Design for Love ((Women of Landry's Landing and The Fabrizio men) (6 page)

“
Shouldn’t you be in your room getting dressed?” She asked with a smile.

“
About that how do you feel about us sharing a room?” He asked.

“
Whoa, slow down Mr. Lover. How do we go from you dodging and ducking from me to sharing not only a bathroom, but now you want to share a bedroom?” She asked in confusion.

“
Am I moving too fast for you?” He asked in return.

“
It’s just that I’m not sure what you did with the real Gabriele Fabrizio, but I hope you have him locked up tight because I think I’d like to keep you.” London said as she turned to face him.

He laughed. “Was I really that bad?”

“
Uh, how can I put this? Hell to the yeah! There were times that I wanted to torture you slowly and painfully.” She replied.

“
Wow that stings a bit.” He said adjusting the towel he had wrapped around his narrow waist.

“
It may sting but it’s the truth so are you going to tell me what brought on this sudden change in you?” She asked seriously.

“
I told you last night I decided to fight for what I want.” He replied.

“
Just who is that you think you have to fight?” She asked.

“
I don’t know, are you certain that there’s no one waiting for you back in New York? Because in case you don’t know it by now you’re mine, and I don’t plan on sharing.” He said as he watched her carefully thinking about the phone call that he’d overheard the day before, when she’d told someone named Toni that she loved them.

“
Why would you ask me something like that? Believe me if I had someone else I wouldn’t have been trying to get your attention since the day we’ve met.” She said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

“
I just wanted to make it clear that from this day forwards, I’m the only man who will be seeing you naked, touching you or kissing you. Do you understand me, dolcezza?” He asked waiting for her to answer him.

“
Are you going to tell me what that name means that you keep calling me?” She asked in return.

“
It's Italian for sweetness, that’s what you are to me. You're my sweetness.” Gabe replied. “And don’t think that I didn’t notice that you haven’t answered my question.”

“
Yes Gabe, I understand what you’re saying, but you need to understand this. I am not about to put my heart on the line because you
finally
realized that you
think
that you want me. It’s going to take more than a few pretty words, an Italian pet name and few strokes and kisses to make me believe that you suddenly want to be with me. So before you start moving your stuff into my room let’s give it a couple of days and see if you still feel that you want me.” London said seriously as she stepped away from him.

Gabe sighed deeply. “Look London, I know I have to prove to you, I’m telling you the truth about wanting to be with you, and that I’m not playing games with you. All those months since meeting you, I’ve been fighting the feelings that have been growing inside me for you. And last night seeing you with someone else made me realize that if I screw up my chance to be with you, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.” Gabe said as he took London by the hand and lifted it to his chest.

When she refused to meet his gaze, he placed a finger beneath her chin to tilt her face up towards his. He gazed down into her brown eyes and smiled, hoping that she could see in his eyes what he felt in his heart.

“
All I’m asking is that you give me a chance to show you that I am the only man for you, and if you trust me with your heart and your love, I promise you won’t regret it. I will always be here for you no matter what the situation may be you never have to face it alone.” Gabe said as he gently placed a kiss to her forehead.

London stared into his eyes for a few moments as she considered his words. The emotion she saw in his eyes seemed truly sincere but was she willing to take such a big risk with her heart. Her love already belonged to him. It had, since they’d first met, even if he had been running hot and cold since that day. His on again, off again interest, had her feeling a bit skeptical about the feelings he now claimed to have.

“
Okay, here’s the deal I’m going to give you a chance to prove to me that this isn’t some crazy phase you’re going through. If I find out that you are trying to play me, I promise you’ll come up missing and not even your brother Gio will be able to find your body. Do I make myself clear, Mr. Lover man?” She asked narrowing her gaze at him.

“
Yes, you certainly have dolcezza, now would you like me to help you get into that sexy looking suit that you have laying on your bed?” He replied.

“
Uh, no thanks I have a feeling if you help me. It might be quite some time before I actually get into that suit. So if you don’t mind I need to get dressed, and you should too.” She said as she began pushing him towards the bathroom door.

“
Fine I’m going, I’ll meet you downstairs so we can have breakfast before we go to the office.” He said as she shoved him through the door.

“
Okay, now will you go get dressed?” She said then turned to get dressed. “I swear if that man is trying to play me, I will chop him up into tiny little pieces and spread his remains in a field of cow manure.” She whispered to herself as she pulled on her skirt.

Moments later there was a knock at her bedroom door sighing she walked over to open the door thinking that it was Gabe, even though he’d just left through the bathroom door.

“
Damn it Gabe would you go away.” She said as she pulled the door open. It wasn’t Gabe this time it was Asia.

“
I’m sorry were you expecting someone else?” Asia asked teasingly.

“
Girl what in the hell do you want, and it better not be for me wait your damn tables again.” London said as she crossed the room to put on her jacket.

“
No I’m not here to ask you to wait tables for me again. I come to tell your ungrateful ass that I made you breakfast.” Asia said.

“
Okay thanks, bye-bye now.” London said as she tried to push Asia out the door.

“
Oh no you don’t I’m not leaving until you tell me why you thought it was Gabe at the door? Did the two of you make up after your fight last night?” Asia asked as she sat down on London’s bed.

“
Let’s just say we decided to try something different.” London said as she sat down next to Asia to put on her boots.

“
Really, and what may I ask is that?” Asia asked.

“
Well since he’s claiming that he wants us to have a relationship we’re going to give it a try and see where it takes us.” London said glancing at her sister as pulled her other boot on.

“
That sounds like it’s going to be interesting, so how do you feel about testing the waters with Gabe?” Asia asked with concern.

