Page 82 of Married With Lies

The sound of a key turning in a lock startles me. The apartment door swings open and Cale steps inside. He’s holding a white paper bag and halts at the sight of me standing in the living room and examining his possessions.

“You look better,” he says and closes the door.

“Thanks. So do you.”

Why did I say that?

Cale looks the same as he did yesterday and the day before that. Effortlessly hot. He’s unshaven and dressed casually in black jeans and a dark blue t-shirt, exposing his impressive arms.

He doesn’t seem to notice my dumb comment. He crosses the room and holds out the paper bag. “In case you’re hungry. The scones won’t be up to Peggy’s standards but it’s the best I could do.”

Peeking into the bag, I see a collection of buttery pastries that would be extremely tempting if my stomach wasn’t recovering from a full scale revolt.

Cale nods to the bookcase. “Looking for reading material?”

“Yes. I forgot to pack my own.”

“I don’t have much of a selection but there’s a bookstore down the street. Tell me what romance novels to look for and I’ll go get them.”

“Wow. Romance novels and scones. A window into my heart. Have you been reading my diary?”

“No need. You have a habit of leaving books lying everywhere around your house. I could hardly move without tripping over rakish dukes and wily pirates.”

“I’m not immune to guilty pleasures.” I gesture to the bookcase. “Is Tom Clancy yours?”

“The paperbacks belonged to my dad.” Cale shrugs. “I don’t have too many of his things.”

I look at the photo of Cale’s parents again. His resemblance to his father is particularly strong. The same broad shoulders and the same eyes. But the humor in the man’s face reminds me more of Luca, whereas some indefinable quality in the more reserved woman beside him was passed down to Cale.

We’re all made from bits and pieces of the people who came before us. This means I’m half Asher Wingate. What a disconcerting thought.

I switch my gaze to the photo of the Connelly brothers. “Is Luca still in town?”

“He left yesterday. But he said he hopes you’re feeling better. And he also complimented your aim.”

“My aim?”

“You went all exorcist demon and spewed right in your sister’s face.”

I wince. “Oh yeah. I blocked that part out. I guess no one is a fan of Hadley.”

“You guessed right.”

I must be truly on the mend after the food poisoning ordeal because I can’t stop staring at Cale’s lips and recalling how it felt to be kissed by him.

Cale’s attention is fixed on the picture of him with his brother. The crease in his forehead indicates that some of the thoughts tumbling through his head are troubled.

“You must be very proud of Luca,” I say.

“Of course I’m proud. My parents would have been very proud too.”

“Maybe he’ll move back to New York. I’m sure you miss him a lot.”

Cale is already shaking his head. “He should stay there.”

“Because you don’t want him near your uncle?”

I’m sure I’ve overstepped a boundary. Trash talking the head of Amato crime family isn’t the wisest move. Cale would be justified in telling me to keep my mouth shut.

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