Free HANDLE WITH CARE (The Ludzecky Sisters Book 5) by Kathryn Shay Page A

time?”
    “Five o’clock. After the bike ride.”
    “Ah. Your neck tasted so sweet.”
    “Hi, Max,” he heard in the background. And he chuckled. He knew the Ludzecky family shared their lives, and it was okay by him.
    “You’re at your Mom’s? At
Matka’s
?”
    “I am. Are you home?”
    “In bed, Sofia. And lonely.”
    “Stop.” He heard a door open.
    “Did you just go outside?”
    “Yes. We have a deal. Takethis slow. It’s getting far too sexy, too soon.”
    Laughter rumbled out of him. “Nothin’ in this world is too sexy, baby.”
    “Oh, heavens. You have to desist with those sexist remarks. If you use one in front of my sisters, you’re dead meat.”
    “I’ll be careful. So, we’ll be ready for dessert about seven.”
    “Then, seven it is.” A pause. “Max, before you hang up, was the dream good?”

    “Damn it, you’re killin’ me, doll.”
    He hung up smiling.
    o0o
    Ana was radiant, sitting at her dining room table as Jared, the last of them, came in with his food. The Creswells had set up a buffet in the kitchen of ham, turkey, quiche and cheese, along with a variety vegetables and fruit. The only cheerier person in their midst was the little girl sitting next to Sofia. Shesmiled over at Opal. “Happy, sweetheart?”
    “Yeah.” She leaned in close and said softly, “I’m so glad they’re back together. And I’m gonna have a sister.”
    “You know it’s a girl?”
    “Nah. Just hoping it is.”
    The meal was lovely, and
Matka
was pleased by the day. “The food is so fancy. But,
mio corka
, you should not be on your feet too much, even in the early stages of pregnancy.”
    Ana’s joyful laughter tinkled through the whole house. “I remember a few of your pregnancies when you stood at the stove all day.”
    “Bless the Lord, those were long days.”
    Gerald covered her hand. “She just worries about all of you.”
    “Me, especially,” Elizabeita declared.
    “I wonder why?” Paulina said dryly.
    When they were finished with the meal and Opal offered to put out thedesserts, which the twins had brought, Jared sat back in the chair and covered Ana’s hand with his. “I have something to confess. I had this whole thing catered.”
    “By a business?”
Matka
asked. “Such expense.”
    “Which we can afford. I was protecting your daughter,
Matka
. She said I could do dinner, but I knew she’d be on her feet regardless. So I did dinner—over the phone.”
    Sofia thoughtagain how special it was to have Jared at family gatherings again.
    Rafe stood. “Excuse me a minute.” He left the room and Nia frowned. “Maybe he’s thinking about Jonas. He never celebrated Mother’s Day with his mom, but Jonas had tried to fill her role on special occasions. They went to a movie or did something else.”
    “I know the feeling.” Adam nodded to his dad, who’d joined them. “Youalways scrambled to keep me busy on days like this after Mom died.”
    Andrew said, “I did, son.”
    Rafe returned. He didn’t seem upset. And he winked at Sal, who beamed back at him. He crossed to Nia’s chair and pulled it out. Turned it a bit. And then…oh, wow, oh, geez, he knelt down.
    “Nia Ludzecky Pettrone, I love you with all my heart. Thank you for all you’ve done for me over the lastyear. Today, I’m asking you to be the mother of my children.” He held up a Tiffany box.
    Nia surprised Sofia by not crying when she opened the box. Her face lit from within. “Oh, Rafe, it’s beautiful. Will you put in on me?”
    Rafe removed the ring and winked at Sal. “Think that’s a yes, buddy?”
    “Yeah, Rafe. Yeah, it is.” Ah, so the kid had been in on it.
    He slipped a band on Nia’sfinger. She held it up. From where she sat near her sister, Sofia could see it was a band of diamonds. Perfect for Nia. And so different from the solitary diamond she’d gotten from Peter. Sofia was glad Rafe had thought of that.
    Sal squirmed in his chair. “Tell `em the rest, Rafe.”
    “I’d like to