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Dante
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I’m wrapping up the details of the trust, ready to meet with the lawyer after lunch when Che knocks on my door. “Got a minute?”
“Yeah, just wrapping the trust stuff up. Are you coming when I meet them after lunch?”
“No, you handle it. I’m glad it’s all coming together. I was talking with Alicia. She’s not happy at the idea of Bethany going to Madrid by herself. At the same time, Alicia can’t go. I don’t want her out of the country for a week with her pregnant, hell even if she weren’t pregnant. I’m also not trying to piss off my pregnant wife. What do you think about going with Bethany?”
A week in Madrid with Bethany my only focus? Hell yeah. I nod. “Yeah, sounds good to me. I’ll take care of it.”
“If the lawyers like what they see today and it’s good to go, then take Friday off. You earned it.”
“I’m not going to say no.”
“Good, it’s been a few years since you went to Madrid. Any plans?”
I shrug. I’m not telling him most of our time will be spent in bed. “A few.”
The second the door closes behind him, I’m snatching up my phone. Normally I would pick the most expensive hotel. Bethany couldn’t give a shit. I know the perfect hotel, at least it’s a five star. It’s also over a hundred years old, with the historic architecture that will have Bethany sighing in happiness. I book it for Friday through Sunday and make sure it’s stocked with plenty of champagne and chocolate. While I’m on the phone I send an email to Gretchen to get the flight in order for Friday at ten, I figure it’s the earliest Bethany will accept.
With all the plans settled I make my last call, this one to Alicia. “Hi, Dante. I talked to Cesare. I’m glad you’re willing to go with Bethany to Madrid, thank you. I’m also going to thank you for being the one to tell her. I’m not sure if she’ll be happy or pissed at not going alone.”
I was thinking the exact same thing. “It will be all my pleasure.”
“No doubt, by the time you’re done she’ll be ecstatic.”
“Are you going to be able to get Bethany out to buy some clothes? I want to show her the best of Madrid. I don’t want her feeling outshone by anyone.”
“We already have plans for today with Lydia. She needs professional clothes for work. I’ll make sure to add some dresses.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. Do I dare send my credit card info to Lydia?”
“God no, she’ll murder you. I’ll handle it. I was going to anyway as her graduation gift.”
“You’re amazing.’
“I know. Talk to you later.”
Everything is good. Now how to tell Bethany.
***
Bethany
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It’s my second cup of coffee and the nine hundredth time I’ve told myself to send the text apologizing to Dante for being a brat last night. I even typed out a text, but I didn’t send it. I bring it up, stare at it, then hit send. My heart is starting to pound as seconds tick past. When my phone rings relief floods me, it’s Dante.
“Hi.” The word escapes my tight throat.
“You don’t have to apologize, sweetheart. Sexual frustration is a painful thing. I understand completely and I’m not mad. You know how you’re going shopping with Alicia and Lydia today?”
“I do, but how do you?”
“I talked to Alicia a little bit ago. How about while you’re shopping you buy some nice warm clothes to wear when we go to Madrid tomorrow? Is ten in the morning too early?”
My heartbeat is pounding in my ears. “We?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, of course not. Why are you all worried?”
“I was worried you would be mad I’m going because Che asked me to in order to make Alicia happy. Only that’s not why I’m going. I’m going because it’s exactly what I’ve wanted since I got you in my arms—you, me, no distractions, no responsibilities for days and nights.”
“I can’t imagine a better way to spend a week than in bed with you.”
“I’m holding you to that. I’ll bring condoms but I don’t trust myself to always have one. Are you on any birth control?”
“Yep, I started on the pill on Monday. It’s also an awesome pill that allows me to skip periods altogether. I keep taking it through the week when most women don’t and voila, no messy, painful period.”
“Sounds good to me. I have to go, sweetheart. I’ll see you tonight.”
“I can’t wait.” I really can’t.
***
Bethany
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“Bethany, get your ass out here.”
“No, not unless you promise this is the last dress.” I’m serious. This is the twelfth dress I’ve tried on today. That’s the dresses, I lost count of tops, everything from blouses to casual tops. At least the bottoms weren’t so bad, four different slacks, two worked. I agreed to them in black, gray and a chocolate brown but no to tan and white. I don’t like skirts for work, so the nine different skirts were excessive as far as I’m concerned. I’ll admit I liked most of the dresses, though it was annoying not all of them worked either because of the way they were cut, or despite claiming to be plus size they totally weren’t. I’ve loved seven of the dresses, more than enough.
