The Burning Point by Mary Jo Putney Read Free Book Online Page A

Want to taste it, Katie?"
    "I'd love to." Kate blew several times on the spoonful of chunky red sauce Connie offered, then swallowed. "This is great! You use red wine, don't you?"
    Connie beamed. "You got it. Nothing like wine to deepen the flavor."
    "My mother always puts Chianti in her marinara, even though my grandmother Corsi claims no true Italian ever uses wine. Of course, Nonna is Sicilian, so who knows?" She glanced at Donovan. He was watching her with warm amusement.
    "Depends on the family. My mama used wine, my grandmama used wine, every woman in my family since Caesar was in diapers has made her spaghetti sauce with wine." Connie gestured toward a bottle with a handmade label. "I put in some of Cousin Giuseppe's best Chianti, that's why the flavor is so rich."
    The chat continued while Connie set the kitchen table, drained the gnocchi, then poured steaming marinara over it. With chunks of bread and glasses of Cousin Giuseppe's wine, it was a feast fit for the gods. Connie gave Kate an amiable grilling as they ate--starting with asking where she went to school.
    They were eating Christmas cookies when a toddler pattered into the room, a bedraggled stuffed rabbit trailing from one hand. Connie gave a doting smile. "Meet my granddaughter Lissie, the party girl. Her parents left her here for the weekend in the hope that with a little peace and quiet, maybe they could start a little brother for her."
    As the adults laughed, Lissie went over to Kate and looked upward with huge dark eyes. "Princess?"
    It took Kate a moment to realize that the question was inspired by her billowing white ball gown. "I'm sorry, Lissie--I'm not a princess."
    Lissie looked so crestfallen that Kate decided that honesty was not always the best policy. Dropping to one knee beside Lissie, she said, "At least, not all the time. But every girl can be a princess on special occasions."
    Lissie perked up at that, so Kate took off her slightly crushed corsage, removed the straight pin for safety's sake, and gave the lace-trimmed flowers to the child. "Whenever a man gives a girl flowers to wear, on that night she's a princess."
    Lissie took the corsage and buried her small nose in it.
    "Now that we've settled that," Connie said, "it's to bed with you, young lady."
    She was starting to rise when Donovan got to his feet. "I'll take her back to her room, Aunt Connie. I have to get a coat anyhow."
    He scooped up Lissie, who shrieked his name happily. The open affection on Donovan's face made Kate melt. He was half-Italian, all right. Adoring babies was in the blood. He was starting to carry his cousin out of the kitchen when Lissie waved the flowers in protest, her gaze fixed on Kate. "Kiss!"
    Kate took the child from Donovan's arms, loving the sweet little girl scent and incredibly soft skin. How could anyone not love babies? She kissed the gently curving cheek. "May you be a princess many, many times, Lissie."
    Satisfied, her lids already drooping, the child went trustingly into Donovan's arms and he took her away. He returned a few minutes later wearing a dark parka dusted with snowflakes. "I just covered the bike. Now it's time to get you back, Kate."
    She rose and put on Donovan's uniform jacket again. "Thanks for supper, Mr. and Mrs. Russo. It was lovely to meet you both."
    "Come again, Katie," Frank said. "Anytime."
    They trailed out to the front porch. Lacy snowflakes were drifting down and frosting the world with a delicate white haze. Connie gave Kate a hug. "This is a nice girl, Donovan. You should keep her."
    "I'm just driving her home, Aunt Connie."
    Frank tossed him a key chain. "The blue barge is around the corner."
    "Thanks. And don't worry, I won't be out too late." After the door closed behind the Russos, he said, "Don't blame me because my aunt and uncle want to adopt you."
    "I wouldn't mind being adopted by Frank and Connie. They're terrific." She looked at him sideways. "You live with them?"
    "Sometimes. At the moment." He was silent