A Little Holiday Temptation

by Janice Sims

  “Did I ever tell you about the time your father punched a guy in the nose?” Natalie paused. “He and I were dating at the time and the musical director I was working with was a big flirt. The guy made the mistake of commenting on my caboose when we were out to dinner with him and several other people. He’d had too much to drink and said I had the nicest ass he’d ever seen. Your father punched his lights out right at the dinner table. The waiter had to revive him by throwing a pitcher of water in his face. You’re lucky Erik is not a violent man, like your father! And your father’s attitude had nothing to do with not trusting me. He simply acted on impulse. It’s not that Erik doesn’t trust you. It’s his possessiveness he has to curb.”

  “He never acted possessive before we got engaged,” Ana pointed out.

  “You never gave him reason to behave that way,” her mother also pointed out. “Did you?”

  “No,” Ana admitted softly.

  “Stop pouting and answer his calls,” her mother advised.

  “I will,” Ana said. However, she had another idea. Implementing that idea would solve two problems at once. That is if, indeed, her mother was right about Pietro’s behaving selfishly.

  She ran the idea by her mother, who said, “Go for it!”

  * * *

  Ana put the first part of her plan in action the very next day. It was a Monday and she was scheduled to go over the final photographs Ivan had taken with Pietro in his office.

  She arrived five minutes early for their nine o’clock appointment. Hilary told her to go on into Pietro’s office. When she walked in she found Pietro poring over the photographs which he’d spread out atop his big desk. She smiled. He looked so serious. She knew he was under pressure worrying about making a good impression on her father. The success of the campaign would go a long way in achieving that.

  She cleared her throat and he looked up at her and grinned. “Buon giorno.”

  “Buon giorno,” Ana returned. He looked cosmopolitan in a well-fitting dark gray suit, white shirt and even darker gray tie. His wavy hair fell over his eyes. He brushed it back with a hand and said, “Ivan did an amazing job on these. Come, have a look.”

  Ana went to stand next to him and picked up a couple of the photos. “I agree,” she said after a few minutes. “What I really like, though, is his emphasis on the contours of the full-figure models, not the ones who’re size twelve and under. He truly knows how to bring out the beauty of all body shapes.”

  They talked for several more minutes about the photos, then chose their favorite shots of each item in the line. When they were done for the day, Ana said, “Have you thought about Ivan any since I brought up the possibility of you two getting together for coffee sometime?”

  “Yes,” Pietro said, smiling, “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I’m interested.”

  Ana’s heartbeat sped up. He’d taken the hook. Now to reel him in, “Good, because I have an idea.”

  “What sort of an idea?” Pietro asked warily.

  “Leave that up to me,” said Ana. “Just be at my place on Valentine’s Day at 7:00 p.m. I’ll do the rest. Won’t it be fun, letting someone else plan a romantic date for you and Ivan? All you need to do is look fabulous!”

  “I don’t know,” Pietro began.

  Ana interrupted him with, “Don’t you trust me?” She cringed inside when she asked him that because what could he say except yes? She felt manipulative.

  “Yes, of course, I trust you,” said Pietro. She noticed sweat had broken out on his forehead. Why was he so nervous?

  “Okay, great,” said Ana casually. She picked up her shoulder bag and began heading for the door, then paused to look back at Pietro. “By the way, my mom told me your mother already knows you’re gay.”

  “You told your mother?” he asked, visibly astonished she would break her promise.

  “No, no,” Ana assured him. “She told me.”

  “When was this?” he asked, his attention riveted on her.

  Ana laughed shortly. “It’s funny, really. Mom says your mother doesn’t have a heart condition. She suggested somebody was lying. Either you made it up or your mother really told you that when you tried to tell her you’re gay. At any rate, according to Mom, your mother is waiting for you to tell her point-blank. She’s living in anticipation of that momentous day!”

  “Okay, I made it up!” Pietro shouted. “I needed a good excuse as to why I never told her. I’ve been telling that lie ever since. I’m the one who’s not ready. I can’t bear seeing the disappointment on her face. She’s done everything for me. She worked two jobs to put me through school. I owe her more than making her the proud mother of a gay son. I owe her a wife and children.”

  Even though Pietro was shouting, Ana calmly said, “She’s your mother. All she wants is for you to be happy. Are you happy living a lie?”

  “Everybody lives a lie in one way or another,” Pietro declared more quietly. “I’m not so different from you, Ana. You were so content with your perfect fiancé. You thought everything was going to be heavenly from now on. Only to have your relationship bomb because he’s jealous of the time you spend with me. He’s not so perfect after all, is he?”

  “Now I get it,” Ana said, smiling with sudden enlightenment. “You didn’t say anything to Erik because you’re jealous of us.”

  “Give her a prize, she’s finally figured it out!” said Pietro, his demeanor not gloating as Ana expected. “I’m a terrible friend. I thought of telling Erik I’m gay that night but then he pissed me off with his attitude. He had you, Ana, and he didn’t even have to work for you. You just fell into his arms.”

