Sicily"Oh, thank you so much, Sicily. This is just beautiful." The older woman in front of Sicily had tears in her eyes. "This is for mine and Thomas' fortieth anniversary.""I know. I got to put the 'happy 40th anniversary' on the front. I assumed it was for you. I'm excited for you." Sicily reached out and touched the woman's shoulder. "Forty years is something to be incredibly proud of.""Yeah. He's still my best friend." The woman wiped at her eyes and handed Sicily her card. "Well, let me pay for this and get home. I'm sure he's asleep on the couch, making music with his snores."Sicily chuckled and walked to the register. "You don't know of anyone who might be looking for a part-time job, right, Mrs. Walker?""Hmmm..." She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. "You know, I think Judy's mother, the one that used to watch the bakery across the road, would love to have a part-time job baking."Sicily stiffened, but forced herself to relax. Debbie, Judy's
DrakeThe gang was gathered at Sicily's, and the smell of coffee and wassail was in the air. Drake breathed in deeply as he leaned against the wall in the kitchen while Sicily prepared a few snacks for the evening. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled."What?" Her voice was soft, sexy, inviting."Just admiring you. That all right?" He lifted his hand toward his mouth and bit his thumb nail. "You need to gain a little bit of weight, baby. Your butt's shrinking."Her cheeks turned a light pink, leaving him to chuckle deep in his chest. "Stop it. I'm happy with where I am."He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head as she snuggled against him."I love you just how you are too, but I do remember holding on to a little more ass a few months back. Can we work on maybe just putting on ten pounds?" He laughed as she paused what she was doing and huffed."Never satisfied!""I'm always beyond satisfied by you." He leaned around and kissed her cheek
Sicily"Hey. You okay?" Kari moved up beside Sicily as she stood in the kitchen, fixing some of the icing on the cake she'd prepared for the evening with her friends."I'm good." She knelt and continued to swirl her knife through the icing. "Who the hell ran their fingers through my icing?""Marc." Kari chuckled and moved to hop up onto the counter beside her. "You know how he is.""Yep, and he's lucky we love him for it." She snorted and stood, finishing the job and walking to the sink."Wait! You're not going to lick the knife?" Kari motioned for Sicily to give it to her. "What are you, crazy? You used to always lick the knife.""You're going to cut your tongue off." Sicily tried to mimic her grandmother, but it came out all wrong. "I stopped awhile back when I was trying to lose weight.""And you lost too much. Lick the knife." Kari tilted her head to the side and reached for Sicily, pulling her into a warm sister-like hug. "I'm going to miss you and Lisa this year. It's not the sa
Sicily"I love it out here." Sicily walked into Drake's house, the masculine tones and the hint of his cologne lingering in the air turned her insides to mush. She spun and reached for him, grabbing the front of his jacket and tugging him into the house.He laughed and reached back to slam the door shut. "Frisky, beautiful?""Always around you." She pressed herself to his chest and shivered. "It's freezing in here.""Let me start a fire. Go put on something comfortable and meet me on the couch?" He touched the side of her face lovingly before leaning in for a long, probing kiss."I'll help with the fire and then-"He put his cold finger against her lips. "You'll go change clothes and be back in a few minutes while I build the fire.""I sure will." She nipped at his finger before turning and walking toward their bedroom. They were splitting their time between his place and being apart. He didn't like staying overnight at the big white house she shared with Lisa and Kari. It was okay, b
DrakeHe hated to leave her the next morning, but he had a ton to do before the fire station teddy bear drive. Ben was starting the next week, and Drake needed to make sure that Jasmine had the kid on the schedule and had worked through his paperwork with him.Sicily slept with her back to him, the blanket wrapped around her shapely legs. He leaned over to kiss her goodbye and let his hand run down her side, enjoying the softness of her skin. If he had time, he'd have forced her on her back for a long session of his head between her thighs. There was almost nothing he enjoyed more."I'm heading out, baby. Come up to the fire station later if you get a chance.""Okay. I love you." She leaned up and kissed him again, her movement uncovering her breasts.He growled and moved down to lick at her nipples.She swatted him away, turned over and pulled at the covers. "Get outta here, you beast.""You do this to me." He picked up the comforter blanket from the ground and tossed it on the bed.
Sicily"You have the cupcakes for the fire station?" Violet stood at the counter in front of Sicily, a warm smile on her face. "Drake called and said they did need them." She grunted. "I swear he thinks I'm his personal assistant.""Well, tell him that you're not." Sicily knelt and pulled out a large box of cupcakes. "He'll do what you let him do. Most men will." She gave Violet a cheeky grin."You're right there." She bit on her lip, drawing Sicily's attention to her fidgeting."You okay? You seem a little nervous. Something happen?" Sicily put the box on the counter and pressed her hands to it, studying Violet closely. Something was off. The pretty redhead was always in a good mood and full of confidence. It was a little intimidating knowing that she was working for Drake and was the type of woman any man would want."My boyfriend, Dane, is supposed to stop by the company party tonight, and Drake doesn't like him. He's a motorcycle guy and is a bit of an asshole if he gets too many
DrakeThe party the night before hadn't gone at all like he planned. Seeing fear in Sicily's eyes when she looked at him was beyond depressing. He couldn't help who he turned into when someone threatened someone he cared about. It was any man's right and responsibility to protect a woman in need, or another guy for shit's sake. He wasn't willing to explain that, which meant he was still processing it himself. He would try to get her to understand him better, but not yet. He was still stewing over the fact that Violet would choose to date such an asshole."What did she think? She'd bring him to the party and everything would be fine? The bastard is an abuser all the way." Drake glanced up from the packet of papers sitting before him on the kitchen table. Sicily was still asleep in his bed, and the early morning quietness called to him.He rarely took legal cases, though he was fully instated by the bar to practice in Maine under a false name. No one needed to know his dealings. It was
SicilySicily took the long way back to her house, trying to get into a more peaceful mood before having to go up to the bakery. It had been a long year of transitions, and it wasn't over just yet. Drake's confession about Demetri needing help and not asking for it was a little overwhelming. Where she would stand beside him no matter what, leaving her bakery and comfortable life and moving to the heart of the mafia was terrifying. She needed to talk to her brother about it, but he would have nothing good to say.Sadly enough, he was the only one that might understand what she was getting herself into though. He'd throw a big fit, but it was part of his charm."He didn't say you guys were going back to Chicago. Stop it." She shook her head and pulled up to the house. Everyone was gone, and staying at the house sounded like bliss, but knowing about Drake's allergies put that hope on hold. She parked and got out, chuckling at how silly the man was.Why in the world wouldn't he have simpl