Coming Home (Morelli Family 6)

—

I’m not sure which cupcake Meg will want. I feel guilty that I’m getting Mateo tonight, so I pack up three of her favorites.

Once I shut everything down and flip off the lights, I grab my keys and head out the back door. It’s still light out, so I’m not really on alert, but when I spin around I see a black car parked beside mine. No one else is closing with me and customers don’t park back here—there shouldn’t be another car.

Unease moves over me and I turn to head back inside the bakery. I’ll call Adrian and have him come check the situation out.

But then a tall, muscular male figure in jeans and a dark jacket comes around the car and into view, and I recognize that male.

“Vince,” I say, more to myself than anything. Seeing his old familiar smirk makes my heart lurch, and I can’t help grinning. I never really thought I’d see him again, but after the horror of his exit from my life, after missing him so much when I thought he was gone, I’m thrilled to see him alive and well.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he murmurs, shoving his hands in his pockets.

God, he looks good. I haven’t seen him in so long, but the four years apart sure have been good to him—he’s always been muscular, but muscular in his twenties looks a lot better than muscular as a teenager. His face, too—he’s grown into his Morelli looks even more than back then, and he was always incredibly handsome.

I don’t think about it, I’m just so happy to see him; I rush forward and give him a big, tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.”

He wasn’t braced for it, so it takes him a few seconds to wrap his arms around me and return the hug. “You, too.”

I pull back, grinning at him. “How are you? I didn’t know you were back in Chicago.”

He still looks a little staggered from the hug. I guess he didn’t expect such a warm greeting. I hope it was welcome. I wasn’t exactly good to him back in the day, and his last memory of me is frankly awful. Maybe he doesn’t want to be touched by me.

I watch his face for signs, but he doesn’t look like someone who’s grossed out by my touch. There’s a hint of warmth in those familiar brown eyes, a note of moody charm that makes me want to hug him again for even longer.

I have enough sense not to, but for a moment, nostalgia hits me and I’m tempted.

“Yeah, just got home,” he says, nodding. His gaze wanders over my body, and even though I just did the same to him a moment earlier, a wave of caution moves down my spine. Mateo wouldn’t like this. He doesn’t really let me around men outside of his employ at all, but he definitely wouldn’t approve of me hugging and catching up with Vince all alone. I should text him right now and tell on myself.

Then there’s Vince himself. Old instincts kick in and remind me I probably shouldn’t be touchy feely with him. I still remember the last horrible, heartbreaking time I hugged Vince, and to be honest, he doesn’t take a whole hell of a lot of encouragement to latch on.

That’s absurd, though. I immediately feel foolish for even letting that thought cross my mind. It’s been four years and he looks like this now—he’s not sitting at home alone with ice cream, crying over my picture. Clearly he’s moved on, and we’re both in a place now where he can see me and say hi and that’s all.

Hearing him refer to it as home feels bittersweet. Since Mateo hasn’t mentioned Vince to me in literally years, I’m assuming he doesn’t know Vince is back. That’s also a little puzzling, since I assumed by the dossier and cell phone with Vince’s number back in the dark days that Mateo was keeping an eye on him. Maybe once he realized Vince had moved on, he stopped.

“Have you been home home yet?” I hesitate. “Does Mateo know you’re back in town?”

I watch his face for some familiar sign of irritation at the mention of his name, but his handsome face remains calm. “Not yet.”

“You should come to family dinner tomorrow. Or tonight, even—I’m about to head home now, you could follow me. Might be better if you come with an escort, actually,” I remark, grimacing faintly.

Vince smirks, nodding his head. “That would probably be safer than showing up alone.”

“Definitely.” I nod, pleased with my plan. Impulsively, I close the distance and give him one more hug (mostly because once we’re at home in front of Mateo, I won’t want to touch him). He’s not surprised this time, so his strong arms lock around my waist and he gives me a tight hug back. “I’m so happy to see you, Vince. I’m so glad we can do this now.”