  “I didn’t just fall into his arms. I tormented the poor man for two years with my neuroses. I was a mess and he stuck by me,” Ana said vehemently. Her eyes flashed. “And you have no right to judge him. No right at all. What’s more, I’m hurt that you didn’t think any better of me that you let your low opinion of Erik keep you from helping me out.”

  “I know now it should have been about you and me, not you, me, and Erik. Even if Erik loathed me, I should have been in your corner.”

  “That’s what friends do,” Ana said.

  “I haven’t had a close friend since you,” Pietro told her, his eyes pleading with her not to give up on him.

  “That’s nobody’s fault but yours,” Ana said. “You never answered any of my letters.”

  She grinned and opened her arms to him. He gratefully hugged her close.

  “Are we going to beat that dead horse again?” he joked. Then, more seriously Pietro said, “I’m so sorry, Ana. Please say you’ll forgive me.”

  Ana smiled, “I do,” she told him. “Now, I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “Anything you want,” Pietro promised, smiling broadly.

  Part one of her plan had worked out quite well. Now for part two.

  * * *

  Abby knocked on Erik’s door and hastened inside. She held up a heavy vellum envelope in soft beige. It was hand addressed and included a wax stamp on it with the letter C embossed on it. “Look, Erik, it’s an invitation from Ana!” she cried, excited for him. He had been a changed man the past three weeks. He was still a kind, thoughtful boss, but he was not as gregarious as he normally was with everyone. When she had first sensed something was the matter and had asked him about it, he’d simply said, “Ana and I aren’t seeing eye to eye.” Well, that almost broke Abby’s heart. She liked Ana, and although she adored her boss it wasn’t like
her to interfere with his personal life. She was too traditional for that. She could, however, take pleasure in his personal happiness and Ana made him happy.

  Erik who’d been going over financial reports stood up and accepted the envelope. Abby wanted to wait and see what was in it, but forced herself to walk smartly from the room.

  Erik looked down at the envelope. It was formal. She’d taken such care with it he was sure it held something life-altering. Perhaps something like a note saying she was breaking their engagement. Why hadn’t he gone over there as soon as possible as he’d promised his father he would? He knew the answer to that. His manly pride was wounded. For the past three weeks he had been suffering without Ana. Let her suffer a bit longer without him. Then, when he finally came around she would appreciate him more he had foolishly thought.

  He broke the wax seal and it crumbled in a red pile onto his desk. Opening the envelope he retrieved the note inside.

  You are cordially invited to dinner tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Ana Corelli. The pleasure of your company is highly anticipated. Don’t be late. Then, she had simply signed, Ana.

  With his nerves back to normal, Erik smiled. Okay, she wasn’t kicking him to the curb, yet. He still had a chance of winning her back.

  He pressed the intercom. Abby answered. “What can I do for you, Erik?”

  “Please phone Ana and tell her that her invitation is accepted,” he said, his tone decisive.

  “Right away!” said Abby.

  Somewhere in the city two other men were receiving similar hand-delivered invitations from Ana, although their invitations stated they were invited for drinks, not dinner.

  On Valentine’s Day Ana prepared an intimate dinner for two. She made sure the wine was chilled well ahead of time. She took special care with her appearance, choosing a short red dress, in honor of the holiday, with strips of material that crisscrossed her back. Her hair fell down her back in soft waves, and the only jewelry she wore was diamond stud earrings and her engagement ring. She glided across the hardwood floor in her favorite pair of black sandals by Jimmy Choo. They were both comfortable and elegant.

  Appetizers were put next to the wine on the living room coffee table at exactly seven. She didn’t expect anyone to actually show up on time, but her doorbell rang at the appointed hour. She briefly wondered who had shown up first as she walked across the room to get the door.

  She laughed softly when she saw that all three of her guests were at her door, every one of them bearing flowers. An ‘O’ of awe and wonder shaped her red lips and a smile caressed her big brown eyes. “How lucky can a girl get?” She stepped aside, “Three handsome gentlemen on Valentine’s Day! Please, come in.”

  Erik, Pietro and Ivan strode into the loft with smiles on their faces, the epitome of refinement.

  They were fakers, all of them. Five minutes earlier, they were at each others’ throats of course unbeknownst to Ana. The universe had conspired to have them arrive in the lobby of Ana’s building almost simultaneously. Erik walked through the door with Pietro on his heels and shortly afterward, Ivan entered the building and exclaimed, “Erik! I haven’t seen you since you and Ana got engaged. Congratulations! How are you?”

  Erik who, with Ana, had socialized with Ivan and his partner, Miko, on occasion offered Ivan his hand in greeting. Grinning and sincerely glad to see Ivan, Erik said, “I’m well, and how’re you holding up?” Erik had liked Miko, a sushi chef who had owned a small but successful sushi restaurant.

  Ivan’s long blond hair combed away from his face, smiled wistfully. “Some days are better than others, but I’m slowly trying to get back out there. That’s why I’m here. Ana invited me over for drinks. She said she had someone she wanted me to meet.”

