by Bethany-Kris
“Well, if it isn’t my beautiful daughter-in-law.”
Melina stopped walking and turned. To her right was James Maccari Sr., watching her with a smirk on his face.
“Mr. Maccari.”
He shook his head as he walked closer to her. “None of that. Call me James. After all, we’re family.”
His eyes roved over her in the most inappropriate of ways.
Melina itched to slap the hell out of him.
“I don’t think my husband would see things that way.”
James shrugged. “My son always was a bit of a hot head, but sometimes he gets things right. Like marrying you.”
Melina raised a brow. “Is that so? I had the distinct impression you didn’t find me worthy of your son.”
“Maybe I did, but then I didn’t think he could handle a woman like you.”
The double entendre to his words was not lost on Melina.
Mac wasn’t man enough to satisfy her.
“A woman like me.” Melina folded her arms. “Pray tell what you mean, James.”
“You’ve certainly got a mouth. You’re nothing like the woman his mother would’ve picked for him, that’s for sure. I just didn’t think my boy would go for something like that.”
“Well, let me debase you of your ridiculous notions. Mac doesn’t need to handle me, because unlike you and the chauvinistic pigs of your time, my husband sees me as his equal. He values me and most importantly, he respects me. So why don’t you take your bullshit to someone that gives a fuck, because I don’t.”
James frowned and took a step closer to Melina. “Is that how you talk to your father-in-law? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Melina lifted her hand in front of James’ face. “Melina Morgan Maccari. Don’t forget it.”
And with a tight smile, Melina left James Maccari where he stood.
The man was a creep. Sometimes it was so hard to believe that James could actually be Mac’s father. The two men were nothing alike. She hadn’t seen James since her wedding day when he’d all but ogled her as she walked down the aisle. He’d done the same today, eyeing her as if he’d like nothing better than to have his way with her.
She didn’t like it and she wasn’t going to stand for it. Mac was going to have to handle his father. She had enough things to deal with, like renovating The Dollhouse and making sure she didn’t do anything that could undermine the position her husband had worked so hard to obtain. James Maccari was one problem that neither of them needed.
Melina hated funerals.
How could you celebrate someone’s life, when it had been senselessly lost?
And how could you hope for the future, when you had no idea what could possibly come next?
Melina asked herself those questions as she sat next to Mac in the limousine that would take them to the grave site. The Catholic service for Luca’s underboss was ostentatious, to say the least. A silver and platinum casket was the centerpiece of the service and sat directly in front of the altar. The sheer amount of floral arrangements that had filled the church was staggering. Almost as staggering as the number of people that had filed in on this dreary day to pay their last respects.
Leading the way was Luca Pivetti. In the short time she’d known the man, Melina had seen him as a ruthless man in total control. Today, she’d seen him as just another grieving person. Holding Neeya’s hand, he’d stood for a long time before his dead friend’s closed casket before taking his seat on the front row. His three daughters had accompanied him, looking every inch the proper mafia principessas.
Melina hadn’t known Matthew Corvi. Hell, she didn’t know hardly anyone that Mac worked or did business with. But after hearing the priest eulogize Matthew and watching his widow break down in front of her husband’s coffin, Melina understood a few things better than she ever had before.
What a man did for a living didn’t define who he was.
Real love was forever.
The world may have seen Matthew Corvi as a criminal, but to the family he left behind, he had been their everything.
With Matthew gone, his wife, Amelia, would be left to raise their three children alone. Melina had been unable to hold back her tears as Matthew’s youngest son, Bryce, had touched the casket and cried. It was too much. Beside her, Mac had blinked his eyes in rapid succession, showing that he too was affected by the younger boy’s anguish.
The tears of a child could break down any man.
As they neared the cemetery where the underboss would take his final resting place, Melina glanced at her husband. He stared straight ahead, unseeing. She touched his thigh.
“Mac,” she whispered.
“Yeah, doll?”
He faced her and for the first time, Melina noticed the faint worry lines under his eyes. The uncertainty was taking a toll on him. She couldn’t believe she’d just now realized it.
“How many?” she asked.
“How many, what?”
“How many funerals have you been to?”
“One too many.”
“Oh.”
The honesty of his answer wasn’t unexpected. It was the way he’d said it that struck a nerve in her.
“His children … my heart just broke for them. Children that young shouldn’t have to lose a parent,” Melina said.
“No, they shouldn’t.”
Mac took her hand and held it tight.
“And his wife—it looked as if she’d lost another piece of herself.”
“Amelia has a strong support system around her. She won’t have to deal with all this alone.”
“A support system isn’t going to help when you lie awake at night and want your husband. It won’t help when you want to hear his voice or feel his touch. Some things a support system just can’t help.”
“Melina, what aren’t you saying?”
She swallowed hard. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you. I don’t know if I’d be strong enough to handle it.”
