“And did he give you the closure you needed?”
“He did.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and grinned.
“I’m happy to hear it, because I wanted to tell you … the reason I was so off-kilter and everything is because I have never been so terrified of losing someone as I am of losing you. And the reason I feel that way, is because I’m in love with you.” I let out a disbelieving laugh. “I’ve never said that to a woman before … I mean, a woman I was in a relationship with … you’re the first and only woman I ever want to say it to. I love you, Whitney Spaulding, and I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she smiled a big, beautiful smile at me, and then she said the most wonderful words I’ve ever heard. “I love you, too, Luca.”
Thirty-Seven
Whitney
I’m not sure which one of us moved first, but suddenly we were on our feet and in each other’s arms.
When his lips met mine, my body heat went from zero to one hundred in two seconds flat. Luca met my fervor with a gusto and within moments we were groping and tearing at each other’s clothes.
“Now, now, now,” I said hurriedly as I tried to undo his pants so I could get my hands on him.
At the same time, he placed his palms on my thighs and moved them upward, taking the bottom of my dress with them. I felt the cool air hit my lace-clad bottom just as I reached my prize and wrapped my hand around his hard, straining cock.
“Fuck, yes,” Luca managed between the kisses he was raining over my neck and chest.
I squeezed his cock tightly and began to move my hand the best I could while his pants and underwear were acting as a roadblock. I moved material aside enough to spring him free just as I felt, and heard, the panties being ripped from my body.
When he maneuvered us back toward the wall and placed his hands on my ass, I hopped up eagerly and held on to his shoulders as Luca anchored me against the wall.
He entered me in one deep, swift thrust as I wrapped my legs tightly around him and did my best to meet him thrust for thrust.
It wasn’t graceful, or tender, but god, it was hot, and it didn’t take long before I was digging my nails into his shoulders and crying out into his mouth as he fucked me like there was no tomorrow.
Luca moaned his release and then chuckled as he leaned us against the wall in an effort to stay upright and catch his breath.
When I heard, “Mom, is everything okay?” I came quickly out of my sex-induced haze and met Luca’s wide eyes with my own.
“Your kids are here?” he asked, shocked.
“Holy…” I cried. “Yes. Crap. How could I forget? I told them to stay upstairs while we talked, and I’d tell them when it was time for dinner.”
“Jesus,” Luca managed as he disentangled himself from me and struggled to right himself. “Don’t let them come down here.”
“Yeah, babe, everything’s fine. Just give us a little more time,” I called back, hoping I didn’t sound like a woman who’d just been fucked hard against the wall. As I pulled the skirt of my dress down, I looked to Luca and said, “Oh, and your parents will be here any minute.”
“What?” he asked, looking at me with disbelief just as the doorbell rang.
“Oh my God, they’re here. I wanted to make it up to you, and them, by having a nice dinner with the kids tonight.”
Luca blinked at me and said, “That’s very sweet. But you have sex hair and lipstick all over your face. Why don’t you go get cleaned up and I’ll get the door. How do I look?”
He reached down to pick up the scraps of my panties and pocketed them before running his hands through his hair and straightening his shirt.
“Perfect, thanks,” I said, already jogging out of the room so I could go upstairs to my bedroom. There was no way I was having dinner with his parents without panties on.
When I got to my room and saw myself in the mirror, I sent up a prayer of thanks I hadn’t passed my kids on the way. I quickly shut my door and locked it, then peeled the dress off as I moved toward my dresser.
I grabbed some underwear and moved to my closet, figuring it better to go with a demurer outfit than the one I’d just had sex with their son in…
I held my hand up to my mouth and stifled a laugh as the last few moments played back through my mind.
I can’t wait to tell Summer and Margo about this!
I cleaned up, changed into a black dress with big red roses, and fixed my hair and makeup before going to tell my kids Luca’s parents were here and we’d be having dinner soon. Then, as a trio, we made our way down the stairs to greet our guests.
Yes, I was using my kids as buffers, and no, I did not feel the least bit bad about it. They were a wonderful balm on my now frazzled nerves and made me steadier simply by being present.
“Thank you so much for coming,” I said as we entered the living room. “This is Stella and Silas. Kids, this is Mr. and Mrs. Russo, Luca’s parents.”
“Hi,” Silas said, moving to shake their hands.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Stella added as she followed to do the same.
Luca’s dad accepted the handshakes, but Franny pulled them each in for a hug instead.
“You are both so beautiful,” Franny cooed as she took them in.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Silas replied sweetly, causing my heart to flutter.
I glanced around the room, making sure we hadn’t knocked anything over or left any evidence of our tryst lying about.
When I saw the coast was clear, I shot what I hoped was an audacious look at Luca, who grinned back at me.
Biting my cheek to keep myself in check, I looked at the group and asked, “Can I get you all a drink?”
“I’ll help, I know what they like,” Luca offered, taking my hand and leading me out of the room.
Once we were safely in the hallway, I felt his lips on my shoulder.
