Dirty Trouble (18 page)

“Ahh,
bella mia
, how hava you been?” Nonni’s heavy Italian accent was ever present. Surprising, since she’d lived in America for a billion years. At least she’d lived here before my mother came into the world. The fact that Italian was the only language spoken in their household when Mom grew up may be the reason for Nonni’s accent. Gio and I learned Italian at an early age.

“
Bene, molto bene,
I’m good, Nonni. You look as wonderful as ever. Mom says you’ve been at the seniors’ center, huh? Checking out the guys again?” Laughter followed my question, and Nonni’s eyes crinkled with humor. Thank God for small miracles. She’d have smacked me with a wooden spoon if she were offended.

“Not me. I’ma no wanta any old men. I hear you gotta gooda man now, eh?”

Unsure to which man she referred, I just nodded and gulped my wine. My eyes slid to my mother with a silent plea for help.

She rose to the occasion and motioned for us all to hold our plates up while my father served layers of thin-sliced, rare roast beef. I spooned veggies onto my plate. My mother filled hers with salad and waited for my father to serve Nonni and then her.

Mom’s eyes moved toward the door and a pleased smile slid over her features. My glance followed hers and widened when Marcus knocked before entering.
Dang, no break for me, I guess.
My mother stood and placed another setting at the table in record time. God forbid anyone should starve. I grinned at Marcus, though I’d hoped to have a private meal with my family.

A slow smile spread across Richmond’s face as he glanced around the table. His eyes settled on my grandmother and he removed his campaign hat while I made the introduction.

“Nonni, this is Marcus Richmond. He is a very good friend of mine. Marcus, this is my Grandmother Ciano.”

She inclined her head while her dark eyes took him in, all of him at once. “You may calla me Nonni,” she said and turned a tiny smile of approval to me.

Dad scowled at me after he greeted Marcus with the usual gruff welcome. An eyebrow arched, but I didn’t utter a sound to my father. It would only lead to a head-butting incident. I should have figured I couldn’t get away with the silence thing.

“Lavinia, is everything all right?” he asked with dark-eyed suspicion.

“Yes, Dad, everything is great. I picked up my new car today. It’s parked in the yard. Why do you ask?”

“You didn’t mention Richmond was coming to dinner, is all. Everything good with you, Marcus?” my father asked.

A grin split Marcus’s face as he answered the query. He reassured my father that all was well and that he’d been in the neighborhood and saw my car. It seemed like everyone was in my family’s neighborhood lately.

My father grunted and resumed his dinner. Nonni mumbled to him in Italian and he mumbled back. It was difficult following everything since they mumbled so. I assumed Nonni gave my father an attitude adjustment because he soon became more cordial.

Awhile later, we all sat back, stuffed to the gills with excellent food, and I waited to hear what Marcus wanted. It didn’t take long for him to speak up. My Italian manners must be rubbing off on him.

“I called your cell phone, but you didn’t pick up.”

“Did you? Well, maybe you left a voice mail?”

He knew I sidestepped, and a thick eyebrow hitched upward as a new gleam entered his eyes.

“Why, yes, I did. You should check it later.” The smile was back in place. “Where did you get off to this afternoon?”

Okay, I know I promised Aaron I’d go straight home, and I did. Just because I didn’t stay there shouldn’t matter. I have a life and won’t be managed by anyone, especially two controlling, egotistical men.

“I went to Foster to look at a building,” I said.

My mother stared at me for a moment. “Dear, are you planning to buy a building?”

“No, I wanted to see some construction a local contractor had done. The garage needs repair, and I want a reputable builder to do it.” I made no mention of the fire and hoped no one else would either.
Fat chance of that happening.

Hazel green eyes gleamed at me, and I knew that Marcus wouldn’t let me off that easily for breaking my promise. My mother took the information for what it was. As for my father, well, he’s a different story. No matter what – I knew I wouldn’t get off the hook.

Dad’s dark brown eyes stared at me. “Does anyone know who set fire to your garage? It was on the news. I’m surprised you didn’t call and tell us.”

Dang, I was in for it now.

“It wasn’t bad. The investigating officers have everything under control. It was undoubtedly just an accident. I didn’t want to worry you.”

