He kissed the top of her head. “It feels right having you here.”
She blinked. “As friends.”
He paused. “I don’t know.”
A smile slid through her, but she wasn’t an idiot. “You’re just overwhelmed by the night and by saving me. I’m sure you’ll want to remain buddies as soon as daylight kicks up.”
He chuckled. “You know, you’re kind of hard on a guy’s ego. Most women would’ve taken that opening.”
Yeah. She wasn’t most women—and again, not an idiot. A guy who looked like Bosco, acted like Bosco, was a soldier-hero like Bosco…had women falling all over him. “Sorry, buddy. You put me in the friend zone. That’s where we’ll stay,” she whispered, not meaning a word of it.
If Bosco Albertini wanted her heart, he would have to work for it.
Yep. Not an moron.
After issuing that very definite challenge, she fell asleep in his arms, feeling safer than she had in years.
Bosco finished flippingthe pancakes and paused at hearing a sound in the adjacent apartment. He angled his head to make sure Marlie was still in the bathroom before pulling his gun from above the fridge and moving silently out his door to Marlie’s place. He nudged her door open and then stilled, tucking the weapon into the back of his waistband. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Nonna and Anna had finished cleaning up the mess left by the police the night before. While that was nice, the whiteboard they’d put up near the fireplace shot his temper into the stratosphere.
Anna held up both hands. She wore a light green skirt, white sweater, and fuzzy socks. “Aiden and I fixed the door earlier this morning, so it’s all good now.” Her shoes had been kicked near the sofa. “Nonna was coming, and I said I’d help.” Her eyes implored him not to lose his mind. “I didn’t want her to come alone.”
Nonna looked over her shoulder at him. “Lose the attitude, young man.” She turned back to the whiteboard. “We’re not letting this case get away from us.”
Anna hung her head.
Movement sounded behind Bosco, and Marlie stepped up, angling to see around him. She’d taken the bandage off her neck, leaving a small scratch, and a thicker bandage showed on her upper arm. She wore his boxers and T-shirt again, looking delectable, fragile, and a little caught off guard. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and without makeup, she was lovely. “Um.”
Yeah. Exactly. Bosco stepped across the threshold and pulled her inside the room, just in case. He didn’t like her exposed in the hallway. “You’ve met Anna and Nonna.”
“Hello, dear,” Nonna said, pivoting by the whiteboard, which held a list of suspects. “We’re going to help you figure this out.”
Marlie hovered next to his side and read the board, which they had labeled:Marlie Attack Case. “Jennie is at the top of your suspect list?”
Bosco read through the list. Jennie was first, followed byunnamed ex of Marlie, thenunknown bad guy from Spokane, ‘Mark,’ ‘Turner’ and then another question mark. It wasn’t a bad list. “Nonna. I think the police have this covered.”
Nonna’s hair was up in an intricate knot, and her red glasses were perched halfway down her straight nose. Her brown eyes sparkled. “Maybe, but with the Albertini men, it’s usually an ex who didn’t want to let go. We solved the case for your brother last week, and I know we’ll solve this one.”
Anna blanched. “We didn’t exactly solve the case, Nonna. Chrissy held Heather at gunpoint, remember?”
Bosco shook his head as irritation made his skin itch. Quint’s ex, Chrissy, had gone after his new girlfriend, Heather. Chrissy was in custody, and everything was okay now. The family was hoping for an engagement by Valentine’s Day. “Jennie did not take out a hit on Marlie last night. Trust me.” Jennie might be ticked they weren’t together, but she wouldn’t do anything like that.
“I don’t know,” Nonna mused, tapping her red lips. “Jennie obviously has judgment issues if she let you get away.”
Marlie snorted and then caught herself, coughing. “Mrs. Albertini, while I appreciate the help, Bosco has made it more than clear that we’re just friends. There is no reason for any woman to decide I’m an obstacle.”
Nonna’s chin lowered. “Is that true, Bos?”
He tried so hard to keep his temper in check. “We did have that discussion, but it’s private, Nonna. Please respect that.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh. I had not realized that fact.” She smiled, all charm again. “In that case, Marlie, would you like to attend a family holiday party this Thursday night? I would love to introduce you to Knox, one of Bosco’s brothers. When the Albertini men fall, it’s pretty much instant. Knox is charming and quite dashing, if you ask me. Definitely takes after my side of the family.”
Not in a million years. Bosco’s chest heated, and he forced a smile. “Thank you for cleaning up the apartment, but you’re both off the case. Anna, go back to work. Nonna, how about I drive you home?” He didn’t want to leave Marlie without cover, but enough was enough. “Marlie can come with us.”
“I can drive myself, thank you.” Nonna walked to the sofa to fetch her jacket, handing it to him.
He dutifully helped her into the heavy wool. “I know.”
