Tearing Down Walls (Love Under Construction Series Book 2) (51 page)

“Yeah?”

“I, um, I . . . I love you. And Tony. Thanks for being so nice to me, even though I haven’t always been . . .”

“Hey, we love you too. Move forward, honey.” Nikki wished Laura could see her smile through the phone.

“Moving. Just let me know what time.” When Laura hung up, Vic nodded his approval.

“And by the way,” he told her, “get her to help you with a shaving system. She’ll know what I’m talking about.” Laura had hoped he hadn’t noticed. She shaved her legs about once a month; no one ever saw them, so she didn’t think it was a big deal. But she hadn’t been able to hide the way they looked from Vic. He noticed everything. She turned pink again – seemed she was doing that a lot. “And don’t get embarrassed. We need to be open with each other. Honesty always,” he told her, reaching over to hold her hand and squeeze it.

“Sorry. I should’ve taken better care of . . .”

“Hey, starting over. Don’t worry about it, just do it and be happy somebody cares, okay?” Laura nodded. She realized that if a man had said something to her two months earlier about her appearance, she would’ve told him to go to hell. But with Vic, it wasn’t about anything other than the fact that he wanted her to value and respect herself, and that made all the difference.

Two hours later, she’d dropped Vic at the house, made sure he was comfortable and down for some rest, and pulled onto I-64 toward Frankfort. Nikki met her in the parking lot of the drugstore and they walked into the brightly-lit cosmetics department. They picked out foundation, blush, mascara, and all kinds of cleansers, scrubs, lotions, and serums, with Nikki providing a running narrative on how they worked and why Laura should use them. They stopped at a display of nail polish, but Laura said, “Don’t need that. I don’t have nails.”

Nikki grabbed her hands and looked at them. “Oh, no, this just won’t do. We’ve got to get you in to see a nail tech pretty quick.” Laura frowned at her. When she stopped and sniffed a couple of different perfumes, Nikki lost no time telling her, “Honey, if you need perfume, Vic will get it for you at the mall at one of the higher-end stores. Let him pick out what he likes.” Now Laura was getting pretty miffed. What the hell? She’d be the one wearing the perfume – she should get what she liked!

Shouldn’t she?

“Anything else you need?” Nikki asked her.

Laura shrugged. “Yeah. Vic told me to talk to you about a shaving system. I have no idea what he meant.”

But Nikki nodded. “We can do that.” She picked up a package and said, “These are very popular, but they’re not what you want. They’re fine for legs and armpits, but for, well, you know, the head is too big.” Laura had a puzzled look on her face. “You know, sweetie, for the rest of your landscaping.”

Then it dawned on Laura what Nikki was talking about. “Oh, no, that’s not happening. Uh-uh. That’s just . . . I mean, you don’t do that.” Nikki’s eyebrows went up. “Do you?” Laura finished.

“I see we need to have a little talk. Here. You’re getting this one. It’s what I use.” Nikki picked up a different package, then a package of refill cartridges for it, and put them in the basket before pulling Laura toward the checkout. “And some of this,” Nikki said as she put a can of shaving cream designed for women into the basket on the way to the front.

After they’d paid, Nikki pointed to her Yukon. “Get in. Let’s go have a snack and a drink and talk. I’ll bring you back to your car.” As they drove to the nearest steak house, Laura texted Vic:
I think I’m having fun. I’m not sure yet.

In seconds, one came back:
LOL! Hang in there. You’ll be fine.

Once in a booth, they ordered loaded potato skins and a drink apiece. When the server walked away, Nikki leaned in and folded her arms on the table. “I think there are some things I need to explain to you.” Laura frowned. “First of all, regardless that his name is Cabrizzi, Vic is a Walters male. They’re Italian. They have a deep-seated need to take care of women. That’s just how they are. It’s why Vic identifies with the lifestyle and feels comfortable in a Dominant position. You’ll have to get used to letting him help you choose clothes, shoes, lingerie, all that stuff. And perfume? You’re not wearing it for you; you’re wearing it to turn him on, so it should be what
he
likes.”
That kinda makes sense,
Laura thought. “And you have to understand that none of this is meant to control you. It’s meant to be in your best interest. And there’s a reason for that.” Laura frowned twice as hard at that.

“The reason is that there are certain things expected out of women who are with Walters men. Laura, these guys are in the spotlight. They’re wealthy, powerful, well-connected. Tony is on a first-name basis with the governor, for god’s sake. Vic has lunch pretty often with the mayor of Lexington. We’re talking season tickets to the theater and opera, ballgames, even alumni banquets at the universities and even for Vic, just because he’s a Walters.” Laura had never seen the guys in that light; she’d always just thought of them as guys she happened to know. “I’ve gone through this; Brittany has too. Clayton’s right there, right at the top of the pile. People aren’t just scrutinizing them; they’re looking at us too. These guys love us, but we can’t be an embarrassment to them. I understood that all of this would be expected of me if I married Tony. It’s worth it –
all
of it.”

Now Laura was getting uncomfortable. It was too much to take in, all of these rules, all of the stipulations of being with someone of that status. “And he wants me to shave everything?” she whispered. “Are you kidding?”

“No. Not kidding. And it has to be maintained daily. This will take some effort on your part,” Nikki warned her.

“That’s not fair! He doesn’t have to do that!” Laura cried, indignation pouring off of her. But Nikki started to nod, and Laura’s eyes went wide. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope. Neat and trim. I know it for a fact; Tony and Clayton too. Listen, these guys are hung. And they’re very proud of that fact. Plus they don’t want a mouthful of hair, and they don’t think we should have to put up with that either.”

Laura’s mouth fell open. “Whaaa . . . ? Oh my god, what have I gotten myself into?” she moaned.

