TOO HOT TO HANDLE Read online

  Ben nodded and turned for the door. "That's fine. Have a good weekend."

  Annabelle took Mike's hand and whispered, "Ben didn't look so good. What did you say to him?"

  Mike shrugged. "Nothing. You know, the usual guy stuff." He tried not to wince when she squeezed his hand. "Come on, let's go celebrate."

  Mike pulled up to the apartment and couldn't keep the smile off his face. Unfortunately, Annabelle didn't have that problem. She was sound asleep. He got out of the car and opened her door. "Come on, sleepyhead." She opened her eyes and let out a huge yawn.

  "I'm tired. I'm so sorry. I was painting all last night … and well, I haven't slept much since—"

  "Yeah, me either." Mike helped her out of the car and smiled. "What do you say we go inside, curl up together, and take a nap?"

  Annabelle stifled another yawn. "But what about our celebration?"

  "We have the rest of our lives for that. Right now, you need some shut-eye."

  They went into the apartment, and Annabelle kicked off her shoes as soon as the door was closed. "It's so weird coming home without Dave here." She pulled off her top as she walked toward the bedroom. Mike followed carrying her shoes. He caught her top as she dropped it. "I miss him."

  "We'll get a dog, just like we talked about."

  She looked over her shoulder and gave him a sleepy smile. "Yeah, that'll be nice." Reaching behind her, she unhooked her bra and tossed it on the dresser, before shimmying out of her pants and crawling into bed. "Are you coming?"

  He tossed her clothes in the laundry hamper and pulled the blinds down. "I'll just be a minute. I have to make a phone call."

  She murmured something as she tugged a pillow under her head.

  Mike left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He removed his tie, pulled his cell phone off his belt, and dialed Nick.

  "Mike, you better have a really good reason for calling me."

  Damn, it sounded like he had interrupted something. But right now, Mike didn't care. It was time to call in a favor. "Nick, I need you to do something for me."

  Mike awoke slowly. Annabelle's leg was thrown over his, her head cradled on his shoulder and her hand over his heart. He rolled her onto her back and smiled as she grumbled in her sleep. God, she was beautiful, and she was his.

  Running his fingers lightly over each breast, he was struck by the fact that even in her sleep she responded to him. Her reaction mesmerized him. Her breathing sped up, her nipples tightened, and when he brought his mouth to her breast and suckled, her heart pounded against his lips.

  While his mouth made love to each breast in turn, his hand took the slow, tantalizing trip over her rib cage, past her stomach, and down to the triangle of dark curls covering her sex. He teased her with a light brush of his fingers, and her legs spread instinctively. He pressed his hand down, covering her mound, and she ground against it, her hips moving, searching. He parted her and slid a finger down between her folds and deep within her sheath. She was wet, ready, and still asleep.

  "Annabelle?"

  She sighed and rocked her hips, taking his finger in deeper, pressing down on his hand in frustration. He rolled over her, covering her with his body. Her legs spread as he moved down, his mouth joining his fingers. He figured she'd wake up eventually. He slid another finger in as he sucked on her. Her muscles grabbed and held his fingers pulling them deeper.

  Annabelle's eyes shot open, her breath hitched, her hips rocked, and she was on the verge of an orgasm. She awoke from the most delicious dream only to find it wasn't a dream at all. Mike was on her, in her, making love to her. Every nerve ending in her body seemed to be somehow attached to the bundle of nerves he currently had between his teeth. When her eyes met his, an orgasm ripped through her. Mike gripped her hips and, in a heartbeat, slid into her, stretching her, filling her, and intensifying an already mind-bending orgasm. With every thrust, he took her higher, and when his mouth came down on hers in a hot, wet, soul-stealing kiss, he groaned as his body tensed and ground against her, holding her tight as he exploded within her setting off another wave of ecstasy.

  Mike lay on top of her, his weight solid and comforting against her, pressing her into the mattress. He moved to roll off, but she tightened the hold her legs had around his waist. "Not yet. Please."

  Mike rested his forearms on either side of her to take his weight off her and kissed her so gently, so tenderly, it brought tears to her eyes. "I love you."

