Chapter 30

NOVALEE

T he last thing I expected when I walked into the kitchen the next morning was to get scooped up in a giant bear hug by Atlee Fiore.

“What the hell, Atlee?”

He squished me hard against his chest. “You’re okay.”

What was with everyone being so happy that I was okay? I did not need all this love. Hate was much better. Hate didn’t didn’t crush my ribs in a giant hug that stole my breath.

Atlee picked me up and swung me around while I slapped his shoulders and coughed, “can’t breathe.”

The crazy bastard was a lot stronger than he looked. Next to Gio, Atlee was deceptively slim. But he had some serious muscles under his clothes. I knew this because they were currently mashed up against me, jabbing into my shin like hard pieces of rock.

Thankfully, he set me back on my feet and I had a moment to breathe before he roughly cupped my face.

“You are okay, right?”

I’d answer him if my mouth wasn’t squished into fish lips.

“That prick didn’t hurt you did he?”

Alright, I had enough of this. “Let?—”

That was all I got out before Atlee began inspecting me.

He twisted my head one way then the other while muttering, “if he hurt you.”

I was then spun around and had my shirt lifted so he could look at my back. I attempted to slap his hands away when he grabbed my arm, then hopped around trying not to fall when he lifted one leg and then the other. But I drew the line when he pulled on the waistband of my shorts and peeked in at my ass.

“Stop it,” I jerked away from him. “I’m fine.”

Sure I had bruises, like the deep purple fingerprints I woke up to find on my butt, or the scrapes on my knuckles, and the throbbing bite I miraculously accumulated in my sleep. Fucking Gio. None of which came from Simon.

“Are you limping?”

I wasn’t limping, I was trying to stay on my feet while escaping a pawing madman.

He took a step towards me and stuck my finger out to point at him. “I swear to God, Atlee.”

“Alright, alright,” he held his hands up in surrender. “I’ll stop. Nice panties by the way.”

“I’m not wearing any panties.”

He smirked. “I know.”

Seriously? “Is everything sexual to you?”

“Pretty much.” He nodded.

That felt like a challenge to me. There had to be something that didn’t turn him on. “There’s nothing erotic about a fight.”

He snorted, “are you kidding me. That shit is erotic as fuck.”

“How is that erotic?” It was exhausting, messy, and I still had some skin under my nails.

“The blood, the sweat…” he tipped his head, “the pain.”

Okay, I could kind of see his point there. There might be something slightly primitive in hand to hand combat, and men seemed to like that stuff. But, I think I had him.

“Your sister.” I smiled.

Ha ha!

“What about her?”

“You can’t find anything sexual with her.”

I had a brother. I knew how these things worked. And all I would say was eww. However, I was not dealing with a normal person. I was dealing with Atlee Fiore. The manwhore supreme.

“Which one?” He asked. “Cause it was pretty hot when Kendall kissed you.”

“Eww,” I snatched an apple out of a bowl on the counter and threw it at him. “Come on, Atlee.”

He dodged out of the way and laughed, “I’m kidding. I don’t want to fuck my sister.”

Thank God for that.

“I’d fuck you though.”

Yup, should’ve seen that one coming. “I’ll throw another apple at you.”

“Or, I could just punch him.” Gio said while walking in the room.

Atlee held up his hands. “Why’s everyone so hostile this morning?”

“Because,” Gio walked over and wrapped his arms around me. “Someone didn’t wake me up.”

Besides for the unwanted overabundance of love that I didn’t ask for, there was a reason I snuck out of bed, without waking him up. I was not used to all this caring. It was very uncomfortable. Not to mention…

“My ass can’t take anymore.”

“Well, buck up.” Gio’s palm landed on my left cheek making me squeak a wince. “I haven’t even begun to break in your ass.”

There would be no breaking in. I did not agree to this.

“Uh, no.” I shook my head. “Uh huh.”

My ass was officially off limits.

“Your refusal didn’t work so well last night when I had my thumb in your ass.”

“That doesn’t count because you started when I was asleep.” Who did that? Who fucked someone in their sleep? Gio Mancini that’s who. The last thing I expected was to wake up with a dick in me. It was kind of hot though, and it did explain my overly sexual dreams.

“He fucked you in your sleep?” Atlee dropped his elbows on the island countertop and propped his chin up with his hands. “Tell me more.”

This was not story time at the after sex club. Thankfully, Gio was more than happy to intervene, so I didn’t have to.

“Why are you here?” He asked while shooting Atlee a dirty look.

That was a good question. Atlee didn’t live here. I didn’t think so. There were a lot of rooms in this house, so maybe he did?

“I couldn’t go anywhere without making sure our little Small Fry was okay.”

He really needed to come up with another nickname. But at least it wasn’t some Italian saying I’d never know. One day I’d remember to look up what Gattina meant.

Gio’s brow arched, “did you stay here all night?”

“Of course.”

Atlee spent the night here, to make sure I was okay? That was kind of sweet.

“Where else am I going to find that fine of an ass at eight am?”

And, he ruined it.

Gio’s glare fell down to me, “when did he see your ass?”

How was I in trouble for that?

“It’s not my fault he felt the need to forcibly check me for bruises.” Asshole. Don’t give a girl whiplash first thing in the morning. He should know that. He had sisters.

“Why?” Gio’s eyes widened. “Did Simon hurt you?”

Oh my God what was it with these two?

“I’m fine.” I wouldn’t be if they didn’t stop fawning over me, then I might stab them with a banana.

“Do I need to remind you what fine stands for?” Atlee sang.

