Around the World in 80 Men Series Boxed Set 1-10

by Brandi Ratliff

  “Oh no, nothing like that. It's just...,” she tucked her hair behind her ear and took a few seconds to find the right words. “The other men have been wonderful. But...it's like they were starving lions who came across a fresh kill. And Gio...he's more like a well fed lion that just wanted to truly enjoy his meal.” There was silence between them for a few moments, then both of them burst into laughter.

  Angel swayed his hips wide as he pulled her through the small boutique and out the front door. “Well...,” he guided them through the crowded open market area, “if we don't find the perfect charm for your bracelet soon, we're going to get back late...,” he pulled her quickly past the last of food carts and toward another row of stores, “and your lion will come home to an empty house, which he will not be happy about.” When they were completely out of the main crowd, Morgan stopped.

  “Angel...look at me.” He stopped pulling her and turned around. “About that....uh....I don't want some expensive charm to put the others to shame. These, well...they're gifts that mean something. Gifts from friends. I mean, they're clients, but it's not like that. They're special and they're just meant to remind me of them.” She put her hand over the bracelet and twirled it around her wrist.

  Angel looked at the charms then back up to meet her eyes. “I guess we have a problem then.” He ran his hand down his cheek and tried to think of a solution. Gio wouldn't be happy if they came back empty handed, and Morgan didn't want a new charm under the circumstances. “Okay...let's go to the jewelry store and look around, maybe something other than a charm will catch your eye.” He didn't wait for a response, he just starting pulling her across the street to the one jewelry store in the area.

  Once inside, Morgan stood by the front door while her shopping date scanned the glass cases. “Come here.” He didn't look up when he spoke to her. She rolled her eyes and released a small huff as she joined him. “Look, what about a necklace? Oh! Or some diamond earrings?” He was pointing at his suggestions as Morgan stared at the side of his face.

  “Angel, do you know that I have money? I could buy just about anything in here...it's not about that.” He put his hand up to shoosh her, then asked the owner to show him the assortment of gold chains. “No, these won't do.” He walked further down the counter until he was beyond the chains and charms. “Girly-girl, I have G's card and I can buy the goddamn Hope diamond if I wanted to. Now, get your eyeballs on this shit and pick something out.”

  Morgan knew that she wasn't going to get out of the situation without picking out a new piece of jewelry, so she resigned herself to the fact that she had better make a decision before Angel started to get too cranky. “Fine, but I'm not getting anything too expensive.” She walked through the small store and stopped when her eyes met the shelf behind the owner's shoulder. “What's that?” She pointed to a small pink box that was inside a glass box, behind a glass case.

  Angel stopped and told the man to show her. What he put in front of her was an antique jewelry box that was only five inches wide and four inches deep. The lid had six tiny inlaid diamonds across the top, and a blue sapphire in the center. When she gently opened it, she gasped at the irony in front of her. “A lion! Of all things, Angel!” A tiny lion cub made of white gold was in the middle of the box, presumably to hold a ring in place, or another small piece of jewelry. “I love it! How much is it?” Angel asked the owner, as he clearly didn't understand English, and Angel nodded in acceptance as he handed over the credit card. “Angel, how much?” She demanded an answer as the little man behind the counter finished the transaction and handed the small box to Morgan.

  He refused to answer her other than a quick, 'you don't want to know' and he rushed them back to the car to get home before her client beat them to it.

  She continued to ask him about the cost, and he continued to change the subject. He did tell her that the amount Gio had planned to spend was far greater than what Angel had actually put on the card. It was true, but Angel knew that if she found out that the little box was nearly six thousand dollars, she would demand to go back and return it right then. Morgan had also threatened to take all of the little naked men from his room and hide them until he fessed up, but the man still wouldn't budge.

  They were still playfully arguing when they walked into the house. “Shit! I only have thirty minutes to make dinner!” Angel ran from the room and into the kitchen with Morgan trailing behind. She laughed at his urgency considering how easy Gio was to deal with, but she knew that Angel appreciated the great job that he had and he also took pride in running the house perfectly.

  Morgan and Gio had been rudely screeched at by PoPo that morning, put up to the task by Angel no doubt, and for the second time, Gio was late in getting to his office for his daily routine. It was nearly two o'clock before Morgan and Angel made it to the shopping square, and it was after five when they arrived back at the house.

  “Angel, how about we just order in?” Morgan sat at the counter and opened her new jewelry box. Angel spun around and looked at her as if she had just sprung tentacles from her lips.