  Annabelle took a shuddering breath, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him, pouring all the feelings bombarding her into the kiss.

  Mike pulled away, brushed the hair from over her eye, and smiled. "You're crying…"

  Annabelle nodded and hiccupped. "Sorry … it was so intense, so overwhelming."

  He kissed away her tears, which only served to make her cry harder, and held her close. "God, what is wrong with me?"

  Mike slid out of her and rolled over so she rested on him. "Nothing. It's been a big day. We've been on an emotional roller coaster. You're allowed happy tears." He kissed her forehead and held her close.

  Annabelle curled up against him and was more relaxed than she could remember. Mike startled her, shaking her out of her daze.

  "Oh, shit."

  "What?"

  "Come on." He pulled her out of bed. "We have to get showered and dressed. We're going to be late."

  Annabelle allowed him to drag her to the bathroom. "Late for what?"

  Mike started the shower and kissed her. "It's a surprise." He took her hand and stepped into the tub.

  She followed him in and groaned as the hot water soaked her hair. "I hate surprises." She wrapped her arms around Mike's neck as he pushed her hair off her forehead and gathered it behind her as the water massaged her scalp. He turned them around so she could shampoo her hair.

  "You don't hate surprises. You just hate not knowing what they are. There's a difference." He kissed her and took over washing her hair, massaging her scalp and then her neck, her back, her bottom.

  Annabelle pushed him away. He stepped back, but only to make room for his hands between them. "I thought we were late."

  Mike sighed and nibbled on her shoulder while his hands teased her breasts. "We can make love in the shower and be ready to go in forty-five minutes. Can't we?"

  "No!"

  When Mike said they were going to celebrate, Annabelle never expected him to take her to a bed and breakfast, especially not the Bed and Breakfast on the Park. Talk about romantic. He pulled up in front of the B&B, and she knew he'd really outdone himself. This was the nicest B&B in all of Brooklyn. She'd walked past the beautiful old brownstone a thousand times and heard it was magnificent. They stepped into the foyer, and she got a good look at the interior. The praise wasn't exaggerated. The place was spectacular.

  A woman came into the foyer and greeted them. "Dr. Flynn? Your party is expecting you. They're in the parlor."

  People had parlors? "I didn't know we were meeting anyone."

  Mike smiled and wrapped his arm around her. "I made a few calls before our nap."

  "To whom?"

  The woman opened a set of large carved-wood doors, Mike led her through, and within seconds, her parents, Aunt Rose, Mike's mom, Becca, Rosalie and Nick, Vinny and Mona, Richie, and even Dr. Larsen surrounded them.

  "Surprised?"

  Surprised? More like shocked, and not in a good way, either. So much for her dream of making love on an antique bed the size of a football field. Everyone shook hands, checked out her ring, hugged, and kissed. Dr. Larsen stayed to the side, which worked for her. She did her best to ignore the fact he was there. That worked too, until Mike pulled her around to the last man on earth she ever wanted to see.

  "Belle, you remember Christopher Larsen."

  She nodded but didn't look at him. Why was Mike doing this to her?

  "Annabelle, Mike. Congratulations."

  Mike shook his father's hand. "Thank you."

  She waited for the publi
c humiliation, and when it didn't come, she got the nerve to raise her eyes toward Dr. Larsen. He looked different than she remembered. Strange, uncomfortable—almost as if he was unsure of himself. He looked almost human. She'd never seen the man not take charge of a situation. Not that she spent much time in his presence, but she'd seen him in action enough to know he wasn't acting like himself.

  Her mother joined them. "Annabelle, we were just getting acquainted with your friend Becca and Dr. Larsen. He said you were a great help to his family."

  "He did?"

  Dr. Larsen nodded. "Yes. I don't believe I ever told you how much I appreciated your … kindness. Thank you."

  "I was glad to have helped."

  With another nod of his head, he stepped back, walked past a table laden with Italian cookies, coffee, wine, and champagne, to the window on the other side of the room. With his back to everyone, he stared out. Annabelle watched him before searching the room for Becca.

