Twirled Bond (Holly Woods Files, #5) (32 page)

As far as we know, he’s going to get help for his drinking, Stacia is going to get help for what she endured as a child, and they’re going to give it another go.

I still think the case is like the baked-beans puzzle. None of it made any sense until the end, no matter how many times it seemed to. In the case of Eddie and the marriage and the affair, my mind made it fit. Although, when I think back now with a clearer head, it never really worked. Eddie’s not a bad guy—just one with a binge-drinking problem. I don’t understand how two such broken people think they can make a marriage work, but hey, I hope they do. Maybe the bits of them that are broken fit together.

The one thing we don’t know is who Dori was having an affair with. I think that’s the one thing we’ll never find out, and I’m okay with that. In the grand scheme of things, it’s such a small instance. I know that, when she leaves the hospital and everything is explained to her, she’ll feel an insurmountable amount of guilt, but I truly believe that, if Daniela hadn’t died, it would have been Stacia.

Daniela was fearless—Stacia was fearful. That’s the difference between the two sisters, and unfortunately for my childhood friend, it cost her her life.

But it saved her sister’s. I think, for that, Daniela would be happy.

“Nonna. I’m not mad anymore.”

“Are-a you-a sure?” She clasps her hands together in front of her stomach. “You have-a not-a called.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy with everything. I literally got home, found the food, and then everything went crazy. I meant to call you this week.” I wrap my arms around her. “And, if I didn’t get a chance to, I was gonna come eat all the food on Friday night.”

“Aha! You! You-a always after my-a food!” She cackles and hugs me tight. “O-a-kay. I am-a sorry, Noella. I really did-a not-a mean to-a hurt you.”

“I know.” I pull back and hold the old bat at arm’s length. Her dark eyes are warm, but a little apprehensive. “You just need to think about what you’re doing. Honestly, Nonna, Silvio thinks things through more than you do.”

Unless he’s so excited for a Cowboys jersey signed by Lucas Hargreaves that he almost vomits all over it, therefore securing me and Drake as the top aunt and the top uncle in the entire universe.

“I-a know. I just-a want-a you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” I reassure her. “We both are. And, when we’re ready to take the next step, we will.”

I’m not going to tell her that, right now, I feel like I could be.

Sometimes, a case puts everything into perspective, and this one definitely has. Love comes in many forms. Nonna loves wildly—literally—and impulsively. My parents love unconditionally. My brothers love protectively.

Drake loves wholly. Entirely.

And the way I love is all of those things rolled into one. It’s scary and passionate, but really, it’s all I know how to do. I sure as hell don’t love perfectly, but for me, I guess it is. I love with everything, and I guess that’s all there is to it.

“You will-a be at-a dinner on-a Friday,
si
?” Nonna demands, grabbing her cane.

“
Si.
” I smile as she pats her cheek for a kiss. I bend down and touch my lips to her powdery cheek before she turns and clatters out of my kitchen, across my hall, and through my front door without another word.

Do you know what? If, one day, I could love the way Nonna does, no matter how flawed it is, I think I’d be okay with that.

“Is she gone yet?” Drake asks, his footsteps echoing off the stairs. “Do I have to fake another phone call?”

“Kind of redundant if she were here. But yes, she’s gone. You can come out of hiding now.” I laugh as I pull a bottle of water from the fridge. “She won’t come and kiss you again.”

“That was traumatic.” He steps down off the bottom stair and walks into the kitchen. “Honestly, I’ve never been kissed so enthusiastically by a seventy-year-old woman in my entire life.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. She kissed you on the cheek. Like, ten times, but that’s just how it works in Italy. Kisses everywhere.” I wave him off and walk into the front room. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised.”

“You’re right. It is Nonna.” He drops himself onto the sofa then pulls me down with him.

I squeal as I fall backward over his legs. “Why did you do that?”

He grins, his eyes sparkling. “It was fun. And you’re cute when you panic.”

“I’m twenty-nine. Nobody is cute at twenty-nine.”

“But you are.” He kisses me softly, warmth spreading through my body. “I have an idea.”

“Go on...”

“I think we should take that vacation.”

“Usually, I would disagree, but I think you’re right. I think I need one.”

“Whoa.” He leans back, one arm still around me, and raises his eyebrows. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that? Are you agreeing to go on vacation and leave your beloved business behind?”

I smack his chest with my water bottle. “Bek can handle it for two weeks if we plan ahead enough. We’ll also have to send out a memo to the rest of town not to get murdered or murder anyone since I won’t be here to solve it.”

“What’s that?” He pokes the air in front of my face. “Oh, look. That’s your ego.”

I laugh and hit him with the bottle again. “Come on. I basically solved this one on my own.”

“You did. I can’t deny it. You—and Carlton—are the reasons we pieced this all together, with a little help from Stacia.” Drake nods, pride glinting in his eyes. “Have you thought about the FBI’s offer?”

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

It’s the one thing I’ve blocked out of my mind. After the case wrapped, before we left Austin, Jason’s superior called me into his office and offered me a job. He said that I wouldn’t have to give up the business, but if I passed all the checks and security shit, they would take me on as a consultant.

“I don’t know,” I say quietly, looking down. I pick at the label on the bottle. “I would sometimes have to travel around the state. I wouldn’t be able to see you sometimes... Not to mention I couldn’t pull half the questionable shit with them that I can with y’all. I guess I like my life the way it is. It’s easy and comfortable. I don’t know if I need anything else added into it.”

