HANDLE WITH CARE (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 5) (11 page)

“And it’s serious already?”

“No. Well, yeah, in some ways.”

“I guess you and I shouldn’t have waited so long to
get
involved
.”

It took him a minute to realize what she was inferring. “It isn’t just physical. We’ve gotten close. I’m sorry.”

She put her shoulders back. “Yes, Max, I am, too.” With her head held high, she unlocked the door and left the office. Circling his desk, sitting behind it, he felt like shit. Until a cute little bundle of curves and soft skin came to the doorway ten minutes later.

“You done already?” she asked.

“Not quite.”

“You were sitting there just staring into space.”

“I was thinking what a cute little bundle of curves and soft skin you are.”

“Oh, dear heavens. Now you’re
thinking
in un-politically correct terms.”

He laughed out loud. Suddenly he didn’t feel like shit anymore. He felt like the victor of a very important game.

An hour later, Sofia watched Max as he let them into his house in an old neighborhood of Queens. He was wearing his teacher clothes, shorts and a T-shirt. From behind, she noticed the curve of his trapezius and the straightness of his spine as the damp cloth of his shirt clung to him. “Here we go. Home sweet home.”

“I can’t wait to see your space.”

He didn’t go in. “What do you think
it will be?”

“A sixty-five-inch TV. Probably leather furniture. Nothing in the kitchen. A lake of a bed.” She winked. “I hope.”

He swung open the door. Inside, his vibes filled her: Masculinity. Hominess. Healthiness. A small foyer welcomed them. Off to the side, closed double doors to another room. He led her back to a kitchen and living space off it.

The L-shaped kitchen gleamed
with copper pots hanging down, green plants on the windowsills, an island with a stove for cooking. The scent of spices, dough, and fruit filled the air. “Wow, I’m surprised.”

“I told you I could cook.”

“You told me you were grilling outside for Mother’s Day.”

Pivoting, she walked into the living room. No leather in here. A thick, probably expensive, neutral-colored rug rolled out
under her feet, making her want to take off her shoes. She did. Hmm, plush. Two couches faced each other, and the window revealed a big patio, behind which was woods. The sofas were sage-green microfiber, accented by yellow-and-green-striped pillows. A big upholstered lounger in a pretty, deep yellow sat off to the side. Modern art graced walls painted a creamy beige.

“They’re prints of Jonas
Crane’s work. I couldn’t afford the real things.”

“Oh, boy.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you later. This is beautiful, so earthy.”

“I like it. There’s a big bedroom and two smaller ones down that hallway.”

She cocked a brow. “A woman helped with this.”

“Sort of, but my dad owns a painting business, so I know some things.”

“Who sort of helped you?”

“My mother.”

“You’re
pretty close then.”

“More than most sons and moms.”

“Why?”

“No serious talk, now.”

“I can do that. Show me the yoga room.”

“Hush your mouth. It’s no such thing. It’s a workout area.”

She rolled her eyes, followed him and knew when she saw the last bedroom, she was lost. Of course there were machines. But he’d carved out a nook in the corner, bought props-a bolster, a stack
of blankets, a strap, two blocks. A machine off to the side had stacks of CDs by it. She picked one up.
Sounds for Yoga: Nature’s Gift
.

Her throat tightened with emotion. Her heart filled to bursting. So she turned to him and said, “Max, I’m ready to see your bedroom now.”

“This blouse is so pretty. Raise your hands and let me take it off.” A pause. “Mmm. Lovely.”

From her, “Your shirt, too.” Another pause, then “Mmm.”

His hands went to her waist, pulled down her yoga pants. She loosened his belt, rid him of his shorts and shirt.

He hiked her up then. Sofia melded into him. For a long time, they shared sloppy, tongue-tangled kisses. Then he turned around and sat so she could straddle him. He lifted her up by the hips. Already, she was wet and wanting
when he entered her. They came together in an explosion that blurred everything but the two of them.

They’d both flopped onto their backs, hands flung over their heads, legs dangling off the bed. “Geez, that was quick.” She lifted so she could look at him. “You okay?”

“Ha-ha. But yeah, more than. I’ve been thinking about that all day.”

“Me, too.”

He took her hand
and held it while they both stared up at the ceiling fan. “I told Lauren I wouldn’t be seeing her anymore.”