Mac’s eyes grew soft as he pulled her close. His mouth met hers in a kiss that was sweet and tender. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as they continued to kiss. When he finally pulled away, she rested her forehead against his.
“Nothing in this life is guaranteed, doll, but I promise that I will do everything in my power to make sure that I come home to you always.”
Melina smiled. “I’d burn this city to the ground if you didn’t.”
Mac laughed as he drew away from her. “I’d expect nothing less from you.”
“Just so you know.”
Mac lifted her hand and held it up. Her wedding ring and engagement band sparkled. “For better or worse. Through thick and thin. We’re going to be all right.”
Melina nodded, momentarily at a loss for words as the car rolled to a stop. “Yeah, we are,” she finally said.
Mac gave her a fleeting smile. “When this is over we’ll have a quiet evening at home. I promise.”
“Sounds like heaven.”
The door was opened by their chauffeur and Mac exited first before turning to help her from the car. It was time to put her brave face back on. She had to put away her secret fears and stand stoically beside her husband once again.
Appearance was everything.
“Mac, where are we going? You know I don’t like surprises.”
It had been nearly a week since Matthew Corvi’s funeral and though Mac was starting to come home before dinner now, things were still tense.
So tense that they still hadn’t been able to go on a proper honeymoon.
Melina thought Luca was being a little paranoid by not wanting them to leave the country. But she knew Mac had no choice but to abide by his boss’s wishes. She still didn’t like it, but she understood the way things had to be. For now.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”
Mac smiled and patted her knee as he drove the Challenger through the evening traffic.
“That’s exactly my point.”
“Relax, doll. You trust me, don’t you?”
Melina rolled her eyes. “Why would you even ask me a stupid question like that? Of course I do. I married you, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. I seem to remember a lot of begging and pleading on my part.”
Melina thumped her husband on the forehead. “I see someone’s got jokes today.”
“Maybe just a few,” Mac said.
He turned off one of the main highways and Melina glanced at their surroundings. She had no idea where they were.
“I don’t recognize any of these landmarks.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
She waited for him to say more and when he didn’t she sighed.
“Okay. I’ll play along, but this had better be an awesome surprise for all the cloak and dagger you have going on.”
“I think it’s really going to be special to you. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.”
Melina smiled at his soft tone. “Anything you do is special, Mac. It’s one of the main reasons I married you.”
“And what are the others?”
Melina tapped her finger on her chin, mischief already creeping into her mind.
“Your exquisite cock. Oh and you’re not bad to look at either.”
Mac made a cutting motion across his chest. “You wound me, doll. I haven’t heard you mention a word about my stellar personality.”
“You know that’s hit or miss sometimes.”
When Mac glared at her, Melina laughed, before she leaned toward him and kissed his cheek.
“You know I’m just playing. There is so much about you that I’m grateful for, especially your patience.”
Mac nodded. “Yeah. Who else could put up with you?”
Melina’s mouth dropped as her husband laughed.
“You know what, you’re about to make me remind you who is the boss in this relationship.”
“Now that promise has some merit, but give me a bit, doll. We’re here.”
Melina looked around as Mac drove them down an asphalt road. A yellow Dead End sign stood on her right side as they passed. A minute later, they pulled up to a cul-de-sac and Mac killed the ignition.
“Mac?”
“I’ll explain in a minute.”
Before Melina could say anything, he was out of the car and opening the door for her. Melina stepped out and shut the door, leaning against the car.
“Mac, I don’t see anything out here but wide-open space.”
He shook his head. “Yes, but it’s more than that. This is our future.”
“Okay, you lost me.”
Taking her hand, Mac led her away from the car and toward the grass in front of them.
“Every king and queen need a castle. This is where we’re going to build ours.”
Melina was silent as she took a moment to process what Mac was saying to her. This was their homestead. This was the place they were going to build a home.
“This is a new subdivision?” she finally asked.
“No. Everything you see around us is ours. Ten acres of prime real estate.”
Melina looked at her husband. “When did you have time? You’ve been so busy lately.”
“A man makes time for what’s important.”
“Ten acres? What are we going to do with all this space?”
“I want you to have your dream house, doll. Whatever you want.”
Melina took Mac’s face in her hands. “I don’t need all of this to be happy.”
“I know you don’t and that only makes me want to give it to you even more.”
“But Mac, I’m fine with the apartment for now. Besides, your mother needs a new house more than we do.”
“Oh, she’s getting a surprise of her own. I just haven’t sprung it on her yet.”
“There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”
Mac shook his head. “No. I’ve worked hard and I’m finally starting to reap some of the benefits. As my wife, you’re entitled to all of them. This is our fresh start.”
Melina looked away, lest he see the tears that were threatening to fall. Her husband was so considerate and so romantic. As if buying her a Maserati wasn’t enough, now he’d purchased what looked to be a small subdivision so she could have the house of her dreams built.
