Italian Knights (6 page)

“Sal, please go home.” She remembered to lower her voice as the waiter approached, followed by David, who looked mad enough to spit nickels. “Here comes David,” Annie announced. “Now I want you to leave.”

The waiter hovered closely, watching as Sal and David stood toe to toe, glaring at each other. “I’m sorry, Mr. Donaldson, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you and your party to leave. This establishment is not accustomed to this type of behavior.”

Annie dropped her head. Cow cakes! In all her life she’d never been thrown out of a restaurant.

“We were just leaving, anyway,” David said, deliberately ignoring Sal. “It’s getting rather late—”

“Must be all of nine-thirty,” Sal quipped, and Annie shot him a fierce glance.

“Why don’t I take you home, Ann?” David glanced at Sal. “We can do this again another night.”

Don’t bet your tassels on it, Sal thought, following David as he slid his arm around Annie and led her toward the door. Sal kept a respectable distance behind them, following David’s zippy little import all the way to Annie’s door.

Whistling softly, Sal stepped from his car and headed up the walk. He shrugged his jacket off and sat down on the steps. Annie was still sitting in the car with David. If David ever showed his face around Annie again, the man was far braver than Sal had given him credit for. But if he did, Sal intended to be right on his heels. Give the lady what she wants, indeed!

Sal was certain he could handle Dancing David, but Annie—now there was a problem. He had no doubt she was furious at him for his behavior. And, furious or not, he’d accomplished his mission. But how on earth was he ever going to explain his actions to Annie?

He didn’t know, but he sure as hell was going to try. Sal dragged a hand through his hair. Despite the fact that Annie was alone and free—physically, emotionally and legally—Sal knew what he was feeling wasn’t right. She was his best friend’s widow, for God’s sake.

Sal stood as Annie climbed out of David’s car. The moonlight danced off her delicate features, catching the gleam in her eye. A murderous gleam, Sal thought, watching her stomp up the stairs. He sure hoped he could talk his way out of this.

“Did you have a nice time?” he inquired by way of opening.

Annie stopped dead in front of him. “No, I did not,” she snapped, wondering where he got his gall.

“Are you mad at me, Annie?” he inquired again unnecessarily. She glared at him.

“Why on earth should I be mad?” Annie cried, trying without success not to raise her voice. “Just because you’ve ruined my date and my evening, not to mention the fact that you’ve insulted a very nice man for no apparent reason, now why would I be mad?”

Sal bent down and pressed his amused face close to hers. “I guess you
are
mad, huh?”

“Agguh!” Annie growled. “I have never been so embarrassed in my life!” she fumed.

“Yes, you were; remember the time—” The look she flashed him stopped him cold. He decided to try a different tactic. “I could sure use a nightcap,” he suggested.

“I’ll give you a nightcap,” Annie muttered.

Sal dropped his hand to her arm and Annie came to an abrupt halt. For a moment she simply stared at his hand, stunned at the power of one small limb to evoke so many feelings.

She was absolutely furious at Sal, livid in fact. But the warmth swamping through her had nothing to do with her temper.

Annie blinked, her eyes assessing his hand. Sal had nice hands, she thought absently. Large and well formed, with a light dusting of dark, curly hair. It wasn’t the appearance of his hand that was affecting her, but his…touch.

Stunned, Annie lifted her eyes to his. His were dark, unreadable. Sal fastened his gaze on her lips and Annie silently sucked in her breath as her pulse fluttered wildly.

“Annie?” Her name was a whispery sigh, floating away on the faint summer breeze. As if drawn by a magnet, Annie lifted her eyes, then slowly looked at the softness of his mouth. Fascinated by the sensuous fullness of his lips, Annie moistened her own parched lips, wondering why she was suddenly feeling so off kilter. It had to be her anger.

Sal stepped down one step, and Annie arched her neck to meet his gaze. She tried to take a step back, but he tightened his fingers on her arm, preventing her from moving.

