Page 49 of Blood Money
“Vittorio!” I heard whispered frantically.
I grumbled, pulling the warm body tighter to mine.
Then that warm body twisted and shook me. I groaned in response.
“Shh!”
I blinked away the best sleep of my life, and slowly everything came back to me. Jerking my head up, I scanned the darkened room as I listened for what startled her.
“Wha—” I started, but her hand smashed over my mouth.
Her eyes were wide and wild. The lips I’d kissed the fuck out of formed a “shh” shape, and she pointed at the closed door. “My nonna,” she mouthed.
That got my attention, and I froze.
“Kendall?” I heard Mrs. Romano call out from the hallway.
Kendall scrambled from the bed and jerked my plain T-shirt on, then silently opened a drawer and pulled on a pair of cute little sleep shorts. She pointed at me, and I held up my hands in surrender.
A knock made her jump. Then she went to the door, and I almost laughed at the instant transformation as she put on a half-asleep face and slowly opened the door enough to look out and stand in the opening. “Nonna? Is ever-thin okay?” she mumbled as if she were still stuck in sleep mode.
“Everything’s good. I just came home and saw the flowers and the books. There was tissue paper scattered all over the kitchen floor. I wanted to make sure you were okay, because I expected you’d still be up reading when I got home,” her grandmother explained.
“Oh… yeah,” she began but stopped to yawn. “Jackie had the flowers and gift delivered for my birthday. Wasn’t that sweet?” She yawned again, and I wanted to applaud the Oscar-worthy performance.
“Aw, that was nice of her,” Mrs. Romano practically cooed, and I knew she bought it.
“Sorry, it was such a long and busy day, I just crashed early, Nonna.Did you have fun with the girls?” she asked.
“Humph! Yes, but I swear some of those women act like they’re ninety-five years old. And it’s okay, sweetheart. You get your rest. That’s where I’m heading now too.”
Kendall leaned out the door, and I heard her kiss her grandma’s cheek. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing.
My movement had Kendall freezing.
“What?” she asked her grandmother.
“I thought I heard something, but it must be that damn wind. It’s terrible tonight. Well, good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Nonna.” Kendall closed the door and leaned against it. Her head rolled my way, and she covered her mouth.
I heard the door down the hall close, and I dropped my hand. “You look good in my T-shirt, but you’d look better out of it again,” I whispered.
“Shut up!” she mouthed back.
With a light chuckle, I lay back and stretched.
She climbed back in the bed, and I pouted as I tugged at the shirt.
She swatted my hand away. “It’s not funny! We weren’t supposed to fall asleep! Now you have to stay until we knowshe’sasleep,” she muttered.
I pushed myself up to lay the top half of my body over hers as I braced my elbows on either side of her shoulders. “Well, you shouldn’t have worn me out so bad. Now we’ll have to find something to do to kill the time until she’s sawing logs.”
“You’re terrible!” she softly giggled, telling me she didn’t really mean it.
Humming, I nuzzled her neck and dropped kisses to her warm skin. She stroked my back, and I practically purred.
“I love you, Kendall,” I whispered into her chest.