Mr. Bentini's Lady: The Beginning (The Bentini Brothers Book 1)

by Jaye McCloud

  “Antonio. I know that’s what you want, but I’m still trying to wrap my mind around you and I seeing each other.” He gives up all pretense of nonchalance and turn to face me fully. “Tiressa, I’m trying to be patient with you, but you don’t make it easy. How many men will I have to beat off you before it’s well-known that you’re mine?”

  “Damnit Antonio, exposing our relationship is about more than other men. I don’t want to have to explain or justify our relationship to anyone. Not right now, it’s too new…too fragile.”

  “That may be your take on things Ti, and I can respect that, but I’m the kind of man who doesn’t share his woman and I sure as hell won’t stand by while another man tries to take what’s mine. You need to know that.”

  “Antonio, you’re not being fair—” Jaws clenched, he interrupts me. “Either way, you won’t have to worry about Derrick Matthews harassing you anymore.” Looking up at him in wary confusion, I ask. “What do you mean?”

  “Considering my earlier warning, I can only deduce that you did not invite Matthews to put his lips on you…this time. Therefore, he must have been harassing you. That being the case, I will take measures to make certain it doesn’t happen again.” After throwing out those cryptic words, he turns back towards the pavilion—leaving me to stare at his angry profile, prompting me to ask, “What are you going to do?” Apparently, he’s done talking. Staring at Antonio’s somber expression, I begin to wonder if he knows that Derrick and I once dated. Damn. Do I come clean and tell him? I think not. In his current mood he wouldn’t take it well. There’s no point in trying to reason with him about Derrick right now, I’ll have to wait until he has calmed down and is more willing to hear me out.

  Kathy and William Bentini soon rejoin us, and judging by their body language neither of them is any happier than they were ten minutes ago. Kathy is so preoccupied with what she’s going through with William Bentini that, at first, she doesn’t notice that Antonio and I have problems of our own.

  William Bentini looks at his brother’s stony face and then pierces me with his clear blue steady gaze. It’s obvious that he’s contemplating something in that watchful stare. I break eye contact. Antonio can be intimidating, but William Bentini takes intimidation to the next level. “William, Antonio, excuse us. We’re going to see if Mrs. Bentini needs anything.” Kathy says as she grabs my hand and we prepare to walk away from the scowling brothers.

  “No, I want Tiressa to stay right here.” Antonio declares as if he doesn’t expect any objections from anyone. To my surprise, William Bentini daggers Kathy with a steely glare. “Antonio’s right. I don’t want you out of my sight either.” Kathy turns her annoyed gaze back on him. “But as you said, we need to help your mother get ready to wrap-up.” William Bentini snaps back at Kathy. “So, now you want to listen to something I say, Kat?” Forgetting about the wrap-up for a minute, Kathy hisses back. “I told you not to call me that!”

  With an amused smirk on his face, Antonio looks between the two verbal combatants and advise, “You two might want to calm the love play down a bit, the parents are heading this way.” His smile broadens when they both dagger him with matching hostile glares.

  “Tiressa, Kathy, Boys.” Mrs. Bentini’s smile of greeting encompasses all of us. Thankfully, she’s oblivious to the tension flowing in the air. “Everything has gone so well today. It has been one of the best turn-outs that we’ve ever had. Vera has really gone above and beyond, as usual.” She glows with pride and praise, and then gives William Bentini her undivided attention to discuss something specifically with him. While Mrs. Bentini is speaking with her son, Mr. Bentini decides to give me and Kathy his attention.

  I’m not worried about how Mrs. Bentini feels about us being overly familiar with Mr. Bentini, because Mr. Bentini does what he wants to do, and he totally disregards her rules. He’s pretty-much friendly to his staff and Mrs. Bentini doesn’t even try to curb him. Although I’ve heard her complain to him about it, he tells her that he’ll handle his people as he sees fit.