“You are such a brat. One more only, I promise.” I refuse to answer, hoping she’ll give in. “Dante will love this on you,” the witch says in a singsong voice.
I hate her. “Fine.” I unlock the door, stepping out of the enormous changing room. Seriously, it’s huge. I think it’s bigger than my bedroom. I’m not vain, although this dress could push me to it. I know I look good in it. I also know it’s all the dress. Despite the plain appearance on the hanger, on me it’s anything but plain. It’s a long-sleeve sheath dress in red, yet it’s the construction that matters. From the outside it’s fine, rich silk; inside there is a shaping panel from my hips all the way up to my breasts. In this dress I’m chic, a word I never thought would fit me.
“You look so good!”
“I know. Give me the dress so we can get this over with.”
Lydia laughs as she brings me a gorgeous dress. If it doesn’t fit I’ll die. “Is this going to fit? Don’t tease me.”
“Ah, don’t be so negative. It will fit.”
“It better,” I mumble.
I step into the dress and a small tug gets it up over my hips. I’m able to get it zipped all the way up, thank you yoga. Then I turn, eyes squeezed tight. One deep breath before I open them. Oh, I love it. It’s an illusion dress in a blush pink with bright flowers from over one breast all the way down to the hem. From the way it hugs my curves to the way the color sets off my skin tone, oh yeah, Dante will love this on me.
Opening the door, I’m not even out of the room before Alicia is sighing her happiness. “Can I take a picture?”
“Ugh, no. Stop being weird. You know I hate pictures.” I loathe pictures, always have. I have never taken a selfie, ever.
“Please, pretty please.” She has her phone clutched in her hand. Dang it, I hate telling her no and at least she asked.
“Fine.”
“Bethany, come on, one smile won’t kill you.” I roll my eyes before I smile.
“Yay, thank you. Okay, get changed. I’m starving, time for food.”
“Thank god, I’m starving too. I thought this was going to take an hour, tops.” I carefully step out of the dress.
“Quit whining, it was worth it.”
“Maybe. I’m trying really hard not to think of the actual cost of this trip.”
“Whatever, this isn’t bad.”
Lydia laughs. “My last client spent this much in the first half hour. You guys crack me up. Give me ten minutes, I’m going to have this rung up then fix a time for them to deliver it. What time works for you, Bethany?”
“I don’t know. It’s almost one now. After lunch Alicia talked about going to another store for lingerie, what, another hour? Five o’clock?”
“Five it is. I’ll be right back.”
We’re in the back of Goldfinches, which usually doesn’t open until the evening. There is only one other table occupied, on almost the other side of the massive room. “Why are we back here?”
Alicia blushes, and Lydia laughs. “Because Alicia is a Sabatini. They put the people whose asses are to be firmly kissed back here. Don’t question it too much, enjoy it. Okay, it’s time to give up the goods on you and Dante. How is it going?”
Alicia’s eyebrows go up. “I’ve been dying to ask.”
Great, I’m blushing so hard I’m starting to get lightheaded. “It’s going... I don’t know, pretty awesome even though we haven’t, you know.”
“Are you serious?” Alicia exclaims. Crap, I’m glad they put us back here.
“Shh, god. I mean we’ve done...” I’m not saying it out loud. “Stuff. Only not that. I wasn’t happy about it, believe me. I was pissed for two straight days but ugh, if you guys tell him I will never speak to you again. Same thing for telling Cesare. He was right. Despite wanting to tear his clothes off and drag him down to the nearest flat surface, this going slower thing, I don’t know... I’m not terrified slash excited anymore. I’m still a little worried I won’t be as good as what he’s used to and he’ll be disappointed. But, I’m more at ease and comfortable with all of it and him. We also—I don’t know how to say it exactly—it feels like we are a we, not just Dante and me. Am I making any sense?” I rub my face, freaked by saying it out loud, wondering if I sound like an idiot. Alicia sniffles. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy.” She wails.
Oh lord. “Don’t, please don’t. Whatever you’re thinking, don’t say it either. It’s not like that, yet, I think. I don’t know, just don’t.”
Lydia giggles. “You two Jeffries are better than any telenovela minus the amnesia.”
“Not helping,” I mutter as the waitress sets our plates down. “Alicia, will you please stop crying?”
She nods but doesn’t stop. “It might be the baby’s fault.”
