Family Ties (Morelli Family 4)

Suddenly I know what I wanna tell her.

“I have a little sister—more than one, but this one’s named Madeline. She’s the baby in our family. Not my youngest sister, ‘cause my dad’s a cheating asshole and he had an affair baby who’s a lot younger than Maddie, but… Maddie was the baby, and don’t tell my other sisters, but she’s always been my favorite.”

This makes Francesca crack a smile.

“Anyway, so she met this dipshit in college, Isaac. And he’s a real dipshit. A vape-smoking, scrawny, hipster-fuck—no idea how this happened, because my sister’s awesome, and she deserves an actual fucking prince. Like, I should fly over to Europe and find one for her.”

Now she laughs, and her eyes have warmed right up. I picked the right story.

“Anyway, so this little weasel lucks out enough to get my baby sister, right?” She nods, and the way she’s looking at me makes it hard to concentrate on my sister. “They were together for a couple years, and so they finally started making these plans. She helped him buy a condo that they were supposed to move into together—he moved in first, but she didn’t even care, she trusted him. They went ring-shopping, and he stood there with her like a dumb-fuck while she tried them on—took fucking pictures with his phone. He was into it, right? Led her to believe things were heading in that direction. Which… I wasn’t excited about, because that little weasel for a brother-in-law? No thanks. But it was what Maddie wanted, so I’d just have to accept it. I just wanted her to be happy. Then Christmas rolled around. And she booked this vacation for them to go on. And he went on the fucking vacation with her. They came home the night before Christmas, because my ma’s real big into the family being together for the holiday. And so, on Christmas Eve, when this little asshole was supposed to propose, he broke my sister’s heart instead. Told her he’d met someone else. Didn’t know how to break it to her. Told her he just couldn’t see a future with her, no matter how hard he tried. It wasn’t in the stars. The motherfucking stars, this little prick…” I’m scowling now, shaking my head, but Francesca’s still gazing up at me with fondness all across her face. “Anyway, so, long story short, this little fucker’s number one on my hit-list as soon as I can get away with it. Gotta wait ‘til Maddie moves on first, so she doesn’t notice and get mad at me. And, I gotta tell you, this is not a short list, but do you know who number two is?”

She shakes her head. “Who?”

“Whoever hurt you.”

The amusement drains out of her face, even the slightly fawning look she had while I talked about my sister. For a split second, as her face completely blanks, I second guess myself.

And then Francesca Morelli lifts herself up on her tiptoes and brushes her incredible lips against mine. Just a soft, gentle kiss. I don’t try to deepen it, and I don’t even have to—somehow the most innocent kiss anyone’s ever given me sends adrenaline surging through my body and my heart drops clear down to my toes.

She lowers herself, then looks down shyly before looking up at me through those long, dark lashes of hers again.

I can’t explain the way this girl gets to me. Up until now, I’ve been obsessed with fucking her, plain and simple. But right now that feels crass. Cheap. Inadequate.

Fucking her isn’t enough.

I want to make her mine.

Chapter Four

I don’t hear from Francesca that night, but I have shit to do, so that works out.

Tuesday I get to thinking about her and I decide to call up a florist and send a bunch of hydrangeas to the bakery. Maybe I can’t go there, but a delivery person can.

Francesca finally texts me for the first time after she gets them. “How am I supposed to explain all these flowers?”

I shoot back, “Just explain how irresistible you are to anyone who asks.”

She doesn’t text back, but I can imagine her cute little disgruntled face. See her pretty little head shaking in my mind.

God, what has this girl done to my brain? It was just my cock when I first saw her, but it’s like she takes over more and more of me with every breath she takes—even when she’s nowhere near me. I don’t understand it.

But I guess I’ve never dated a girl like her before, either. Not ever. Vulnerable, sincere, sweet girls are not my type.

I like a girl who can play the game, generally speaking. Keep me on my toes. Keep me from getting bored.

I get bored easily. It’s not the greatest trait, but it is one I have. Not much holds my interest for more than a very short stretch of time, which is why I should feel a lot worse about pursuing Francesca. When she tells me I’m going to hurt her, I should believe her. My track record points to the same conclusion.