“
I feel like your husband is going to be short one brother if I find out, he’s playing me.” London replied.

“
I don’t think he’s stupid enough to play games with a Landry woman, because he knows good and damn well that if he does we will whip his ass.” Asia said as she absently rubbed her stomach.

“
Yeah you’re probably right anyway what up with you, are you not feeling well?” London asked as she watched her rub a hand over her stomach.

“
Not really, I think that I’m coming down with something.” Asia said before adding. “So what else is bothering you? I can tell that something’s on your mind.”

“
I had the strangest dream last night, but it felt so real and this morning, I could have sworn that everything in my dream had actually happened.” London said.

“
Did you dream about Gabe again?” Asia asked. London nodded to affirm that her dream had indeed been about Gabe.

‘
Girl, I’m telling you that you, and he need to smush it up a couple of times, and you’ll stop having those damn dreams. Hell girl it’s nothing like having the real thing, and nothing is more real than a Fabrizio man.” Asia said with a smile.

“
I guess I’ll find out soon enough now won’t I.” London said grinning as she helped Asia up from the bed. “Come on woman, I want to eat the breakfast you made me before it gets cold.”

“
I wouldn’t worry about it getting cold if I were you? I’d be more worried about Luc and Gabe eating everything before we get down there.” Asia said as they made their way downstairs.

Downstairs Luc and Gabe had just sat down at the table with their cups of coffee when Luc noticed the huge smile that Gabe was wearing.

“
And just why in the hell are you smiling like a Cheshire cat this morning?” Luc asked before taking a sip of his coffee.

“
Why shouldn’t I be smiling it’s a beautiful morning, business is thriving thanks to the Landry women, and our family seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. Life is good.” Gabe said as he sipped his coffee.

“
Man, have you been drinking this early in the morning? You are never this happy, unless did you finally get some sex last night?” Luc asked with a smirk.

“
Something like that, let’s just say I made a dream come true last night and leave it at that.” Gabe said with a grin.

That was all he had a chance to say because Asia and London entered the kitchen at that moment. Before the either of them could sit down at the table Indy and Gio walked into the kitchen.

“
You two knuckleheads didn’t eat all the breakfast did you?” Indy said as she sat down at the table.

“
Well good morning to you too, sister-in-law.” Luc said teasing Indy.

“
Sorry, good morning everyone, now where is the food?” Indy said.

“
Why are you in our kitchen demanding food doesn’t your husband feed you?” Asia asked.

“
Yes I feed her, but lately she’s been eating us out of house and home. The closer she gets to her due date the hungrier she seems to get.” Gio said in his defense.

“
Then why didn’t you just order her something from the café at the Inn?” London asked.

“
It was easier for us to come here besides Asia always cooks a lot.” Indy said.

“
Yeah, I have to. You've seen how much my husband eats.” Asia said.

“
Hey, bellezza you know I have a fast metabolism.” Luc said.

“
Fast metabolism, boy please what you have is a bottomless pit of a stomach.” Gabe said teasingly.

Asia walked over to the stove and removed two large serving platters from the warming drawers then placed them on the table. She’d made a variety of foods for breakfast Belgian waffles, cinnamon rolls, Canadian bacon, maple sausages. Fruit tarts and several other items everything except eggs.

“
Where are the damn eggs? How in the hell could you cook everything under the sun except eggs.” Indy asked loudly.

“
Listen you ungrateful heifer, if you want eggs you can cook them your damn self.” Asia yelled. Indy glanced in her direction with a puzzled look on her face. London explained that Asia hadn’t been feeling well lately.

“
So you’re pregnant, huh?” Indy asked with a smile. Every eye at the table turned towards Asia, including Luc.

“
Is she right bellezza, are you pregnant?” Luc asked excitedly.

“
I’m not sure yet, but I think so.” Asia replied softly. Luc jumped up from the table and lifted his wife into the air feeling happier than he ever thought possible.

“
We’re having a baby I’m going to be a father?” Luc shouted with joy just as Gigi and Pierce walked in with little Dante, who was growing like a weed.

“
What’s with all the shouting. What's going on?” Pierce asked.

“
Yeah, we could hear your big mouth all the way down the driveway.” Gigi said.

“
We're having a baby.” Luc shouted once again.

“
We don’t know that for sure I haven’t taken a test or been to the doctor, so we’ll just have to wait and see.” Asia said.

“
Have you not been feeling well?” Gigi asked with concern.

“
I’ve just been a little queasy lately nothing serious.” Asia said.

“
Girl it’s not just that, she didn’t cook any eggs for breakfast. When have every known Asia not to make eggs with breakfast?” Indy said as she ate a forkful of food.

“
The sight or smell of eggs making you feel ill?” Gigi asked.

“
Yes, you have no idea how much.” Asia said.

“
Oh, yes the hell we do, we both had a bad case of morning sickness it’ll pass and when it does you’ll be eating everything in sight.” Indy said as she continued to eat.

“
I hope you feel better Asia and thanks for breakfast, but I have a meeting this morning, so I have to go. I’ll see you guys later, bye little man.” London said as she bent over to kiss Dante on the cheek.

“
I’ll go with you.” Gabe said as he stood from the table.

“
Gabe didn’t you get my email? I need you to sit in on London’s meeting because I have to go to the pediatrician with Gigi and Dante.” Pierce said.

“
I haven’t checked my emails this morning.” Gabe said.

“
I sent it to you last night.” Pierce said.

“
I was a little busy last night.” Gabe said with a smile as he glanced at London, who quickly looked away. “Anyway it’s not a problem, I’d be happy to sit in on the meeting.”