Taming Theresa (6 page)

When the champagne glasses were refreshed,
Dominick got to his feet and turned to Joe and Marsha. "I am happy
to congratulate Joe and Marsha." He smiled at the rising bubbles in
his champagne. "May they have many years of happiness together.
Salute!"

After sipping the bubbling wine, laughing at
these unexpected events, they turned their attention to
dessert.

Elvira said, “Dominick. Vicky mentioned to me
that lemon cake is a particular favorite of yours, so I’ve baked
one that's a favorite of mine. One that my mother used to make.”
Surrounded by stacks of plates and forks, she began slicing cake as
Doc passed it around.

When dessert was finished and the women had
retreated laughing and talking into the kitchen, the men remained
seated around the table with their demitasse, bottles of Cognac and
Sambuca. Jack and his friends watched the ritual as Vicky's Italian
relatives carefully rubbed the rims of their tiny cups with lemon
rind before pouring the inky brew.

Dominick sipped delicately, placed the cup on
its saucer, and cleared his throat noisily. "Who would have
expected we would drink to the happiness of two brides today. Life
is always full of surprises, eh?”

He turned to Jack. “I want you to know that
Rose and I had no idea that Victoria's Grandmother Baxter still
owned this farm. I know it came as a surprise to Victoria.
Inheriting a valuable piece of property, now that was a very good
thing for a woman with no father to provide for her. I wanted to do
more to help her, but when her parents died, I was unable. We had
just opened our first location, you understand. She could have
joined my family, placed her Nanna in a home, and saved what my
brother left her. She wouldn’t hear of it. Later, when I offered,
she refused my help. Said she didn’t need my money.” Gesturing at
the room he said, “All this couldn't happen to a more deserving
person. Am I right about that?" He raised his brows in
question.

"Of course she deserved it," Jack agreed.

The older man lowered his voice. "Jack, I
know of that unfortunate business with your uncle." He frowned and
made an ambiguous gesture with one hand. "The uncle, he was no
good. He swindled you. Promised it all to you when it was never his
to give, but no matter now. This place, the farm, it all belongs to
you and Victoria. It's okay."

John watched the exchange as he followed
Dominick's example, treating his cup with lemon peel and sipping
his espresso. He smiled remembering the time, six months earlier,
when Vicky arrived, informing Jack she was heir to the farm and
angrily insisting he leave the property. Jack's wily Uncle Charley
had left it to him, even had a will, but Charley had never owned
the land. He'd only leased it from Vicky's grandmother. None of
that mattered any longer. Things had turned out just fine.

Jack paused, sipped his coffee, and leaned
back nodding thoughtfully and responded, “Victoria loves living up
here in the country. She was so happy to be able to move into her
Nanna's home. We have some plans for remodeling the kitchen, but
everything else we'll leave just the way it is. Kind of like the
old farmhouse that way."

Dominick glanced around the room nodding his
assent. "Good, good. So, you and Victoria will have a good life
here. The acreage comes to what?"

"Nearly a hundred acres," said Jack. "About
half is apple orchards. We have a few acres devoted to other
things, but the rest is just woodland.”

“And you make a good living?”

“Enough. It's a nice place to live and it
pays, especially the apples. No livestock, except for this guy and
his little sister." He bent down to scratch behind Romeo's ears.
The yellow tomcat had wandered in to join the rest of the boys and
sat purring at Jack's feet.

"And tonight we have the bachelor party,”
said Dominick nodding at the men. "We’ll have a few drinks, tell a
few jokes. Everybody has a good time and we get to know each other,
all right?"

Doc stood up. “Speaking of which, I hate to
leave you, but there are still a few things I need to accomplish
before this bachelor party tonight. Thank you for everything. This
has been a wonderful opportunity to meet you all. I can't begin to
find the words to describe this meal. Never have I experienced the
like, but Elvira and I need to get on home. Dom, please bring your
family over anytime you’re ready. We men will meet down at the
tavern around eight.” He leaned over and shook hands with Dom and
then Jack saw his friends to the front door.