  With a big smile, Mr. Bentini picks up right where he left off the last time the three of us had a personal conversation. “You girls are too beautiful to not be married and starting a family of your own. I wonder if it’s an Italian thing or just a dad thing… wanting to see a young woman ‘safely’ hitched to a man. Gabby is our age and although Mr. Bentini hasn’t gotten her married off yet, he hasn’t given up trying. Maybe that’s why he seems so determined to help Kathy and I find a husband. “I have someone in mind for you, Katherine.” Mr. Bentini declares beaming a smile straight at Kathy. Although William Bentini stiffens, he doesn’t take his eyes off his mother.

  Shifting his gaze to me, Mr. Bentini rubs his hands together, like he’s about to deliver some really big news. “Don’t worry, Tiressa, you know that I’m looking out for you too. I think Derrick Matthews is the man for you. He’s young, handsome and ambitious. Not to mention, he’s already an admirer of yours. I think the two of you would make a dynamic couple.”

  Damn! No, he did not just throw Derrick’s name out like that! How can I be so unlucky so many times in one day? I covertly glance at Antonio to see how he’s taking his dad’s fabulous matchmaking advice.

  He looks at me. Please, Please, Please, NO! I beg him with my eyes. But Antonio ignores my silent pleas, and moves around me so that he’s now standing next to Mr. Bentini. Turning to his father, he looks at him directly and declares unequivocally, “No Dad. Tiressa and Matthews won’t make a dynamic couple, no matter how he feels about her…because Tiressa is no longer available.” Steady gray eyes hold steady gray eyes—and it’s plain to see that they understand each other.

  After a quick glance around our little circle, I drop my eyes. My heart’s beating wildly and I want to be anywhere but here. The only saving grace is that Mrs. Bentini is so engrossed in her conversation with her son, that she’s not aware of what’s happening. Suddenly her attention turns to the entire group. “Oh how I wish everyone could have attended this event.” She’s referring to Gabby, Robert, Angela and the kids. I overheard Gabby tell Adam that if she’s going to be in a crowd, outside in the sun all day, then it would be at the beach with her friends. Angela told me that she and Robert planned a weekend retreat in order to have private family time with their children.

