Mafia Romance Series

by Smanta Howard

  Chapter 3

  On Monday Ashley was up early, anxious to get back to work. She had needed the time to heal, but something had happened during that time that she had not expected. She had gained determination. Randall Thompson had tried to crush her spirit, but if anything he made it stronger. She was tired of feeling sorry for herself. She had been raped. Plain and simple. She was the victim of a brutal crime and she had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. She didn’t know how she would react if Davio made advances to her, but one thing she was sure of. She was not going to allow Randall win. She would somehow make a happy future for herself and she dared anybody to try and get in her way. Innocence was gone and now Ashley Lane was a grown woman.

  Ashely arrived at Davio’s house shortly before 9 a.m. She had her notes with her and she was ready to get to work. She still had the key Davio had given her, but she lifted her hand to knock just as the door swung open. Davio was standing there grinning.

  “Good morning Ashley, I am so glad to have you back in my home. Please, come in,” Davio said.

  Ashley stepped through the door and once again admired Davio’s home. She peeped into the sitting room and admired her handiwork. She may be new at this decorating thing, but she did a good job in that sitting room. Davio watched as she surveyed her work. He could tell by the way she carried herself that she had made the transition from a girl to a woman. In a way, he hated to see it. Nobody should have to grow up that way. But at the same time, he might very well benefit from it. When he takes her to his bed again, it will be different for both of them.

  Ashley wasted no time in getting back to work on the dining room. She rescheduled the carpenters to put down the floors and called the painters and asked them to get back to their original assignment. She planned on making this dining room spectacular and she couldn’t wait to see the look on Davio’s face when he sees it.

  The remainder of the week was spent shopping for furniture and accessories. The shopping took her out of the house for most of the week and she had seen very little of Davio. She knew from listening to the news that there has still been no trace of Randall Thompson. Authorities were saying it was as if he just disappeared off the face of the earth. Silently, Ashely hoped he was never found, but she still wondered what role Davio played in his disappearance.

  On Thursday afternoon Ashley had arrived at Davio’s place a little after 2 p.m. She had spent the entire morning shopping for just the right pieces to use in the dining room. She had just stepped into the siting room to make some notes when she heard somebody knock on the door. She looked up to see Davio walk to the door and peer through the hole to see who was on the other side. Ashley was surprised to see two uniformed officers standing just inside the doorway. The officers told Davio they wanted to speak to him about Randall Thompson and Ashley’s blood immediately ran cold. She wondered if they suspected that Davio had a hand in the disappearance, but why would they? Davio had been out of town that week and as far as Ashley knew, there was no friction between them until Davio found about the rape.

  Ashley watched as Davio invited the two officers into his office. He left the door open and that allowed her to pick up on some of the information Davio was giving them. She heard Davio explain to them that he had been out of town on a business trip last week, at the request of Randall. She pretended to be busy so that the officers would not think it suspicious that she was listening. She heard Davio tell them he had no idea what had happened to Thompson. They asked about any enemies that Davio might be aware of, but he told them he did not know of any. Soon the officers left and Ashley got back to work.

  Ashley had much to ponder that evening when she went home. Davio had sounded cool as a whistle when he spoke with the officers who were at his house. She could not detect any fear of nervousness of any kind in his voice. But she still felt that Davio was involved in some way with the disappearance of Randall Thompson. She had purposely not asked Davio any questions. If Davio was somehow involved, she was not sure she wanted to know. It was best if she stayed completely out of the situation. Secretly, she hoped they never found him. She didn’t even care if he was dead, a thought that would have mortified her a month ago.

  Friday was going to be the big day for the dining room. The furniture was scheduled to arrive early in the morning, leaving the remainder of the day for Ashley to put everything together. She couldn’t wait to see end result, and she was looking forward to getting Davio’s take on his new dining room. Secretly she wished her would pay more attention to her. She wondered if Randall’s assault had turned him off to her forever. But surely Davio understood that Ashley could do nothing to prevent what happened.

  Ashley spent the entire day arranging, then rearranging furniture and accessories in the dining room. She was sure why, but this room was important to her. It had to be just right. Perhaps it was just Ashley’s way of establishing her independence as a woman. Randall had tried to break her spirit, but the opposite happened. Never again would any man cause her the pain she suffered at the hands of Randall. She would stand and fight, no matter how much stronger they were. In the future she might lose a few battles, but she fully intended to win the wars. By now she figured that Randall was most likely dead. If rumors she had heard about the mafia were true, his body was would never be found. Silently, she hoped that was true. She felt a small pang of remorse for his wife and daughter, but it didn’t last long.

  Finally Ashley had the dining room just the way she wanted it. She stood back and gave it one final look before seeking out Davio. She was well pleased with the end result. The new table and chairs looked sleek and modern with touches of chrome in just the right places. The rich wood trim in the room was perfectly accented with the pale gray wall coloring. The deep red curtains provided just enough color to the room to make it look elegant. She turned to go get Davio out of his office, but instead she ran into him so hard it knocked the breath out of her.

