Baby V (Chianti Kisses #1) (4 page)

I can hear Do
m’
s voice from inside, talking sternly at someone.

“
I do
n’
t care
how
many hours i
t’
s going to take, Tom. I want answers, and I want them by the time I get back to the office on Monday, or heads will roll for this one. Someone dropped the ball, and I want to know who. Understand? Good. No more calls tonight. E-mail me anything you think
I’
d want to know before I read it in your report
.
”

I do
n’
t hear anyone talking back, so I assume Dom is talking on the phone and the call is over. I open the door further, alerting Dom to my presence. H
e’
s sitting in an antique smoking chair, hunched over with his hands supporting his hanging head. When he realizes i
t’
s me, he runs his fingers through his short hair, standing.

“
Hey... wher
e’
d you disappear to? I was just about to come look for you, before I got... um... sidetracked. You OK?
,
”
 
he asks while taking strides to close the distance between us,
 “
Yo
u’
re missing your celebration dinner
.
”

I swallow hard.
 “I’
m fine. I just needed to stretch my legs
.
”
 
I lie
.
“
Everything OK with you? I heard you on the phone. You sounded mad
.
”

He waves it off,
 “
Oh, i
t’
s nothing. Just a business screw up
,
”
 
he quickly changes the topic before I can ask anything else about the call,
 “
So where are we going after dinner
?
”

I pick up on the sudden topic change, but think it best not to ask questions about the family business tonight.

“
A place called Flyn
n’
s, by the marina. I told my friends we would show up sometime after ten. Do
n’
t feel obligated to go, if you do
n’
t want to. Theresa and I are just going to catch up with school friends before everyone heads home. We might be awhile
.
”

“
Well, so far the only ones in are Mike, Tony, Theresa, you and me. Cecily was going to go, but sh
e’
s gotten really tired and changed her mind. John and Mary need to head back to the hotel to check on the kids, and I ca
n’
t imagine our moms or Nonna going to a club... so, I think i
t’
s safe to say the
y’
re not coming either
.
”
 
He winks at me,
 “
Is that alright... or will we
embarrass
  you by tagging along
?
”

He raises his eyebrows as he speaks that last sentence to see if I will catch his sarcasm. Oh, I  caught it... but I can dish it out just as much as he can.

“
Just do
n’
t hit on any of my friends and
I’
ll tolerate you tagging along, old man. You sure you can keep up with us young folk? I mean, wo
n’
t we keep you out past your bedtime
?
”

Mission accomplished. He realizes i
t’
s a stalemate, and his eyebrows relax although his deep, dark, eyes still hold a mischievous glint to them.

“
Oh... do
n’
t worry, little girl.
I’
m pretty sure I can outlast you, and I will
not
be hitting on any of your friends. Pinky swear
.
”

CHAPTER FOUR

Dinner was delicious, even though we missed half of it by the time Dom and I got back to the table. I thank everyone for coming to celebrate with me, and hug my mom, Cecily, and Aunt Rosie goodnight before they disappear into the black SUV taking them back to the hotel with John and Mary.  By the time I get to Nonna, she hugs me first before letting go to look me in the eyes. She speaks very little english, but sometimes I suspect that she understands far more than we all think she does. With my own blood grandmothers long gone, Dom's grandma, or
 “
Nonn
a
”
 
is the only one I have left.

At ninety-three years old, she is still energetic, but I am sure the da
y’
s events have exhausted her as she speaks in a slow, quiet tone that reflects her fatigue.

“
Good girl, Vincenza. Beautiful, good girl. No dancing too much. Go to sleep not too late, yes
?
”

I kiss her on her cheek before answering her.
“
Si, Nonna. Thank you for coming today. Let Momma and Aunt Rosie take you back to the hotel now
.
”

I help her into the car and shut the door snuggly behind her. We all waive at the tinted windows of the luxury car as they leave, and
I’
m sure she is waiving back. When the car is out of sight, I hear Mike pipe up from behind us.

“
All right! Now le
t’
s have some
real
fun
,
” He claps his hands together and rubs furiously in an animated way,
 “
Ladies and Gentlemen, our chariot awaits
.
”

Our SUV pulls up alongside us, as Mike and Tony simultaneously pull their neckties loose and take their jackets off before getting in after us. Dom leaves his navy blue blazer on. It looks good on him and he probably knows it. Hence... why he leaves it. He does take his tie off and throws it at Tony.