“How’d she take it? She was cold to me when I saw her coming out of Gus’s office.”

“You went to see Gus?” His throat tightened at the thought. Did she make a date? She’d go out with someone else after all this?

“I told him about us. But don’t worry, Alice is making a big play
to get back together. I could see in his face he wanted to. I’m glad he didn’t get hurt by us.”

“Lauren wasn’t hurt. I think she was mad.”

“I’m sorry for that, too.”

He squeezed her hand. “No more seeing other people, Sof.”

“I know. I don’t want to.”

“Me, either.”

“What would you like to do now?”

She rose up and leaned over him. “Take a wild guess.”

“So,” Magdalena said as they entered Zane’s Boutique, a designer-knockoff place in the Village. “What are we buying today?”

“Some cool clothes. Everything I have is casual. Demure.”

“You’ve never been into fancier stuff.”

She smiled over at the sister who’d taken a half day off from a high-powered job just to be with her. “Feminine clothes, Mags.”

“Ah. The football coach?”

Sofia giggled. “Yeah. I took
Matka’s
point about
carpe diem
to heart.”

“Good for you.”

They walked into the store, and Magdalena led her to the dresses. Sofia marveled at the array of colors. Her gaze went to the purples and blues and then the apricots and peaches. “These colors,” she said, after choosing two in both shades. “Which one?”

“I like the sundress.
Its neckline and fitted waist will look great on you. For the blue, go with straps. Wait a sec, though.”

Magdalena matched a short light sweater with one and a dressy jacket with the other.

Sofia said, “Let’s go try these on.”

“Are you kidding? We haven’t even gotten started yet.”

They snagged a hand-embroidered, half-sleeve white tunic, a ruffled and crochet-trimmed skirt and
layered an eyelet vest over a dressy white blouse and black-checked crepe pants. Just as they were leaving, Magdalena saw a shorter skirt that flared at the knees.

“Enough,” Sofia said. “I’ll be overwhelmed if we get more.”

“For now. Go ahead.” They found the dressing room, and Magdalena sat on a chair in the store proper. “Come out and show me.”

As she slipped the soft dress on, Sofia
smiled like a silly kid buying something for a prom. But she didn’t care, she was enjoying this. When she went out in the peach dress, Magdalena approved, and handed her earrings and a bracelet to match. The pants outfit next, and by then, Magdalena had shoes—a bit of a heel, but soft leather and comfortable.

They left the place with every single outfit she’d tried on and all the accessories
her sister had picked out. Magdalena insisted on paying for everything. Since money meant little to Sofia, and she knew Mags would take pleasure in splurging on her, Sofia let her do it, with the comment, “That’s not why I asked you to come along.”

“Of course not. Now, I’m famished. There’s a crepe place around the corner. They have gluten-free food. Want to go there?”

“Sure, but I buy
this.”

Once they were in the restaurant, Magdalena sat back. She was gorgeous with her long locks trailing down her torso and expert makeup applied. She’d changed at work to jeans and a gauzy blouse. And her face glowed, still, from her husband, Sofia guessed. “Shall we treat ourselves to wine?”

“Why not? It’s hours before I teach.”

“So,” her sister began after they ordered. “Tell
me about you and Max.”

“I will. But I want to hear about the wedding first.”

Mags cocked her head. “As I said at the house, we went to the justice of the peace one Friday afternoon. We took the weekend in the Hamptons at his Dad’s place as a honeymoon.”

“Why the rush? Why didn’t we all come?”

“Are you hurt I didn’t invite the family?”

“No. Whatever you wanted was fine by me.
I’m just curious.”

She shrugged. “Logan’s going through a rough patch. He gets reports from the doctor about the baby, but he doesn’t feel much a part of the pregnancy. Teresa won’t even talk to him anymore.”

“That’s too bad.”

“He’s so excited about the prospect of having a child. But he gets down when he thinks about not being able to be a full-time parent.”

“I can understand
that.”

“Me, too. So I asked him what I could do to make his life better now. He said to marry him.”

“I knew he was a great guy.”

“We went for the license that day. I’m not into all the regalia of a big wedding anyway. We could have done it like Ana and Jared did, small and discreet, but, I don’t know, we wanted it this way.”

