Free Picture Me Sexy by Rhonda Nelson Page A

relationship.
    â€œYou’re very good,” Delaney told him softly, and meant it. Something about the picture tugged at a thread of regret, reminded her of what she’d apparently never have. A family of her own. A couple of big-eyed babies. She longed to upgrade to a minivan, lug a stroller around.
    Sam followed her gaze and nodded in thanks. “That’s Mom and Dad.”
    Delaney shifted. “I figured as much. You look a lot like your dad.” He had the same dark good looks, the expressive eyes.
    â€œWe all do.” Sam speared another generous bite of egg. “I’ve got three brothers, two older and one younger.”
    â€œNo sisters?”
    â€œNah.” Sam chuckled. “Mom always said that there was too much testosterone in the house.”
    â€œI’ll say,” Delaney agreed. She couldn’t fathom that many men and one woman living under one roof. “Ours was just the opposite. I’ve got a couple of older sisters.” She laughed. “Dad routinely pleaded estrogen overdose and headed for the golf course.”
    â€œSounds like a wise man,” Sam told her. “Does your family live around here?”
    Delaney shook her head. “My sisters are both married to military men. Pam’s in Germany and Renea is in Alaska. They each have three kids, are regular soccer moms. Mom and Dad retired and headed farther south. They live in a seniors’ community in Pensacola. They’re bingo fanatics.” For all intents and purposes she was an unofficial orphan. She supposed that’s why it was so important to her to have her own family, to build her own nest. She finished her beer and set it aside. “What about yours?”
    â€œMy brothers are here, as well as my dad. Theyown and operate Martelli Brick, the company my grandfather started right after he emmigrated from Italy.” He glanced at the picture of his parents and a shadow passed over his face. He drained his bottle. “Mom died a couple of years ago.”
    Delaney’s heart drooped with sympathy. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
    Sam’s expression grew curiously guarded. “Dad’s had the hardest time, of course. He always doted on her.”
    Delaney’s gaze inexplicably moved back to the photograph. That was certainly obvious. She was suddenly at a loss for what to say and Sam moved to fill the awkward silence.
    â€œLet me clear these dishes away and we’ll check the radio again for any news.” He deftly gathered their empty plates and bottles, and strode off to the kitchen again. “Can I get you another beer?” he called.
    â€œSure.” She felt completely useless letting him do all the work, but what else could she do? She didn’t know her way around his kitchen and would undoubtedly bumble into something. Of course, were that something Sam Martelli, then that certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing, Delaney thought with another private grin.
    Hoping for an update on the power outage, Delaney attempted to turn the volume up on the radio, but accidentally bumped the tuner instead. To her immense horror George Michael’s old song “I WantYour Sex” instantly throbbed from the small speakers. A short burst of laughter erupted from her throat. She couldn’t think of a more fitting song. The hot, blunt lyrics summed up her present feelings perfectly. Sam chose that exact moment to emerge from the kitchen and his step momentarily faltered on the return trip to the couch.
    Delaney tucked her hair behind her ear and managed a sheepish grin. “Sorry. I was trying to turn it up.” She finally tuned it into the correct station and they both listened attentively as the newscaster reported more information regarding the blackout.
    â€œâ€¦crews still haven’t been able to restore power to any area as of yet. Naturally, the areas around hospitals are first in line, but at this time power hasn’t been restored