“I must’ve done something right in another lifetime to end up with such an amazing husband.”
Mac’s arms circled her waist, bringing her closer to him. “You think so?”
“Yes. If you’re like this with me, then I can’t imagine how you’ll be with …” Melina trailed off.
“With who, doll?”
“With our children.”
A light came on in Mac’s eyes. “I … I hadn’t even connected the house to kids. I just wanted to do something to make you happy.”
“I know, and I love you for that, but we both know we can’t put off that discussion forever.”
“Nothing could possibly make me any happier than us having children together. A little girl with your smile, your beautiful skin and eyes …”
“A son that looks like you would make my heart melt,” Melina said.
Mac smiled. “It seems we’ve both been thinking about it.”
“I have. I love you and we’re building a life together. I want children, but there are some things I’d like to do first before we take that step. Is that okay with you?”
Melina knew that she was asking a lot. Mac had damn near spit out rainbows and sparkles as he shared his longing for a daughter that looked like her. Without a doubt, if she gave him the word, they would immediately start trying to conceive a child. But the timing needed to be right.
“If and when we decide to have a child, it will be about us and what we want.”
Melina giggled as Mac lifted her off her feet and swung her around. This was all she needed. Happiness wasn’t about the things you had. It was about the people you loved. And as Mac put her back on her feet and kissed her, silently Melina vowed she wouldn’t deny them what they both wanted much longer.
“Come on, doll,” Mac said, giving Melina’s smiling lips one more kiss as he tangled their fingers together. “I have one last surprise for you today.”
Melina gave him that look. The one that said she was excited but didn’t quite know how much more she could take. His wife wasn’t overly romantic. Mac knew it could sometimes be hard for her to appreciate that trait in him when it wasn’t the type of thing she was accustomed to.
But Mac, on the other hand, lived for Melina’s happiness and her smiles. It was even better if they were caused by him.
So, maybe, he didn’t care if she was overwhelmed with his gifts, attention, and love. Melina would get used to it, one way or the other.
“What else could you possibly have for me?” Melina asked. “Wasn’t this enough?”
Mac shook his head, saying nothing as he guided them toward the trunk of the car. He’d already hit the trunk latch when he parked, though Melina hadn’t seemed to notice. He lifted the trunk to showcase the items waiting inside.
A small shovel, four wooden stakes, a roll of neon orange ribbon, and a bottle of champagne.
Melina’s brow furrowed at the pile of stuff. “What is all this for?”
“You’ll see,” Mac answered vaguely, giving her one of his usual smirks.
His favorite part of giving gifts to his wife was the surprises he mixed into them all. They always had Melina’s eyes lighting up in a way that made him know she thought he was her king. And damn, he wanted to be that for her.
So much.
Mac grabbed the ribbon and stakes in one hand, and the shovel in his other. Then he nodded at the bottle of champagne and said, “You can handle that, right?”
Melina laughed as she grabbed the bottle and then closed the trunk. She was indulging his little game, he knew, but Mac had a feeling that she was enjoying it, too.
“What now, Mac?”
“Now,” Mac said, leading the way to
the end of the cul-de-sac before he stepped into the overgrown field, “we mark it off.”
Melina still seemed like she didn’t understand what Mac was trying to do. “Mark what off?”
“Where we want our house to be, doll.”
“Right now?”
Mac turned to face his wife, throwing his arms wide in the air. “How about right here?”
“But shouldn’t we look at land maps or something?”
“You have ten beautiful, raw acres to do with what you wish, Melina. You can look over the surveys at any time and say whether you want this here or that over there. You want a pond? Let’s do that. A pool? Okay. But right now, at this very moment, we’re going to mark off the spot where they’ll dig for the foundation of our house. And when we’re done …”
Melina couldn’t stop the smile from spreading. “What then, Mac?”
“Then,” he told her, waving the shovel he held, “we’re going to stick this shovel in the dirt. We’ll be the first to break ground on our home. Together.”
“And the champagne?”
“Celebration, of course.”
Melina nodded. “Of course. Only you.”
“It’s only proper,” Mac joked. “Are you going to help me, or leave me to do this alone?”
Melina didn’t keep him waiting for long, thankfully. “If we start here, we’ll have no damn driveway. The road will end right at our doorstop, basically.”
Mac jogged a good fifty feet further into the field. Turning back to Melina, he yelled, “Here?”
“Could we have a gate, too?”
“Anything you want, doll.”
She didn’t even have to ask, really.
“There is …” Melina’s words trailed off, her expression softening.
Mac was pretty sure he understood why his usually vocal wife was all of the sudden so quiet. It was probably for the same reason he had been the first time he’d come out to check the plot of land to decide whether or not the price was worth it.
It had been worth every single damn penny he paid.
Mac had seen his home here—the one he would share with his wife; a home they would build to raise their family in—before his very eyes.
