Page 124 of Married With Malice

“Which one?”

“The world famous landmark with the big stone lions and the words New York Public Library etched into the front.”

“That’s in midtown,” Monte complains.

“Check you out,” Sabrina says. “So smart. You know where the library is and everything.”

“We’re not going to Manhattan at all,” Monte says. “We’ve got to be in Queens.”

“All part of the same big, beautiful city,” Sabrina points out.

Monte ignores her and addresses Luca. “We’ll be criminally late for the meeting if we have to drive all the way to Manhattan and then double back to Queens. Your uncle will shit enough bricks to build a castle.”

“Nah. He’s got plenty of company. As long as I show up before it’s over we’re good.”

Monte runs a hand through his hair, unconvinced. “Whatever you say.”

“Shotgun,” Sabrina says with glee, grabbing her purse. “Monte gets the backseat.”

Monte snorts and rolls his eyes at the ceiling. “So many things I could say right now but it’s too early in the day to break your little PG-rated mind.”

Ignoring their petty bickering, I reach for my husband to claim one more kiss. “Come home to me soon.”

“I will.” He kisses me back and flashes a cocky grin. “Miss me while I’m gone.”

“I always do.”

“I’m ready!” Sabrina finishes zipping her winter jacket and gallops outside first, followed by Monte.

Luca is the last to leave and I watch him from the open doorway, rubbing my arms at the chill. Before he reaches the car, he turns and runs back to me at top speed.

I don’t have time to utter a word before he picks me up and swings me around. And around and around.

“You’re a psycho!” I laugh as the world spins.

He gets the joke and sets me down with the same grin he wore that night in our hotel room. “And now I’m YOUR psycho.”

“Forever.” I tip my head back for one last kiss. “You promised.”

“You get all my promises,” he says, then lifts my hand to press it to his heart. “This is yours.”

“Running late,” Monte calls with impatience. “And we still need to play chauffeur for gamer girl over here.”

Sabrina makes a face at him. “What are you afraid of, that you’ll finally get to Queens and it won’t be there anymore?”

“Expect me home before dark,” Luca says.

“I’ll be waiting.” I wave.

As I watch him drive away, I’m on cloud nine. Back in the kitchen, the roses are still lying on the counter and I place them in a large plastic movie theater cup filled with water.

This is the very first Valentine’s Day I’ve ever celebrated. I’ll be packing some brand new sinful lingerie. I’m looking forward to modeling it for my husband. But mostly I just can’t wait to laugh with him and get him away from his uncle’s clutches for a little while.

My panties remain saturated from our pantry exercise and I decide to change and take a quick shower. After pinning up my hair, I let the hot water cascade over my body and use a loofah to rub my favorite strawberry-scented soap on my skin.

Twenty minutes later, I’m toweling off and I’ve just stepped into a clean pair of panties when I think I hear noise coming from downstairs.

I freeze in front of the sink. The vanity mirror is still covered in shower steam. No other noise reaches my ears. I might have imagined the sound but I could have sworn it very closely resembled the shrill squeak of the side door to the kitchen.

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