Page 42 of The Killer Cupcake
He moved to her side and leaned down to brush his lips against her cheek, the gesture tender despite everything between them. With careful precision, he placed the wedding rings she'd left behind on the table beside her plate.
"I missed you," he whispered against her ear, his breath warm on her skin.
"Missed you too," she mumbled, the admission pulled from somewhere deep and honest. She put on her wedding ring first, then the other tarnished band.
Satisfied, the Wolf took his seat across from her as the staff brought his dinner. She found herself studying his face as he settled in. "Marco told me you were looking for me?" he asked.
"Yes. He wouldn't tell me where you were."
Carmelo continued to hold her gaze steadily. "I figured you wanted me to stay away. Give you the space you asked for."
"That's not what I want," she said quietly.
"What do you want, then?" His voice carried a dangerous edge. "To bake me a cupcake?"
Her eyes widened at the loaded reference. She glanced toward Nino, who was giggling delightedly. "Kathy bakes good cakes! Bake us cupcakes, Kathy! I want a pink one!”
She managed a smile for him. "Maybe later, Nino."
Turning back to Carmelo, she asked the question that mattered most: "Will you come to bed tonight?"
His eyebrow arched with sardonic amusement. "I haven't been invited."
"You want to fight with me? Keep me angry so you can stay angry?" Her voice grew stronger. "What is it with Ricci men constantly punishing the women they claim to love? Do you get off on me breaking like your father?”
Carmelo's fist slammed down on the table with enough force to make the silverware jump and ring like bells. Kathy allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk. That cupcake remark pissed her off.
"I've lost my appetite. I’m going to bed now,” she sighed.
"Wait," Carmelo said sharply as she started to rise. "Please."
She settled back into her chair, waiting.
"I'm sorry. I'm not handling this right." His voice was rough with exhaustion and something that might have been defeat.
She studied his face, searching for the man beneath the Wolf's mask.
"Can I come to bed?" he asked, the question almost vulnerable.
Kathy stood and moved to Nino first, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart." Then she walked around the table to where Carmelo sat watching her every movement. She placed her hand on his shoulder, letting it drift down to rest over his heart, her diamond wedding ring gleaming in the warm light.
He captured her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a reverent kiss to her palm.
She leaned close enough that only he could hear. “Play with your brother. Then come to bed. I'll listen to everything you need to tell me. I promise."
“Can I touch you tonight?” he asked, his hand on hers.
“As much as you want,” she said.
She watched the tight coil of anger in his shoulders finally begin to unwind, then stepped back and left the brothers at the table. As she climbed the stairs, she understood exactly what his return to their bed would mean—and this time, she would handle things differently.
This time, she would meet him as simply Kathy, not as a wife armed for war, but as the woman who'd loved him long before she'd learned to weaponize that love. And she would make him face some hard truths, so they can finally unite and save their family.
CHAPTER 18
TREMÉ NEW ORLEANS 1950
Debbie,