  “Come Dom. It looks like they’re ready for us.” Mrs. Bentini waves impatiently at her husband. “Coming Love.” Mr. Bentini immediately responds to his wife. But before he joins her, he looks into my shining eyes and gives me a reassuring fatherly smile and a saucy wink identical to his son’s. I try to return it, but my face feels brittle. As he walks past Antonio, he clasps him on the shoulder and whispers, “Excellent choice, son. We Bentini men have excellent taste in women.”

  ~~~~

  The B&S Annual Employee Picnic is an all-around success, as expected. The Bentini family received accolades from the mayor, local community and business leaders, and most importantly, their employees and their families. Mr. and Mrs. Bentini give a wonderfully well-prepared speech, acknowledging their children and grandchildren, employees, community leaders, business associates, city officials, and the community at large, for participating in the B&S annual event, which was a magnificent success for all. The picnic soon comes to an end as people start leaving, structures and booths are being disassembled, and the cleanup begins.

  Kathy and I congratulate the Bentini’s on a great event. With a warm smile, I promise Mr. and Mrs. Bentini that I will relax and enjoy my three-day weekend, then turn to say good night to Kathy —all the while doing my best to avoid meeting Antonio’s piercing stare.

  “Tiressa, wait up, I’ll walk with you. Good night everybody”, Kathy says a cheery good night to the family. I’m guessing that she’s trying to make her escape from William Bentini just as I’m trying to make mine from Antonio. We reach Kathy’s car before I get to my car, so I say good night to her and tell her that I’ll give her a call tomorrow. On the drive home I mentally high-fi
ve myself for my clever getaway. However, I know with absolute certainty that Antonio Bentini will be knocking down my door sometime tonight.

  So, what’s a girl to do?

  She goes home to prepare for Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator and Hell Boy.

  Chapter 13

  I half expected Antonio to break down my door. Instead, when he finally arrives, it’s with a cordial yet firm knock. Opening the door, my heart races at the sight of him. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of looking at him. He not only has the height, but with his wavy black hair, square jaw line and tanned complexion, he’s the total package.

  “Antonio.”

  “Tiressa.”

  “Come on in. You didn’t waste any time getting here.” He smiles at my barbed comment because it’s close to midnight and I expected him to show up a lot sooner.

  Chuckling low, he explains. “I would have been here sooner, but my mom planned a family dinner after the picnic…as you know, mother doesn’t do simple.” Locking my door, he takes my hand and walks me to the sofa. “Come here baby, I’m dying for a taste of your lips.”

  I stall Antonio, placing my finger on his lips as he attempts to kiss me. I’ve put off talking about the money for as long as I can. Before we go any further, I need to know why. “Antonio… Antonio, we need to discuss the money you deposited into my bank account.”

  “Okay, what about it?” He asks that as if he’s asking about a questionable dark cloud in the sky.

  “What do you mean what about it? Antonio, you put a million dollars in my account! Who in their right mind does something like that! Why?!” I’m trying to stay calm and not screech like some wild banshee.

  “I assure you that I am in my right mind. I’m sure you Goggled me, so you know how rich I am. You know I won’t miss the money.” When he sees that I’m offended by that Goggle remark, although it’s true—I sure did Goggle him and a lot of other executives at B&S —he continues, not giving me a chance to interrupt. “I did it because I don’t want you to be worried about money. I don’t want our relationship to be hindered because you’re scared that you’ll lose your position. And—”

  The calmer he is, the more frantic I’m becoming. “Antonio! A million dollars!” Knowing that I need to keep my cool, I moderate my tone and ask in a much cooler voice. “Antonio, are you trying to buy me?”

  Now he looks outraged. “If I wanted to buy you and thought you could be bought, I would have written a check a long time ago. But I wouldn’t insult your character by putting you into that category of female, and I wish you would reciprocate by not implying that I’m that type of man.” After releasing a heavy sigh, he continues. “Tiressa, I swear to you that it’s just as I said it is. You keep using money as an obstacle between us. I offered to take care of you, but you shot that down. I offered you a job with my firm, but you rejected that as well. I want you, and I want to make you happy.”

  “Okay. Then is this some kind of test? Are you testing me to see if I want you for your money?” I hate being confrontational, but I have to get some understanding. Although his jaw clenches, his temperament remains cool. “Tiressa. Are you trying to make me angry? We’ve already agreed that we aren’t going to insult each other’s integrity. The money is a gift—free and clear. There are absolutely no strings attached. I know you want me. So, no Tiressa. I’m not attempting to buy you or test you or trick you.”

  I believe him. Holding his open sincere gaze, I tell him that. “I believe you. I guess I should thank you. So I will… Thank you Antonio. I appreciate the intent…really, I do. Even so, it’s too much money. I never would have thought to have so much money all at once…unless I won the lottery. Antonio, my mind is staggered by the amount.”

  “Before you tell me that you can’t accept it, let me explain how this is going to go. The money is yours and I refuse to take it back…not one penny of it. I don’t care what you do with it.” He throws out with such indifference—as if he really doesn’t care. Well, I’m not so nonchalant. “It’s a million dollars! What am I going to do with a million dollars?!”

