never wanted to have sex with anyone but the man I married. It’s stupid and outdated, but I’d saved myself for this. It meant a lot to me, but it wasn’t anything to you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You took off right after!”
Vinn dropped his gaze as a red flush claimed his cheeks. “I needed time alone.”
I swung, almost hitting him with the bag. “Time alone? Or time with someone else?”
Vinn seemed to resent the accusation. He ground his teeth before letting out a long, harsh sigh.
“I went to Sunset Tavern. Michael was there. We talked, and then I left to buy your phone. I ran another errand at a construction site, and my footing wasn’t balanced, and I fell into the dirt. Then I came home. The end. Call Michael if you don’t believe me.”
I bit the inside of my cheek.
“There’s no other woman. You deleted them all from my phone, remember?” He slipped the pack from my shoulder and grasped my arm, his grip white-hot. “Besides, I have my hands full with you.”
He tugged me onto the bed, sandwiching us together.
I didn’t know what to believe.
Maybe expecting an emotionally distant man like Vinn to be sensitive to my needs had been foolishly optimistic.
Vinn’s touch skimmed my waist and anchored me to his side. “How are you feeling?”
A suggestion lingered in the question. It was less concern, and more—Are you ready for more? The heat spiraling my body made me want to answer with a resounding yes.
“I’m a bit sore.”
He brushed a kiss across my forehead. “There’s Advil in the kitchen.”
A chime from Vinn’s pocket shattered the silence. Vinn handed over my phone. I glanced at the screen.
Queenie.
I answered. “Hey, babe. How are you?”
The tiniest sob crackled the speaker.
“Have you seen James?”
James had gone missing.
He’d skipped two work shifts, and nobody could reach him.
An inconsolable Queenie sat on my couch. Tissues scattered the coffee table. She’d poured out her heart about her longtime crush on James. I would’ve set her straight, but speaking ill of him now seemed like bad form.
“They’ve filed a missing persons report,” she sniffed, clutching the gray afghan. “It’s a nightmare.”
My pulse raced at the grim reminder that we no longer lived in a safe city.
“Maybe he took a weekend trip without telling anyone.”
Queenie blotted her tear-stained face, shaking. “He needs his job to pay his rent. He wouldn’t just leave.”
I squeezed her shoulder, wishing for the words to comfort her. “Walk me through what happened.”
“He went to Flatstick Pub on Saturday.” Queenie’s voice steadied as she launched into the story, as though reexamining it for the fifth time might offer new insight. “He mentioned he had a volunteer shift at the—oh, wow!”
Vinn had strolled into the room. He slid a cutting board topped with crusty Italian bread, thinly sliced soppressata, and hard cheese over the table. He handed the flabbergasted Queenie a plate and loaded another with snacks before pressing it into my hands.
A jolt hit my stomach as our fingers touched.
“Thanks, Vinn. That’s sweet.” Queenie beamed at him as she made a sandwich. “I love a guy who brings me food without asking.”
I grumbled an affirmative.
Queenie bit into the bread, moaning. “So good.”
Vinn’s thigh brushed mine as he sank into the couch. “Glad you like it.”
“By the way, I’m impressed. I assumed she’d need at least a few weeks before she said yes.” Queenie winked at him. “Smooth moves.”
“Took a couple tries, but I got there. Right?”
He elbowed me, and I glowered.
Queenie gasped. “You said no?”
Vinn’s knuckle caressed my cheek. “Honey, you didn’t tell your friend?”
His chastising tone raked my skin.
“Vinn. We’re supposed to w—”
“She’s pregnant,” he told Queenie.
I groaned.
“What?” Queenie gaped at him, her shriek piercing the air. “You’re pregnant?”
Thanks a lot, Vinn.
My face went up in flames. “I was going to mention it—”
“Oh my God, you guys are nuts.” She threw a pillow at me, knocking the cheese from my hand. “You let me blab about my problems this whole time!”
“Let’s not make a big deal of it.”
“I called it!” Queenie shrieked, covering her mouth. “I knew this would happen. What did I say? You’ll be married and pregnant by the end of the year.”
Vinn’s grin twitched as though on the edge of laughter.
Queenie leaned over and shook my knee, grinning. “You must be so excited. I’m thrilled! I’ll be godmother. Your brother has three kids of his own. He’ll never prioritize your baby. I will.”
Vinn straightened, flashing her a polite smile that said no-fucking-way.
I poked at his bicep. “Thanks for the food,