  Davio had been standing behind Ashley, watching the emotions cross her face as she surveyed her work. She had been so engrossed in her work that she was completely unaware of his presence. He had not intended to startle her, but when he heard the whoosh of her breath when she ran into his body, he feared that she was hurt. He immediately grabbed her and prevented her from falling. He was apologizing profusely for scaring her.

  “I did not mean to startle you,” he said. “I had stepped out of the office and went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water when I saw you standing here. You were so engrossed in your work that you did not realize I was here. I’m sorry, I should have said something to get your attention.”

  “Don’t be silly. It is your house,” Ashley said. “I should pay more attention to my surroundings. Please forgive me for running you over.”

  Davio noticed that Ashley was not protesting him holding her. He had wondered how she would react to him if they stated to get intimate. He wanted her badly, and watching her work in his house every day was driving him insane. He could feel himself rise right now while he was just holding her. He decided that he better let her go before she discovered his rising interests.

  “Well, since you are already here, why don’t you have a look at your new dining room,” Ashley asked. “I was actually about to come and get you when I ran into you.”

  Davio let out a low whistle when he surveyed the work Ashley had done. The dining room looked spectacular. The furniture was something that he would never have picked out himself, but the way she had incorporated the design and the accessories together were simply stunning. He wondered if the new design reflected the new person that Ashley had become of late. She seemed very confident of herself instead of the shy and uncertain girl he met just after graduation. He hated the way Ashley had gained that confidence, but he had to admit, he liked this woman who was standing beside him right now.

  “Well, I have no words to say here. This is so much better than I expected. You have done a fantastic job in here,” Davio said.

  “Thank you for t
he complement,” Ashley said. “But really, this is what you hired me to do. You wanted a house that reflected your personality, and I am intent on giving it to you.”

  Davio walked around the room and admired all of the touches Ashley had added to the room. He wanted to grab her and race to his bedroom, but he didn’t think Ashley was ready to go back to his bedroom. He did have a thought though. The family plane was at his disposal and he knew of a great place to eat, but it was in another state. Actually, it was in Florida, about a three hour flight from here. He wondered if Ashley would consider flying to Florida with him for the weekend. They could get at least one good walk on the beach and admire the Florida sunsets that were usually fabulous this time of year.

  “Ashley, do you have plans this weekend,” Davio asked.

  “No, just resting and doing a little grocery shopping. Why do you ask,” she said.

  “I know this great seafood place where they serve fresh seafood every day, but there is just one catch. It is in Florida. How would you feel about flying there with me in the morning, then staying overnight and catching the sunset on the beach,” he asked.

  Ashely stood there in deep thought. If she had things figured right, Davio was asking her to spend tomorrow night with him in Florida. It sounded lovely, but she also knew that he would probably want to make love to her while they are there. She had come a long ways toward healing, but she did not know how she would react when the time came to allow a man to use her body in that way.

  “I will not put any pressure on you,” Davio said. “I understand your fears. I promise I will not ask anything of you that you are not ready to give.”

  Ashely considered his comments and decided that she would have to face the situation at some point in time. Perhaps this was the time. She didn’t miss the thought that she would not have to face that time in Davio’s bedroom. No, Davio was offering her a way to ease back into life without facing all of her fears at one time. She agreed to the trip, thinking that perhaps it was exactly what she needed. She had not traveled much in the past few years and a change of scenery sounded wonderful.

  Chapter 4

  Ashely was going through her clothing, trying to figure out what to take with her on her trip to Florida. She knew that it was only overnight, but she figured that she would at least need something to go eat in, and a swimsuit. She packed and unpacked several times before she finally was satisfied that she hadn’t missed anything. She couldn’t be more excited if she was going on a week-long getaway. Finally, she put on her sleep shirt and crawled into bed. Davio was picking her up at 7 a.m. and she needed to get some rest.

  After tossing and turning for about an hour, Ashley finally fell asleep. When the alarm went off the following morning she nearly jumped out of bed. She jumped in the shower, allowing the warm water to wash away her cares. Today she was flying to Florida with Davio and she fully intended to enjoy every minute of it. It had been way too long since she had done something fun.

  Davio arrived right on time, looking very handsome in his tropical print shirt and khaki pants. He took Ashley’s bag and put it in the trunk of his car. He was anxious to get in the air and put the three hour flight behind them. His body longed to make love to Ashley, and he hoped that different surroundings would help her relax. If things went as he had planned, Ashley would welcome his advances. He still had so much he wanted to teach her about passion and he couldn’t wait to get started.

  Davio pulled up to a large hangar and parked the car in a private parking lot. Ashley looked at him strangely, wondering what he was doing parking here. They were nowhere near the main terminal where she assumed they would board their flight. Instead, there was a small plane sitting just outside the hangar as if it was waiting on somebody.

