Baby V (Chianti Kisses #1) (14 page)

“
Besides. I had to pick up some papers from Do
m’
s desk. He needs some new figures for a pitch the
y’
re making tonight. If mom just so happens to notice that I am famished and undernourished, who am I to say no to her cooking
?
” Looking satisfied with his justification, he takes another bite of his sandwich.

As if on queue, momma appears with my own turkey and swiss on sourdough and sets the plate in front of me with a large glass of fresh iced tea. She sits down with us but I hesitate to start my lunch, noticing that she has
n’
t brought out a plate for herself. She picks up on my pause and gives a simple familiar direction.

“
Eat, eat!
I’
ll just keep you company in case you want something
.
”

Mo
m’
s almost never eaten informal meals with us. Sh
e’
s the type to nibble on something while in the kitchen preparing for everyone else. She gathers more satisfaction from watching others enjoy the fruits of her labor. I should be used to her old-school, traditional ways by now, but I need some time to re-acclimate to these things now that
I’
m living home again.

Mike finished his meal and pushes his plate aside while clapping his hands to his non-existent belly
.
“
Mom, that was great! Really hit the spot. I would love to have sandwiches like this at home but I never have time to make them
.
” He has some nerve knowing full well that Momma will dash off to the kitchen to pack him a doggy bag after that comment. He shrugs his shoulders, feigning innocence  to me as he notices my evil eye.

I shake my head,
 “
Jerk
,
”
 
and take a bite myself. Somethings never change, no matter how old the children get. Mike excuses himself and travels off into Do
m’
s office for the paper he needs.
I’
m left to enjoy my lunch in peace. Damn! The sounds emanating from Do
m’
s office remind me of him and the text
I’
d promised
I’
d send. I unlock my phone and complete the task before placing the device on the table near me.

HOME SAFE AND SOUND. ABOUT TO HAVE A HEATSTROKE. NEED A SWIM.

I do
n’
t have time to finish chewing before the screen lights up with an icon of an envelope. Wow. That was quick.

YO
U’
RE GETTING BETTER AT FOLLOWING MY DIRECTIONS. THANKS FOR THE TEXT, BABY. IF YOU WANT TO FEEL HEATSTROKE, COME DOWN TO MIAMI.
I’
VE ALREADY HAD TO CHANGE MY SHIRT AND I
T’
S ONLY NOON. THIS IS WHY THEY INVENTED CENTRAL AIR. P.S.-BIKINI OR ONE PIECE?

Butterflies return and a huge smile crosses my face as I sit back and continue to type.

NOT SURE YET. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

That will keep him silent for a little while. I finish more than half of my lunch before deciding
I’
ve had enough and crumple my napkin to the plate. Mom strolls in carrying a large paper bad which I can only assume is filled with pre-made sandwiches, bread, cheeses, deli meats and topping to assemble more. When she packs a care package she really pulls out all the stops. She notices my half eaten lunch before scolding me.

“
V. You did
n’
t finish
!
”

I’
m already on my feet, phone in hand, making my exit. I apologize as I rush to head out.
 “
No time mom.
I’
m gonna take a swim. I
t’
s too hot
!
”

I’
m not making excuses. It
is
hot. The temperature outside is
n’
t completely to blame. Thinking of Dom adds coal to the fire. I have
n’
t had much need for bikin
i’
s at St. Bar
t’
s. Mother Superior would probably have us a doing a gazillion Hail Mar
y’
s in penance if she spotted one on campus. Searching through my dresser drawers I try to locate where mom had unpacked them. Ugh! I
t’
s like looking for a needle in a haystack... wait... Bingo! I come across a small pile of swimwear. I do
n’
t have enough time to sort through them before my phone lights up once more.

MY ONLY REQUEST IS THAT YOU SEND ME A PICTURE. HAVE A LITTLE PITY FOR A LONELY GUY IN A STUFFY SUIT, COVERING HIS LAP SO NO ONE NOTICES.

Agh! My mission has just gotten more complicated. Now I need to find something that will be cute enough to take a picture in. Hmm... polka dots? Nope, too juvenile. Beige stripes? Nah,
I’
m too pale to pull that off right now. I decide on the black and white plaid halter top two piece.

Quickly changed, I add a straw beach fedora bought last year in Mexico, and top it off with my oversized sunglasses. I stare at the reflection in the mirror. Not bad, but now that I have some free time, It wo
n’
t hurt to get a tan and hit the treadmill. Dom is a prime physical specimen and I
t’
s intimidating enough just looking at his body. I ca
n’
t even think about him looking at mine.

I hold out the phone to the mirror, pucker my lips, doing my best Sports Illustrated pose and hit the  button. Satisfied with how i
t’
s come out, I save it. I think
I’
ll make him stew a little first.

HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO SEE IT?

I ca
n’
t believe I just sent that, starting to regret that last text as I wait for his reply.

OH BABY, YOU HAVE NO IDEA. YOU WOULD
N’
T BE TEASING ME NOW, WOULD YOU?
I’
M HEADING BACK TO THE HOTEL NOW TO TAKE A COLD SHOWER THANKS TO YOU.

It worked. I should probably give him a little something to make up for getting him all hot and bothered. I attach the picture to my next text and hit the send button, satisfied that
I’
m monopolizing his attention at the moment.

SINCE YOU ASKED SO NICELY... HER
E’
S A LITTLE SOMETHING TO TIDE YOU OVER. ENJOY YOUR SHOWER.