  She spotted Becca and Richie with their heads together. Close together. Richie stood in Becca's personal space, and Annabelle wondered how long it would take Bec to shut him down. She gave Rich ten minutes max. Instead of watching her brother take the hit, she interrupted them. Becca dismissed Richie, stepped away, and pulled Annabelle into a hug. Richie was gob-smacked. Annabelle doubted he'd ever been dismissed before.

  "I'm soooo happy for you. Just think. We're going to be sisters!"

  "What's up with your dad? Is he okay?" Possessed was the word she meant, but she didn't want to hurt Becca's feelings.

  "He's trying. It's not easy for him. Thanks for being so wonderful."

  "He didn't say anything to my parents, did he?" All they needed to hear was that she'd lived in sin with his other son. She might as well have a big "P" for puttana tattooed on her chest.

  "About Chip? No. I threatened him. Not that I needed to. He's trying to impress Colleen." Becca looked over at her father and Mike's mother. "It seems to be working."

  Annabelle followed Becca's gaze. Dr. Larsen stood close to Colleen, talking quietly, and smiling. Annabelle had never seen the man smile before. It was amazing how much Mike looked like Dr. Larsen just then.

  "He's probably just waiting for the crowd to thin. Less witnesses if it gets messy."

  "Way to have a positive attitude."

  Annabelle shrugged. So, the old man didn't come out swinging. That didn't mean he'd turned into the reincarnation of Mr. Rogers. This kinder, gentler version of Dr. Evil did nothing to ease her nerves. If anything, it just strung them even tighter. Her stomach churned like Mt. Vesuvius on a bad day.

  Mike brought her a glass of wine, and just as she took it, a beefy arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Welcome to the family." Vinny kissed each cheek as Mona kissed Mike. Then they switched.

  "Thanks."

  Vinny gave Mike a guy-hug, kissed both cheeks, stepped back, and took a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his damp eyes. "God bless. Mona and me, we're so happy you got everything straightened out." He put his arm around his wife and looked back and forth between Annabelle and Mike. "Everything is straight, right?"

  Mike tuned to her as if he needed confirmation. She nodded. "Yes, everything is fine."

  Mike, Vinny, and Mona let out a collective sigh of relief when she answered. She only wished she could do the same.

  Annabelle took a sip of her wine and remembered her churning stomach and the fact she hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday. She looked for a place to put her wine and contemplated maybe eating a cookie or two, not sure if it would help or do the opposite. Settling on an S cookie—bland, not overly sweet, good for teething babies or for dunking—she poured a cup of coffee, and had just stuck the end of a dunked cookie in her mouth, when her parents and Aunt Rose surrounded her. Luckily, Mike was still talking to Mona and Vinny.

  Mama tsked and handed her a napkin. "You eat like an animal."

  "Animals don't dunk."

  Aunt Rose gave Annabelle a funny look, the kind that reminded her of Endora on Bewitched just before she put a spell on Darrin. "Raccoons always dunk their food before they eat it. You got the same circles under your eyes as a raccoon. You need to take better care of yourself. Think of your health."

  Her mother crossed herself. "She's marrying a doctor."

  Annabelle forced herself to swallow. "I'm fine."

  Mama stepped closer. "I knew Rosalie's marriage to Nick would help get you settled. Mike's father said he has a prominent position waiting for him in Philadelphia, and when I asked where you would live, he said Mike has an estate. Who knew you were marrying a wealthy man?" Then she looked a little confused. "You've been friends with his sister for years. How come you only met her brother at Rosalie's wedding?"

  Annabelle really didn't want to get into this now, for all she knew her mother would say something embarrassing about Mike's parents and would give Dr. Larsen yet another reason to hate her. "It's a long story, Mama."

  "Have you set the date yet?"

  Aunt Rose gave Annabelle that look again. "You better make it soon."

  Mama glared at Aunt Rose. "Of course it'll be soon. They're going to move to their estate near Philadelphia so Michael can start his new job. Maybe we can talk to Father and see if we could rush things along. After all, Annabelle was baptized there, and he's known her all her life. And it's not as if she hasn't already gone through Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation Classes with Johnny. Has Mike?"

  "No, I'm his first fiancée."

  "Oh, that's a shame."

