Page 82 of Married With Malice

Although I’m sure she knows I’m deflecting with the quick topic change, she’s happy to give me another rundown of the ranch’s current inhabitants.

The first cup of tea Peggy pours is delivered to Luca with strict instructions. “Drink this immediately.”

If I were him, I wouldn’t dare to disobey.

Peggy hands out cups of tea to us all. I’ve never been real keen on tea but after a few sips of hot liquid that contains hints of peppermint and citrus, I’ve changed my mind.

At one point Sadie suddenly sets down her mug and straightens up in her chair with a wince as she puts a hand on her belly. Cale is at her side as quick as lightning but she’s quick to offer him a smile of reassurance.

“Just those damn Braxton Hicks,” she says. “Nobody should get excited just yet.”

Cale, however, is reluctant to retreat and stays within a three foot radius. It’s sincerely charming the way he hovers with anxious eyes focused on his wife at all times.

When I shift my gaze to Luca to see how he’s taking this all in, he’s not even watching. His phone buzzes and he sighs as he checks the screen and then shoves the phone into his front pocket.

Peggy hands out slices of coffee cake and I’m unashamed to say that I devour mine. If we were staying, I’d ask Peggy for some cooking tips. Like how to remember it’s always a good idea to double check your ingredients so you avoid dousing your mother’s Christmas apple cake recipe with hot red pepper.

Just as I’ve finished the last bite of spongy cake, an orange kitten jumps on the table and sniffs at the remaining crumbs. She nudges my hand but when I try to scratch her ears she leaps right into my lap and immediately begins to purr.

Sabrina’s allergies meant that pets were always off limits in our house and I’ve never spent much time around cats. But curling my arms around that warm little bundle of fur and feeling her nuzzle my cheek is so therapeutic and wholesome that I end up shutting my eyes for a few seconds.

When I open them, Sadie is holding her phone up. There’s an audible click.

“Sorry.” She sets the phone down. “Your cuteness overwhelmed me and I was compelled to take a photo. And you can’t be angry with a pregnant lady. It’s against the law.”

“That’s true,” Cale says. “I’ve been assured of this fact repeatedly.”

Sadie reaches for her husband’s hand. He bends down and drops a quick kiss on her lips.

Their constant little signals of affection produce both fascination and a slight prick of envy. I don’t know what that’s like, to be the center of someone’s entire world.

Whenever this thought enters my mind I look for Luca, only to find he’s distracted, tense and always looking elsewhere.

Sadie and Cale take us on a tour of the entire ranch. There’s so much love and life built into every square foot of Bright Hearts. Then I flash back to my cold, aesthetically vacant house back in New York and cringe.

Despite Sadie’s best efforts to persuade us to stay, Luca is intent on leaving as soon as possible. This is his family, not mine, so I can’t overrule him. For whatever reason, he doesn’t want to be here.

Sadie hugs me and extracts a promise that we’ll come back before we leave Colorado.

Cale tips his head back to check out the sky. “It’s all clear now but the latest weather report says there’s a storm coming tomorrow. Might be bad enough to close the road up to the mountain for a few days.”

“All the more reason you should stay here,” Sadie says, full of hope as she holds her hands together in a prayer pose.

I don’t know how Luca has the heart to say no to her but he simply offers her a quick side hug and extends a hand to his brother.

“I’ll call you,” he says to Cale.

Cale pumps his hand and holds his eye. “All right,” he says.

The silence between them couldn’t be louder. Sadie watches our husbands with a wrinkle of worry between her brows. I’d love to know what she’s thinking.

As we drive away, I turn to wave and see that Cale’s head is down. Sadie slides a comforting arm around his waist.

A forlorn sensation skims over me as we leave Bright Hearts Ranch behind. I decide to give myself an inner pep talk.

It’ll be just the two of us up there at the hot springs. A true romantic getaway. The first one since our honeymoon. Thinking of those charmed, blissful days on the beach brings a warm rush of pleasure and not just because we spent endless hours in bed.

Luca and I have shared a real connection at times. There’s more than just sex and a marriage contract between us. I refuse to believe I’m the only one who felt it.

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