I step into a pair of flip flops and take off for the back yard. Helping myself to some sunblock, a cold bottle of water and an oversized beach towel from the pool house, I set up camp on a reclining lounge chair near the deeper end of the pool. Wanting to get some color, I choose the SPH 15 lotion to get started. Lathering it on generously, I lay back to soak in the sun and relax under i
t’
s heat.

Playing with my phone, passing the time, I open my emails and scroll through. Spam, Junk, and advertisements comprise the bulk of my inbox. There is a message from Theresa from about forty-five minutes ago. I open it and laugh aloud while I read.

YOU LITTLE WITCH! WHY IS IT THAT I JUST GOT A CALL FROM TANYA, TO SET UP A LUNCH DATE? REALLY, V? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. SHE IS NOT THE COUSIN OF MY SISTER IN LAW, THEREFORE I SHOULD
N’
T HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO HER BOTOXED, OVERLY MADE UP FACE WHILE I ATTEMPT TO EAT A MEAL. P.S.- LUNCH IS 1 PM ON SUNDAY AT THE GARDEN CITY HOTEL. AND, IF YOU BAIL, I WILL FIND YOU...

Theresa despises Tanya even more than I do for some reason, but she is more vocal about it, whereas I chose to put of with the girl for as little time as necessary. The phone notifies me that
I’
ve just received a new message. Knowing full-well that i
t’
s from Dom, I inhale deeply before opening it.

I WILL NEED TO INSPECT THAT BATHING SUIT IN PERSON WHEN I GET HOME. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. IT NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CHOKE. ENJOY YOUR SWIM BABY.

Satisfied, I tuck my phone away and stretch out to bronze my skin. The sunlight drenches over me, penetrating my skin, leading me to a deep state of relaxation. Thoughts and images wisp through my mind as I daydream about Dom rinsing off his frustration under a cold shower. Small beads of sweat are now covering my brow as the afternoon reaches i
t’
s warmest peak. Footsteps jostle me from my fantasy as a tall shadow blocks my sun.

Mike stands over me holding a rectangular shaped object in his hand, purposely ruining my tan. He waves the package around mockingly.

“
Looks like someon
e’
s got a delivery... you look busy.
I’
ll help you and open it
.
”

I’
m on my feet and lunging toward the brown paper parcel in less than one second flat, making an unsuccessful swipe at it. Seeing my reaction only entices Mike more.

“
Give me that, you little jerk wad. It has my name on it, not yours
.
”

We are now playing a game of chase around the pool chairs with my mail as prize.
I’
m smaller and quicker than Mike, who is more of a video game type of guy... not really an athlete. Almost catching him twice, I decide to bring out the big guns. I stop in my tracks and watch as he slows cautiously, confused as to why
I’
ve suddenly given up.

“
If you do
n’
t give that to me right now,
I’
m going to tell Momma that a girl answered your phone when I called you last weekend
.
”

He does
n’
t quite get where
I’
m going.
 “
So... tha
t’
s hardly a capitol offense, V
.
”

I take off my sunglasses so that he will fully benefit from the gleam in my eye as I clue him in.
 “
At six in the morning
?
”

He drops the valuable piece of leverage down on the nearest chair and steps back, conceding in defeat. I run to my package and grab it before he changes his mind. Being the youngest and only girl beneath three older brothers has taught me some valuable survival skills, such as blackmail.

“
Good choice
,
” I congratulate him.

Mik
e’
s cell phone rings, interrupting our sibling bonding. He greets the caller before holding the phone speaker side down into his shoulder, reminding me,
 “
You promise... not a word to mom
?
”

I answer by making a zipping motion across my lips and throwing away the imaginary key. Satisfied with my silence on the matter, he raises the phone and continues his call while walking away back toward the house.

Once
I’
m sure that I have complete privacy, I rip open the brown paper wrapping and hold the book out to inspect it. The pink cover is innocent enough but the title says it all.
 “
The Good Gir
l’
s Guide To Being Bad- a complete guide to datin
g”
.

The book is a simple enough read, I determine as I thumb through the pages. Skimming the first chapter, my excitement deflates. This book does
n’
t tell me much more than the latest issue of Cosmo would. I close the book and pick up my phone to admonish Theresa for her advice through text message.

JUST GOT THE BOOK. ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS? FATHER CROSS COUL
D’
VE GIVEN ME BETTER ADVICE THAN THIS. THANKS.

I take a quick dip in the perfect temperature-controlled water. Swimming a lap across the length of the pool, I exit trough the shallow end, wringing the excess water from my hair and shaking the extra drops from my limbs. Momma calls out to me from the back slider doors.

“
V! We have to leave soon to drive by the house site
!
”

Ugh. I had forgotten that
I’
d promised Momma I would go there with her today. I gather my things, and the useless book, to re-enter the house.
“
Alright mom,
I’
m just going to shower quick
!
”

I read one last text message from Theresa before I go to wash the chlorine off.

SKIP TO CHAPTER FOUR. TRUST ME.

Maybe I was quick to write the book off, not give it enough of a chance. I
t’
ll have to wai
t‘
till later as
I’
m sure mom wo
n’
t appreciate me reading such a book in her presence. Showering in record time and dressed in a simple cotton beach dress and thong sandals I finish preparing. Even with the air conditioning, i
t’
s simply too hot of a day to run the hairdryer, so I opt instead for a bit of gel and a claw clip. Any attempt at makeup would just melt away, so i
t’
s going to be a natural kind of day.