  Mike put his arm around Annabelle, and she really wished he would leave so her family wouldn't embarrass her around him. He kissed her temple and pulled her in front of him before turning to the whole room. "I have an announcement to make. I've decided not to take the job in Philadelphia."

  "What?" Dr. Larsen stepped forward, and Becca took his arm as if she was trying to stop him. The man looked shocked, and why wouldn't he be? No one had ever turned him down … well, except Becca. He speared Annabelle with his gaze. Mike must have seen the look and quickly changed positions with her.

  Mike had said he didn't want to take the job, but she never expected him to actually say it. Not in front of everyone. Part of her was proud of him, and the other part felt as if she just tied herself to the knife-thrower's wheel as Mike gave it a spin and handed out Ginsus. No wonder she felt sick. She tried to pull her hand from Mike's, but he wouldn't let go.

  "I've decided not to take your job offer. Annabelle and I have our lives here. We have our families here. Dad, Becca, I'm glad we've found each other. You both are important to us, but this is our home. I've had my family here in Brooklyn for years before I ever met you. I don't want to leave them."

  Mike's grip on her hand tightened, and he shuffled his feet and looked over at her. She nodded, not sure what else she could do. Speaking was out of the question. Mike shocked her speechless and made her so proud. The determination in his voice gave her all the security she never knew she lacked.

  "Vinny and Mona adopted my mum and me when I was just a kid. He's been a cross between a big brother and an uncle to me. He gave me a job, taught me to cook, got me drunk the first time, and even taught me a thing or two about women. He's the one I've always turned to for advice. He's helped make me the man I am."

  Vinny took his hankie out and dabbed his eyes again while Mona rubbed his back. Annabelle's eyes burned. He not only stood up for her, but for everyone he loved.

  Mike turned his attention to Nick and Rosalie. "Nick is like a brother to me, he and the whole DiNicola-Romeo clan—Nick's mom and Nana, Vinny, Mona, their kids—they've always treated me and Mum as if we were a part of their family. We've spent every holiday with them. And now, with the addition of the Ronaldi's, Annabelle and I have even more of a reason to stay."

  He faced her and took both her hands in his. "I don't want you to worry. I'll find another job. We'll be okay."

  Annabelle could only nod as he enfolded her in his arms.

  "Da
d, I've gotten through my whole life without your help, and though I appreciate the offer, Belle and I want to do it on our own. That means without the trust and without the estate."

  Dr. Larsen radiated pride, which overshadowed his disappointment.

  Mama gasped, pounded her chest, and prayed to the Virgin Mother in Italian—after she stopped cursing. She obviously didn't realize that most of the people in the room were fluent.

  Aunt Rose whispered something to Mama who crossed herself and looked up as if she were thanking God for something, Annabelle couldn't imagine what.

  Becca, with tears in her eyes, hugged Mike, then Annabelle. She laughed. "I'm so glad you gave him a chance. I told you he'd come through. Oh, and you know all that money he just said he didn't want? He's going to be pretty disappointed when he finds out it's his, free and clear."

  "Huh? But your dad always threatened Chip with taking away his trust."

  Becca shrugged. "He had limited control of the trust until we turned twenty-five. Then all control reverted to us. It's ours to do with what we please. Mike might want to start his own practice, maybe buy a house. I don't know. I guess you can donate it to charity or something if you really don't want it. Dad has a life interest in the estate, which means Mike can't sell the place until after Dad's death. Then, I guess, he can do whatever he wants with it."

  "Your dad doesn't own at least part of the estate?"

  "Nope. Nada. His parents got mad at him for going into medicine instead of the family business. They put everything in a grandfather's trust for us. He's always had a portion of the interest to live on. Even the estate is owned by the trust, and now, by Mike."

  Annabelle studied her future father-in-law and wondered what was different about him. He'd aged a little, and maybe losing Chip and finding Colleen again had changed him for the better, she didn't know for sure. Then it occurred to her that the difference wasn't Dr. Larsen, it was her. She was no longer the scared little girl who cowered before him. She was all grown up, and she didn't see the monster she once imagined him to be. The only thing that had changed was her perception of him.