by Debra Lee
“It can be handled that the police would have no grounds for an arrest,” Marcus said.
“No!” Salvatore’s voice had risen only to lower again. “Go home until things cool off.” When Marcus nodded him an unacceptable no, “Surely the American will not risk his own reputation?”
Marcus’s insides heated until they were near the boiling point. Then the yellow light flashed in front of him signaling caution. For the first time in his life he knew exploding into one of his famous temper tantrums wasn’t going to work. The label of spoiled rich kid he’d worn over the years had to go. And it started now with his cousin.
Today, he began a new life as a man, an equal to his father.
It started deep in his throat as a gurgle to erupt into a smooth chuckle, then the seriousness. And a tone that said, I am in control. “You will lose the dick, Sally. And when I meet you here tomorrow, you will be accompanied by the finest of your stock of whores.”
A brief moment of silence passed with them eyeballing each other.
Salvatore found himself temporarily at loss for words, wondering who this was sitting across the table. Not his spoiled little cousin he never took seriously. But after he blinked to get a clearer picture, he saw that his cousin wasn’t so little anymore.
With a shrug of his broad shoulders as his hands went out in front of him, “Hey, I’ll see what I can do, Marco.”
Amused, Marcus watched his cousin leave the table and saunter off in a bewildered state. But Marcus was determined his cousin’s confusion would slide by the wayside once the deal successfully completed.
As Salvatore’s large frame faded from view, another figure caught Marcus’s eye. It became his turn to experience a moment of puzzlement as he watched. What on earth was she doing?
Chapter Fifteen
He didn’t see where she came from. She stood in the shadows of tree branches. The floppy straw hat went sailing first. Then the pillow flew. And from what Marcus could make out, a pair of sunglasses went airborne. With the cover up gone, he saw a sight to behold.
If he acted on impulse, he’d spring to his feet and run down the cobblestone sidewalk to her and throw himself at her mercy. But he reined in his sudden urge. That sort of behavior was beneath someone of his caliber in society.
Fate stepped in, he thought as she began moving in his direction toward one of the vacant tables. Marcus felt an exhilarating tingling sensation begin in the pit of his stomach before rapidly flooding through him, leaving no part untouched.
He hadn’t a clue if it was her stunning good looks or the way in which she moved. But as she gracefully eased down into a chair and let her eyes take a quick sweep of the area, he wondered just why she appeared to be checking to make sure she hadn’t been followed.
Without removing his gaze from this captivating creature, Marcus snapped his fingers to summon a waiter. Even as he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on her. “A bottle of your finest wine.” He nodded toward the table where she sat. “Give it to the lady.”
The instant the waiter sailed off, Marcus inhaled a fresh supply of air to prepare himself for his next move. As he stood, he slowly emptied his lungs.
Jackie had difficulty finding her voice. He had to be a prince. No, a famous movie star she just hadn’t heard about yet. The top buttons of his white silk shirt were open. Jackie wasn’t sure if it was the expensive looking gold medallion dangling around his neck or the heaving tanned chest that caught her eye as he sat down across from her without waiting for permission. Then the waiter was pouring a glass of wine and she was accepting it, still speechless. Then this stranger, this magnificent specimen of a man was accepting a glass of wine.
“Do I know you?” She heard finally come from her mouth.
“Not in this life. But we must have been lovers in another.”
His tone could easily have reduced Jackie to the helpless victim she had been with Papa. Precisely what snapped her out of the state she’d allowed herself to temporarily get lost in. “I doubt that.” The sarcasm in her voice was deliberate. “This is the only life I know. So I’m certain we never met. And since I don’t make a habit of talking to strangers, I think it best you find another table.” The words flowed uncontrollably. But now that she’d finished, she was unable to look into his eyes. Fearful she’d become emotionally trapped all over again.
Marcus’s insides instantly boiled over with rage. How dare she humiliate him in public? But he reminded himself he was too much of a man now to let her see it. He managed to repress his anger with a closed mouthed smile, all the while gritting his teeth.
“I do apologize,” he said as he stood and calmly slid his chair under the table. “Enjoy the wine. It’s on me.”
The perfect gentleman, Jackie thought as he began to walk away. But she knew she could not accept the wine. She’d learned a very important lesson from Papa. One she would never forget. She wasn’t about to be in debt to this stranger.
“I will pay for the wine. Thank you anyway.”
Marcus strutted back to his table, hearing, but pretending not to.
Jackie summoned the waiter.
When he told her how much the wine cost she nearly fell off her chair. But what shocked her more was when she dug and dug into her skirt pockets for her money. Gone! She looked to the ground, under her chair. No money. But the photograph of her and Papa was there. She had to have lost the money on the boat. Or maybe someone picked her pocket. Or maybe it didn’t matter now. She was penniless with an impatient waiter standing over her. In her state of panic she couldn’t help but let her gaze drift in the stranger’s direction. For a second the thought crossed her mind that perhaps he had taken it. He could be a professional pickpocket.
