Page 37 of Sinful Bargains

I knew better than to protest.

So I followed her in, keeping a few steps behind, watching the way her shoulders were stiff, her hands curled into fists at her sides. She was mad—really mad. This was supposed to be a fresh start for us. She stopped in the kitchen, hovering over the counter, her eyes squeezed shut as she took a few deep breaths.

“Are you okay?” I hesitated to ask.

Her eyes flicked open and landed on me. She forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.” She nodded.

It was a lie. I knew it was a lie. She hadn’t beenfinein a long time.

I stood there, unsure of what to do next. The words were right there, pressing against my throat.Do you know who Joey really is? Do you care? Are you lying to protect me, or are you lying to yourself?There were too many pieces that didn’t fit, too many questions with no answers.

But looking at Ma now—her jaw clenched, her fingers gripping the counter like it was the only thing keeping her upright—Iknewnow wasn’t the time.

So I swallowed my questions.

For now.

ADRIANA

Aknock at the door startled me. I hesitated, glancing toward it, debating whether to answer. Would there ever come a day that I don’t flinch at every loud sound? I opened the door and found Joey standing there.

“Joey, what are you doing here?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest. I was relieved he wasn’t a cop coming to arrest me for the murder of my husband, but I still didn’t want to see him. Not now. Not after Renee had confronted me.

“I needed to see you. Can we talk?”

I soaked in all his charm. How he leaned against the door frame, his blue eyes begging for me to let him in. I couldn’t say no to him, and that was becoming a big problem. A sigh escaped my lips as I stepped back. We moved to the kitchen table, where I sat across from him, my arms still crossed.

“Renee came by earlier,” I started, watching his reaction.

“She did?” He blinked, caught off guard.

“She was upset,” I continued, “convincedthat something is going on between us. I told her she was wrong, but she didn’t believe me. She’s quite adamant that we’re having an affair.”

Joey’s jaw tightened. “She said that to you? Jesus, I’m sorry,Adriana. She had no right coming here, and I promise it won’t happen again. I’ll make sure of it.”

I looked at him skeptically. “Joey, I don’t want to be part of whatever mess is happening between you two.”

“You’re not,” he said quickly.

I arched an eyebrow. “It doesn’t feel that way. She said some awful things—about you, about me, and whatever story she’s spun in her head about us.”

Joey leaned forward, his gaze steady. “Adriana, trust me. You’re not the problem.” He reached across the table, his hand brushing mine. His touch sent a shiver down my spine. I hated that it did. I should’ve pulled away, but I couldn’t. His touch paralyzed me. “She’s not the one I care about,” he said in a hushed tone. “She never has been.”

I yanked my hand back, clutching it in my lap like it burned. “Don’t say that, Joey. She’s your girlfriend. You have history—she said so herself.”

“History doesn’t matter if there’s no future,” he replied. “And history is not the word I would use, but that doesn’t matter.”

I shook my head. “Joey, this isn’t fair. To me or to her. My life is messy enough withoutyoumaking it worse. Whatever you’re involved in, I don’t wantanypart of it.”

His hand hovered over the table, as if he wanted to reach for me again, but didn’t. “I know things are complicated, Adriana. But ever since the ferry, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you—orAntonio. You both deserve better than the life you’ve been handed, and I want to do whatever I can to make it better for the two of you.”

I clenched my fists in my lap, the pull of his words hitting too close to home. His charm and his intensity were dangerous, but so was my reaction to them. “This has to stop,” I said. “It isn’t right. You know where this is headed.”

“It’s the truth. And you deserve the truth. I care about you, Adriana.”

I stiffened. “Let's not forget, you’re with Renee.”

“For now,” he admitted. “Butnotfor long. You don’t know the circumstances of our relationship. I need to end it. But I’ve got to do it cleanly, for both of our sakes. You don’t need to do anything. Or worry about anything. Just sit back and let me handle it. I’ll handleeverything.”

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