Page 75 of Sizzling Nights

He turned to the stove to stir the garlic. But also, he didn't want Theresa to hear. "Was Shooter near Keely when she died?"

"Yeah. Carolyn too."

Marco sucked in a deep breath. He nodded slowly. "Thank you."

The call ended and Marco finished their meal. Steak, with garlic and mushrooms crusted over the top. He popped the steaks into the oven to sear the flavors together. As that baked for a moment, he pulled two plates from the cupboard and gathered his thoughts about how to tell Theresa she was right about that piece of shit Shooter.

"Did he kill Keely?"

He turned around to see Theresa standing at the counter staring at him. He inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yes."

"What about Carolyn?"

He swallowed a knot that formed in his throat. "Yes."

Theresa nodded. Her eyes glistened, she bit her bottom lip and sniffed. "I knew it. I could feel it. Now I know for sure, but I don't know how to feel about that. Not that I care two shits about his reputation, but part of me hoped that someone Keely once loved wouldn't be so cruel as to beat her to death."

He held his arms open and she quickly moved around the counter and filled his arms. He rested his cheek on the top of her head as his arms wrapped her in warmth. Her arms wrapped around his waist. He enjoyed the feeling of Theresa in his arms. He always enjoyed this feeling, but sometimes it just felt better than others. Maybe because he needed her here with him as much as she needed him right now.

He kissed the top of her head and rubbed his hands up and down her back. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

She lifted her face up to his. "It's not your fault. Being the bearer of bad news sucks too, doesn't it?"

"It does." He sighed. "Especially when you know the news is going to hurt someone you love."

Her arms squeezed him once more then she stepped back. "Now what?"

"I'm waiting for my contact to get back to me on when we can meet. He is also setting up an encrypted portal to upload the documents Gabby and Mitch have."

"Can we see it first?"

"Of course. I can ask Mitch to upload it."

She grinned slightly. "Let me set up an encrypted portal for him to upload them. I have this one covered."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "You absolutely do."

She moved to her computer, and he pulled their dinner from the oven. He garnished the plates with asparagus he pulled from a pan on the stove.

Grabbing silverware from the drawer, he carried the sizzling plates, with the assistance of hot pads, to the dining room table and set them on placemats. She smiled as she glanced at their dinner. "Damn, once again, gonna have to work out."

He brought a bottle of wine from the wine rack and two glasses and sat next to her. "I know how to work this off."

She laughed. "Yes. I like your workouts."

She cut into her steak and took a bite. "Mmm." She swallowed. "Baby, you are a fantastic chef."

He poured them each a glass of wine, not even irritated she didn't wait for him to dig in. He smiled as he handed her a glass. "To us."

"To us."

He then dug into his steak and thoughts of what his future looked like swirled in his mind. She was his future. Dinners like this and maybe a kid or two running around the house. Mornings with her and a hot cup of coffee. Nights with her sizzling under him as he made love to her. That's what he saw when he thought of the future.

"Do you want kids?" he blurted out. Her eyes locked onto his and held.

"Do you?"

"I asked you first."

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