“I think it’s a brave choice. With your mind, you could go far with them.”

“But then I’d also be far from you.” I look up with a half smile. “And then I know nobody would take my shit.”

He laughs and kisses me again, his hand cupping my cheek. “Damn straight. I’m not sure how I do it.”

“Well, at least this time when I solved a case, I didn’t almost get myself killed.” I feel like pointing this out is important. “That has to count for something.”

“Noelle, sweetheart, the fact that you weren’t even near a murderer when you figured it out counts for everything, never mind the fact that you didn’t have to shoot anyone or almost get shot.”

“I know. Betty’s feeling kinda sad. I haven’t used her in a while.”

“I promise to take you to the range next week.”

“You’re the best ever. Did I tell you that yet?”

“No, but keep going. I like it.”

I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder. We managed to get through a case without wanting to kill each other or almost get killed. Okay, so the last one is definitely me, but whatever.

“Drake?”

“Mhmm?”

“Were you really not mad about what Nonna said?”

“That’s a drastic change of subject.”

“Yeah. I know. But we didn’t really get to talk about it, and I think we should.”

“Hold on. Noelle Bond is bringing up the topic of marriage?”

I sit up and punch him.

Hard.

“I deserved that,” he mutters, wincing and stretching his arm.

I nod, my lips in a thin line. “You say it like I never talk about it. Like I’m scared of it.”

“I’m sorry,” he says. “Let’s talk about it. Is it still bothering you?”

My mouth goes dry, so I nod again instead of speaking.

Drake shifts so we’re less beside each other and more looking at each other. He reaches his hand out and gently tucks hair behind my ear, his fingertips ghosting across my skin. His eyes are bright and locked onto mine.

“Why? I’m not bothered by it,
bella.
We are what we are, and as long as we’re happy, I couldn’t care less what that is.”

I pick a bit of loose skin off my top lip with my teeth. “But what if maybe the idea isn’t so bad?”

He stills. “Excuse me?”

“What if I want to talk about it? For real. Seriously.”

“Getting married?”

“Yes.” I hesitate. “What if I think we should?”

He blinks. “Are you proposing to me?”

“I’m proposing the idea to you. As a possibility.”
Jesus Christ.
My heart is beating so hard that it hurts. “Of something we could consider for something sooner rather than...later.”

“So you’re proposing an idea rather than an actual proposal.” His lips twitch to one side. “So nobody asks anybody. We just do it.”

“That sounds about right.”

“Of course that’s how it works with you.” He laughs, cupping my chin. “So, what’s your
idea
for how we
just do it
?”

“We elope. Obviously. You saw my family when Dev and Amelia got married. I’m going down for murder if I ever have to go through that, not to mention with your mom involved. Jesus. Never mind. Forget I said anything. Those thoughts are terrifying.”

His laugh is loud, but he holds me against him when I attempt to escape. He’s stronger than I am, so when he takes my water bottle and pulls me on top of him, I’m powerless to fight it. My knees settle on either side of his hips, and he grips my ass as my hands rest on either side of his neck.

“I agree. I think you just scared me a little,” he says in a low voice, his eyes never leaving mine. “Eloping works.”

“Okay. When?”

“Tonight, after we’ve spoken to my dad. Where?”

“Vegas, obviously.”

“Obviously. Are you wearing white?”

“I think I have something upstairs. Are you wearing a suit?”

“Do you mean a tux or just my shirt with my sleeves rolled up?”

I consider it for a moment. “I’ll wear a dress short enough that you can see my ass when I bend over if you wear the shirt with your sleeves rolled up.”

“Deal.” He cups the back of my neck and pulls my lips down to his.

I didn’t think it was possible, but my heart speeds up even more when his tongue flicks across the seam of my mouth. I close my eyes and melt into his kiss, my body relaxing against his as he stokes a fire deep inside me.

For the first time, I’m not afraid of the prospect of giving all of me to this man.

I’m excited.

W
e’ve been sitting in the truck for ten minutes at the end of Gianna’s street. It took an hour—ahem—to leave the house and finally get around here for Drake to have the all-important conversation with his dad. We booked flights for dinnertime so we have an excuse to get away.

If anyone asks, we’re headed to Miami for two nights to chill out and escape the manic atmosphere of this town. Last minute, of course.

“You don’t have to do this,” I gently remind him. “Ever. You know that.”

“I know, but I want to now. I think I deserve the answers.”

He does.

“I agree,” I tell him. “I’ll be right here with you. The entire time.”

He looks at me. “I know. Let’s get it done.” He puts the truck into drive and pulls away from the curb. Thirty seconds later, he turns into his mom’s drive and puts it back into park.

He looks like he’s going to throw up. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to him to make this better. I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything I can say.

I just really, really hope there’s a very good reason for the pain his dad has caused him.

We get out of the truck, and the second I close my door, Drake takes my hand in his. His fingers slide between mine, and he squeezes tight, keeping me close.

I know that this is more important to him than he’s letting on.

He knocks once on the door and pushes it open. “Mom?”

Gianna appears instantly. Worry is etched across her face, and my stomach instantly sinks.

I just don’t know if this is going to be as good as it should be.