  “No! He said a nice dinner in, and carry out wasn't an option!” He opened the freezer then cursed himself for not thawing anything that morning. Just as Angel looked as if he would hyper ventilate in front of the sink, they heard the front door open and Gio's boots clicking across the marble floor.

  Morgan looked quickly to Angel and giggled as his hand covered his heart, and he leaned back against the counter. “I got this.” She blew her friend a kiss and ran from the kitchen to meet Gio.

  “Look what you bought me!” She ran up to him and held the small box up in front of her. “It's an antique, and I can put my bracelet in here to keep it safe, and I love it!” She stood on her toes and kissed his smiling lips.

  He took the pink box from her hands and looked it over. “I thought you wanted a charm?” She wanted to correct him, she had never asked for anything, but she instead told him that she changed her mind and wanted something from him that would hold her bracelet safely. “Hmmm I guess that makes me the keeper of them all then, huh?” His cocky smile was followed by a wink that made Morgan roll her eyes as she laughed and slipped her arm under his.

  As they started to walk, Morgan asked him if he liked pizza. “It's probably my favorite food, please tell me we can have it.” She smiled up at him then looked at Angel as they entered the kitchen.

  He agreed after making sure that it was in fact what she wanted, then admitted that it had been years since he enjoyed a good pizza. “That's settled then, Angel...make it happen.” He smacked her bottom playfully then said that he would be back after a shower.

  Angel waited for Gio to click up the stairs before running to Morgan and hugging her. “I totally love you forever, and I'll order you the best pizza ever!” She laughed as he disappeared behind the far wall to call for their dinner. He popped out a few seconds later to ask what she liked on her pizza and she told him she wasn't too picky. “So everything?” he twirled his finger around in a circle.

  “Except those little fish. Anchovies...I don't want those,” they both giggled and Angel disappeared behind the wall again.

  She spent her few moments alone to catch up on her messages, and smiled to herself when she read one from Tanner. Have I mentioned that I miss you? She smiled as she tucked the phone back into her pocked after a brief text in return, and brought her mind back to where she was.

  Morgan played with PoPo while Angel made his phone call and a few minutes later Gio came down the stairs to join them in the kitchen. “PoPo, no! Bad bird,” Giovani pulled his hands away quickly from around Morgan's waist. For the second time, the bird had acted territorial of Morgan and ran across the island's counter top to bite his owner on the hand.

  “Aw, you're not bad,” the giggling girl held her hand out and PoPo waddled over to her quickly, taking her offer. “You just like girls more don't you?” The beautiful blue bird dipped his body in response, dancing on her fingers as
she lifted her hand to her shoulder. After a few “kiss PoPo's” the bird got bored and flew over to Angel for his attention.

  The doorbell rang as he landed on Angel's shoulder. “Not uh. You go play. Go play PoPo, I have to get the pizza!” Angel stretched his arm in front of him and the bird shimmied sideways down to his hand. “Go to your room,” he lifted his hand quickly, giving the bird a lift and PoPo did as he was told. “I swear, that bird...” Angel mumbled under his breath as he left the kitchen to get the front door.

  “So, what do you want to do tonight? I can take you out, show you the night life. Or just go for a walk around town?” It was safe for Gio to wrap his arms around Morgan again and he rested his head on her shoulder as he whispered in her ear.

  “Well,” she turned her head, her lips only an inch from his, “I think I just want to stay here with you tonight. I just want to enjoy you and Angel and our last night together.”

  Gio hadn't thought about that. Only one more night. Shit. “We can do whatever you want,” he spoke against her neck and gave her a few soft kisses to go with it.

  Angel came around with two boxes of pizza and set them on the counter to grab some plates and napkins and Gio sat down next to Morgan and popped open the box.

  “Go for it,” he gestured toward the box and Morgan took the first slice. It was the best pizza, next to the pizza she had in Australia, that she had ever had.

  When Angel pulled out a slice, PoPo made his appearance again. “It's like he knows!” Morgan jumped back as the big bird landed on Angel's shoulder once more.

  “He knows you're going to take him with you!” Angel tried to pull his pizza away from the birds reach, but it was no use. PoPo got what PoPo wanted, and at that moment, he wanted an olive. “Jesus Christ, take him Morgan, please!”

  All of them laughed as Angel tried to zigzag his slice all over the air from a lunging Macaw. “You win. Take it.” Angel set the pizza down on his plate and the bird plucked off the rest of the olives and pineapple from the slice.

  The three of them enjoyed their treat together for a while, then Angel poured them each a drink; Moscato for Morgan, of course, and he disappeared to give them time alone. Although, Morgan had protested, saying she didn't mind that Angel enjoy the evening with them, he had gone upstairs anyway, taking his feathered friend with him.

