Page 79 of PortCity Killers

The raise of her brow and the pinch of her lips said she knew exactly what game he was playing, but there was a goddess smiling down on me because she lifted a delicate shoulder, shrugging it off.

“You’re right,” her lips tilted up in a secret smile. “We have plenty to look forward to tonight.”

With that very vague assessment of my future, she flounced off, peeling her dress off along the way, letting it slide down her body in a puddle on the floor. If Don’s arm wasn’t wrapped around my middle, I might have slunk off his lap and crawled behind her, her naked backside the altar for which I would profess my undying devotion.

“What surprise?” I asked, tearing my eyes away from the curtain she passed through to change.

Don’s eyes gleamed wickedly, “It wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew, now, would it?”

“I think I’ve had more than enough surprises,” I said, motioning to the boutique. “Maybe you can cut a girl some slack.”

He laughed, the sound vibrated through me, passing from low in his throat. I curled up into him, relishing the feel of it.

“Come,” he patted my leg, “Let’s walk outside.”

He dipped his head behind the curtain before taking my hand in his and walking us out the door. The air was cool, the smell of fire and brine lingering through the gusts of wind that kicked up through the trees as he took me in the direction of the house.

Since we were at the last shop in the row of the tiny town, we hit the wide dirt road very quickly, but he continued on the path. One hand holding mine and the other tucked away in his suit pocket until he saw me shiver.

“You did good,” he hooked his arm around my shoulders, bringing me into his warmth. He kissed the side of my head as we walked. “Not many people can handle the full Valentina makeover.”

“She’s very passionate about it,” I nuzzled my way in, nearly tripping over branches as we walked the side of the road.

Don’s laugh rumbled through me, “She is. At least you didn’t have to go through the rest of the polishing. We might not ever have gotten out of there.”

“Do I need polishing?” I teased, though the slight hitch in my voice maybe gave away the insecurity of it.

“Not at all. I think part of what makes you so attractive to both of us is that you don’t bother with anything that isn’t you. The Giovenni’s are all about appearance, as are many of the big families, but our parents take a little too much pride in being put together all the time.”

“Will you tell me about them?” I asked.

“Our parents?”

I nodded, wrapping my arms tighter around him.

“Our mother is from a very prominent family from Spain and our father from Italy. They had an arranged marriage when they were both very young. They couldn’t have children though, and so eventually they decided to adopt.” he shrugged, “And they found us.”

The trees veered around a curve, pulling us in further as the sun settled itself somewhere behind them.

“Did you have a good childhood with them?”

“It depends, I think, on what you consider good. We did not want material things nor were we beaten, but there are many things in between those states of being that can do harm. And you?” he asked, “How was your childhood?”

“Same as everyone’s I guess: shitty. I’m not sure where my dad is, somewhere in Florida last time I checked.”

“And your mom? She’s passed, isn’t she?”

“Yeah. I stayed with my step dad until he kicked me out. I called CPS that day and visited Jaymes whenever I could.”

“He was adopted though, wasn’t he, by a rather wealthy family? I’m surprised he didn’t wind up in an ivy league somewhere.”

“Yeah,” I hedged, “You know it’s not normal for people to have a dossier on their girlfriends, right?”

His lips twitched, “Are you my girlfriend, now? I thought we were just dating.”

His tone told me everything I needed to know about his thoughts on that.

“You might have convinced me,” I laughed, “As far as my brother goes, well, he did with that what he does with everything: absolutely nothing. He washed it away by using their money and connections and got into trouble for selling drugs before calling me. He had me pick him up outside a rager one night, just walked into my car and never looked back.”

---