“Don’t blame my niece for this. You always cry when you’re happy. But if you don’t stop I’m stealing a mozzarella stick.”
A gasp and the tears stop instantly. “Do it and you lose a finger.”
“Fine. I do need to know though, like how honest can I be with Dante? I’m not sure he isn’t a flight risk.”
Alicia is chewing on a mozzarella stick, and she nods at Lydia to answer. Lydia shrugs. “You can be as honest as you want. Dante isn’t going anywhere. He’s all in.”
I glance to Alicia, who is nodding in agreement. “Seriously?”
After a sip of her drink Alicia sighs. “Seriously, when you said he didn’t drag you off to bed when you were begging him to, you confirmed it. If all he wanted was sex he could have had it. I already told you, he’s not back to his old self, he’s even better. He’s happier than I ever remember seeing him. He’s not going anywhere.”
My chest is working to take in air. Breathe, Bethany, breathe. Finally I take a deep breath then I burst into tears. Damn it.
***
Dante
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I’m hanging on to my temper by a thin string, a very thin string as Helena Addison throws a tantrum at the idea of being handed off to my best agent. Che and I trade glances, and I nod. He’s always specialized in our commercial properties, while he can list our top five residential properties, he needs help beyond them. I prefer residential, always have.
In the past I’ve handled Helena, helping her buy two different properties and selling one of her homes. Considering the value of those two purchases and one sale were such each transaction netted us right around three million, she isn’t a client we want to piss off. It doesn’t matter it’s already four in the afternoon; Helena’s son is coming home from London, and she wants a place of his own for him by the time he lands tomorrow.
After an apology through gritted teeth I guide her into my office. Of course, it’s not a simple conversation to find out what it is she wants in the property. I bring up a few and she hates all but one. Based on her reaction I bring up a few more, and those she’s warming to. I shoot Gretchen an email requesting five more properties with the parameters, then send another email asking Che to reach out to Bethany to let her know I won’t be home until much later tonight. Helena isn’t going to be easy to please, and she won’t consider the time of day any reason to stop looking, the second home she purchased we didn’t find until almost ten in the evening. I was up until one in the morning with a pissed-off seller whom I’m pretty sure gave in so he could go to sleep.
Fuck, this is not how I wanted to spend the night before we left for Madrid.
***
Bethany
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I’m trying to ease some serious tension, but it isn’t working. Another pose, breathe deep, still not working. My phone rings and it’s almost a relief. Except it’s Cesare’s ringtone. Alicia only left twenty minutes ago. “Hello?”
“Bethany, it’s Cesare. Dante asked me to let you know he is stuck with one of our clients and will likely be late. He apologizes, unfortunately she was irate at the thought of not being handled by myself or Dante. As Dante has more knowledge of what she was looking for, he took her.”
“Thanks for telling me, Cesare. I appreciate it.”
“Not a problem, do you want to come over for dinner tonight?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
“Have a good night.”
“I will. You too.” I throw myself on my bed to stare blindly at the ceiling. This is not how I was hoping tonight would go. Turning my head, I look at the selection of sexy lingerie that had me blushing when it was handed to me. For the lingerie I was determined to pay my own, and damn was this stuff expensive, but trying it on had me looking forward to when Dante would see it on me. Tonight I wanted to give him a sneak peek. Dang it.
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I’ve been floating in and out of sleep for what feels like an hour. I’m yanked out of sleep by the light going on. I blink and find Dante hovering above me.
“Bethany Marie Jeffries, what the hell do you think you’re doing in my bed?”
“How do you know my middle name?”
His eyes roll. “What don’t I know about you? Out, now.” He flings off the covers. I giggle at the way his eyes go wide. I have no idea what he says in Italian. It sounds sexy, though.
“English, Dante.”
He shakes his head as his eyes narrow. “I should spank your ass right now. This is another one you’ve earned.”
I wiggle, not wanting to leave the comfy bed. I love how it smells of Dante. “Please don’t make me go to my bed, Dante. I promise I’ll be good.”
“That promise means nothing when you’re wearing what you’re wearing. One more night. Please, help me out here. I’m exhausted already.”
My eyes wander over him. As always he’s gorgeous, but tonight he also looks as if he could sleep standing up. Poor Dante. With a sigh, I roll off his bed. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, ready to leave at nine thirty.”
“Nine thirty. I don’t dare touch you even to kiss you the way I’m dying to.”
Okay, I totally deserve a spanking for loving how hoarse and hungry he sounds as I walk away. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.