by Jaye McCloud
“But you don’t regret leaving me?!” He demands, incredulously.
“Antonio, you know that’s not the same?”
“No hell I don’t know.” He growls back. “You left me Ti! How could you do that? You left me without a word.”
“I asked Kathy to—”
“I didn’t want a damn message. I wanted to see you…talk to you, face to face.”
“You’re right. It was wrong of me to take off like that. I just wanted a few days to myself to think things over…without you influencing me.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Your mom said some really foul shit to me. I needed to go someplace where I could lick my wounds and just think.”
“What did she say to you?” Antonio’s voice is solemn, as if he doesn’t really want to know, but has to know. “What did she say Tiressa?”
I don’t feel like hedging, but I don’t want to repeat all the awful things Mrs. Bentini said to me. “She basically told me that you gave me the money as a payoff …like you do with all your women…you pay them off when you’re finished with them…I just got my money up front.”
“Fuck.” He mutters under his break. “That’s not true, Ti. I’ve never paid any woman off.”
“I believe you Antonio.”
“What else? What else did she say?” Exhaling a slow breath, I tell him the rest. “She said some stuff and then she offered me money to get out of your life.”
“Fuck!” His reaction is much more explosive this time. “Antonio, calm down, stop beating on the steering wheel. I didn’t take the money, not for one second did I think about it.”
“Damnit Tiressa! I know you wouldn’t have done that!”
“Then why are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at my mother. How dare she do this to me again?” He says the last part in a furious whisper.
“So, your mom makes a habit of offering your undesirable girlfriends a lot of money to dump you?” His fingers tighten around the steering wheel. “Something like that.”
“Antonio? Why didn’t you tell me you were married before?” I had intended to wait until we got home to ask, but this has been eating me up for days, and I need to know. He glances over at me before returning his attention back to the road. “Yeah, I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you about that…but before I do, let me give you some background information.” Glancing over at me with a smirk, he says, “Please keep in mind that this all happened years ago; I was very young back then.” At my nod, he continues. “I’ve been intrigued by black culture since I was a kid. I don’t know why, but for some reason how black people talk, dress, look, dance …and well, just how they are, has always been fascinating to me. Maybe back then it was because it was all so very different from my life and Italian culture. While the other members of my family were watching what they would deem ‘normal’ TV shows, I was drawn to black television shows and movies…and man, especially the music. In my teens, I loved hip-hop and rap. It drove my parents crazy.” He chuckles at the memory. “When I got a little older, I developed a real appreciation for R&B and jazz.”
“Sooo, you wanted black friends when you were younger?”
Glancing at me in slight exasperation, Antonio says, “I had black friends. I have black friends, Tiressa…I have all kinds of friends with all kinds of backgrounds and skin color. That wasn’t, nor is it, the problem.” When he pauses too long, I give him a little nudge. “So, what was the problem?”
“My parents aren’t perfect. They’re very traditional. They raised us to be loyal and dutiful. They have expectations. The problem is that my parents were willing to tolerate what they deemed ‘my rebellious phase’, but they drew the line at…” I give him a steady look when he stops talking. “They’re not racist.”
“I know that Antonio. But what are you trying to say? That your parents put their foot down when you wanted to date a black-girl?”
Exhaling heavily, he replies, “Yeah, something like that. I thought my parents were raising us to look beyond ‘color’, but apparently, I was wrong. Well, not about my dad. He’s always supported me in just about whatever I wanted to do, including marrying a black woman.” He slides a proud sexy smile my way.
“You talked to your dad about us?”
“Yes, we have his complete blessing. I never doubted that he would give it. It’s my mother—”
“Antonio, you really can’t be surprised by that. Although your dad is wonderfully progressive, your mom is very much a traditionalist. She wants her handsome Italian boys to be with pretty Italian girls, and make beautiful Italian babies.”
“Damnit Tiressa—”
“I’m not saying I agree with that, but I can understand the sentiment. Some of the older members of my family feel that way too—my dad, my grandpa, a few of my uncles and aunts. Deep down, they would prefer to have a more traditional African-American family, but they know that ship has sailed.”
“Yeah, but you have a very diverse family with just about every color of the rainbow. And regardless of how they may feel, they fully accept and welcome new members into the family no matter what color their skin is. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being embraced by your family…your parents, your grandparents, all the other relatives. It was incredible, although I think your sister still wants to put a bullet in me.” Laughing, I refute that charge. “No, she doesn’t; she’s coming around.” Chuckling, he agrees. “Yeah, I suppose she is. That’s what I want for you, Ti. I want my entire family, especially my mom, to embrace you and welcome you with open heart into our family. I don’t think I’ll be able to forgive her if she doesn’t.”
“Don’t say that Antonio.”
“Well, it’s true. Anyway, getting back to my story… I wasn’t brave enough to go against my family and date any of the black girls I was attracted to in high school, but when I was away at college I finally got up enough courage to follow my heart. In my last year, I started secretly dating a girl I was really hot for.”
“What happened?” I ask with a little more force than intended. His talking about being hot for another chic, no matter how long ago, is not something I want to hear –ever.