“
Here, bro. Hold this for me
.
”

Tony lets it drop to the floor as
I’
m sure Dom expected him to. He laughs it off while unbuttoning the top two buttons of his collared shirt, before he catches me staring at him. Dom cocks his head to the side slightly, raising a quizzical eyebrow back at me.

Instantly shifting my eyes away, I feel the lack of oxygen from a missed breath, and quickly draw in some air as I lower my car window. I can see the lights of main street from my seat, and know we are no more than a few minutes away from Flyn
n’
s. 

Thank God. I suddenly have the need for some real fresh air, without the confines of the limo.

Flyn
n’
s is packed tonight. They are usually busy on a Saturday night, but I have never seen it this crazy.
I’
ve also never been here this late before. Curfew at St. Bar
t’
s was ten-thirty on Friday and Saturday nights. By the time we usually left, the bouncers were just starting to work the door. Tonight, they have already formed a very long line waiting for vacancy to be granted entry. We all head to the end of the line, falling in place to wait our turn. By the time we settle into a spot, about ten more people join behind us. Ugh. At this rate, w
e’
ll never get in.

I look around at the crowd to see if Theresa or I know anyone when I see Dom walking down the line, approaching us. Where did he go? I thought he was shooting the breeze with Tony and Mike behind us. He gently grabs Theres
a’
s palm with one hand and mine with the other.

“
Come on, follow me
.
”

Mike and Tony take up the rear as we all march past the restless people dutifully waiting their turn. Dom walks up to the bouncer (who looks like a spokesman for Gol
d’
s Gym, by the way), and lets go of Theres
a’
s grip. He reaches into his back pocket before shaking Mr. Steroi
d’
s hand, all the while nodding. The bouncer steps aside and unhooks the velvet rope so we can pass through, while the mumbles and protests can be heard from the witnesses behind us.

Dom leads us straight to a back table by the bar and pulls out a wooden chair for both Theresa and myself. What are the odds of a table, let alone one
this
close to the bar being vacant
just
as we walk in? My question is answered as I see Dom give another pocket/handshake to the busboy carrying away a bin full of empty glasses that had most definitely been on this table a few minutes earlier. Theresa and the boys sit down and pull their chairs in to make room for all of the people walking by.

I hang my bag around the back post of my chair and unclasp the two closures on my blazer before shimmying my arms free.

“
WHOA!
,
” and
 “
V, what the hell?
,
” blurt out from Tony and Do
m’
s direction although I ca
n’
t tell which one had said what.

Not one to miss a shot, Mike chimes in almost immediately.
“
Since when do you wear just your bra to go to a club?
!
”

I look down at my camisole, and slit my eyes at them, while throwing my jacket over the back of my chair.
“
Take a look around boys... what do you think women wear nowadays? It sure ai
n’
t petticoats and hoop skirts
.
” I sit down and pull my chair in close to Theres
a’
s, before looking at her, and adding,
 “
Seriously! The
y’
re not giving
you
any crap. And yo
u’
re not wearing much more than me. What the hell
?
”

She looks at me apologetically as if she had been the one to offend me, and not our stupid brothers, before assuring me.
 “
Do
n’
t worry. The
y’
ve seen girls in less.  The
y’
re just being their usual jerk selves
,”
she accurately assesses the situation.

Tony holds his hands up a few inches and rattles off,
 “
V. Theresa is two years older than you.
She
  is wearing more than just her bra, and she can handle herself better in places like this. If some creep hassles her jus
t‘
cause he thinks sh
e’
s looking
cheap
, she can deal with it
.
”

He and Dom are nodding in unison as he finishes his little speech. The words are no sooner out of his mouth before I feel the fire build in my throat.

“
Are you saying
I’
m a kid who ca
n’
t handle herself!?
,
”
 
I spit back at him.

He does
n’
t even flinch while quickly replying,
 “
Yup
.
”

Theresa smacks the heel of her palm to her forehead, aware of wha
t’
s coming. I carefully concentrate on reigning in my erratic breathing so that I appear in control, before standing up and straightening out my camisole. I throw my shoulders back, flip my hair, and smile tightly down at the three of them.

