Page 62 of Sin and Redemption

“Would you like me to bake chocolate cookies? I have a foolproof recipe with sea salt and macadamia nuts.”

“I’m outside helping my dad and brother,” Maximus informed me, pausing as if there was more he wanted to say before he left.

Cara helped me gather all the ingredients, and I whipped up the batter in ten minutes.

“Tea?” she asked.

Together, we settled at the kitchen table with two mugs of tea as we waited for the cookies to bake. Outside, a chainsaw roared up, followed by the screech of it biting into wood.

The barking of dogs from upstairs reminded me that Maximus and his family always locked away their dogs when I came to visit. Now that I’d decided to become a more active part of the Trevisan family, I had to get used to their dogs.

“You can let them out of their prison,” I said with an embarrassed laugh.

Cara seemed surprised by the suggestion. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“If I don’t face my fears, they won’t go away.” Last night had shown me that. I knew it wasn’t as easy as that and certainly not something that happened from one day to the other, but I had to start somewhere.

The oven beeped. I got up and removed the perfect chocolate cookies from the oven, setting them on the stove.

“Are you sure?” Cara asked as she hovered in the doorway.

“Yes.”

She disappeared, followed by the soft creak of the wooden floorboards upstairs. Excited barking rang out, followed by the sound of paws rushing down the stairs. My heart rate picked up, and I had to force myself to stand still and not let panic get the better of me.

To my relief, the dogs barely spared me a glance. Instead, they all rushed out through the doggy door. I glanced out of the kitchen window to watch them greet Maximus excitedly. Especially the huge white dog, Bacon, almost ran him over in his excitement, which wasn’t an easy feat. Maximus laughed, his face transforming to contentment. Then as if he remembered that I was here with him, a frown took over his expression, and he looked toward me. He nodded toward the house as he said something to his father and brother, then he approached the front door.

Shortly after he stepped into the kitchen, still with his shoes on. It always bothered me. I knew Cara and Growl didn’t mind. They said the dogs used the same paws inside and outside so dirt got in anyway, but I had been raised that shoes didn’t belong inside the house.

“Are you okay?” Maximus asked. Cara, who had been busy preparing coffee for a cookie and coffee break for the men, sent him a frustrated look. “Sara asked me to release the dogs. She wants to get to know them.”

Getting to know them. Well, I would be happy if my body didn’t automatically jump to flight mode whenever a dog came my way.

I gave him a smile. “It’s true. I have to get used to them.”

I could tell by the warm look in Maximus eyes how much he appreciated my willingness. Bacon came inside to be with Maximus and approached me curiously. His tail wagged lightly and he sniffed at my legs carefully.

“If you want, you can hold your hand out to him. It’s a friendly way of saying hi to a dog.”

I extended my hand, which shook slightly. Maximus came to my side. Bacon pressed up to him excitedly again before he sniffed my fingers with mild interest. I was surprised the other dogs hadn’t joined him yet, but I assumed that Maximus had asked his brother and father to keep them outside.

“I used to be terrified of Ryan’s dogs. You remind me of my past self,” Cara said.

“I really can’t imagine you being afraid of dogs,” I said. I knew the story of how Growl had received Cara as a sort of gift by the crazy former Capo of the Camorra. I wasn’t sure how they had made it work. It seemed like a difficult thing to overcome.

Maximus reached past me for a cookie, and his arm brushed mine, sending a pleasant shiver through my body. Our gazes locked, then he straightened and took a bite from the cookie.

“Oh, and the potter’s wheels and the oven arrived,” Cara said.

My eyes widened. I had completely forgotten that Maximus wanted to get them. “Potter’swheels?”

“I ordered two,” Maximus said with a shrug. “One for our apartment and one for here, in case you ever feel like doing pottery when we’re visiting.”

I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

Cara quickly retreated and pretended to be busy with something in the pantry. Maximus put an arm around my back and kissed my lips as if it was the most natural thing in our marriage, and surprisingly it didn’t feel strange at all. “You’re welcome.”

He released me and I had to resist the urge to touch my lips.

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