“My mother happened. She found out about our relationship and paid my girlfriend a visit one weekend when I wasn’t on campus. She actually manipulated the situation so that I wouldn’t be on campus and my girlfriend would. Gawd, she’s diabolical.”
“And ruthless.” I can’t resist mumbling. “Let me guess, she offered your girlfriend money and your girlfriend took it.”
“Yep, without a second thought. She dumped me as soon as I got back on campus. She didn’t even attempt to lie about the cause of our break up.”
“My mom was furious. Apparently, that was part of the deal –she burned both of us. I was glad that my mother’s deception was exposed. But it wasn’t enough. In retaliation, I married an Italian girl.”
“How is that a retaliation?” I ask, obviously confused, it sounds like Mrs. Bentini got exactly what she wanted.
“I found myself a woman—an Italian woman—that I knew my mother would absolutely loathe and detest and be truly horrified to have in the family –and I married her.”
“Oh no, Tony, how could you? That poor girl—”
“That poor girl, my ass. We were using each other. I got my revenge on my mother and she walked away with a couple of million.” Glancing over at me, he scowls and demands, “What the hell… Are you crying?!”
“You made me believe that you weren’t in the habit of doling out money to women.”
“I’m not.”
“You paid off your first wife. You gave me money. How many more are there?”
“None. And it’s not the same. I didn’t love her and she didn’t love me. She entered into it knowing what it was all about.”
“It was still wrong Antonio.”
“I know, but back then, I just didn’t give a damn.”
“How long
were you married to…”
“Nikki”
“You’ve got to be kidding?”
“No. That also drove my mother crazy.” He laughs. “The charade went on for almost a year. Then we had the marriage annulled, as planned. She went her way and I joined the army.” After thinking about it for a minute, I realize something. “You joined the army because it was another thing that your mother couldn’t control.”
“That’s right. That was my initial reason, but as I got more into my training, I discovered that I liked what I was doing and had a real talent for what they were training me to do.”
“Go on.” I prod him when he stops talking. “The Army taught me so much more than discipline and military strategy. When I got out, I put my skills to use and started a security firm. The rest, as they say, is history.”
I’m sitting in the car quietly watching the scenery as we enter the city, we’re less than thirty minutes from home. “Well?” He asks.
“Well what?”
“Are you okay with my past?”
“Yes, I’m okay with it. I don’t like it, but I understand.”
“That’s my girl.” He says, reaching over and taking my hand. “Do you want to stop and get something to eat or head straight home?”
“I want to go to the pet hotel and get my babies.” I reply giving his hand a squeeze. “Ti, it’s close to seven, they’re probably closed. We can get them in the morning.” Letting go of his hand, I fold my arms and turn my head towards my window.
“Come on, Ti, don’t be that way.”
I’m not normally the bratty type, by any means, but this is too important to me. “I don’t care if they’re closed or not, I want my babies and I want them now! I’m not going another night without seeing my babies and knowing that they’re okay. I want my babies Antonio!” I honestly thought he was going to ignore my childish outburst, but ten minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of the pet hotel. “I’ll be right out.”
“Antonio—”
“I said I’ll be right out.” He tosses back as he closes the car door. Damn, now look what I’ve done. I feel like such a bitch.
He’s back in less than ten minutes with the puppies in their carrier. But instead of putting them on the back seat, like he did last time, he places the carrier in the trunk area. I’ve already pissed him off, so I sit quietly as he gets back into the SUV and pull out of the parking lot.
“Do you want to pick something up or order out once we get home and get settled?” I exhale a relieved breath. If he’s talking to me then he can’t be too annoyed. “We can order something from your place.” He shoots an exasperated look my way. “I don’t want you to think of it as my place…it’s our home.”
“I’m not trying to fight with you Antonio, I already feel shitty for throwing a bitch-fit and making you go get the puppies.”
“What does that have to do with this?”
“I don’t want to fight with you.”
“We’re not fighting, Ti.”
“We may, if you know that I don’t really feel comfortable in your house.”
“You don’t like my house?”
“I’m sorry Antonio, but there’s just so much glass and metal…it’s not really my style.” He laughs deep and long before answering the questioning look I’m giving him. “It’s not my style either. The guys convinced me that it was the perfect house for a man of my status. It was supposed to make the right impression on the right people.”
“Did it?” Antonio pauses at the security gate and waits the few seconds before he can drive through and onto his property. “Yes, but that was unattached, bachelor Antonio. The man I am now is ready for a family and the perfect home to go with it, including lots and lots of West Highland Terriers.”
“Ohhh, Antonio…”
“I know Baby, now bring me those lips.” He stops the SUV and leans over to kiss my lips. This kiss turns real hot, real quick. “It’s been three whole days since I’ve made love to you. I’m hungry, and not just for food.” He growls.
He should be hungry since, as I had predicted, we were found out and he was promptly invited to occupy the guesthouse for the remainder of our visit. There was no more tiptoeing through the house in the middle of the night.
