The Marriage Mistake (3 page)

“Your brother sucks,” she announced.

“What did he do now?” Carina asked, trying to look serious at the current condition of her usually trendy, composed sister-in-law.

“Pick from the list. He sleeps and has the gall to snore while I lie like a beached whale in the bed. He acts ridiculous
by continuously asking me if I need anything. And today he informed me I wasn’t allowed to go to my next photo shoot, something about it getting too dangerous for me to travel.”

Carina gulped back a snort of laughter. Maggie was due in eight weeks and still refused to believe she couldn’t follow her normal schedule. “Well, you know how overprotective Michael is,” she offered. “And, umm, I don’t know how you’d even be able to kneel down to get the shot, Mags.”

Maggie glowered. “I know. Why didn’t you tell me twins run in your family?”

“Would that have made a difference?”

“Maybe. Oh, God, I don’t know. Probably not. Men suck.”

Carina was saved from answering that remark by the opening of a door. A face peeked in surrounded by a bunch of corkscrew black curls. “Oh, yay, I was hoping you’d be up here. Carina!”

Carina screeched in joy and they hugged and kissed. Maggie’s best friend, Alexa, was married to Maggie’s brother, and reminded Carina of an older sister. Filled with general enthusiasm and joy, she was part of the core family that made her feel like she belonged. As Carina released her, something jumped under her hands, and she drew back.

“Oh, my God. The baby moved!”

Alexa put her hands over her swollen belly and grinned. “I’m gonna enroll this one in karate.” With a matching waddle, she air-kissed Maggie and took a seat in the second chair. “Thanks God you’re up here. I need some serious girl time. My husband is pissing me off.”

Maggie snickered. “Seems to be the consensus. What is my dear brother doing now?”

“He told me I’m not allowed to go into the bookstore anymore. Like I’m going to let my business slip because I’m pregnant. He keeps reminding me we don’t need the money.” Alexa snorted. “Do you know how many animals we can save with that kind of money? And he’s all cavalier about it, saying I should just stay home and relax. Relax with a three-year-old? Yeah, sure, let me put my feet up and eat bonbons all day. Ain’t gonna happen. At least BookCrazy is quiet and I get to talk to adults.”

Maggie shuddered. “Last time I came over, Lily locked me in the nursery and made me play tea party for hours. I was fine the first hour, but come on. How long can you drink pretend tea and eat pretend cookies?”

Carina laughed. “You guys are killing me. Whatever happened to the happily-ever-after? The romance after marriage? The perfect relationship?”

The two friends shared a look. “Get over it,” Maggie advised. “Real life is messy.”

Alexa nodded. “You want a man who sticks—through the good stuff and the crap. ’Cause there’s a lot of crap.”

Carina studied them, all belly and discomfort and pissed-off female hormones. “Um, is it worth it?”

Maggie sighed. “Yeah,” she admitted grudgingly. “It’s worth it.”

Alexa beamed. “Definitely worth it. Now let’s talk about you. Any yummy stuff to share? Did you decide to take me up on my offer and move into my old apartment?”

Excitement shimmered up and down Carina’s spine. “Yes. It sounds perfect. I’ll move in in about two weeks. Keep Maggie from killing my brother for a while.”

“Thanks, sis.”

Carina grinned. “Welcome. I stopped at the La Dolce Maggie office and got a tour. Max is going to show me the ropes.”

“Max is the sweetest man. So charming and helpful,” Alexa said.

Maggie shot her a concerned look. “Is that a good idea, Carina? Do you think you can work closely with Max?”

Bull’s-eye.

Carina remembered three years ago when Maggie confronted her about Carina’s major crush on Max. Eight years older, and way out of her league, Max caused sleepless nights and crying jags over the proper way to finally get him to notice her. Maggie lectured her on living her own life on her terms first. But love was stubborn. No, it had taken that one unforgettable night to realize Max would never see her as anything more than his friend’s
little sister. The memory of her humiliation shimmered before her, but Carina needed the jolt to go and find her own life.

She took a deep breath and faced her sister-in-law. “Yes,” she said firmly. “I’m fine working with Max.”

Maggie studied her face, then nodded. “Got it. Well, most of the crowd is probably waiting.” She braced herself against the arms of the chair and rocked herself forward. “Come join us when you’re done getting ready.”