“An accident? How could someone ‘torching your garage’ be an accident, Lavinia? Your life seems more accident prone than usual lately. Have you been sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?” Dad’s voice turned loud.

Marcus leaned back in the chair as my mother removed his dinner plate and replaced it with coffee and apple crisp. If I wasn’t mistaken, his expression showed he enjoyed my father’s interrogation.
What had I done to deserve this?

Mom doled out dessert and coffee as I stammered, looking for an excuse. Nonni waited in silence, interested to see where the conversation was headed.

“N-no, I’m not sticking my nose in anyone’s business, other than my own. I have enough on my plate to keep me busy. Tomorrow I teach at the university and over the weekend, I’m sure to have guests drop by. You do realize the art show is this weekend, and Scituate will be clogged with thousands of people?”

The fork stopped midway to my mother’s mouth. She set it onto her dish and stared at me as though I’d developed two heads. What ran through her mind was on its way to her mouth. I could just tell.

“What will you feed these people, Lavinia? Your cupboards are always empty.”

Lordy, was food the only thing she worried about? My garage was torched, my aunt was a mafia moll, and I’d been run off the road. All this in a matter of days, and my mother was concerned over what I’d feed my drop-by guests. It was the last thing on my mind at the moment.

Grinning from ear to ear, Marcus dipped his face toward his plate, concentrating on the dessert. For a lawman who carried a gun – a big gun I might add – he was too much of a chicken shit to get involved with this conversation.
Men, what can ya do about them, huh?
His enjoyment was just a little annoying, though.

“Mom, I’m not worried about what I will feed them. The bakery will have plenty of goodies on trays, all ready to eat. I’m not getting nuts over this.”

“If you say so. I just thought you might need something substantial.”

“Nothing like that, honest. Just some snacky things. I’ll stop by the bakery on my way home tomorrow.”

I glanced around the table, took in Nonni’s nod of approval, and realized my father still awaited enlightenment on the fire. Marcus was the one with the information. I was about to say so, when he spoke.

“The fire marshal has made his report,” Marcus said to my father. He continued with an explanation of how it might have started and the ongoing investigation. That managed to satisfy my father. When he finished, Marcus rose and thanked my mother for the meal. His gorgeous smile lingered on Nonni, and she grinned back with a wink.

Okay, now we know where Muffy gets her wicked ways. My grandmother was about a hundred years old and still raking in the guys. Young guys. Gosh.

In minutes, with a bag of goodies in hand, I left for home. Marcus waited outside for me. I thought he’d gone, but he was lying in wait instead.
I really hate when I’m caught off guard.

“You want to tell me what really happened this afternoon?” he said in a soft tone as he stepped next to me.

The bag of food landed on the front seat, and I swung around to face him at the window.

“Just what I said. I went with the builder to see his work. End of story.” I admit to being defensive, but anger lay just beneath it. My inner struggle with it was a losing battle.

“When you say you’ll be home, we expect you to be there. How can we protect you if you’re all over the place?”

His arms were crossed again as he leaned against my new car. It meant he was going to be difficult. I recognized the symptoms. What the hell? Might as well get it over with, I thought.

“First off, I don’t need a babysitter. Second, nobody was around to protect me, and third, I’m a big girl in case you hadn’t noticed,” I hissed.

“Oh yeah, I’ve noticed all right.” A hand snuck around my waist and pulled me close. “You just can’t stay out of any dilemma you come upon, though, and sometimes being a big girl is no help when that occurs.”

My body temp hiked a couple notches at his touch. While a cold wind blew, my clothes clung to the hot skin beneath. Marcus had this effect on me way too often now.

He nuzzled my neck as his warm hands roamed my body. Good Lord, right in front of my mother’s house, too. It was a good thing they thought I’d left.
Or had they?

Edging away from him, I stepped aside and leaned one hand on the car and one on my hip. Staring at him in the dim light, I considered the fact that he wasn’t as cool as he’d like me to think either. Unable to take advantage of him at the moment, I changed the subject.

