. She was grateful that Kari was near the front, moving through the racks. Her friend would know right away that she was struggling, and in her kindness would cause Sicily to lose the composure she was tightly grasping.
"Yes. Thank you."
"I love this style. I'm so glad we have them in your size. I bet you look as cute as a button with them on."
Sicily glanced up and forced herself to smile. "They are great. It will be cash, please."
"Of course." The woman tilted her head as if studying Sicily. The dainty older woman pursed her lips as if trying to hold something behind them before ringing her up and sending her on her way.
Have them in my size? Did she mean to imply that the tent makers don't usually do this pattern?
Kari looked up as Sicily approached, a concerned smile on her pretty face. She had gotten her hair cut a month back and still looked impossibly beautiful with the style. It pulled in at her narrow face, framing her and helping to accentuate her button nose and brown eyes. Her blue blouse fit her snuggly, but it was a good look for her, Kari having been a runner her whole life. Dating the junior high coach in town was quite perfect for her, and the two of them were beyond good for each other.
"You get the pants?"
"Yep." Sicily nodded toward the door. "I've had enough torture for the day. Let's go get a coffee and sit outside and enjoy this weather for a while."
"I'm completely down for that." Kari reached out and pressed the door open. "Lisa should be back in town tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. I'm not sure how she and Marc are affording flying back and forth between Maine and New York every other weekend. When is he graduating?" Sicily reached up and pushed her hair behind her shoulder as the cool air of fall picked up around them.
Crimson, burnt-orange and yellow leaves fluttered around their feet, the trees a sight to see that time of year. The fall season was the whole reason for Lisa and Sicily picking Maine as their locale for setting up shop and trying to start a new life. She glanced over at Kari, grateful for the girl being with them as well. Kari hadn't been part of the original plan for moving to Main
e simply because she was engaged to be married to a guy who was born and would die, in New York. Frank was a scoundrel and had cheated on Kari the night before the wedding.
Sicily reached out and took her friend’s hand, squeezing it and smiling at her as Kari glanced over.
"Did you hear me? You look lost in thought." Kari squeezed back.
"Hm? Oh, I am. Did you tell me when Marc was graduating?"
"Yeah. It's next May from what momma told me. I swear Marc and I haven't spoken in a while. Just both so busy I guess."
"I need to call my brother, Johnny. It's been a few months since I've heard his voice too. That's just unacceptable. Life can be taken from you at any moment. Best to tell those you love how much they mean to you every chance you get. Right?" Sicily released Kari's hand as they walked into the quaint coffee shop.
Kari glanced over as sadness swept across her pretty features. Sicily's friends were empathetic to her situation with her mother, which helped, and yet didn't. She needed closure but wasn't quite sure how to get it.
"The pumpkin spice coffee is finally back in season. I swear I want to get ten of them just to make up for the rest of the year when they don't have it." Kari smirked and moved toward the counter, glancing over her shoulder. "My treat."
"No. You paid last time." Sicily moved up beside her, handing her card to the handsome, young barista. "I'll pay for both of us."
"Of course, ma'am. What can I get you?" He glanced at Kari and then back to Sicily, his gaze almost analyzing.
He's disgusted by how fat you are. Hurry and order. Order something non-fat. Order it skinny or with no milk at all. Just get an espresso. No, you don't need anything. Get a water.
She swallowed the hot burn of disgust mixed with extreme sadness. Kari rolled her eyes at her before ordering, her friend not happy with not getting to pay.
"I'll have a medium pumpkin spice coffee with extra pumpkin spice and double the whipped cream."
"Now we're talking." The guy smiled at Kari and glanced to Sicily. "You want the same?"
He expects you to because you're the fat girl. Of course, you want extra and doubles of everything.
"Uh, no. I'll take a glass of water, please." Sicily extended the card to him, the frown appearing on his face a replica to Kari's.
"No, she doesn't. She wants one of what I got." Kari reached out and tugged the card back.
"No. I don't." Sicily glanced toward her friend, a warning on her face. She was rarely terse with anyone, least of all Kari. They had been friends for the last two years, and Kari was unbelievably loyal and kind. Sicily would rather slap a baby than hurt Kari's feelings.
"Sis... we've been waiting all year for these to come back. What's the deal?" Kari tilted her head, confusion on her face.
Sicily couldn't get into her issues in front of the handsome boy who seemed to be staring them down, waiting for some awkward cat fight that just wasn't going to happen.
"She's right." Sicily turned back to the guy. "I just had a big breakfast. Can you just make me a normal one with low-fat milk and no whipped cream please?"
"You bet. It’s better the other way, but I'm happy to..."
Sicily cut him off, barking at him, which was far out of character for her. She felt like shit the minute she did it. "Low-fat milk. No whipped cream."
"Absolutely. It will be ready in a few minutes, girls." He smiled and nodded toward the pickup counter after checking them out.
Kari reached out and brushed her fingers down Sicily's arm, and they moved to the counter. "Hey. What's going on? Talk to me."
Sicily glanced up and sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, pressing her teeth into it as tears filled her eyes again. She needed to get a hold of herself, but her damn weight was ruining her life, changing her personality, wrecking her sense of self-worth.