  Erik’s expression suddenly lost its friendliness. He glanced at Pietro who had been standing close by because he was an inveterate eavesdropper and he was the only one who had been fully apprised of why Ana had invited all of them there tonight. “I suppose Ana invited you tonight, too?” Erik asked him, his voice cold.

  “Brrr,” Pietro said tauntingly. “It’s suddenly freezing in here. Yes, Erik. My dear, sweet friend, Ana, invited me, as well. Get over it.”

  Erik was in his face in an instant. “Listen, Lanza, I’ve had about enough of your attitude. Frankly, I don’t see why Ana can’t see through your smarmy charm. She usually has better taste in friends.”

  “I thought that, too, until I met you,” Pietro returned.

  Ivan stepped between them. “Gentlemen, might I interject a bit of logic? It is now three minutes till seven, and Ana said not to be late. I’m going upstairs whether you two follow or not.”

  The elevator arrived and Ivan stepped into the empty conveyance with Erik on one side of him and Pietro on the other. Not a word was said as the car ascended. On Ana’s floor, Ivan stepped off the elevator and walked away, leaving Pietro and Erik to follow. As the two men walked side by side, Pietro said, “I don’t know why you dislike me so much. I never did anything to you.”

  “You didn’t deny you want Ana for yourself,” Erik accused.

  “I didn’t say I did, either,” Pietro reminded him. “In fact I told you she wasn’t my type but you didn’t want to hear that.”

  Ivan had rang the bell already so they picked up their pace. “And I still don’t,” Erik said, “Because no man who likes women could resist her.”

  “Say that again,” Pietro said pointedly, looking at Erik with a smirk on his face.

  Pietro got great satisfaction out of the flummoxed expression on Erik’s face. Erik didn’t have time to respond, though, because Ana opened the door and the only thing the three men could think to do upon seeing her was smile as if all was well with the world.

  Ana hugged Ivan first and admired him in his beautifully cut dark blue suit. The color brought out the blue in his aquamarine eyes. “Thank you for coming. I know it probably wasn’t easy for you to let me set you up on, for want of a better expression, a blind date.”

  Then she hugged Pietro. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you looking happier.”

  Pietro wanted to tell her it was due to throwing her fiancé a curveball a minute ago, but held his tongue.

  Finally, she turned to Erik and shook his hand. “Good to see you, Mr. Whitaker. It’s so kind of you to take time out of your busy schedule to accept my invitation.”

  She gestured to the couch in front of the coffee table. “Please, sit down.”

  They did as they were bid and she began filling four wineglasses. “I asked you here to kill two birds with one stone.” She handed Erik his glass of wine. “My fiancé believes that something…unseemly is going on between Pietro and me.”

  “I never said that,” Erik began in his defense. “I said I felt you were not telling me something.”

  Ana ignored him, and handed Pietro a glass of wine. “And my oldest friend has chosen this day to say…”

  “I’m gay,” Pietro provided the words.

  Ivan laughed.

  Erik drank his wine in one gulp.

  Ana pulled Pietro to his feet and put her arms around him. She whispered in his ear, “You’re free now.”

  There were tears in her eyes. When they rolled down onto her cheeks, Pietro wiped them away. “Good God, woman, I’m the one who’s coming out.” He set her away from him. “Now, dry your tears and go finish him off.”

  Ana walked over to Erik and reached for his hand. He took it and rose with
a sigh of resignation. “I’ve been a damned fool.”

  “True, so true,” Ana said, gazing up at him. “But my dad once told me that men are prone to act like fools on occasion and I should just ignore them when they do, and keep on loving them. Which, I do…love you.”

  Erik hugged her so tightly, Ana could barely breathe. “So, that’s what you weren’t telling me.”

  “It wasn’t my secret to tell,” she said reasonably. “He had to be ready.”

  She twisted in Erik’s arms to glance back at Pietro and Ivan who were definitely simpatico. They were laughing companionably at something one or the other had said, and from their body language she could tell they didn’t mind sharing personal space with each other.

  “I should have known that if you weren’t completely honest with me you had a very good reason,” Erik cajoled, stroking her back.

  Ana gazed up at him, “That doesn’t make up for the fact that you felt insecure about me,” she said, “What’s up with that?”

  “It’s something I’ll have to work on every single day we’re together,” he said honestly. “I’m far from cured. I nearly jumped down his throat a few minutes ago. I regret how I handled the situation. I regret that I hurt you. But I’m not gonna lie and say I’ll never have those feelings again. I will promise to react to them in a better manner, though.”

  “I’ll take that promise,” Ana told him. She kissed him slowly and deliberately, taking the time to remind him what he’d been missing. When she looked into his eyes afterward she knew that he had gotten her message. He was putty in her hands. However, there was one last detail she had to take care of before their evening could begin.

  “Excuse me a moment,” she said as she left Erik’s close embrace.