To which I said, “Do I need to shove a banana up your ass?”

The corner of his mouth curled. “Someone’s kinky in the morning.”

Really? I mean it wouldn’t surprise me if Atlee had had something shoved up his ass, or shoved something up someone else’s ass. But that was something I did not want to think about.

And, now I was thinking about it.

I shivered off a shutter and refocused on my original purpose for coming down here, food. Which, unlike these two, I liked.

Atlee and Gio could do what they wanted, I was going to eat. And lucky for me there was a platter of fresh baked muffins waiting for me to devour.

Pulling away from Gio, I plopped my ass down on one of the island stools, and began stuffing my face. I wasn’t graceful, or proper, I literally stuffed my face. Dainty bites were for people who weren’t hungry. And I hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday.

Crumbs fell around me on the island, I accidently ate a piece of wrapper, and both Atlee and Gio stared at me with this bewildered look on their faces. But I didn’t care, because these muffins were delicious.

“I wish you ate like that at dinner last night.” Atlee wagged his finger at me. “I do love a girl with a good appetite.”

Gio slapped his arm.

“What?” Atlee shrugged. “It’s oddly hot.”

Oddly hot. Now that was a nickname I could get behind.

Gio shot him a dirty look then went and got me a glass of milk.

“Slow down,” he slid the glass over to me. “Before you choke.”

“Don’t tell me to slow down,” I mumbled out through a mouthful of muffin.

Maybe he should’ve fed me last night. Besides, who was he to talk about choking? Gio had his hands on my neck at least once a day. There was one thing that made me choke though.

“Novalee Nadine Ford!”

The sound of that angry female voice.

My entire body went rigid as I stopped chewing and slowly turned towards the kitchen entrance.

Maw Maw?

No, that couldn’t be her. She didn’t know I was here.

“I know you’re here, Little Girl.”

Only Maw Maw would have that kind of eerie telepathic power. The woman always seemed to know what I was thinking. Which meant she was here. And she knew I was. There was only one thing to do. Hide.

Gio and Atlee looked out in the hall then back at me.

“I’m not here.” I said and jumped down to duck behind the island.

I was too late.

Maw Maw charged in the room just as I was dropping to the floor. “Don’t you hide from me.”

Crap. So much for plan A. If only I had a plan B.

“Novalee.”

That was her warning call.

With a sigh, I popped back up, smiled, and waved at her. “Hey, Maw Maw.”

Dear god, please tell me she didn’t have her slippers.

One of the guys I’d seen around the house came running in after her.

“Sorry Sir,” he said to Gio. “I tried to stop her but she hit me with a shoe.”

Damnit.

Did Maw Maw care about any of the men in the room? Nope. She let them mutter amongst themselves and focused completely on me.

She took a step closer. “The police called and said you were attacked.”

I’d hardly call it attacked. It was more like threatened.

Another step.

“So, I came rushing home from my golf weekend…”

Oh, she left golf. This wasn’t going to be good.

Another step.

“Only to have your sister tell me that you were with your boyfriend.”

Then she stopped and gave me a firm eye that caused my mouthful of muffin to bob down my throat in a heavy gulp.

Damnit Veda.

“Pfft,” I snorted, then snickered, and coughed. “I don’t have a boyfriend, Maw Maw.”

It was believable. My snort/snicker/cough may not have been, but that was. Look how I just ate breakfast. Who would want to date that?

Maw Maw’s eyes narrowed for a second before she snapped her stare on Gio. “Young man, are you having intimate relations with my granddaughter?”

Gio didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Why would he tell her that? Did he not see the ball of fury and hellfire slippers that was my Maw Maw?

“Listen, Maw Maw…”

One finger. That was all she had to hold up to make me shut my mouth.

And that was when Atlee chuckled.

Big mistake. Never laugh when Maw Maw was mad. On the upside, her attention was now on him.

“You,” she seethed while rolling her eyes down him. “Lying to an old woman. For shame.”

I felt guilty for him. Atlee however, seemed to take her look as a challenge. He washed that charming smile on his face, leaned against the counter and said, “there’s a lot I could do to an old woman.”

My eyes were closed before her hand cracked off the side of his face. “You need Jesus.”

“Ouch, what the fuck lady.”

Her hand flew through the air before the last word left his lips.

“Do not talk to a woman like that,” Maw Maw’ s finger was now held up to him. “Where is your mother?”

“Fuck my mother.”

That earned him another slap.

“Goddamnit.”

And another.

“Got anymore?” Maw Maw asked.

Atlee shook his head. A smart choice in my opinion. If he went on much longer he would’ve gotten the shoe.

Satisfied, Maw Maw rolled her shoulders back. “Good.”

This was great. I was laughing inside. That is until Maw Maw turned her attention back to me. Then I washed away whatever sign of amusement I had on my face and prayed she didn’t hear my silent chuckles.

“Come on, Novalee, we are leaving.”

“Can I have another muffin…”

“You better get your ass in that car.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I knew better than to question Maw Maw when looked at me like that.

Gio did not.

When I went to walk out of the room, he stepped in my way.

“She’s not going anywhere.”

“Young man,” Maw Maw stepped up to him. It was kind of funny seeing a little old woman puff her chest up to a guy the size of Gio. Maw Maw made me look tall. “You best get out of our way.”

Maw Maw wasn’t a Ford, she was from the maternal side of my family. But if Gio didn’t get out of the way, I might end up with another family member in jail.

Big bad Gio Mancini stepped to the side with one look from my Maw Maw.

We walked out, but not before she looked back at Atlee and said, “I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”