Page 80 of Married With Malice

Here I am, hopelessly falling anyway and wishing my husband would reach over to hold my hand.

This trip could be an opportunity for us, if we both let it.

Luca sets the brake and cuts the engine. He exhales loudly. I feel as if I should say something but no magic words spring to mind to erase all this strain.

Sadie detaches from Cale and grabs me in a hug the second I step out of the car.

“You’re here!” she exclaims while squeezing my ribs. “I’m so happy to meet you, Annalisa.”

“Happy to meet you too, Sadie.” I’m gentle about hugging her back, careful not to squish the big belly between us.

“Oh, did you feel that?” Sadie grabs my hand, pressing it to her belly. “Baby Connelly is also excited to meet Aunt Annalisa. Can I call you Anni? Cale says that’s what Luca calls you.”

“Please do,” I say, amazed to feel the resident in Sadie’s stomach thump beneath my palm.

Glancing over at Luca, I notice his stiff posture as he shakes Cale’s hand. The brothers exchange a subdued greeting but Sadie will tolerate no such reluctance. She scuttles over and envelopes Luca in a hug whether he wants one or not. A faint smile finally pulls at his mouth as she shows off her stomach.

“Three weeks until my due date,” she says. “But I could pop at any time.”

“Are you still arguing over names?” Luca asks.

“A consensus has yet to be reached,” Sadie admits as Cale finally succeeds in hanging a pink parka over her shoulders. “We’ve got time.”

Cale raises an eyebrow but he’s grinning. “Not much time.”

Though the sky is clear, the freezing temperature finally slices through me and I zip my down jacket closed. Luca tossed his coat in the backseat and appears indifferent to the cold. He’s out of place here in his charcoal grey suit. As scorchingly sexy as he looks, I’ve grown to dislike his suits. I’d much rather see him wearing old beat up jeans and a hoodie.

Winter takes on a new meaning here. In our neighborhood at home, winter is a drab suburban landscape and icy roads. But at Bright Hearts Ranch the layer of snow covering the ground gives the view a storybook quality. A pair of horses are idly exploring a fenced in paddock. The red barn belongs in a postcard. A wisp of smoke curls from the brick chimney peeking out from the roof of the lemon yellow farmhouse.

Meanwhile, Cale has taken a step back to study his brother. And his smile has disappeared.

“The dogs know they have guests,” Sadie laughs and points to a long single story structure.

Now I hear it, a smattering of joyful barks echoing from the building. Sadie proudly explains that the sanctuary is currently housing over fifty animals.

While Sadie rattles off the details of the Bright Hearts Ranch population, Luca stores the car key in the inner pocket of his blazer. I look up in time to see Cale’s eyes darken when he catches sight of the holstered gun on Luca’s hip.

I cannot account for the obvious tension between the Connelly brothers. Again, I wonder if there’s more to the circumstances surrounding Cale’s departure and Luca’s initiation as his uncle’s apprentice. Cale comes off as both pleased and uneasy to see his younger brother. While Luca, who always idolized Cale, is more standoffish than ever.

At least any awkwardness is defused by Sadie’s exuberance. She’s clearly proud of the ranch and she should be. The way I hear it, she fled the stifling confines of her wealthy family’s expectations right after college and started this place from scratch.

Before today, I had a lot of trouble picturing the forbidding Cale Connelly as the cheerful country type but looking at him now, he fits right in. Whenever he gazes at his wife, his face fills with such awestruck adoration it’s enough to melt even the coldest heart.

“Where are your bags?” Sadie says. “Bring them inside. I’ll show you to your room.”

Luca is very quick to refuse. “Thanks, but we’ll be on our way shortly. We need to get up to the resort.”

No, we don’t. I don’t see why we need to rush our visit at the ranch. It was Richie Amato who suggested Luca ought to visit his brother. It’s been a while since Luca has seen Cale. I’d hate to be separated from Daisy and Sabrina for so long. And this would be good for Luca, to spend some time with family. Maybe visiting with Cale can shake him out of the stark decline of his personality.

Sadie is plainly disappointed in the news and searches for her husband’s reaction. Cale’s mouth tightens but he says nothing. I get the feeling he’s not surprised.

With the sound of squealing hinges, a side door swings open and a woman steps out. She’s petite with a bundle of coiled white hair. Covering most of her upper body is an article of clothing than can only be described as a blanket/poncho that looks as if it was assembled with a kaleidoscope of mismatched yarn remnants.

Her rubber rain boots march over the frozen ground with the determination of a general.

“Peggy, there you are.” Sadie throws her arms around the old woman and her jacket falls off.

Cale picks it up and hangs it on her shoulders again without missing a beat.

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