Total Control (34 page)

Thanx for the new coffee pot! Ur spoiling me.

I called her. “And I will, forever, if you’ll let me.”

“Are you almost done?” She missed me.

“I’m sorry, but Rose wasn’t feeling well, so I need to get the tills set up. I’ll be a couple of hours.”

“Oh, I hope it’s nothing serious with Rose. Can I help?”
she asked. I don’t know why, but it surprised me.

“You don’t need to do that. Why don’t you do something for you? Work out or meditate or meet Jo and Dana.”

“Please?” How could I possibly say no?

Fifteen minutes later, Gia breezed in with her coffee in hand and a huge smile on her face. “What can I do?” She was excited to help. I gave her the daily sheets for the tills and opened the safe. She got right to it, and before I’d even finished with my paperwork, she was done.

“Shit, Gia, that usually takes me twice as long, at least.”

“I worked at a bank for a few years. I’m pretty good with money.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “What can I do now?”

“The tills need to be handed out to the girls when they come. Here’s the schedule, if you really want to.” I felt bad, putting her to work.

“Absolutely. I’m happy to help, Ethan, really. I feel like keeping busy. Plus, I’m sort of feeling lost, knowing I don’t have a job.” Sean’s and my conversation about keeping Gia busy when she got home popped into my head. I’d forgotten about it.

“Gia, I could sure use your help on a lot of things around here. I’d want to put you on the payroll, of course, and you could still look for something else, if you wanted to.” I’d love to have her, she’d be a real asset to The Lock, but I didn’t want her to think I expected it from her.

“That would help me out a lot right now. I wouldn’t want any special treatment, if I were on the payroll, just maybe some benefits on the side.” She winked at me. It made my heart skip a beat.

“You’re hired.” I grabbed her and set her on the desk. “Too bad we can’t go over the benefits package right now. I think you’d be impressed with all that it covers.” I kissed her neck and fondled her perfect breasts.

“Why, Mr. Lockwood, isn’t this type of harassment frowned upon in the workplace?” She gave me full access to her neck and wrapped those legs around me. I was so turned on by the complete competence and ease she’d just shown as she helped me, not to mention accepting my job offer, that I wanted to take her, fast and hard, right there.

“Ms. Anderson
, are you questioning my authority already? That’s not a very positive way to start your first day, is it now?” I had my mouth at her ear and sucked the lobe hungrily. She giggled and squirmed, making her release those legs and pull away from my greedy hands.

“You better back off before the other girls catch you playing favorites in here with the new girl.” I knew she was right, but that didn’t stop me from one last kiss on her lips.
We sighed as we pulled away from each other hesitantly.

A half an hour later, all the tills were in the
correct hands, and the bars, shops and eateries were getting opened for the day. We had some free time, so I asked Gia to ride up to Sunset with me. I wanted to show her what I’d done up there while she was gone.

When I pulled up and turned off the truck, Gia was surprised to see that I’d planted three more trees there. We headed toward them.
I held back as we approached the bench that sat in the middle of them. Gia stopped in front of it and read the inscription that was carved on the back,
As strong and unwavering as an oak, such is a mother’s love.
My heart was beating fast as I watched her look at each little tree, which were now standing in the protective shadow of the big one we’d shared so much beneath. She looked at me, tears in her eyes, but glowing with a peaceful smile. It was then that I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was okay. She’d made peace with it all, and she was strong. She sat on the bench and patted the spot beside her. I joined her immediately and she snuggled into me, making my body relax and heart return to its normal speed. She took my hand and squeezed tightly.

“I can’t even begin to tell you what this means to me,” she said. “Thank you. Having peace and closure makes it feel like it’s okay to move on
, and to be happy.” That’s all I’d ever wanted for her. “Thank you.” She seemed a little overwhelmed, not being able to find the words. I held her and gave her time to let it all sink in. She had her face against my chest, listening to my heart beat. She finally whispered, “I wish I would’ve known you existed. It would’ve given me a reason to keep fighting. I would’ve never given up.”

“But Gia, you
did
keep fighting, and you
never
gave up. It was in you the whole time. I didn’t make you finally love yourself, you did.”

She sat up and looked into my eyes. Hers were full of love. “
You gave me a taste, a glimpse, into what it could be like, and that gave me a reason. In the end it was
you
who made
me
want to be a better person.” I smiled broadly as I realized she was right. It had come full circle, from the first time I’d laid eyes on her at the c-store, until that moment on the bench. We’d been that for each other, and we were both better people because of one another.

She kissed me softly.
“Please tell me there are no more surprises. I don’t know if my heart can hold anymore right now.” I’d almost forgotten! I looked at my watch. She’d have to squeeze one more thing in there, because he was on his way, and he’d be there in fifteen minutes.

“Just one more teeny-tiny thing,” I
told her as I held up my hand and put my finger and thumb about an inch from each other.

She threw her head back, “Ethan! Seriously?”

I hopped up and told her jump on. She laughed and let me give her a piggyback ride to the truck. She was giggling in my ear and kissing my neck, so I made a trip around the truck once I got to it, just to make it last longer. She begged me to tell her what was happening, but I wouldn’t. I loved surprising her.

There was a truck in front of my place when we pulled up, and I knew he was already there. Gia and I walked up to it and I reached my hand out to the man in it.

“George?” I asked.

“Yes. Ethan, nice to finally meet you face
to face.” We’d talked on the phone several times, and he looked just as I’d pictured him. He was about sixty years old, gray beard and overalls, just a good ‘ol country boy. He hopped out of the truck and I introduced him to Gia. He talked as he walked around to the bed of the truck. “Like I said, he was the runt, so he got ignored and picked on a little bit, but I think he’ll be all right.” Gia’s eyes got big as she listened. I could tell she was about to burst.

