Family Ties (Morelli Family 4)

Nodding, playing along as she turns in my arms and wraps her arms around my neck, she says, “Yeah, I bet you were.”

I smile down at her. “Hi.”

Grinning right back at me, she says, “Hi.”

I have to kiss her. It would physically pain me not to. I give her a few little kisses, loving the feel of her soft lips brushing against mine, then I pull back just enough to look at her. “Do you like Maddie?”

“I do, she’s fun. I like watching her torture Mark.”

That makes me smile. “Maddie tortures everyone. It’s part of her charm.”

“Must run in the family,” she teases.

“Hey, I don’t torture you.”

Francesca rolls her eyes. “I meant the charm. I was giving you a compliment and you totally ruined it.”

“Sorry,” I murmur, leaning in for another kiss.

“We should probably get back in there,” she tells me.

“I need to run something by you first. I have an idea for a date I think you’ll like, but I need a big chunk of time. All day. We’ve gotta leave early, like you’re working at the bakery, and come back way late, like you’re working past close. Think you could pull that off?”

Nodding, she says, “Sure, as long as I have notice. Everyone knows I work at the bakery, no one really watches my comings and goings too hard. I could just mention that I have to stay late to do inventory or something so I won’t be home for dinner. Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise. See if you can get it covered one day next week, ideally Monday or Tuesday. I’ve got some stuff on Wednesday that would be hard to move around.”

“I can probably do Monday,” she tells me.

“Perfect.”

“Do I get a hint? I feel like I should at least get a hint.”

“Wear comfy shoes.”

Seeming to consider that, she says, “Can I have a second hint?”

Lightly squeezing her side, I say, “No, you cannot have a second hint.”

“But I called you charming.”

“You get no brownie points for acknowledging facts.”

Sighing heavily, she places a hand dramatically over her eyes. “Optic nerves, it was nice having you around for 28 years. I’m sorry it had to end like this.”

“It’s your fault, you fed the monster,” I tell her.

“Well, I don’t date arrogant men, so you’re going to have to work on that.”

I pause, eyebrows rising. Even though we are obviously dating, I’m surprised to hear her admit it so easily. “How about confident men?” I offer. “You say arrogant, I say confident.”

She shakes her head, but she’s clearly amused. “Nope, you’ve definitely drifted over that line, buddy.”

I drop my hands from her waist, letting them drift down to her hips. “I can think of a few other lines I’d like to cross.”

Tugging my hands off her hips in a show of playfulness, she turns around and takes a couple steps away, back toward the living room. “I’m going back to our guests.”

Our guests? I like the sound of that. I mean, the woman still pulls away anytime I try to get too close to her, but she’s admitting to dating me and calling my sister and friend our guests, so I guess that’s something.

—

Francesca leaves before Mark or Maddie. She has to have a second dinner at her house, since she was supposed to be at work. I think it went really well, though. I’m really glad she got to meet Maddie. It’s not typical for my family to meet women I’m involved with anyway, but after talking to her at the bed and breakfast, I wish I could give Francesca the things she’s missed out on. My family may not be the best ever, but it sounds like they’re an improvement over hers.

Granted, realizing she needs that makes it clear I’m the least suitable person to be with her. I don’t like to think about that, since growing this relationship isn’t the smartest move either of us could make. Stopping isn’t even a considerable option, though. I’m going with my gut on this one, and my gut says to keep her. Francesca makes me happy. I feel like she needs my protection, and even if she doesn’t, I want to give it to her anyway. I want to know more about her dreams and her life, I want to make her smile, and have pizza on the couch with her while we watch TV shows with Maddie and Mark. I loved today. I love the time we spend together, and it seems like she does, too.

“She’s sweet.”

I look over at Maddie, leaning her hip against the counter, holding a beer bottle in her hand. “Yeah?”

She nods, watching me. “You really seem to like her.”

“I do.”

“Like, you’re smitten,” she adds, her smile widening as she takes a sip. “I haven’t seen you smitten since you were in high school and you went for that awful Tanya girl.”