As they left, John looked up and realized
that he and Dominick were, more or less, alone. Bobby and the
Buonadies brothers were at the other end of the table, discussing
plans for the evening. Their arms around each other, Joe and Marsha
had quietly disappeared. Theresa, Vicky, and Rose could be heard
cleaning up in the kitchen.

The older man gave him a knowing look with
the hint of a smile tucked into his cheek. “I hope my daughter
didn’t hurt you too badly.”

“How did you know?” John looked at Dominick,
amazed.

“I have a very beautiful daughter.” The older
man’s eyes twinkled and he lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

John’s mouth opened but nothing came out. He
struggled for words. “She um, she didn’t....”

“I appreciated you not telling her mother.
Rose would not have understood." He sipped the dark coffee and gave
John an appraising look. "You realize that it was not you that my
Theresa was mostly angry with.”

“Well, she could have fooled me!” John
touched his cheek and Dominick grinned with amusement.

And that means what? Is he warning me that
hot little Theresa has a temper? Or is he just warning me not to
hookup with her? Well, I didn't exactly call her a stripper, did I?
How the hell did her father know?

John turned his head at the sound of
Theresa's soft sultry laughter coming from the kitchen. Very sexy
voice. She's hot, that's for sure, but she’s got her issues. I've
got to remember to keep my distance.

Before leaving, Dominick asked Vicky and Jack
to join him on the front porch. He became serious as he drew an
envelope from his inside breast pocket. Kissing Vicky lightly on
the forehead, he began slowly, and then continued, "Victoria, my
dear. Your father and mother made a small investment in the
business years ago, when Rose and I were just starting out. God
bless them. We needed money when we bought the first restaurant and
they helped us. It was agreed, a gentleman's agreement, that it was
just that, an investment. Someday, God willing, should the business
be successful, we would settle up."

"Who knew my brother and his wife would die
before we could repay them. I never forgot, and long ago I decided
there was only one way to make things right. I've been waiting for
your wedding." Dominick cleared his throat, and looked from Vicky
to Jack. "So, I have a little something for the both of you. You
might say it’s a wedding gift, but really it's what your father
would have given you. Please, this is for you." He thrust the
envelope into Vicky's hand, kissed her again, and gave Jack one
last hug.

From the front porch, Jack and Vicky waved as
the family left for the Sweeney's home.

"Victoria, that was an incredible lunch, but
I'm exhausted. Do they always do all that when your family gets
together?"

"Yes, they do. It's an Italian thing."

“Yeah, another Italian thing. I get it,” Jack
agreed then stretched and wrapped his arms around her drawing her
close. "I wonder how John got that black eye."

Vicky laughed. "Terry hit him."

"Yeah, right. Like she could hurt a big guy
like John. But seriously, what was in the envelope your uncle gave
you?"

“I don’t know, but Terry really did smack him
yesterday at Paulding's Rest.” She opened the flap and looked in
and her eyes went wide. "Jack, you won't believe it. This is
totally awesome. Remember, we were worried about putting out all
the money for the wedding?"

"Yeah," said Jack hesitantly.

"Terry told me today that Uncle Dom is paying
for the reception, and he just gave us a check for forty thousand
dollars."

Later, John and his friends found themselves
alone at the kitchen table. "I wonder what happened to the girls,"
said Jack. "They seem to have disappeared."

"Marsha’s upstairs lying down,” said Joe.
“She's still not feeling well.”

“Vicky and her cousin are on the front porch
discussing the wedding. You know, they’ve got Ralph Spangenberg
putting white clothes and flowers on the tables," added John with
disgust. "They’ve even ordered some local wines with personalized
labels.”

“Jack looked up, interested. “Really? That’s
awesome.”

John rolled his eyes.

“Hey, did John tell you about his big fight
yesterday?” Joe grinned broadly at John’s shiner. “Looks like he
had the shit beat out of him, doesn’t it."

“Sure does." Jack studied the bruises. "Vicky
told me Terry hit you, but what really happened?”

“She’s such a cute little thing and very nice
looking,” said Joe. “You’d never know she was capable of doing so
much damage.”

Jack looked surprised. “Did she really hit
him?”

“Hell, she practically tore my face off!”
said John indignantly.

“Then she winded him with a sucker punch.”
Joe added laughing. “Vince saved his ass by hauling her off.”