  “Are you kidding?! You do anything you want to do!” He says with a huge smile, before continuing. “Look, Tiressa pretend like you hit the lottery and do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do, but couldn’t afford to until now. Buy a house, donate to your favorite charities, buy your parents a dream vacation, go on a wild shopping spree, start a business. Use it however you want. Or let it sit in your account accruing interest. The money is yours Ti…the choices are yours. Just don’t reject it out of some misplaced fear or reservations.” Looking at him I wonder if he’s this persuasive when he’s negotiating a business deal. Probably yes! “I care about you Antonio and I know you care about me—”

  “You’re wrong…I care deeply about you. And if you knew how deeply you’d probably run from me.”

  “I know that you care deeply for me Antonio. But how will you feel if our relationship affects your relationship with your family? Your parents and your siblings…what about your nephews and niece. Are you really willing to risk that?”

  “I’m not risking my family Tiressa. I know your family may be more socially evolved than mine.” He concedes with thinly veiled sarcasm. “But my family isn’t going to stop loving me because I love you. It won’t matter to them that you’re black.”

  He’s amazing. Amazingly delusional or just plain naïve, because he says that as if he really believes it. Although it may be true for some of his family members, I recall vividly what Kathy said about his mother not approving of her.

  “Antonio, you know that it will matter to Mr. and Mrs. Bentini. You know your parents want their sons to marry nice sweet Italian girls…and if not Italian, then at least white.”

  “That’s not exactly true, Ti. You saw my father give us his nod of approval.”

  “Okay, so maybe your dad doesn’t have a problem with us being together, but the same can’t be said for your mom.”

  “Tiressa. My mom wants all her children to be happy, she wants me to be happy—” He starts to stubbornly insist, but I interrupt him.

  “Antonio, look at Kathy and your brother. They care deeply for each other too, and he’s planning to marry another woman to please your mother.”

  “That’s not fair Ti. You act as if my mom is some kind of villain.” He accuses defensively.

  “Antonio, you know that I like your mother…I really do. But you can’t deny that she would like to see her offspring married to the type of spouses that she prefers. That means that she wants to hand-pick them, or at least have an influence over whose in the running. That being the case, I’m just saying it seems that Kathy wouldn’t be her first choice, and I wouldn’t even make it near the list.”

  “And I still say that when you get down to the bare bones of it, my mother would prefer to see me happily married to the woman I’m crazy in love with.” Antonio’s nothing if not stubborn.

  “Yes, happily married to just about any girl, but a black girl. What about those other people? Sure, things have changed and people are more accepting of interracial couples. But, you know that it’s not all sugar cookies and apple pies. There are lots of people who are not so accepting. I don’t want you hurt. And I don’t want to get hurt. Most importantly, I don’t want to see the look in your eyes, months or years down the road, when you realize that it wasn’t worth it. That I wasn’t worth anything, or everything that you lose because of you chose to be me.”

  “It’s not going to happen Tiressa! Besides…it’s a moot point because we aren’t talking about marriage, we’re talking about dating. We’ll cross the marriage bridge when we get to it…if we get to it.” He adds, shooting me a hard look—as if he’s tired of arguing with me.”

  “Whatever.” I can’t resist childishly sticking my tongue out at him. Which has him flashing a lazy sexy smile. “You’re adorable.” He leans down and gives me a soft kiss. “And I know what you can do with that tongue.”

  “I’m not go
ing to let you distract me.” Getting back to making my point. “Antonio, the money is a great gift. No, it’s far beyond a great gift…it’s a once in a life time dream come true! And you made that happen for me. But, a million dollars is just too much. I don’t want your family to think that I’m some sort of gold digger.”

  Obviously frustrated that I just won’t accept his tremendous gift graciously, Antonio exhales a heavy breath. “Tiressa, we can’t control what other people think. That includes my family.”

  “Antonio.”

  “No, Ti. I acknowledge that your fears and concerns are valid. However, we’ll fight those dragons one by one. And together, we’ll slay them all.”

  “But Antonio.”

  “No! I’m done with this discussion.” Leaning down he touches his lips to mine, licking my bottom lip before giving me a long sizzling kiss. He pulls me over onto his lap and wraps his beefy arms around me. Oh my gawd! Sitting on his thighs, I feel his heat and hardness and strength under me, surrounding me. All of this power…mine! I’m not thinking about my job, his family, our differences... My only thought is for the man I’m clinging to. The man who will fight to have me. The man who is setting me on fire right this very minute! I want Antonio Bentini. Even if I can’t keep him. For now…at this time…in this moment… He’s Mine!

  I become aggressive; which is a totally new experience for me. Held in his strong embrace, I clutch at his shirt as we continue making love with our mouths. Wanting to feel his hot bare skin against mine, I yank his shirt out of his jeans, pulling it up and over his heavily muscled chest. His kisses move down to the side of my neck and I’m bathed in the sensation of his agile tongue on my body. Licking me, sucking me, nibbling all over my neck and shoulders. I love it. Love the way he makes me feel. So incredibly beautiful and sexy and smart, like I can do anything.