Words of Lust by Lise Horton Page B

anything?” She spotted stacks of dishes and silverware. “I can set the table for you.”
    “How about you do the pasta? I’ll finish the salad and then we’ll be done.”
    Blanching, she studied the huge mound of what appeared to be fresh pasta.
    “Ah, that’s probably not a good idea. I don’t know how to cook pasta.”
    “What?”
    “I don’t cook much. I mean, I live alone, and...” She choked to a stop at the look of incredulity on the woman’s face.
    “Don’t cook...at all?”
    Oh boy.
    “No, in fact I’m a terrible cook.”
    “Ma, enough with the inquisition.”
    “Nicky, she doesn’t cook!”
    “Then it’s a good thing I do, isn’t it?” He kissed his mother, picked up the plates and handed them to her. “Here. Make yourself useful and don’t break anything. I’ll help with the pasta.”
    She didn’t argue, but instead took advantage of the opportunity to escape and suffer her mortification in private.
    To her surprise, however, the very pregnant, and obviously uncomfortable Cara waddled in and joined her in the dining room. The table was huge, and there were so many chairs it was almost impossible for the two of them to move around it at the same time, so Cara took the silverware and followed behind her as she laid down the plates and napkins.
    “Don’t mind the family. The guys are animals, and Mom will get over your very obvious flaw because Nick likes you.”
    “Well, what if I have more than one flaw?”
    “Religion? Mom pretty much got over insisting everyone date a Catholic a while ago.”
    “Great. On top of the fact I’m not Catholic and can’t cook, I don’t speak Italian. Nick seemed to think that might be the kiss of death.”
    “Whoa! Three strikes!” But Cara grinned and waved her hand dismissively.
    “Look, as much fun as it is to razz him, and my brother’s love life is none of my business, Mom’s right. He’s never brought any woman home before. Most of the girls he used to date were either neighborhood girls or women he met in the city, and them we never met at all. Mom and the grandmas have been waiting desperately for him to find a girl to settle down with and have babies. Old-fashioned, I know, but there it is.”
    Her heart twisted a little bit, but Cara rambled on. “Mom and Dad are thrilled. Besides, they’re crazy about Gia, and if you think she’s brilliant, it can only mean you’re brilliant too.” Cara suddenly put her hand to her back and frowned.
    “Here. Sit down.” She helped Cara settle into a chair. “Shouldn’t you be resting with your feet up?”
    “I’m so sick of having my feet up I could scream.” The color slowly returned to her cheeks, but her face was marred by lines of pain and exhaustion.
    “I get tired so easy, and with my husband Rocco on the road, thank God for Ma and Rocco’s mom and sisters. My other two little maniacs would drive me crazy if it weren’t for them.”
    “It must be a nice feeling having people to take care of each other.”
    Cara looked at her with intelligent eyes. Her face softened.
    “Nick told us your parents are gone?”
    “Yes. A while ago.”
    “No brothers or sisters?”
    Surprised he hadn’t provided a dossier on her, she shook her head. “Mom and Dad got married late, and I was a surprise. The only surprise.”
    “Wow. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t know what I’d do without my family. I mean the guys are not the most mature adults, and Gia’s a nut, but we’re all here for each other.”
    Cara’s obvious pity chafed. “I got used to it. If you never have something you can’t miss it.”
    “Well, good thing we’ve got a big family. You can borrow us,” Cara huffed from the chair.
    “Aren’t you done with the table yet? Dinner’s ready.” Mrs. Stellato spotted Cara and hustled over. “Stupid girl.” Her affectionate clucking took the sting out, and Cara just leaned her head against her mother. “You need to rest. You know what the doctor