John looked with disgust at his friends.
“Okay, you got your laughs. What was I gonna do, hit her back?”

“She's smokin’ hot, John. Just your type.
Matter of fact, she just dumped her boyfriend so she's available.
You’ve just got to get past her old man.”

“That Mafia Don? You gotta be kidding,” John
waved his hands. “No thanks.”

"No, Terry's old man's not a Mafia Don.
Nothing like that,” Jack protested. “He’s, I guess you'd say he's a
little protective of what he thinks of as his.”

"Jack, what’s with Vicky's uncle whispering
in your ear when he was leaving? What did he tell you? He was
laughing to himself when they left," said John.

"Oh, that was weird. Dominick's a nice guy,
but as Vicky would say, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

“Sure we would. What’d he say?" asked
Joe.

Jack shrugged and smiled. "He told me if I
ever mistreated his little Victoria I would wish I'd never been
born!"

Victoria's Tiramisu

Makes 8 servings

6 extra-large egg yolks, at room
temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup good dark rum

1/4 cups strong brewed coffee

16 to 17 ounces mascarpone cheese

1/4 cup good dark rum

1 1/4 cups strong brewed coffee

30 Italian ladyfingers, or stale bakery style
ladyfingers or pound cake

Bittersweet chocolate, shaved or grated

Confectioners' sugar (optional)

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar on high speed
for about 5 minutes,

or until very thick and light yellow.

Lower the speed to medium and add 1/4 cup
rum, whisk until smooth.

Add 1/4 cup espresso and the mascarpone,
whisk until smooth.

Set aside.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup rum and 1 1/4
cups espresso in a shallow bowl.

Dip 1 side of each ladyfinger in the
espresso/rum mixture and

Line the bottom of a 9 x 12 x 2-inch dish, or
the equivalent.

Pour half the espresso cream mixture evenly
on top.

Dip 1 side of the remaining ladyfingers in
the espresso/rum mixture and

Place them in a second layer in the dish.

Pour the rest of the espresso cream over the
top.

Smooth the top and sprinkle with grated
chocolate.

Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate
overnight.

Dust plates with powdered sugar before
serving.

Candlelight cast dancing shadows on the tile
around the luxurious soaking tub. The soft light was defused
throughout the bathroom and reflected tiny gem-like sparkles that
twinkled on billowing clouds of scented bubbles. It was wonderfully
warm, fragrant, and peaceful.

Finishing her second glass of wine, Theresa
carefully set it beside the open bottle, stretched, and yawned,
luxuriating in the bathtub spacious enough to accommodate three
people. She gently kicked, splashing the silky water, sending the
foam sailing back and forth on the rippling waves, the mounds of
bubbles tickling her chin. Sighing with pleasure, she settled lower
in the water and ran her hands over her smooth flanks and buttocks
then cradled both breasts until her pink nipples broke the frothy
surface. Theresa was more relaxed than she'd been for weeks.

Instead of going out to party, Vicky had
talked the girls into staying home. Diane Vandersmoot and Penny
Smith brought an enormous cheesecake and ingredients for mixing
Mojitos. They had a great time talking and laughing, mostly at the
expense of the men they knew.

Vicky's new friends here in Pippin's Grove
were awesome, but this quiet time alone was what she'd really
needed. Best thing about this wedding was the excuse to get away
from work for several days and put some distance between herself
and that cretin, Tony.

Theresa smiled remembering the funny stories
her cousin told about the rocky start she and Jack had last summer.
The poor guy went ballistic when he learned that Vicky actually
owned the farm and he didn’t. She could be a stand-up comedian, or
maybe write funny novels.

I’m in love with this gorgeous tile bathroom.
Even with this gi-normous soaking tub and walk-in shower along this
wall, there was still room for that long mirrored makeup counter
between the double sinks before the toilet on the other end.

I just wish they’d had a room with a private
bath. Doors opened at either end to well-appointed bedrooms that
shared the bathroom. Checking in earlier, she’d requested a private
room. When one wasn’t available, the proprietors, Danny and Dennis,
assured her the other side of the suite was vacant, so she’d have
her privacy. Even so, the first thing she did was to lock the
adjoining door.