Nikki laughed out loud. “Yeah, I know. And before you ask, Vic came over one day to swim and didn’t know I was home, just stripped off. When I came through the patio doors, he came up out of the pool and turned around before he opened his eyes. And I got the full monty. It was . . .” Nikki sighed, “. . . spectacular. I know you’re not there yet but, trust me, just do what he asks of you and you’ll be
richly
rewarded. Well worth the wait. And eat your potato skins. You’re going to need your strength,” Nikki chuckled.

Oh, god, I think I’m in
way
over my head
, Laura thought while she ate.
I don’t know if I can do this.
About that time, her phone rang.

“Having fun?” Vic asked.

“I’m not sure. We need to talk.”

“Okay. I’ll be right here,” he told her. “Just get back soon. I miss you.”

That made Laura smile. “Same here,” she said. “Soon. Later.”

“Later, babe. Love ya,” he said as he hung up.

He loves me. I don’t know if I can do this, but I want to try.

“Hey, darlin’! Fix my girl up?” Vic asked Nikki when she called him on her way home after she’d dropped Laura at her car.

“Yeah. I explained things to her,” she told him.

“What things?” Vic wasn’t sure what she was talking about.

“Oh, things like what is expected of women who are with Walters men. That if you’re willing to manscape for her, she should landscape for you.” Vic started laughing. “That having a man who’s attentive enough to help pick out your clothes, jewelry, shoes, lingerie, is a good thing, not a bad thing. Oh and, by the way, you need to get your ass back to the mall fast and get her whatever perfume you want her to wear before she goes out and buys some five ninety-nine crap at the drugstore, because she was sure eyeing it.”

“Oh, hell no, I’d better take care of that pretty quick. And how do you know about my mansca . . . oh, wait, the pool. Never mind.”

Nikki giggled. “You might’ve forgotten, but I haven’t!”

“I’ll never live that down!” Even though he was alone, Vic’s face was bright red. “And thanks for helping her. She’s having a hard time with all of this. I don’t know if she’s going to make it.”

“Just keep encouraging her. Meant to ask: How are you feeling, honey?”

“Good enough. Wore me out today walking through the mall and carrying all that stuff, but I’ll be okay. Every once in a while I hurt, but my doctor says that’s normal. I don’t think he’ll release me for another month.”

“Just take care of yourself. She’s going to keep you in line, I’m sure. And get her to dress up tomorrow. I’d like to see the results of our shopping trips!”

“Will do. Tell my cousin hello for me and I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Vic said as they hung up. He wondered what Laura was going to say when she got back. He hoped she wasn’t giving up, because he wasn’t ready to give up on her.

“I don’t know if I can do this.” Laura plopped down on the sofa beside Vic in defeat. “It’s just too much. I signed on with you, not the whole damn Walters family and their business.”

“That’s my life, honey. Regardless that my name is Cabrizzi, I’m a Walters. There are expectations. Poor Nikki’s been through hell and back; I thought Zia Raffie would drive her insane when she and Tony first got together, but she rose to the occasion. Now she has a mother-in-law who respects her, but it wasn’t easy. Listen to Nikki – let her give you advice. And if there are lady things that you need to ask someone, she’s very open and straightforward; Brittany too. They’ll be your best allies.”

Laura sat for a minute and tried to take it all in. Then she thought of something else. “Have you given any more thought to how you might be able to help me?”

“Actually, while you were gone, I talked to Steve. He had an idea and said I should pursue it, if you’re still in.” Vic ran a finger up and down her arm, and it made Laura shiver – in a nice way.

She thought for a few seconds. “Can you tell me what it is?”

“Remember the lady I told you about who wanted me to beat her? A Dom who’s a friend of Steve’s gave me some ideas to help her, and my idea was to let you sit in and watch, if you’ll do it. He said that would be the best thing I could do for you. Would you be willing to do that?” Vic waited. If she turned this down, he didn’t know what else to do.

She looked down at the floor, then back to Vic, and the pain in her face took his breath away. “Whatever you think,” she whispered. “I trust you. And I think I’m out of options otherwise.”

Vic felt like the weight of the world had come crushing down on him. If he let her down, he didn’t know how he’d live with himself.

But after everything that had happened during the day, Vic had forgotten about something or, rather, someone.

Miranda.

A
s always, Vic just opened the door to the big house and walked in. “Zio Vic!” Ella Jane screamed and ran straight to him.

He managed to grab her before she hit him square around the waist. “Oh, baby, I’m glad to see you, but take it easy on Zio Vic, okay? I got hurt and I’m afraid you’ll get a little too strong with me!”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Zio Vic. I just want to hug you.” She tried to get him to pick her up, but he squatted down and gave her a big hug instead. “Come see the food.” She pointed into the kitchen, then leaned into his ear and pointed at Laura. “And the lady looks very pretty.” Taking him by the hand, she led him into the kitchen, but not before he’d managed to blow Laura a kiss.

Every head turned when they made it into the great room, and there was a collective gasp. The first thing anyone heard was Clayton; he let out a long, low wolf whistle, and then Tony said, “
Dolce madre di dio
, would you look at that!”

Laura stood in the doorway, and the transformation was nothing less than remarkable. She was wearing a royal blue sleeveless sheath dress with a scoop neck, and it fit like a glove. Her black patent sandals were perfect with the dress, and the diamond jewelry she was wearing with it all set off her dark hair, which was glossy and perfectly shaped. The makeup she and Nikki had picked out made her already-lovely face even lovelier, and she’d added a smoky shadow in two shades and brownish-black mascara, with a deep pink lipstick and pinkish-coral blush. Her face was almost glowing, and Nikki teared up a little just looking at her. “How do I look?” she asked out loud, uncomfortable because everyone was looking at her.