~~~~
“Did you enjoy your reunion with your babies?” Antonio ask coming into the dressing room. Standing on the fancy eight-inch high footstool, I’m concentrating on not falling as I try to put my travel bag on one of the top shelves with the other bags. I’m thinking that if I continue staying here, I may need to rearrange some things. “You haven’t answered, Ti.”
“Yep, it was wonderful. We’re all settled.”
“Good.” He groans in my ear, startling me.
“Antonio, what are you doing?” I ask, feeling him press against me, holding me securely as he maneuvers me, and the footstool from the shelf, to the bare wall next to the shelf. Not until I turn around to look at him, do I see that he doesn’t have a stitch of clothes on. “Antonio?”
“Yes Baby.” He says all silky sexy as he runs his fingers through my hair removing the hairpins and smoothing my hair down. “Your hair turns me on.” He admits running his big hands down my thighs and then back up again, sliding my nightgown up and over my head, he tosses it to the floor. “Antonio, are you really going to take me against the wall like this, standing on this stool?” I’m not sure if it’s a question or a plea.
“Yes, I sure am. I told you I was hungry.” He takes off my bra and tosses it to the floor beside the nightgown.
“Then let’s go eat.”
“I am, everything I need is right here.” He says just before he goes down on his knees behind me. “Step out of your panties.” He commands. I do it without hesitation. “Mmm, spread your legs …wider.” The footstool may be short, but it’s very accommodating. Biting my lips, I try to keep from moaning, but there’s no stopping the sounds of pleasure filling the room. This feels so wickedly good, that I say a silent prayer… Oh gawd, please don’t let him stop!
***
Kathy parks her car in the service area around the side of the building, and enters the mansion thru the service door that leads straight into the guardhouse. Leaving the guardhouse, she walks into Mr. Honeycutt’s chamber, and then heads to Mrs. Bentini’s office towards the back of the mansion.
“Katherine, do you have a moment?” Recalling how he had, just days ago, bent her over her chair and had his way with her, Kathy drops her eyes, embarrassed at how brazen she had behaved that night. “I can’t William. Mrs. Bentini is expecting me.”
“She’ll be tied up for a few minutes with Mrs. Llewellyn.” Familiar with how talkative Mrs. Llewellyn can be, Kathy knows that’s probably true. Still… “I don’t think—”
“Please Kat, I need to talk to you.” Remembering his noncommittal response, after they had made love and she had asked, “Where do we go from here Will?” She really doesn’t expect this conversation to be any different than their previous discussions about their distorted relationship. But there’s something in William’s expression that causes Kathy to allow him to gently pull her into the empty library.
“Don’t William. You said talk.” Kathy reproaches him as he attempts to take her in his arms.
“I know, but I just wanted to hold you for a minute.”
“What do you want William?”
“I want us to start over. Well, not start over exactly…”
“What are you saying Will?” Unable to believe what she thinks he may be saying.
“This situation with Mom and Antonio has made me see that you have been right all along. As much as I love my mother, I can’t let her tell me who I should be with, who I should marry.”
“Will, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I’m going to call off my engagement with Alison.” Kathy puts her hands over her mouth as tears spring to her eyes.
“Do you mean it Will?”
“Yes. After we made lov
e, I knew that I couldn’t go through with marrying another woman. I don’t want any other woman but you Kat.”
“Oh my gawd, Will!”
“It’s always been you Kat. Say you’ll have me.”
“Oh Gawd, Will! Of course I’ll have you!” Laughing through her tears, she throws her arms around his neck. “I love you William Bentini!”
Chapter 25
“Antonio wake up, there’s people in the house!” I yell as I dive on the bed shaking his big shoulders, the puppies on the floor, yapping excitedly.
“What the hell! What’s going on!” He sits up groggy and still half-asleep. “There are people in the house!” I repeat at the top of my voice. “Tiressa stop yelling at me. What do you mean people? What people?” He doesn’t seem alarmed and he should be, there are strangers in his house!
“The puppies and I went downstairs to make you breakfast and I saw a lady and a man down stairs.”
“Are they wearing uniforms?” He ask, now more awake.
After thinking about it for half a minute, I reply. “Well, yes… now that you mention it, they were wearing uniforms. Antonio why are you laughing?” I ask suspiciously.
“I’m sorry Baby, I forgot to tell you about my household staff.”
“What household staff?” I demand to know. “I’ve never seen any staff around here.”
“That’s because when you finally agreed to come over, I gave them all an unexpected vacation so that we could be together, alone. Then you left town and I brought you back; again, I wanted some time alone with you, so I called before leaving your Aunt’s and told them to take a couple of days off.”
“Oh.” Wow, now that the scare is over, I feel stupid…of course, he would have help living in a house this size.
“Come on, let’s get dressed and go meet your staff –by the way, they’re crazy about the puppies. We’re going to have to hire someone to train them properly, you have them spoiled rotten.” He chuckles looking down at Candi and Snow whining and barking trying desperately to climb onto of the bed. When I sit on the bed looking blankly at him he asks, “What’s the matter?”