“That’s your right. My bet is Nia won’t go for something
big, either. Neither did Paulie. You’re entitled.”

Perfectly arched brows rose. “What about you? When you get married, what will you want?”

“Is that your way of asking if it’s serious with Max?”

“Is it?”

“We’ve only been seeing each other since the beginning of April, and even then, it didn’t get personal for weeks. We haven’t been together that long, Mags, but I’m falling head
over heels for him.”

“How’s the sex?”

“Oh, thank the stars, any better, and we’d be in the hospital.”

Magdalena laughed out loud and said, “Us, too.”

“Aren’t we the lucky girls?”

Magdalena’s gaze narrowed on her. “How can you do that? Call yourself lucky after what you’ve been through?”

“Because we have to leave some things behind. Cancer is a part of my past, and hopefully,
not my future. So I refuse to let it affect my present.”

“I admire that so much, Sof.”

“I just wish everybody wouldn’t worry about me.”

“I’ll try not to.” She picked up her glass and Sofia clinked hers against it. “To an unencumbered future.”

“For us both.”

“Where is she?” Deeks asked after Max walked into Bailey’s Irish Pub in the Village. They’d met for dinner
tonight in town because Deeks had been in the city all day for meetings for his computer business. Unabashedly, Max had suggested the famous pub because Sofia was related to one of the owner’s wives. He’d never met any of her family and he was determined to correct that.

“Who, Sofia?”

“No, the Queen of Sheba.”

“Teaching classes. I won’t see her tonight.”

“Hell, Max,” Deeks said.
“You sound like you’ll be separated for decades.”

His brothers had a lot of bravado, but he loved them. “I know. And I wanna say again how grateful I am that you handled Sunday so well. But don’t tease me. I’m slipping fast into a serious relationship with her.”

Jess said, “I think that’s great.”

Ronny shrugged. “Not sure. It’s pretty fast.”

Deeks looked around. “We need a pitcher
to discuss this over.”

“I’ll get it from the bar,” Max put in. “My treat.”

He headed to the big mahogany bar. An attractive dark-haired man with blue eyes came down from the end. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, I’d like a pitcher of draft beer, Molson’s, if you have it.”

“No waitress came to your table?”

“Nope, but don’t sweat it. We’re fine for a while.”

As he began to pour,
he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in here before. I’m Patrick O’Neil.”

“Max Walker.”

“Glad to meet you.”

Hell, why not? “I’m dating Sofia Ludzecky.”

Patrick’s eyebrows arched. “Seriously. I love Sofia. She’s a doll.” Max wondered what Sofia would think of the legendary O’Neil brothers using sexist language.

“Who’s a doll?” Another man had come down the bar and taken
a stool. He bore strong resemblance to Patrick.

“Your sister-in-law.”

“Which one of the six?” he said with amusement in his voice.

“Sofia.”

“Ah. I’m Aidan O’Neil. You know Sofia?”

Very well. Very, very well. “Yes. We’re dating.”

Aidan glanced at Patrick. Patrick’s shoulders straightened. “You know, we kinda see her as a little sister.”

“And look out for her.”

“Huh.”

“We wouldn’t want to see her get hurt.”

“No, no neither would I. I, hell, I care about her.”

“You better.” Patrick smiled. “Just so we’re straight on that.”

“Yeah, we’re straight.”

When he returned to the table, Deeks said, “Took you long enough. I’m dyin’ of thirst.”

“Sorry.”

“Who’s the bartender and the other guy?”

“The O’Neils. One of them is Sofia’s brother-in-law.”

“Then you better watch out,” Deeks warned. “Their sister was once married to the president of the US of A.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. How come she didn’t tell you?”

“How come, indeed.”

Max was restless when he left Bailey’s so he drove straight to Sofia’s. He checked his watch. She’d said her last class ended at nine. He walked into the studio—he’d learned she left
the outer door unlocked but locked the one to the yoga room itself. Dropping down, he remembered the first time he’d come here, nearly six weeks ago. So much had changed. Not the least of which was that he felt like a puppy dog wanting to see her—no,
needing
to see her—even after having fun with his brothers.

Picking up a magazine next to him,
Yoga Today
, he absently leafed through the pages.
His gaze stuck on one article. “Good Sex and Yoga.” The subtitle, “Ten ways to use the poses to increase your pleasure.”