DrakeShe was beyond fine as she stood there in front of him, wanting to play ball, but more concerned with how she looked than anything else. His plan was to be totally open and honest with her. She wanted in? She was getting in... as far and as fast as she would allow herself to.He wasn't playing entirely fair as he flung his saucy comments at her, but nothing was ever fair in love and war. She hit the ball hard, surprising him and pulling him out of his meanderings."And what would you be doing in the shower while checking out my assets?" Her voice carried behind her, her pretty face and resulting expressions from the conversation hidden to him."Washing your back, of course." He hit the ball again – hard.She moved toward the front wall, letting the small blue ball ricochet off the back wall. It came right to her. With a gentle tap, it hit the front wall and rolled.Her point. Fuck. He had to change the subject. Getting her naked in the shower wasn't a topic of conversation he c
Drake"Hey... I wanted to come see you last night, but when you didn't respond to my text, I figured it was better to just lay off."She glanced around and nodded toward his hands. "Serve the ball. I was a little overwhelmed by your willingness to be so open. You don't seem like an open kinda guy.""I'm not usually." He tossed the ball up and hit it, starting the game back up. "I want to work on becoming more than friends, so openness is part of the deal, right?""Yes. I'm going to work on it, too. Why did you want to come over last night? Got a new luffa you wanted to try out?" She laughed as she hit the ball against a side corner.He rebounded after it, barely reaching it in time as he grumbled. "Tease."He turned to catch the beautiful expression on her face. His heart fluttered and he knew he was lost. She better fall in love with him or he might have to pick up and start life again, somewhere else. Getting rejected by her and having to hang out in their friend group for the next
SicilyThey had agreed to catch up with each other later that evening. Sicily drove to the bakery with her windows down and the radio off, needing to think through the new information on Martin. Should it matter? Not really, but seeing that Judy's was lying in a pile of rubble, and Drake had a great theory on the kid’s involvement... it did.She parked outside the bakery and sat in the car for a minute, trying to let the odd racquetball game between her and Drake dissipate. Things were moving too fast between them, and yet from what he said, he had been trying to get her attention for months. Why he hadn't given up a while back was beyond her. He was eons out of her league anyway.Martin walked out of the shop and flipped the sign on the front to ‘closed’ as she opened the door and smiled at him. He had been beyond good to her. At least she could start by giving him the benefit of the doubt."Hey." She closed her car door and reached up, brushing her freshly showered hair from her fac
SicilySicily pulled up into the driveway at the house and parked, turning the car off and getting out as the wind picked up. The cold front was almost there and felt great.How long had she been waiting for the first proper cold front so she could bundle up and hid behind a wall of sweaters? No one could blame a person for looking heavy if they had on ten layers of clothing. Winter was good like that.Sicily walked to the door, turning at the sound of a motorcycle moving down the street. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she paused and waited for him to turn into the driveway. He parked and pulled off his helmet, his black bomber jacket fitting him tightly as it hugged his slim waist over his stone-washed jeans."Got flour on your nose and sugar on your lips?" He winked and walked toward her, slipping the helmet under his arm."No, thankfully. I try not to be nearly the mess I was when I first started. Besides, you don't like sugar, so I'm thinking if I was hoping for a goodnight k
DrakeDrake tried to focus on the road as they drove to Gio's, but Sicily's lithe little arms around his waist and the soft brush of her fingers over is legs a few times almost unraveled him. By the time they got there, he was sporting a less than comfortable attention grabber.He turned and adjusted himself, grateful for her not throwing a comment his way. She knew he was interested. Now it was time to show her a little about himself and see if she could reciprocate the feeling.Gio met them at the door, the owner having been the hostess of the restaurant since Drake found the little place a few years back."Mr. DeMarco. So nice to see you, and you have a lady friend? What's the world coming to?"Sicily chuckled beside him and Drake glanced at her. "Don't laugh at him. It only encourages the old man.""You're not getting any younger either, mister." The large Italian man with more white than grey hair moved in and shook Drake’s hand before pulling him into a tight hug. "How have you
SicilyThey finished dinner and needed a doggie back, the small container holding more food than they ate between the two of them. Sicily walked beside Drake to the front of the restaurant and leaned into the hug with Gio, the man quickly finding his way to her heart.Good food, great atmosphere, and how many times had he called her little or insinuated that she was too tiny to be a chef? She was sold."Delicious." Drake opened the door and smiled as she moved past him. His dark hair and eyes left her feeling feverish. Were they really going to go hang out with their friends?"I agree. Great choice." Sicily stopped by the nearest trashcan and dropped the food into it as Drake let out a growl."What was that for? Jake and Kari would have torn that up." He moved up beside her and touched the trashcan with a look on his face that would be fitting for burying a family pet.Sicily laughed and slid her hand into his. "I agree, but we're not going to my house.""Oh? We're not? Where do you w
Sicily"Who is Izzy?""She's my sister, but she doesn't know that. She thinks I'm just D's brother who Joe hates. No one knows that I'm Joe's son but D, Joe, my mom, and me." He shrugged."Oh. Izzy is Joe's kid?""Yeah, one of many. She's his enforcer. In the mafia world, that's the one who goes out and murders on cue."Sicily swallowed before pulling her legs in tighter. "Um... that sounds fucking scary. Are we going to be safe?"He chuckled and stood, placing the gate back in front of the fire as the kettle let out a whistle. Sicily started to move, but he held up his hand."I'll get it." He moved to the kitchen before answering her. "We're safe. Izzy wouldn't hurt me, and D's there if nothing else.""Your brother seems like a good guy, of sorts." She was reaching, but wanted to try to understand without judging too much. She didn't know their world and honestly didn't want to."He is." Drake turned around. "You want something warm to drink?""Not right now. Come here and talk to me
Drake The drive back to town almost killed him, the situation before his girl a serious one. The last thing he wanted to do was stand in front of the cops and watch them take her on false charges, but that's exactly what they did. Drake crossed his arms over his chest, the argument doing nothing but upsetting the officers and Drake more. Jake had tried to get involved, but they shut him down, too. There was nothing more he could do in the moment and he decided to back off when tears dripped onto Sicily's pretty face and she asked him to stop. Her whisper tore through him and he couldn't help but feel the desire to burn down the whole fucking city. He waited until the cop car left to get onto his phone. His brother D wouldn't be thrilled about the late night call, but he didn't give a shit. "Drake. What's up, man? Wrong phone." "Fuck the phone. My girl's been set up with some shit and I need your intel." "Anything. What do you want from us?" "Edward still working for you?" "Yes.