“Mm, another beautiful dress,” he murmured against my skin.
I tilted my head and gave a little moan in response.
“We’d better get their drinks and not get caught up again,” I said, stepping away from him and his addictive lips.
“I can’t believe you forgot your kids were home,” Luca whispered.
A giggle escaped my lips as I said, “I know. That could have been a real disaster.”
I had a chilled chicken orzo salad in the fridge and Zuppa Toscana soup simmering on the stove. It was a simple, yet hearty meal, and although I’d agonized over whether or not the meal would be impressive enough for his parents, i.e., mother, I’d needed to keep it simple if I wanted to do all the things I’d had planned for the day.
“So, I have wine, red and white, beer, and a bourbon,” I told him as I opened my cupboard.
“Bourbon for my dad, white wine for my ma, and I think I’ll just have water.”
I glanced at him curiously over my shoulder.
“I may have hit the bourbon a little too hard last night as I spilled my guts to Damon,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Oh yeah? I’d love to hear about it.”
“And I’d love to tell you about it. Maybe later tonight? I could stay over…”
He looked so hopeful I couldn’t help but smile.
“I think that’s a great idea.”
His answering grin was happy and sexy, with a hint of promise.
We poured the drinks and carried them back to the living room, where the foursome was talking animatedly as if they’d known each other for years.
The look on Luca’s face was pure joy, and I knew I’d made the right decision in inviting his parents here to meet my kids one on one.
This is going to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
Thirty-Eight
Luca
“If any of you say or do anything … if you even look at Whit or her kids sideways … I will hog tie you, coat you with peanut butter, and leave you out for the wolves,” I warned all the mem
bers in my family, who were currently standing in my ma’s kitchen staring at me as if I’d lost it.
“Wow, that’s quite the visual, brother,” Vanni said with a grimace.
“Even us, Uncle Luca?” Peter asked excitedly.
“Yup, even you,” I replied. “And that isn’t a challenge.”
Peter and his brother shared looks that meant that’s exactly how they’d taken my threat and I groaned as I shot a look at Sara.
“They’ll behave,” she promised with a smile.
I shot a look at Char, who was cradling Sky to her chest.
“Ma took the baby overnight, so I am working with a full twelve hours of glorious sleep. I’m more rested than I’ve been in twelve months. You don’t have to worry about a thing on my end.”
My sister did look great, and I wasn’t really worried about anyone doing anything that would cause problems today, but it still felt necessary to threaten them with bodily harm, just to be on the safe side.
“Silas and Stella are just lovely,” Ma said as if she’d known them for years rather than only meeting them once. “They will fit in perfectly and everyone will get along. You’ll see.”
“Yeah, you worry too much, Luc,” Vanni said with a teasing grin.
“Stuff it,” was my retort.
“Okay, that’s it, if you aren’t helping cook, get out of my kitchen,” Ma ordered.
Everyone but Vanni and Sara shuffled out, well, except Peter and Paul, who ran out as if ghosts were chasing them.
Whitney was on the way with Stella and Silas, and I was confident this family dinner would be more in line with what I’d envisioned for the first one, although I was not putting any pressure on the day this time.
Whatever happened, would happen, and no matter my expectations, there wasn’t anything I could do about it but let things play out.
Since our big make-up event, which was what I liked to call it, we’d only spent one night apart. If she had the kids, we were at her place, and if they were with Marcus, we were at mine. Things had been going great. Better than great. Amazing.
I’d never imagined a relationship could be so good.
We occasionally saw each other at work, or met up for lunch, but mostly our jobs were separate, so it wasn’t like we were in each other’s pockets constantly.
I’d even met Marcus and Crystal, who were nice enough for people we’d only see when Stella and Si had something going on, and I didn’t really have to invest too much time in. I’d be cordial, without being overly friendly. Although I was grateful for him for being such an ass and giving me the opportunity to find Whitney, I still couldn’t forget how the two came to be together and who they hurt in the process.
Not just Whit, but her kids, who I was growing closer to more and more each day.
“Son, they’re here,” my father called out, so I hurried down the hall and to the front door.
When I opened it, they were already piling out of Whitney’s car and she was bent over as she retrieved something from inside.
I took the moment to enjoy the sight of her perfectly rounded ass in the slim-fitting jeans she was wearing, before I remembered myself and turned my attention to Si, who was ambling toward me.
“Hey, man, how’s it going?” I asked as he drew closer. “You finish that science project?”
Silas rolled his eyes but shot me a grin and said, “Yup. All done.”
“Cool.”
When I looked back at Whit, she was balancing a covered dish and trying to hold onto her purse as she shut the door.
“Here, let me help,” I called as I jogged toward her.
“Thanks,” she said, flashing me my favorite smile.
It was the one that said, I know you intimately and I’d like to get to know you again.
It had only recently made an appearance but was currently giving me life.
“Whatchya got in here?” I asked, taking the dish.
“It’s a lemon Bundt cake.”
“Mm, sounds delicious.”