“If I need assistance, I’ll call you. You’re on speed dial, and so is Aaron for that matter. By the way, I don’t know if you’re involved with this investigation he has going on, but I caught him questioning my mother. So, I’ll tell you what I told him. If you want to know anything, ask me, not her. Okay?”

“Sure, but I’m not involved in his business at the moment.” He glanced at his watch and then said, “I’d better get on the road.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“You bet. Stay out of trouble and go straight home, please.” His grin belied his persistent, and all too obvious worry over my incapacity to deal with my own life.

Afterwards, I listened to the voice mail Richmond left on my cell phone. It occurred to me that I’d managed to make it through thirty-odd years of life without any state troopers or FBI agents running my affairs. While I was glad to have them around and the two men cared about my welfare, I could manage without their interference. Maybe they needed to realize that, too.

The car eased to a stop in front of the garage and after locking up, I went toward the house. Automatic lights flicked on as I crossed the driveway. My feet crunched over the stones, when the door suddenly swung open. Aaron stood on the bottom step of his staircase. I swallowed the sigh that was about to leave my body.

“I thought that was you. Where have you been?” he asked.

“At my mom’s. I have leftovers. Want some?”

“No, I grabbed a bite to eat in the city,” he said, trailing into the apartment behind me.

Filling the fridge with the leftovers, I kept thinking about the big girl thing. It was time these two guys were reminded of it. When I turned around, Aaron stood just inside the door where he leaned negligently against the doorframe. I couldn’t read his expression and wondered what was coming next.

“Did you hear from Jesse Crane?” he asked.

“I did.” The Lou Anne thing popped into my head and nearly out of my mouth. Instead, I swallowed and said, “He took me to see a place he’d worked on. Nice job. I gave him the repairs on the garage.”

“You went out with him, alone?”

“Indeed. It turns out he was one of my rescuers from the car accident the other day. I also realized you wouldn’t recommend a creep to me.”

“Oh,” he said.

I left him nowhere to go with the questions about Jesse, and wasn’t that a relief?

“Did he tell you anything about his life?”

“No, though he did tell me that he appreciated your referral.” I know, it wasn’t exactly what Jesse asked about, but it came close enough without me bringing up Lou Anne.

“I figured he could use the work. He’s a decent sort.”

It was too good to resist, so I had to ask. “How do you know Jesse?”

“We have some of the same acquaintances.”

With a nod, I stared at him and watched as he became distant. Yep, he knew that I knew of his relationship with the cousin. Aaron hedged against the doorjamb and glanced around.

“Have you had any other dead-air calls?”

“Not recently. Who do you have in common with Jesse? Work friends, or what?” I asked. Just call me nosy – I can’t help it.

“We, um, well, I was kind of involved with his friend’s relative.”

The advantage was mine and I wanted to press it, but the phone rang and Aaron showed signs of relief. I lifted the phone off the cradle.

“Hello, Vinnie speaking.”

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The line went dead and I set the phone back in its resting place. Caller ID listed the number as unknown. Someone was annoying the shit out of me, and I would find out who it was if it killed me. Honest to God, this pissed me off.

“Who was that?” Aaron asked.

I shrugged. “Nobody, or a wrong number, I guess.”

“That seems to happen a lot lately.”

“Indeed,” I said with another shrug. “It’s late and I’ve got to get up for an early class in the morning. What are you up to tomorrow?”

“Just working, that’s all. Look, be careful crossing the bridge tomorrow, will you?” A hint of a smile lay at the corners of his mouth. I nodded with a grin on my face.

“Will do. Thanks for the ride today.”

He smiled full on and stepped toward me. Strong hands lightly encased my arms, and he leaned in for a kiss. I responded with the thought that Marcus was a better kisser. With that silent reminder, I stepped back and smiled.

“Good night, Aaron.”

“Good night, beautiful. I’ll be right upstairs if you need anything.” His eyebrows waggled, and I chuckled.

Aaron left the apartment and headed upstairs. I locked up after him and headed to bed with thoughts of Lou Anne, Jesse, and Antonio the businessman rambling around my brain. Was there a connection between any of them?

My head swam. I was too tired to figure it out tonight. I’d run it by Marcus in the morning and see what he thought.