After all these years of being careful and taking care to keep herself healthy, she watched her mother die from heart disease and then decides to follow her?
A tear rolled down her face, and she glanced toward the door. "Grab our drinks, and I'll meet you outside."
She turned and walked out of the coffee shop, leaving Kari with most likely more questions than Sicily felt up to answering.
She just wanted to be left alone.
Chapter 2
Sicily had done her best to push the conversation off the night before, Kari less than thrilled with her unwillingness to open up. How would she start a conversation like that anyway?
"I hate myself most days because I've gotten fat like my mother? I don't want anyone looking at me because all I see is condemnation and pity?"
Making a sharp left turn, she let out a soft growl and pulled up to the shop. A little red truck was parked in the spot beside hers, the young guy she hired at the end of the summer a god-send. Martin was nineteen and had just graduated in May from Bar Harbor High, but he wasn't yet sure what he wanted to do with his life, so his parents gave him a year to figure it out. He would be forced to go to college the following year. She was happy to have him as long as he could stay.
Sicily let her emotions wash out as she sat in the serenity of her car and forced herself to focus on the day she had ahead of her. The small square in the middle of the town had two bakeries, and she was the one with all the sweets and treats. Judy's was more savory treats, but they had the occasional donut or muffin. The woman who owned it was a vicious bitch that Sicily tried to avoid like the plague.
She was too tall and thin for her own good. Her reasons behind owning the shop more to do with her insatiable desire to own the world than wanting to provide something delicious for the residents to enjoy. The plan from the on-start was to work the bitch out of business, but her elderly mother was the chef behind the efforts and after meeting her, Sicily couldn't do anything but help support the older woman when possible.
A smile lifted her lip as she thought about Lisa and Kari spending hours in the kitchen trying to decide what the three of them could do to put Judy's out of business. Two bakeries in a small town would never work, but somehow, it did.
She got out of the car and pulled her purse over her shoulder. Turning to glance around the square, she noticed a few cars outside the hardware shop, one of them seeming all too familiar.
Drake DeMarco.
Sicily rolled her eyes and walked quickly to the shop, wondering if she should park her car behind the store so that he wouldn't realize she was there. If he didn't stop by it would be a glorious day. The man had an incessant need to be in her face, offering her every deal he could come up with to join his gym. He seemed to like fixer-uppers, and she wasn't interested in being one of his projects.
Being his for a long night of hot sex – anytime, unless she had to take off her clothes or he wanted to keep the lights on. She shook her head, realizing how ridiculous she was being. Drake wasn't interested in a relationship or sex. He wanted to help her lose weight and get healthy because that's how he made his money. Too bad he was Kari's boyfriend Jake's best friend. That simply meant he was in her life to stay. Good thing she had gotten quite comfortable with telling him to take a hike.
The problem was that he never did.
Martin pulled the door open with a big smile on his face. His shaggy blond hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and his blue eyes filled with wonder.
Oh, to be young and hopeful again.
"Hey, boss lady. I was starting to wonder if you were coming in. You take one day off, and all of a sudden you’re late and I don't see the chocolate powder I texted you that we need." He moved back as Sicily walked in and reached out to brush a leaf off of her arm.
"Oh damn! You did ask me to pick that up." She turned as the door behind her opened.
Drake.
"Pick what up? Need me to go grab something for you guys? I don't have to be at the gym for a while." He slid his hand over his stomach, his movements accentuating the eight pack that lay beneath the tight t-shirt. The man had to be the most beautiful thing in all of Maine. His dark
hair begged for someone's fingers to run through it over and over again. His eyes were almost black, his skin beautifully tanned and his personality that of an alpha male with world dominance in mind.
"No. We're good." Sicily turned back to Martin. "Do you need the powder this morning? I can run back out after I double-check inventory."
"We have an order at eleven, so I need it pretty soon." Martin glanced toward Drake. "Mr. DeMarco. How are you, Sir?"
Sicily moved toward the counter, dropping her purse in the open cabinet beside the register as the two guys started to talk about their long summer and how much Martin could lift now thanks to Drake's help. She tried to appear busy, not wanting to seem eager to hear anything Drake had to say. It had been a long six months of trying to hide how much she wanted to be a part of his life. He was far beyond her league when she was thin a few months back, but now... impossible.
No need to embarrass herself with hoping for something that would end in extreme rejection. Her friends badgered her nonstop about Drake, both of them misunderstanding his constant nagging for a crush. He wasn't interested in anything but her membership to his gym and the ability to tout to everyone that he had worked the town baker into shape. He was a dick most days - balking at her cooking and leaving her to feel like a walking heart attack, which she most likely was.
"I keep trying to get your boss to come see me." Drake moved toward the counter, tapping it as Sicily looked up.
"Oh yeah?" Martin moved up beside him, the wonder on the boy's face something Sicily was used to seeing. He wanted to be a chef and to own his own place. He was taken with her simply for that reason alone. She enjoyed it... it meant she was doing something right in some part of her life.
"I don't have time." She glanced back down, pressing a few buttons on the register to bring it to life. "Besides, no one trusts a thin chef."
