Page 53 of Out of the Shadow

The limo barrels toward Aroostook, streetlights dimly illuminating the interior of the limo. Mainly, though, we’re in shadows.

After a few miles, King says, “Angie, tonight’s been rough. My father has no use for me. I can see that now more than ever, but I had fun anyway. Because I was with you.”

I believe he’s wrong about his dad, but I don’t want to shut him down, so I just say, “I enjoyed myself, too.”

He squeezes my hand. “Can you be my family?”

My breath catches. The question is playful, but a thread of seriousness runs through it. I respond the same way. “I don’t know, King. Half the time I want to throttle you.”

His lips curve upward. “I’ve heard that’s how families work.”

Thinking of my siblings, I reply, “I guess you have a point.”

His hand reaches for my face and his finger lifts my chin up. My mouth parts and I lick my bottom lip.

“Kissing cousins?”

His face approaches mine, and stops. A question is in his eyes—he’s not going to do this if I don’t want him to. I swallow and my throat constricts. God help me, Idowant this. I need to feel his lips on mine again. For a quick second. My eyelids flutter shut.

King’s mouth covers mine in a sweet caress, barely touching mine. Making me want more. Maybe it would be all right if we kiss for a little while longer.

When I don’t pull back, his lips press harder against mine, moving in a rhythm I’m starting to learn. To crave. His hands remain on my shoulders, never moving. Giving me the space I need.

But I don’t need space.

I let my tongue reach out to his lips, which part immediately. His tongue enters my mouth and dances with mine. Still, his hands never leave my shoulders. I could kiss him like this forever. Was it ever like this with Dante?

Dante.

My body goes rigid and I break away from King. How could I have betrayed my soul mate again? Juliana’s words filter through my brain, telling me to live again, and the last item on the Bucket List dances through my thoughts. But I’m not ready. I doubt I ever will be.

King just looks at me, and when the limo stops in front of his apartment complex, he presses his forehead to mine. “Thank you for making tonight bearable.” With one more kiss on my cheek, he slips out the door.

I collapse back, ignoring the view out the windows on the ride home, my mind consumed with Dante and King and Braxton.

And those kisses.

King

I PULL INTOthe parking lot and shut off the engine. In my head, I replay the show’s latest competitions—both of which Angie won. Now we’re tied. But tonight isn’t about the show. It’s about a word that’s foreign to my vocabulary. Family.

My head hits the headrest. I actually sort of enjoyed karaoke night with her cousins last week. Her brother, Leo, is cool. Where we’re headed now, though, won’t have the distractions of a club. And her parents and grandmother will be there. I swallow. Hard. I’ve never made the best impression on anyone’s parents, including my own.

How many men has Angie brought to these Saturday dinners since Dante died? It’s been ten years, so probably quite a few.

My mind settles on Dante for a minute. What did he look like? What was he like? I have no frame of reference, but I want to know more about the man who was so important to Angie. I bet I can get some info out of her sister or mother today. Leo’s not the sharing type.

The door to the agency opens, startling me out of my thoughts. Angie locks up and heads toward my car. She’s wearing a turquoise tank top over white capris, with wedges on her feet. Sucking in my breath, I scramble out of the car to meet her. Kissing her cheek, I say, “Hi, beautiful.”

“Hey.” A rosy blush rises up her neck.

Her reaction, while adorable, strikes me as a bit unusual for such an obviously experienced woman. Even though I’ve only stolen a few more kisses since that night in the limo, her kisses affect me more than any other woman’s. Shrugging off the thought, I escort her into the car and plug her parents’ address into my GPS. Needing a distraction from the skin on her arms, I ask, “So, tell me about your family.”

Angie’s face transforms when she talks. “It’s Saturday dinner, so everyone will be there. Nonna, my grandmother, will tell you stories about the Old Country and how Nonno, my grandfather, used to court her. Nonno died five years ago.”

I incline my head and she continues, “My parents will be there, of course, and all three of my siblings. The only one you haven’t met is my oldest brother, Francesco, who will be there with his wife and their two kids. And my sister will be there with her husband and their son. He just turned four.”

“Sounds like a full house.”

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