Her senses grew acute in the encompassing darkness. She could hear every intake of her breath, raspy as it was. Annie could feel the faint breeze dance across her face, washing her in Sal’s fragrant, familiar scent. She could see the uncertainty in his eyes as they found hers.

Something was happening between them, something she wasn’t sure she could name. All she knew was that it was powerful…and frightening.

“Sal, I’d better go—”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, lifting a hand to brush a curl off her cheek. His touch burned her skin. “I’m sorry I ruined your evening,” he lied, and Annie smiled glumly.

“No, you’re not,” she returned. Sal chuckled softly and took another step closer. Unconsciously Annie stepped back.

“You’re right,” he whispered. “I’m not sorry.” Stunned, she looked up at him with wide, luminous eyes.

The urge to see if Annie tasted as sweet as she looked engulfed him. Sal didn’t even try to hide his feelings. He wanted to kiss Annie, and he didn’t know why. All he knew was that he’d never wanted anything more, and Sal Giordiano always got what he wanted.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Did what?” he whispered, lifting one hand to cradle her cheek. His eyes held hers and Annie swallowed hard, trying to keep her thoughts on the problem at hand and not on Sal’s closeness.

“Ruined…my date with…with…” She blinked slowly, trying to break the thread that seemed to be drawing her closer and closer to him. She’d always been emotional, but she’d never been irrational. She needed to take a deep breath, but somehow she couldn’t find the strength, the pressure on her chest was so great. Finally, blessedly, her breath came, jostling through her rib cage. “My date with…”

“David,” Sal supplied helpfully, and she nodded.

“Yes. D-David.” Sal slowly slid his thumb across her bottom lip and Annie sucked in her breath. He was much too experienced not to recognize her response to him. Her quick intake of breath, the sudden expansion of her pupils, the simultaneous tightening of her body. Her full lips parted softly.

“Sal?” she whispered, her voice soft and raspy as she tried to make some sense of what was happening to her—to him—to them.

Sal held her in a tender embrace, his large hands gently cradling her face. Annie tried to retreat, but found her legs wouldn’t move. Her heart slammed into her rib cage as she helplessly watched his lips slowly descend toward her.

Annie opened her mouth to protest. Sal’s lips possessively claimed hers until her breath mingled with his. Reason fled as sensation after sensation stormed through her, awakening her slumbering senses.

Instinctively she slid her hands up his arms, feeling the taut strength of his muscles. She wrapped her arms around his neck, arching her body toward his, warming to his heat and seeking more. A wordless cry of desire echoed through her mind as Sal slid his hand down to her narrow waist, hauling her unsuspecting body close until she pressed against him from shoulder to knee.

Sal felt her soft, feminine curves mold gently to his masculine hardness. His mouth worked hers gently, seeking, exploring. A soft whimper escaped her parted lips as Sal’s tongue gently tapped at the seam of her mouth. Shivers of delighted awareness chased each other up and down her spine. His body was like a lightning rod of heat, drawing her close.

A voice of protest echoed dully in the back of Annie’s foggy brain, but she ignored it. She knew she shouldn’t be kissing Sal—not like this. He was a friend. Just a friend. But Annie knew that somehow, someway, this kiss, the emotions that swept over her, were not the feelings evoked by just a friend. In one split second, Sal had changed from being her best friend, to something much, much more.

Sal slid his hand from her cheek to caress her neck. He pulled her closer, wanting to melt into her warmth and softness. Annie angled her head, following the movements of Sal’s lips. Desire coiled inside her like a ribbon, causing her body to ache with forgotten need.

“Salvatore!” Mrs. Altero called from across the street, waving her hand. “There you are. Thank God. I’ve been looking all over for you.” She hurried across the street, her plump body swaying from side to side.

Sal drew back and groaned softly. Of all the times for Mrs. Altero to chase him down. His eyes met Annie’s and she stared at him in stupefied silence. Her mind was a muddled mess and Annie couldn’t seem to untangle all the thoughts and emotions racing through her.

“Annie?” he whispered, his voice so reverent it made her legs weak.