Even if that were the case, right now he was her only hope of leaving this place without the police being called to haul her away for nonpayment.
Once again she panicked. The police meant identification and giving away her age. Her parents would be called. Papa would come and bring her home.
She stood placing her palms on the table to brace herself. She looked away from the mystery man to the waiter.
“Give me a minute and I’ll have your money.”
She needed the few seconds it took to reach his table to swallow her pride.
She cleared her throat out loud to get his attention. Marcus casually put down the newspaper he pretended to be reading.
“I want to apologize.” Without force, a smile touched her face. “But my mama always told me not to talk to strangers.” She waited a few seconds for a response. Nothing came but an unreadable stare. With a burst of energy she pulled out the chair across from him and dropped into it. “But we’re not strangers anymore, are we?”
Marcus decided to play along. From what he’d seen and the few words the wind carried in his direction, he knew she’d lost her money. But he still had his reasons for playing the role of sucker.
“Of course not. But just to set the record straight, I’m Marcus DeMario,” he told her as he extended his hand across the table.
“Jackie Bertoni,” she said reluctantly as she shook his hand. “And since we’re no longer strangers, I’d like to accept your generous gift of the wine.”
Marcus fought the urge to laugh. “Splendid.”
Once again he noticed how young she looked. But was she innocent? Would he finally have a virgin? It’d be an all time high to be the one doing the teaching, the pleasing for a change. It’d been just yesterday when he’d last had sex with Sylvia, the housekeeper at his father’s villa in Rome. But Marcus was getting bored with her. Besides that, the woman’s demands were getting way out of hand.
The relationship worked well in the beginning. They had a mutual understanding. Every other morning Sylvia would crawl into bed with him before she began her cleaning duties. Marcus handed her a sizeable chunk of his allowance each week for this service. But now, she wanted more. He could forget the money if he told his father about them and asked that she be allowed to move in. The th
ought repulsed Marcus. She was just a roll between the sheets to him. She could never be anything more. He planned to make that clear to her as soon as he returned to Rome.
Jackie found herself struggling to keep the aroma of the spaghetti sauce and other food smells from disappearing as the seductive fragrance of his cologne began taking control of her nasal passages. But then her eyes saw that heaving, partially bare chest to fix on his deep-set dark eyes, and the scent of him won out to the food smells.
“So, Marcus DeMario, do you live here on Capri?” she asked, using conversation to absorb the new sensations this man’s presence created in her.
“No,” he was quick to reply. “I have business on the island. How about you, Jackie, do you live here?” He questioned immediately, not wanting to give her the opportunity to ask things he might not be able to answer. Because for some reason he found himself wanting to tell her anything she might want to know.
She stammered. “I… Yes, I live here.”
“It is a beautiful island. It’s a toss up between Venice and Capri for my favorite.”
“I’ve heard Venice is lovely.”
“You mean you’ve never been there?”
Jackie could not tell him how Papa never allowed her to leave his private little world. Attending school was permissible. But she had come to realize that was her mama’s doing. Other than leaving Sailor’s Corner to attend school, she’d been a prisoner.
“No I haven’t. But I’ve seen pictures. And I’ve read about it.” Just like she’d seen pictures and read about America. Her destiny. But she had to be careful, cautious not to tell this stranger her private thoughts, even though she wanted to.
“Then we must do something about that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You must see Venice.”
“Perhaps someday.”
“Anything wrong with today?” Each word Marcus said came with more excitement.
“Well, I… I really can’t.”
“I’ll have you back tonight.”
“But how will we go? I mean if I were to agree. And I do have my job.”
“A working girl?”
“Yes, in one of the novelty shops. A part-time sales clerk.” She lied, but only because she wasn’t ready to fully trust him. After all, she had trusted a man before. No, she must never forget how painfully confusing that had been for her.
“So, will you take the afternoon off and allow me to give you the grand tour?”
His tone, so eager, so alluring, but still, Jackie wasn’t completely ready to let down her guard. “What about your business here?”
Marcus didn’t want to be reminded about what brought him to Capri. And for an instant he had completely forgotten just how important that business was to his future. For an instant she’d made it possible to completely forget. Tomorrow would be soon enough to worry about delivering on his father’s proposition.
“I’ve finished my business for the day.”
That’s all it took for Jackie to give in to her aroused emotions and accept his invitation.
Marcus paid the bill and took her arm, leading her in the direction of the dock.
The spurts of salt water spraying against her face made Jackie aware of what was happening. She’d let down her guard and now sat in a fabulous looking boat, traveling at a high rate of speed toward a mammoth-sized yacht anchored ahead.
Roberto lent a hand as Jackie stepped onto the polished wood floor of the deck. She stood speechless for nearly a full minute, feeling totally inadequate and out of place. Pictures and stories about this type of life flooded her mind.
Marcus stood a few feet behind her, watching her admire his newest possession. His eyes temporarily became fixed on her slender, but shapely legs.
