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Mama pulled her into the other room. "Please, come into the living room and sit down, won't you? Can I offer you some tea?"
"No thank you, Mrs. Leonetti. Really. I just came along with Nick when I heard there was trouble."
"She don't want no tea, Mama," Nick gritted.
"Doesn't?" Kelsey corrected, and then reddened.
All heads turned to her at once, "What?"
"I'm sorry, and please don't bother. Could you just walk me to my car, Nick?"
"Why of course he can," Mama insisted. "Can't you Nicky? Please come again."
"Yes, thank you, if I'm welcome," Kelsey managed to get out before Nick nudged her through the front door.
"Of course you're welcome," Mama said frowning at her son.
"I'll just see her to her car."
"Man, is that her car?" Tony's voice squeaked from the window.
"That's it. We better get you down before someone decides to strip it clean."
Without forethought Nick took Kelsey by the arm and guided her toward the narrow stairway. It was a mistake! The contact brought immediate awareness. The shock of her ran through him like a buzz-saw. He wasn't used to wome
n affecting him like this, not in a long time, at least.
The stairs creaked like old wood rotten from a bad storm. The building smelled musty Nick mused, while she smelled like a delicate flower. He watched as she held close to the railing, her soft white hands clutching.
"Your mother and Tony are wonderful, Nick." She glanced back at him and caught him staring. He riveted his gaze to the doorway ahead.
God, how was he going to resist her now? Had she turned her pert little nose to the air and had nothing nice to say, he might have a chance in hell of not liking Kelsey O'Sullivan. The fastest way to Nick's heart was through his family. Most women found his mother too smothering, but not Goody-Two-Shoes.
Mrs. Giovanni stuck her head out her front door and spotted Nick, shaking her head and frowning. "Is Tony all right? I saw your mama bringing him home."
"He's fine, Mrs. Giovanni. Thanks for askin'."
Mrs. Giovanni nodded, "Well you give him what for."
She turned and shut the door quickly as she glanced curiously at Kelsey.
Kelsey looked at Nick with big, wide eyes when the old woman went inside and closed her door. "Her face, it's all black and blue. What happened?"
"Yeah, her old man beats on her."
"That's disgusting. Why does she put up with it? Why doesn't she leave him?"
Nick glared at her as though she had grown two heads. "Here, you marry, you stay married, for better or worse, and usually, it's worse."
"Is that why you've never married?"
"Maybe." His eyes met hers momentarily till good sense prevailed. God, Kelsey O'Sullivan was growing on him. And if he didn't get rid of her fast he might do something really stupid.
"You have a nice family Nick."
Great. That's all he needed, her liking them. Still, the fact that she did, impressed him.
He liked her. Dammit! He didn't want to like her, didn't want to want her, either. Despite everything, he liked just being near her. She was barefoot and charming.