“Your mom told me not to bring anything, but I didn’t feel right showing up empty-handed.”
“She’s gonna love it,” I assured her, then yelled out, “You can just walk in,” to Stella and Si, who were waiting by the front door.
We followed them inside to a flurry of movement and sound as everyone convened in the den to meet Whitney’s kids.
Ma was hugging them both and doing the introductions, while Whitney took Sky out of Char’s arms and cooed down at her as Sky’s little arms flailed in the air.
I stood back, holding the Bundt cake and smiling to myself as I watched all the people I loved the most interact in what I hoped was the first of many, many Sunday family dinners.
The love that filled me was more invigorating than any amount of adrenaline and I took a moment to thank my lucky stars I’d noticed Whitney at Campanella’s that night and had the fortitude to put myself in her path.
Sure, we would have met when she started at the office the next week, but I probably wouldn’t have gone after her the way I had, as a new employee in our firm, without knowing about that initial spark.
I caught Whit’s eye across the room and shot her a wink. When she mouthed, love you, back in response, I knew everything was right in my world.
Epilogue
“To Whitney. A badass woman, mother, and accountant, who grabbed love by the balls and made it her bitch,” Margo said, raising her glass of Cabernet.
“Yes,” Summer agreed with enthusiasm. “To the woman who was scarred by love when we met her, but had the foresight to give the sexy, charming, affable, Luca a chance, and ended up happier than she’s ever been.”
“Here, here,” I said, lifting my glass to join theirs in the toast. “I never would have made it without the two of you, I swear, so I want to toast you as well. Two beautiful, strong, funny women who not only helped me to trust in my heart again, but to believe in the power of true female friendships.”
“We’re awesome,” Summer said happily.
“Hell, yeah, we are,” Margo agreed, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen her.
We were currently downtown at a wine bar, sharing a charcuterie board and sampling flights of wine.
“All right, now that I am in love and getting sex on the regular…”
“Braggart,” Summer said, jokingly narrowing her eyes at me.
I laughed and asked, “Who are we going to focus on next? Who wants to be happy and sexed up?”
“Oh, me!” Summer exclaimed, sitting up in her seat and bouncing with her hand raised.
“Yeah, her,” Margo agreed, thrusting her nearly empty glass at Summer.
“Okay, so … you’re doing the app thing again, and Margo has agreed to take you out on her missions to pick up some strange, but maybe we could set you up, too. I can think of a couple guys who may be a good fit. What about you, Margo?”
“Ummm, well, all the single guys I know I’ve either slept with, or work with … and none of them are good enough for you,” Margo said, which made Summer’s face soften.
“Aww, that’s so sweet, Margo,” Summer cooed, then looked at me and said, “Oh, what about that Damon guy, the friend of Luca’s we met at the mixer? He was super-hot.”
“He is hot and single,” I agreed. “But, when I saw him at dinner with Luca’s family, I sort of caught some vibes between him and Charlotte. I mean, she’s married, but I think there’s something there. Whether it’s history or still current, I’m not sure, but I’d hate for you to fall for a guy who’s hung up on someone else.”
“Oh, agreed, but that’s too bad,” Summer said with a shrug.
“Are there any guys you’d say aren’t your type or you wouldn’t be interested in meeting?” I asked.
“No, I’m pretty open. I’m willing to try anything once. I mean … not like that … not like try them or anything, sexually, but to go on a date, sure.”
“Perfect, well, I’ll check into the guys I’m thinking of. Make sure
they’re still single and don’t have any skeletons in their closet and let you know.”
“Yay, I’m so excited,” she said, clapping her hands together. “After Jared, I’m so ready to find a nice, decent man, who wants to start a family and make a life together. Maybe that’s why I haven’t found anyone yet. Maybe I’m too focused on settling down and it scares guys off.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mention the whole settling down and having kids thing on the first date, but, Summer, there’s nothing wrong with knowing what you want and going after it,” Margo said. “And if a guy can’t handle that, he’s not the one you want anyway.”
“Exactly. You’ve already settled for an asshole who didn’t treat you right. No more settling,” I told her. “Go after what you want and refuse to take anything less.”
“I love you guys,” Summer said, her eyes filling. “I know I say it all the time, but meeting you two was the best thing that ever happened to me. The Jilted Wives Club is filled with empowering, caring, amazing women who lift each other up rather than tear each other down. It’s just what I needed in my life.”
I loved that she said, is filled with, when there were only the three of us, but that was Summer to a tee. Brimming with positivity.
“To the Jilted Wives Club,” I said, raising my glass once again. I was sure we were annoying the people around us, but I didn’t care. Summer was currently beaming at me and I loved putting that look on her face. “The best women I know.”
“To the Jilted Wives Club,” they said in unison, and we toasted each other.
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Trophy Wife
Chapter 1 - Summer
I made my way down the city street, practically skipping as I hurried to meet my favorite people in the world for dinner … The Jilted Wives Club.
Starter Wife (The Jilted Wives Club Book 1) Page 14