“
Watch and learn, boys.
I’
m not a kid anymore, and I can handle myself just fine, thank you
,
”
 
I smugly nod and agree with myself,
 “I’
ll go get a round of drinks
.
”

I grab my bag and walk off toward the bar, half expecting one or more of them to tackle me. Dom holds out his arm like a bar across Tony and Mik
e’
s chests as the two of them start to follow me, and he tells them t
o
“
wait
.
”

I squeeze my way through people holding out their drinks carelessly, dodging glasses and beer bottles like land-mines. As I reach the bar, I turn back toward the table with a smug look of victory. Dom still has his arm holding down Mike and Tony while saying something to the both of them. Whatever he is telling them does
n’
t seem to convince them at all, as I see him grabbing his fingers around Ton
y’
s shirt to keep him seated in his chair.

Dom now looks at my victory stance at the bar with a furrowed brow and steel eyes. If I could read his mind
I’
ll bet it would be shouting a very sarcasti
c
“
And now what
?
”
 
at me. I smile at him although it does
n’
t seem to soften his gaze any.

I turn back to the task at hand, and search for a bartender. I can see at least three of them scrambling around, taking drink orders from loud customers waving green bills and credit cards. I am being pushed around like a rag doll from all directions while fellow customers try and position themselves better to get a bartende
r’
s attention.

Another push from my left gets
my
  attention because it does
n’
t let up like the rest had. I
t’
s more constant, more of a semi-grope. I look to see a tall guy who looks to be in his early thirties, squeezing next to me. I smile awkwardly at him before turning my body to ignore him, but he speaks.

“
If a knockout like you ca
n’
t get them to serve her, than I have
n’
t got a chance
.
”

Oh God, no. Did he really just say that? Cheesy! Obviously not one to know when to quit, he keeps going.
“I’
m Todd. And yo
u’
ve got to be the best looking girl in here.
I’
m sure I can get them to come over here and take my order if you let me buy your drink..
.
”

I can smell the three or four drinks h
e’
s already ha
d…
on his breath. I
t’
s about two inches from my ear.

I turn to
Todd
, if that is even his real name, and politely smile while shutting him down quick, with
 “
Oh, thanks. But,
I’
ve got it
.
”

Todd is obviously a determined little bugger, because I can feel his hand on my shoulder as his slurred words try to override mine.
“
Noo... I really insist. Hot girls should never buy their own drinks
.
”

I suddenly remember my audience at the back table and turn quickly in that direction as if to implore some assistance, before this cree
p’
s fingers start to get any friendlier. Theresa, Mike and Tony are all standing up on high alert looking pissed and scared accordingly.

But no Dom. Where the hell is Dom? I find out soon enough.

“
Hey babe, wha
t’
s the holdup on those drinks
?
”

The familiar voice feels like a life preserver as it creeps up behind me, loud enough for my admirer to hear. Todd instantly shakes back his hand and stands away from me. I can see the color drain from his face as Dom steps up right behind me and slowly slides his hands around my sides and down to my hips.

I’
m not sure if he can sense my sudden goose-fleshed chill, but he instinctively moves his hands to my arms and rubs them, as if giving me some of his warmth to calm my flesh, while pulling me back into his chest.
I’
m thankful for the support of his body behind mine, as my knees start to buckle. Unconsciously, I stretch my neck as I feel a surge of heat explode from my back, where it rests on Dom, spreading across my chest up to my burning face.

I feel hot, soft, lips on the skin behind my ear, and then... POW! Another explosion heads straight down from that spot to my stomach and then trails my legs. The closest I can equate it to is a steep drop from a cliff dive. His lips press deep into the space between my jaw and my ear.

I hear his breathing and feel that same breath tickle the baby-fine hairs around my lower scalp.  The heat is becoming too intense, and I prepare to break into a heavy sweat. But then... then the deep pressure of his lips parts and gentle suctions begins. Tha
t’
s it. I loose it. The immense heat building suddenly switches to cold as if
I’
ve just jumped from fire into ice.
I’
m left shuddering and weakened as the suction grows before abruptly, ending as Dom releases his lips and sweeps them over my ear, whispering a soothin
g
“
Shhh..
.
”