Bosco blanched. “Geez. Don’t talk about sex with me. I like Aiden Devlin and don’t want to have to kill him.”
The little bell jangled, and Tessa looked toward the door. She winced, took a step away from the table, and sighed. “Oh, crap. You’ve done it now.”
In unison, all three of them turned to see an older woman walk inside while pulling a snowy scarf off her head. She looked like a modern-day Sophia Loren as she turned and stared at them. Then she made a beeline their way, her rubber boots squeaking on the tiles. “Hello.”
A perfectly choreographed sigh emerged from the Albertinis.
Bosco kept pulling Marlie. “Nonna? We need to get out of here. Right now.”
Anna shook her head. “My case if fine and you need to mind your own business. Everyone is safe, Bosco.” She tilted her head. “Including the woman you’re currently manhandling.”
Nonna pulled a wooden spoon from her purse. “Bosco? Are you manhandling your neighbor?”
Bosco immediately released Marlie.
Why was itnota surprise that this Nonna already knew who exactly Marlie was? Marlie bit back a smile. “You must be the famous Nonna of the Christmas decorations and wine. I’m Marlie. It’s nice to meet you.”
Nonna’s smile lit up the entire restaurant. “It’s so nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard that you speak Italian. Let’s talk.” She shoved Anna over with a hip and sat in the booth.
Bosco’s groan wasn’t nearly as silent as he no doubt wished for it to be.
Chapter8
Marlie tossed and turned in her bed, her mind refusing to relax. After an entertaining brunch with Bosco’s Nonna and cousins, she’d driven through the storm to the college and organized her office before heading home and eating leftovers. Bosco had taken off for work the second Nonna told him to get lost at the diner, and he apparently hadn’t come home yet.
Or if he had, he hadn’t knocked on her door for a nightcap.
Which was good because they were just friends, and one night of sex didn’t change that. Great sex. But even so, enough was enough.
She punched her pillow and rolled over, trying to get comfortable. The lightly falling snow outside had turned to a billowing blizzard, and ice scattered against her windows, making her snuggle down even more in her warm bed. The wind keened and tried to get inside, but the ice-crusted windows kept the chill outside.
A shuffling sound came from her living room.
She paused and turned over. Had something fallen? Her heart rate kicked up, and her body froze. Then she listened. Nothing. No sound. Geez. She was losing it. Even so, she remained alert, just like any woman living alone would. Then she slowly started to relax.
Her eyelids drifted shut.
Another sound.
She jerked fully awake, silently sitting up in bed while clutching the covers with her fingers. That was a real sound. She tilted her head, staying quiet. Was it just the storm against the windows? Yeah, she was probably paranoid.
Even so, she lifted the covers and set her feet on the chilly wood floor, gaining her balance before moving forward silently. She held her breath and reached the open doorway, sliding to the side to peer down the hallway to the living room. Shadows danced from the windows, and darkness edged from every corner, but the sparkling lights from the Christmas tree provided enough illumination that she could see the area.
Silently, she turned her head to hear better.
No sound. No breathing. No noise.
The atmosphere thickened around her. She had a very healthy imagination, and noises had awakened her before, only to turn out to be nothing. Even so, she held her breath and listened. Another shuffle.
Crap. That wassomething. A real noise.
Her heart thundering, she backed away from the door, watching the living room. A dark figure crossed in front of the Christmas tree, face covered by a ski mask.
Panic ripped into her skin. Her knees wobbled. She grabbed for the cell phone behind her on the bedside table, and the figure turned, staring right at her. It was a man, and he looked big in shadow. Black leather gloves covered his hands. She pulled the phone in front of her and started to dial 9-1-1. The guy rushed her, leaping inside her room and taking her down to the bed. The phone flew across the room to hit the wall.
She screamed, high and loud, kicking and punching. She scratched for his mask and tried to rip it over his head. He grabbed her neck with both hands and started to cut off her airway.
Her knee shot up, nailing him in the groin.
