Page 60 of Sizzling Nights

Marco entered the dining room and whistled. "This is beautiful."

"I can't take credit for buying the dishes, placemats, and candles, but I love how they look together."

The security system chimed, and Marco hurried to the computer on the desk to check the cameras.

"They're here."

She nodded and glanced once more at her pitiful dress still sadly draped across the back of the sofa, before she sauntered toward the front door to greet their guests. She waited until Marco gave the all clear and joined her at the door.

He opened it and stepped onto the front porch as Mitch exited his vehicle. Jace and Margo were pulling items from their SUV to bring inside. She couldn't imagine what they brought.

Mitch shook Marco's hand. His eyes examined the shiner Marco sported then he nodded. "It could be worse."

Marco chuckled. "It could."

When Mitch's eyes turned to her, though, his lips turned down in a frown. "I'm sorry to see you bruised up, Theresa. I feel as though I should have protected you more."

She smiled at Mitch. "It could be worse."

He chuckled as his own words were tossed back at him, then she took a breath. "I'm sorrier for the dress. I apologize for the damage. It is so beautiful."

Mitch held his hand up for her to stop. "Don't worry about it. We'll see if the dry cleaners can clean it up."

Jace and Margo came to the porch with arms full of goodies. Marco chuckled. "What on earth do you have here?"

Jace chuckled and Margo responded. "We brought food in case you're running out of things."

Theresa moved to the side to let Margo pass through the door. "Here let me help you with these."

She took a bag from Margo's arms and carried it to the kitchen. Margo set her bag on the counter next to Theresa's then turned to her and hugged her.

Margo's hug was warm and friendly, and it felt so good. Not as good as Marco's, but close.

When Margo pulled back, she looked at Theresa's face. "Oh, honey. Are you alright?"

Theresa nodded. "I am. It actually looks worse than it is. It only hurts when I touch it."

Margo's lips turned down. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault, Margo."

Jace entered behind them with bags and set them on the counter. When his eyes landed on her face, he frowned. "How are you, Theresa?"

She chuckled. "I'm good. As I mentioned to Margo, it looks worse than it is. I think Marco took the brunt of the beatings though."

Marco stepped around the counter and shook his head. "It's all in a day."

Mitch laughed. "It used to be. These days you wrestle more with meat than people."

Marco laughed. "Truth."

Theresa remembered her manners. "What can I get everyone to drink?"

Margo pulled two bottles of wine from one of the grocery bags. "I brought wine so we can celebrate."

Theresa chuckled. "I'm all for that." She looked at her watch. "The report will publish in twenty minutes."

Margo chuckled. "We could be into our second bottle by then."

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