A perfect ten, he thought as his gaze slowly traveled upward. Thoughts of having this woman made his groin ache.
“Well, what do you think of my choice of transportation to Venice? Does it suit the lady?” The question helped relieve the tension building in his body.
Jackie’s lips parted slowly into a smile. “It suits the lady just fine.”
Marcus stood next to her and nonchalantly slid his arm around her shoulder. Then his lips gently glided over hers.
The feeling of arousal began again. Easy does it, he thought, remembering he could have an innocent virgin on his hands. Still, Marcus found it a major effort to pull himself away from the softness of her wet lips.
Jackie’s eyelids flickered slowly before finally opening. As her sea blue eyes looked up into his deep-set dark ones, a brief conversation transpired. Each saying they wished the kiss had lasted longer.
“Would the lady care for more wine?”
Jackie swallowed hard to clear away the clump of air cutting off her air supply so she could answer. “I could use another glass,” she said, struggling to catch her breath.
As Marcus guided her to the stairs that led to the cabins below, he glanced over his shoulder to Roberto, waiting instructions from his employer. “The lady wants to see Venice, Roberto.”
“I’ll bring in the anchors.”
Jackie roamed around the spacious cabin that served as the living room. It appeared as large as the apartment her family shared. She found herself posing the same questions to herself as she had earlier. Was this guy a prince, a movie star? He didn’t appear much older than her.
As Marcus searched the wine rack in the kitchen area, he continued to venture a glance in her direction. He wondered what thoughts were going through that pretty blonde head of hers. Did the surroundings impress her? What was such a beautiful creature doing on the run? Who was Jackie Bertoni running from? He was determined to have answers before the end of the day. Perhaps then, he’d know why she lied to him about being a sales clerk as well. A story his gut told him she’d made up. But why?
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll have your wine in a sec.”
Jackie made one more slow turn taking in the beauty around her before letting herself down on the leather sofa cushion. She eased her back against the soft material then glanced past the cherry kitchen cabinets to him.
So different than the boys she saw at home. His maturity appealed to her. But it didn’t matter what created the attraction, she needed to get her act together and control her emotions. Block thoughts of a relationship between them when becoming involved would keep her from her goal of going to America. The one place she felt certain she could escape her past. Be safe from Papa ever finding her.
Marcus handed her the glass of wine and eased down next to her. He sat so close that the warmth of his breath touched her cheek.
As Jackie sipped her drink, she looked everywhere but into the pair of eyes she sensed watching her. When she felt his hand reach around her waist, she jumped up and walked to the window.
“I’m sorry, Jackie. I just… I promise it won’t happen again.”
She came away from the window and stood a few feet from the spot in front of the sofa where he now stood.
“No need to apologize. I should’ve known better than to come with you if I wasn’t prepared to repay you for your generosity.”
“I invited you to go to Venice. Anything else has to be something we both want.”
His tone sounded sincere enough. But that’s not what convinced her. The seriousness she saw in his eyes had done it.
The glass of wine soon became three. Conversation flowed freely between them.
Marcus opened up to her, talking about the legitimate part of his father’s businesses. Jackie held onto his every word when he explained how he exported wine to America. He confided that his father was soon to make him an equal partner in his businesses. He didn’t share the part about what he had to do to earn that position.
Jackie let it slip that she didn’t really live on the island of Capri. With the next glass of wine she gave away her secret that she ran away from home without explaining why.
“Now I know why the disguise,” Marcus said.
&nb
sp; Jackie drained her glass. “Disguise?”
Marcus grinned. “The hat, pillow, and was it a pair of sunglasses?”
She swatted him across the arm. “You knew all along.”
He couldn’t contain the chuckle. “You sure got my attention.” He became serious, his lips so close to touching hers.
“We’ve arrived, sir,” Roberto’s voice interrupted.
Marcus eased away from her as his tongue wet down his lower lip before he spoke. “Suppose I should live up to my promise then.” He took Jackie’s hand in his. “Shall we go see Venice, my lady?”
The instant he slid his fingers around hers, a warm sensation spread from the tips of her fingers to the tips of her toes. Her face flushed when she answered him with a warm smile. She’d never felt this way, never had a conversation like this with a boy or man.
By late afternoon, they climbed out of the speed boat and began roaming about the city on water. Marcus pointed at different buildings and called them by name. Jackie didn’t pay close enough attention to remember them. All of her attention remained focused on the touch of his hand. The scent of wine and cologne that surrounded him made her insides tingle. When he gave instructions to the gondolier as they boarded the boat, she watched and listened with the adoring admiration one gives an idol. She felt certain this hero would never rob her of her dignity like the last one had. Everything felt different with Marcus.
It felt so right when Jackie laid her head on Marcus’s shoulder. She felt so at ease, relaxed as the gondolier began singing the love song Marcus paid extra to hear on their ride. Was this love?
Then his lips touched hers. And once again she became totally unaware of her surroundings.