“Okay, I’ll be down in a few.”

Carina lay back on the stuffed pillows and stared at the ceiling. Her entire life revolved around fighting for her place within the family among her gorgeous sisters and talented brother. It seemed everyone had a special niche, except her. Raw anticipation flowed through her blood at the thought of a fresh slate. Another country. A new job. A place to live on her own. The possibilities were endless, stretched before her like a gift, and she was tired of wasting those minutes on a man who’d never love her.

Marriage and settling down with one man was no longer her goal.

A hot-blooded, no-holds-barred affair definitely was.

Her skin tingled. Finally, she was freed from restrictions and intended to explore all of her sexuality. She’d find a man worthy of her and dive headfirst into a physical relationship with no hope of long-term commitment.

Bad girl.

Yeah. About time.

The thought cheered her up. She rolled from the bed, grabbed the red dress off the hanger, and went to change.

•   •   •

Max was enjoying himself. He often ate dinner with Michael and Maggie, and many times they were joined by Alexa and Nick. Comfortable hours filled with laughter and wine and relaxing reminded him of the endless evenings he spent with the Conte family in Bergamo. Mama Conte and his mother had grown up together and were friends as young girls, so when his father took off, Mama Conte adopted him and his mother into her own family. He always felt like a cousin rather than a good friend.

An itch crept up his spine. Oddly, he had more money than Michael but never wanted a penny of it—not unless it was earned by his own blood and sweat. Like a business transaction, his rich Swiss father swooped in and seduced the local Italian girl. They married quickly, and when the baby arrived, he deposited a nice fat check in her bank account. Then left for good. Max had never met his father, but his money garnered interest over the years. With no extended relatives, his mother needed the funds to survive, but Max choked on it and couldn’t wait to earn his own way. He didn’t want anything from a man who laid eyes on his newborn son and left without a glance back. A man who humiliated his mother in an old-fashioned Catholic
town and forced them to wear the stain of abandonment and divorce.

No, Max didn’t care. He just swore to never bring shame on his mother or ever run away from responsibility. The sins of the father would not carry to the son.

He’d make sure of it.

Max freshened up his glass of Chianti, grabbed a piece of bruschetta, and turned.

Holy hell.

She came down the elaborate stairway with nonchalant grace, an easy smile, and a killer body wrapped up in fiery red. He’d never seen her in red before, let alone a dress. He’d only seen her in baggy clothes and T-shirts, her natural curves always hidden from view.

Not anymore. The scoop neck emphasized the lushness of her breasts and the curve of her hips. Her dark curly hair fell around her shoulders and down her back, begging for a man’s fingers to thrust deep and disappear. Her lips were painted scarlet red, setting off the inky depth of her eyes.

She stopped in front of him, and the words of greeting died in his throat. He was so used to her looks of open longing. He realized she had a tiny crush on him years back. He’d always thought it cute, and quite flattering. Now, he held a sinking feeling she’d come into her own magical powers. Max had taken her flattering words, protectiveness, and admiring gaze for granted. Now, she treated him
the same as the others. A sinking disappointment grabbed at his chest, but he firmly shook it off.

“Hey,” he said. Halfway embarrassed by the lame word, he reminded himself she was like his sister and that his last girlfriend had been actual royalty. “Can I get you some wine?”

“Absolutely. Chianti?” She pointed to his glass, and one curl slipped over her forehead and into her eye. The clean scent of cucumber rose to his nostrils, somehow more intoxicating than fake perfumes.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Perfect.”

He busied himself with getting her a glass and held it out.

“Thanks.”

Her fingers brushed his as she took the glass, and he swore he almost jerked back. The tiny buzz was subtle but still present. Exactly what he didn’t need. He shook his head hard and refocused.

“Let me know if you have any questions about the area. I’d be happy to show you around.”

She sipped her wine and half closed her eyes in pleasure. “Hmm, there’s one thing I need above all else.”

“What?”

“A gym. Can you recommend one?”

“Michael installed a full facility at the company. I’ll show you tomorrow. I usually work out in the early
morning if you ever want to join me.” Her gaze flicked over his body as if assessing his muscle structure. He grinned. “Want me to flex?”

The old Carina would have blushed. This one pursed her lips and pondered. “Maybe.”