  “Well, what do you think,” Davio asked.

  “Think about what,” she said.

  “The plane. This is the plane we are taking to Florida. I will be flying us there,” Davio said.

  Ashley was dumbfounded. She had assumed that the two of them would be flying commercial, but instead Davio was telling her they were taking this small plane parked in front of them. She shouldn’t be surprised. He had the money to own a plane. In fact, he probably had the money to own a whole fleet. She just had not expected it to be just the two of them on the flight.

  Ashley was buckled up and ready for takeoff. She had not yet made up her mind if she liked the idea of flying in this small plane with just Davio, but she would soon find out. He was taxing down the runway, preparing to lift the small plane in the air and head south. She listened as he communicated with the control tower until they were well clear of the runway.

  Once they had reached cruising altitude, Davio started talking to her. He told her this was actually the family plane and most of the time they had a pilot, but he had always enjoyed flying and decided to forgo the pilot for this trip. Although she had considered the plane to be small, it was only small when compared to commercial airliners. There was room for a pilot and co-pilot in the front, and seating for eight people in the rear. Ashley was fascinated at the world below her, at the way the land seemed to be boxed off, and the houses looked like small dots in the midst of all of the green. She had not realized it when it happened, but she was totally relaxed and enjoying every minute of the flight. Davio proved to be very experienced with flying and navigation.

  It had seemed like only a few minutes when Davio announced they were preparing for landing. Ashley looked in front of them and saw a small airport, nothing anywhere near the size of O’Hare in Chicago. She watched as he skillfully centered the plane in line with the runway and slowly descended. He told her to expect a bump when they first touched down. Fortunately, Davio was so skilled at landing she barely realized when they were once again on the ground.

  A car was waiting for them at the small airport just south of Mexico Beach, Florida. Davio preferred Mexico Beach over the more popular area of Panama City because he did not enjoy the large crowds that were usually present in Panama City. It was just after noon and check in at the hotel was not for another hour. That would give them time to get some lunch and do a little sight-seeing on the way.

  Davio asked Ashley if she could use something to eat since he doubted she had eaten anything for breakfast. She told him she was starving so he pulled into a small café that was located on the beach. Davio told the hostess they would like a table that offered a view of the ocean. There is something about the crashing waves that soothes the soul, and he was hoping that Ashley would be relaxed enough to enjoy the weekend and welcome him in her bed.

  They enjoyed lunch of boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce and each of them ordered a dozen of oysters on the half shell. Neither of them wanted to order anything that would be too heavy because they wanted to get out and walk on the beach later on. Ashley couldn’t wait to bury her toes in the sand and feel the surf on her legs. The last time she was in Florida she was only a child, but she remembered it as being a place she fell in love with. She knew that she only had one day here, but she was determined to make the most of it.

  Ashley waited at the car while Davio went into the office to check into the hotel. She loved the feel of the ocean breeze blowing against her skin. She held her face up to the sun, enjoying the heat and trying to soak in as much as she could. She turned her head and saw Davio headed in her direction. He popped the trunk of the car and got out their bags before heading to their room.

  The room was actually a suite. Of course she should not have expected Davio to just get a room when he could afford this beautiful suite with its large balcony looking over the ocean. She pushed open the large glass sliding doors to allow the sound of the surf to enter the room. She watched as people walked along the beach, enjoying the sun, water, and each other. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy and this relaxed. Something about the sound of the ocean breaking on the sandy beach took away one’s cares and worries. She didn’t even hear Davio when he walked up behind her and put his arms around her.<
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  “Beautiful site isn’t it,” Davio asked.

  “Yes it is. If I had remembered how relaxing it is here I might have come sooner. I haven’t been to Florida since I was a kid. I love the feel of the breeze off the salt water, and I love watching people going about their business on the beach,” she said.

  Davio leaned down and kissed her on her neck. He wanted her back in his bed. He wanted to watch her face when she feels the passion start to build. He wanted to feel her naked skin next to his, wanting him as much as he wanted her.

  Davio gently turned Ashley around and kissed her passionately on her lips. She responded immediately, as if she too was craving his body the way he craved hers. The kiss intensified when his hands cupped her buttocks and pulled her close to him. Ashley was returning his kiss with a passion that he had never seen in her before. She had changed, but to him she had changed for the better. She was receptive to his advances, giving as good as she took.

  Davio took Ashley’s hand and led her toward the bedroom. She eagerly followed, planning her own surprise for him. When he reached for the hem of her tee shirt she stopped him and told him to have a seat on the bed. Unsure of Ashley’s request, Davio did as he was asked. He watched as Ashley pulled her tee shirt over her head. She then reached behind to release the snaps of her bra, allowing it to fall to the floor. Davio’s gaze was transfixed on her as she proceeded to remove her pants and underclothing. Then she stood there before him, naked and beautiful. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside him.