SicilySicily waited until the pretty bombshell walked off before slipping in her ear buds and climbing up on the machine. She didn't want to look like a wuss, but flying off the back of the machine was out too. Drake might just want to be friends, but she still felt the need to look as bad-ass as she was capable of pulling off in front of him.She cranked it up and jumped onto the moving belt, her music pumping in her ears and her heart picking up speed. The first few minutes felt good, her blood pumping and energy rushing through her system. After the first lap around the electronic track, a hitch started to throb in her side and she was forced to slow down, walking quickly, and then limping until she had to stop the machine.Pressing her palm to her head, she leaned over and tried to catch her breath, not caring at all who was watching. Dying in front of everyone was out, but she might not have a choice. She jerked up as a hand touched her back."Sicily. You okay?" Drake's concern
SicilyThe last thing she wanted was to have a dinner date with Lisa and Kari, but there was no getting out of it. They had pushed her toward the shower, both of them cheering because of her going to the gym. She had agreed to go out to dinner if they chose someplace with a healthy menu and promised to shut up about Drake.What was it with the two of them? Drake wasn't interested in her and yet they both nagged non-stop about him. They were nagging the wrong half of the equation. She resigned herself to putting on a fake smile and making it through the evening. She would analyze her epic fail on the treadmill later over a shot of tequila and a good cry. Having Drake be the one to carry her off the machine had sealed the deal.She wasn't joining his gym - ever."Come on already. I'm fucking starving out here." Lisa's voice came through the bathroom door as Sicily worked to get her brush through her wet, tangled mess of hair."I'm coming. Get a snack. I just went shopping on Wednesday."
Sicily"So how is it having Martin Wilcox work for you?" Lisa asked as she leaned up between the front seats as they drove back home from dinner."It's good. He's a great kid." Sicily glanced back at her friend as Kari sang to the song on the radio and drove.Dinner was filling and Sicily had worked hard to keep it light. Her friends ate their usual fare of fattening meats slathered in butter and cheese with pasta and tons of bread. It took all of the willpower she could find not to dive into the sinful meal with them. The image of Drake scowling down at her at the gym caused her to keep her hands in her lap.Had he scowled? No.Why did she replace his kindness with him basically attacking her for not being able to run on the machine? Protection.She was beginning to want more than a casual bantering friendship with him and where she was a strong girl, her heart couldn't handle rejection right now."Are the guys coming over tonight?" Lisa asked, moving back, but catching Sicily's atte
SicilySicily had simply excused herself the night before, Lisa checking on her once as she lay in the darkness of her bedroom. She couldn't face Drake again, knowing that he either wanted something more with her, or was playing a dangerous game. She would root out the truth, but until she had the strength to push him back she needed to try and keep the private time between the two of them to a minimum. She would join the gym, but ask for Violet to be her trainer if they felt she needed one.Keeping things casual with Drake would be hard, but doable.She dressed in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. A navy blue cardigan helped to hide everything she didn't want anyone to see. Her breasts were bigger, but they simply aided in making her look more portly rather than more feminine.She stopped by the bathroom to put her hair into a high ponytail and put on a little make-up. She was needed at the bakery that morning to work on a large wedding cake order they had for later that
Sicily"Tell me how you know Mr. Carrington?" Sicily walked outside with Drake. She glanced around the parking lot looking for his truck, but didn't see it. "Am I driving?""No. I brought the bike. That okay?" He walked to a decked out Harley and pulled a spare helmet off the back, tossing it to her.Sicily caught it as her words escaped her. She had spent a large part of her teenage years riding on the back of motorcycles, her older brother owning several as a mechanic. It had been years since she felt the thrill they provided. The fear that rushed through her was simply over being so close to Drake and nothing to do with the inherent danger of riding on the back of a bike."Yeah. It's fine," she muttered and slipped the helmet on before walking to get on behind him."Just hold on to me tightly and we'll be good. I'll tell you about me and Mike at the restaurant." He started the bike as she slid her hands around his waist.The thick muscles of his abs tensed under her fingers. She ha
SicilyOne Week Later…The rest of the week was filled with trying to keep the shop afloat and searching high and low for someone to help fill in. It just wasn't happening. For some reason everyone in Bar Harbor was employed or too old. Drake had appeared on her doorstep a few times, offering to take her to lunch or asking her to go for a walk. She refused out of necessity to get things done at the shop, but the few times they did get together it was in the comfort of their friends.Sicily hated to watch the fire inside of him dwindle, but whatever he was fighting against, he seemed to be losing. She joined the gym during the week and asked for Violet to help train her, the girl sweet and immediately becoming a much needed force of positivity in Sicily's life.The week had ended, and with Marc coming into town that night, everyone was excited. Being around Lisa, one couldn't help but take on some of the joy that overflowed in the air around the pretty redhead.Sicily walked into the h
SicilyThey hung up and Sicily changed into a pair of sleeping pants and a tank top, not caring at all how she looked. Drake wasn't coming over for a date, but to talk as friends. If they could work on their friendship for a while, she could get in better shape. Once she was healthy and thin maybe things could move into something more. He wouldn't want it before then.The kiss the other night was just him being a horny male with all his friends hooking up but him. Typical.She got a glass of tea and made herself a half of a sandwich while she waited on him. Marc and Lisa were gone from the house, the smell of their cologne and perfume filling the place. Sicily breathed in deeply, letting the sensual aromas roll over her. It would feel so damn good to let Drake have her tonight. Just for one night if he wanted a soft place to land. They could make love and then she would send him home, their friends with benefits thing a one-night deal.The doorbell rang and she spilled her tea on her
SicilySicily jerked up in bed from a nightmare, her skin covered in chill bumps and a light sheen of sweat. She took a shaky breath and pressed her fingers to her eyes, forcing the tears back. How many times would she have to dream of her mother's death only to wake up alone to face the sadness of that one loss all over again?Drake had finished his sandwich and left after another long hug the night before. He wasn't at all the man she thought him to be, which was good and bad. Thinking of him as a total jerk helped keep her emotions in check, seeing that her hormones were running amuck.She glanced at the clock and let out a short scream before propelling herself off the bed. She was late. The alarm didn't go off. Tearing through her closet, she tugged down a pair of white pants and a pink top. She slipped sandals on her feet and she was out the door. Kari stopped her before she ran out, the other girl on the phone, her expression serious."No. I'll tell her. Sure. Be careful, baby.