“Brat.” He raised a brow. “You always hated working out.”

“Still do. But I love to eat, and I have a weight problem. Exercising balances both.”

Max frowned. “You don’t have a weight problem.”

She sighed. “Trust me, when most clothes are made for tall, leggy women with no hips, you have a weight problem.”

Irritation prickled his nerve endings. “That’s stupid. You have an actual ass and breasts. That’s the kind of weight a man looks for.”

He almost gasped when the words came out of his mouth. Conversations with Carina never included body parts, and heat actually tinged his cheeks. What the hell was he doing?

But she didn’t look embarrassed. In fact, she laughed out loud and clicked her glass with his. “Well said, Max. But I still may take you up on that offer. How’s Rocky?”

A faint smile curved his lips. “Great. He’s completely healed and turned into a lapdog. Kind of embarrassing. I’ve never met a pit bull who’s disinterested in any stranger unless they rubbed his belly.”

Her almond-shaped eyes softened. Her family deemed Carina “the animal whisperer” for her ability to communicate with any animal. After he rescued Rocky from the fighting pit, the first call he made was to Carina. She told him exactly how to handle and treat the abused pit bull, and they had worked as a long-distance team to heal his battered soul. “I can’t wait to finally meet him in person,” she said. “Photos aren’t the same.”

The image of Carina in his home and with his dog settled over him. It was odd how much he looked forward to seeing her on his own turf. He usually hated bringing women to his house and tried to avoid the trap by going to theirs. Carina took a sip of her wine and startled him with a bold question.

“How’s your love life? Who’s the flavor of the month?”

He shifted his feet. “No one special.”

“Didn’t you turn thirty a while ago?”

“What does that have to with anything?” he asked. He hated the defensiveness to his tone. “I’m only thirty-four.”

She shrugged. “Just wondered if you had interest in settling down, having a family. Like them.”

The two couples stood close together, deep in conversation. Nick’s hand rested on the side of Alexa’s belly, and Michael bent his head to whisper something in his wife’s ear. The air of close intimacy and joy shimmered around the tight circle and left Max with a hole in his gut. Sure, he wanted that. Who wouldn’t? But no woman had made him
want to give up his freedom and commit to her forever. He swore he’d be single for life unless he was absolutely one hundred percent sure. He’d never walk away from his wife and family like his father. He’d never abandon someone who needed him. Therefore, he didn’t have the luxury of making any errors within his relationships. The moment a woman wanted to stay in his bed for too long, or invited him to family functions, he took a long hard look at the relationship. If there wasn’t enough feeling, he moved on.

Unfortunately, he’d been moving on for years now with no permanent relationship in his past.

“One day,” he said. “When I meet the right one.”

“Your mama is getting nervous,” she teased. “I think she’s starting to say extra rosaries with Father Richard, praying that you’re not gay.”

He choked on the sip of wine. Who was this woman? Her mischievous expression made him want to challenge her. “Oh, is that so? And do you think I’m gay?”

His muscles tightened under her hot gaze as she took in every inch of his body. “Hmm, I always did wonder. You dress quite nicely. You know your designer brands. And you’re a bit too pretty for my taste.”

The breath whooshed out of his lungs. “What?”

“No offense. I prefer the bad-boy type. Casual, longer hair, maybe a motorcycle.”

“Your brother would kill you, and I bet you never rode on any damn bike.” Temper snapped at him, made even
more ridiculous because he knew she was teasing him. “And you know I’m not gay.”

“Okay.” She lifted her shoulders as if he now bored her. “Think what you like.”

Her evasive answer pissed him off. Had she been on a bike with some guy looking to take advantage? And why did he care? She was a grown woman, for God’s sake, and no longer his concern. She could date whomever she wanted. The image of her clutching some guy around the waist hit him full force. Thighs tight around the hum of the engine. Dark hair flying in the wind. The dip and speed as she hung on tight with the promise of a very different ride afterward.

Maybe it was time Carina Conte realized he wasn’t a man who took well to teasing.

He lowered his head. Her eyes widened in surprise as he dipped his mouth close to hers; close enough to see the gorgeous peach sheen to her skin, the ruby red of her lips, and the tiny gasp of breath she emitted in a warm rush. “Want me to prove I’m not gay?”