Page 121 of Married With Malice

“We’ll find a way out,” she whispers. “All of us.”

Her stubborn optimism is admirable. Annalisa understands what we’re up against. But we’re armed with something we didn’t have when we left. We’re a team. There are no more secrets between us.

“I love you,” I tell her and dip my head to kiss her mouth.

With I hold my wife, I do feel like anything is possible, that we’ll win any battle we face as long as we’re fighting together.

I choose to believe that I’m right.

27

ANNALISA

“Tell me the story again,” Sabrina begs as she rolls up another slice of salami. She slides the whole tube between her lips and waits to be accommodated.

“I’ve told you the story a hundred times. It doesn’t change.” I tilt the pitcher to top off her glass of iced tea.

She finishes chewing her salami slice. “Humor me. I’m alone on Valentine’s Day. I need to live vicariously through tales of your romantic blizzard experience.”

“Romantic? I crashed into a tree, got lost and nearly froze to death on a mountain.”

“That’s a very negative summary. Focus on the part where Luca bravely faced the deadly weather elements to rescue his damsel in distress and carried you to safety.”

I have to smile over my sister’s dramatic flair. “Yes, that’s exactly what happened.”

She lets out a swoony sigh. “And then what?”

“Then I had to be examined for frostbite and explain to everyone that I unintentionally drove into a blizzard because I wanted to go shopping.”

“I feel like you’re deliberately depriving me of all the good parts,” she sniffs.

“We have different ideas about what the good parts are.” I pick up her lunch dishes and carry them to the sink.

“What are you two doing for Valentine’s Day?”

“We’re spending the night in the city. Luca got tickets toHamiltonand then we’re staying at the Four Seasons.” I know I’m grinning like a clown. I can’t be stopped.

“I’ve never seen you like this,” she says.

“Rinsing off dishes? I’m trying to be domestic. Stick around and maybe I’ll take the trash out.”

“Ha! No, I mean you’re so happy. Like ecstatically happy. Ever since you and Luca returned from your trip last month, the two of you are so lovesick you’ve eclipsed Daisy and Big Man Bowie in the mushiness department.”

“Guilty and loving it.”

Sabrina is sitting closest to the window and her attention is caught by something outside. “Look at that. I must have accidentally activated Loverboy by speaking his name.”

“What?” I switch the kitchen faucet off and hear the lock on the side door click open.

Luca strolls in with a huge bouquet of roses tucked into the crook of his arm. His dashing smile sends my pulse fluttering. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”

I run to him and he scoops me up with his free arm. I kiss him as frantically as if we’ve been separated for far longer than half a day but eventually I need to come up for air.

“What are you doing here?” I kiss him again. “I thought you weren’t going to be home until after your meeting later.”

“We were in the neighborhood. I couldn’t pass through without seeing my beautiful wife, especially not on Valentine’s Day.”

Monte Castelli has followed him in and now leans awkwardly against the stove.

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