“Breathe, Gia,” I whispered. She nodded her head and took a breath as she stood on her
tip-toes trying to catch a glimpse into the box.

I watched her face as George pulled out the smallest, fluffiest
, cutest little Saint Bernard puppy I’d ever seen. She melted instantly and her arms reached out for him. As soon as she cradled him, it was like he sprang to life and she giggled as he tried to lick her face over and over. George and I laughed at them and he told Gia he’d never seen the little fella so lively.

“Good luck,” George said before he drove off. “He’s lucky to have found such a loving home.”

“Looks like your heart had room for one more,” I told her as I wrapped my arms around both of them.

“Ethan, he’s perfect
—thank you!” She giggled as she tried to kiss me, but the puppy was right there, licking at her chin. “Don’t worry,” she told me, “Nothing could keep me from getting to you.” She set him back down in the box George had brought him in and gave me a kiss that, if I’d had a doubt, reaffirmed her statement.

“
What are you going to name him?” I asked her as we watched him jump playfully in the box.

“I think George already did,” she said. “Lucky.” She picked him up and scratched his little belly.

“Lucky,” I repeated. “Yes, he is that.” I winked at her and she winked back.

We asked Trey and Dana to watch Lucky while we made a quick trip to the store. With all that I’d been trying to get done before Gia got back, I’d forgotten to get food and things for the puppy. Gia said it was
good, because she needed to pick up a couple of things, anyway. We got some puppy food and a little bed for Lucky. Gia asked me to get her some sweetener for her coffee while she went back an aisle to get something she’d forgotten. I searched the shelves, but they didn’t have the one I knew she liked the most.
Oh, well, we’ll just stop at another store to get it.
I had moved on down the aisle when Gia caught back up to me.

“Did you get my Splenda?”
she asked as she put something in the cart.

“They didn’t have any, and I knew you didn’t really care for the pink or blue, so we’ll stop at the other store and get you
some,” I said as I looked at the pasta, trying to remember what I needed to make Gia that dish she loved. She didn’t answer and I could see her standing very still out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head to see her, staring at me. “Gia? What is it?” She was scaring me.

“Yes,” she whispered. Her eyes got watery.
Oh, God.

I went to her and put my hands on her arms. She was perfectly still and staring at me, but not really focused on me. “Gia,” I said softly. I was panicking inside. “Yes, you want to stop at another store?” I didn’t know what was going on. “Gia!” I said louder as I
gripped her arms.

She blinked twice, forcing the pools into tears which streamed down her cheeks. She focused and looked
right into my eyes, smiling then. I took a relieved breath, not knowing that she was about to knock the wind out of me.

“Yes, I’ll marry you. I want to be your wife, and I want you to be my husband, always.” I was shocked.
What just happened?
I got lightheaded. I couldn’t talk, or move. “Breathe,” she whispered, “I love your reaction, but I need you to be conscious for this.” She was teasing me. I was as shocked as she’d been at the airport. I took a deep breath and felt the color return to my face.

“Gia, are you sure?” It had only been a day. I wanted her to be certain.

“It’s crystal clear,” she said as put her hand on my face. “It’s not the big things you do for me, but the little ones. It’s not the things I can see, but the ones I can feel. Those are the ones I live for, and those are the ones you give me every day. I love you, and I love me when I’m with you.” The tears that ran down my face were the happiest I’d ever shed. She was certain, at that moment, and I’d never give her a reason to doubt it, ever.

It was there, right in front of the macaroni, that my life changed. I had everything I’d e
ver dreamed of. Gia was right. It was the little things, the everyday things that made us feel it. Of course, that didn’t stop me from giving her the big things.

Chapter 23

Gia

I told Ethan I wanted to enjoy our engagement for a bit before we got married. He said it was okay with him, as long as he knew I was go
ing to be his wife soon. I also told him that I wanted him to plan it. I’d already had the big church wedding, and I didn’t want all that again. All I needed was him.

Rose took me under her wing in the office and taught me everything I needed to know about running a successful business. She was one amazing woman, and she grew to love me like a daughter
by the end of the summer. She and Don were so thrilled that Ethan had finally met his “soul mate,” as they called me, and Rose was delighted to finally be Ethan’s number two.

I got a letter from Mr. Evans trying to explain to me why he had to break his word and give my job to Bridget’s friend. It didn’t make much sense, except for the part where he told me how sorry he was about it, and how he hoped I’
d forgive him someday, which I already had. I could tell he’d written it himself, and I was sure Bridget didn’t know anything about it, or the big, fat check that accompanied it. Ethan made me promise to spend the money on “something I’d always wanted, but never thought I could have.” I’m still trying to figure out what to buy him.

Sean and Brynn started dating
. I talked to him all the time. He said she was as stubborn and aggravating as I was, but she didn’t steal half his food, so she was a keeper. Ethan and I met up with them when we flew to California for a Hank Jr./Kid Rock concert in October. Sean booked us a suite at the hotel as an engagement gift, and as soon as we got back, Ethan added on to our bathroom and put in a Jacuzzi tub.

Trey and Dana were constantly on again, off again, but I knew
they loved it that way because of the make-up sex. Jo was busy with her kids, but loved coming up to The Lock whenever she could get away for a day or two. I’d finally told her about Vince, because I was scared she’d try to look him up sometime if she really got lonely. She was shocked, but still stuck by her story about the amazing orgasm.