Blinking slowly, she stepped back until her legs were pressed against the black wrought-iron railing of the steps. Her breaths were quick and short, her pulse zipping frantically through her veins.

Sal looked at her in confusion, just as stunned as she at the impact of their kiss. Sal had dated a lot of women, kissed a lot of women, but none had affected him as much as Annie’s kiss.

He cocked his head and looked at her, seeing her through new eyes. She was no longer the widow of his partner, or just a good friend. She was a beautiful, desirable woman.

Annie continued to stare at Sal, confused and perplexed, knowing she wanted nothing more at the moment than to walk back into his arms and feel the warmth and comfort of his embrace—not only as a friend but as a lover. Annie sighed as a wave of guilt and confusion engulfed her. How, she wondered, had this happened?

“Salvatore! Salvatore!” Mrs. Altero hurried across the street, puffing hard. She placed a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. “Thank God.” Mrs. Altero paused and inhaled deeply again. “We’ve been looking all over for you. And you, too, Annie,” the older woman added.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make dinner tonight,” Sal said sheepishly, his eyes never leaving Annie’s. “But Annie and I—”

“No, no, no, that’s not why I was looking for you.” Mrs. Altero paused to take another deep breath. “Salvatore. It was awful. The store—the deli— Someone broke in tonight.”

Chapter Four

“What!” Sal and Annie caroled in unison.

“What do you mean, someone broke into the deli?” Sal’s voice was deadly quiet. Momentarily bewildered, Annie stared blankly at Mrs. Altero. This was ridiculous. It had to be a mistake. Who would want to break into her little deli? For what? She never kept more than fifty dollars in cash.

“It was awful, Salvatore,” Mrs. Altero wailed, wringing her plump hands together. “They broke the glass windows—and we couldn’t find you, or Annie—and—” Annie had heard enough. She bolted down the stairs, nearly trampling Mrs. Altero in the rush. Sal grabbed her arm and hung on.

“Wait, Annie,” Sal ordered, reining her in close to him. He didn’t want her going off without him, at least not until he heard the rest of this.

“But the deli,” she protested, struggling to get free.

“Let’s hear what happened first.” He dropped his arm around her shoulders, holding her in place, and Annie had no choice but to wait.

“Mrs. Altero, take a deep breath and tell me exactly what happened,” Sal ordered.

Doing as she was told, Mrs. Altero attempted to compose herself. “Salvatore, my granddaughter and I were going down to Letza’s for Italian ice. When we passed the deli I noticed something funny. The lights were on.” She turned to Annie. “I know you’re never open on Saturday nights, so we crossed the street, and that’s when I noticed—” Mrs. Altero stopped and clutched her chest. “It was awful. The window was shattered. There was glass everywhere. I was going to go in—”

“You didn’t, did you?” Sal interrupted, his voice low and commanding. Mrs. Altero shook her head.

“No, Salvatore, I remember what you always told us. I didn’t go in. No, sir.” She shook her gray head. “I came home and called the police station just like you instructed, and then I called the board-up company. I tried to find you, but…”

He patted her shoulder and smiled. “You did fine, Mrs. Altero. Just fine. Thank you.”

“Sal, please, I want to see what happened.” Annie’s voice shook and she turned to Sal with stricken eyes. This had to be a bad dream. Who would want to break into her store? For what?

“Come on, Annie.” He led her down the stairs and around the corner to the deli. Annie’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

“Oh, Sal.” Her hand flew to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. The plate-glass window that fronted the store was boarded up; glass still littered the sidewalk. The front door had a large gaping hole in it.

“God,” Sal whispered, tightening his arm around Annie’s shoulders. He looked down at her. “Hey, are you all right?”

Annie raised her eyes to his and his heart constricted. “Sal, who would do something like this?” she whispered in fear, trembling uncontrollably.

He shook his head and drew her closer to him. “I don’t know, honey, but I sure as hell am going to find out. Do you have your keys? I want to go in and take a look around.”

Blinking away tears, Annie searched through her evening bag and handed Sal the keys. She clutched the back of his suit jacket as he opened the door.