  “So where are you headed next?” Moran pried, taking a large sip of her chilled beverage.

  “I've got to go back to Alaska actually. Yeah, I know,” he added when she made a yucky face.

  “Oh, I don't mean that Alaska is bad or anything. I just want to stick to warmer places for a little while. Rio is wonderful. The weather is perfect, the people seem friendly...even though I don't understand most of them,” they both giggled at the fact.

  “Ah, yes. I love it here. I wouldn't live anywhere else. Unless maybe if you were there,” he kissed her cheek and stood, grabbing her hand. “Walk with me?” She nodded and he took her hand and walked her through the wide glass doors that led to his back yard.

  “Wow...I didn't even look back here. This. Is. Amazing.” Morgan's jaw dropped slightly at the array of beauty in front of her. A rainbow of colorful flowers were laid out as far as she could see. Tall flowers, short flowers, big flowers, tiny flowers, red, blue, purple.... “Gio, this is beautiful.”

  “This isn't what I wanted to show you. Come with me,” he pulled her hand and she followed him again. They walked along a brick path through the flowers, and in the distance, Morgan could see a large building. Greenhouse? As they got closer, she wasn't so sure.

  “No...this isn't...” she could see little shadows moving around under the the semi-transparent glass.

  “It is...” Gio opened the door of the glass building and they entered a small room that had another set of doors leading to the main attraction.

  “Gio, oh my God! There's got to be five thousand butterflies in here!” Morgan couldn't shut her mouth. In front of her was a scene that looked like it had been taken right out of a lush rainforest. The building had a ceiling of thirty feet and there were trees just as tall. Swinging branches, large boulders, even a waterfall coming from a handmade rock wall in the rear. To each of her sides was a line of three benches and at the end of each of those was a nectar plant to draw in the delicate insects. “This one looks like an eye!” Morgan held her hand up in which a little black butterfly with yellow striping had landed. On the center of its wings, the stripes formed an eye shape with bright blue dots in the middle.

  “Ah, yes, it does doesn't it?” He had spent hours, even days in the butterfly garden, reflecting, thinking. Of course, he had seen that type of butterfly a million times but he had never thought of it as looking as an eye. He appreciated her young mind, and he wished that he had the ability to slow things down and see the world like that.

  He went on to tell her about how the garden had come to be. It used to be a green house, and over the years, butterflies would find their way inside. The attendants found them to be a nuisance more than anything, but when they asked Gio if they could exterminate them, Gio had decided on not only keeping the butterflies, but importing many, many more. He changed the green house to what it was then, a big beautiful butterfly garden. “I get more enjoyment out of these little guys than I ever did a stupid plant.”

  Morgan nodded with understanding. She had never seen so many butterflies in one place. “I like butterflies more than plants too,” she smiled up at him sweetly.

  “I've got another surprise for you,” he took her hand for the third time and led her to the back of the 'rainforest'. When they came to the waterfall, Gio took a left and walked behind it. She had no idea what else was in store...what could possibly top that?

  “Another surprise?” she questioned. Morgan was unsure why he was taking her to the back of the room when everything to see was in the front.

  She let out a little gasp when she realized where they were going. In the rock wall, behind the waterfall was a door; one that blended in perfectly with the gray rock. “Open it,” Gio instructed.

  Morgan's cheeks had become sore from the permi-grin she had plastered on her face and she rubbed the sides of her face, “I can't stop smiling!” She giggled and nervously opened to the latch on the circular door and after a quick look at her client, she ducked and walked through the entrance. On the other side was a small room similar to the first. Obviously another room to stop anything from escaping. Morgan waited for the handsome Brazilian to come through, and together they pushed the plastic door to the next big room to the side and walked through.

  An aviary. “You see why I have to keep them separated,” Gio joked about the birds and the butterflies.

  “I don't even have words right now,” Morgan walked forward and put her hand under a small green parrot that immediately climbed on her finger. That piqued interest for the other birds and within seconds, Morgan's arms were covered in thirty birds of every color. She couldn't do anything but giggle. Most were parrots of some type, of different sizes and colors, but there were also tiny birds. Those didn't care much for human interaction, but their music through the big building was beautiful.

  They spent the next hour in the aviary, and Gio told her about each of the birds. Their kind, their personality, and some of them even had a special story. Like Rosa, who had one leg and one eye, due to a fight with another bird in the wild, but was one of the sweetest birds he had. Many of them were rescue birds, and Gio had hired the best caregivers he could find to give them round the clock attention and care.

  “Thank you so much for showing me this, Gio. This all is absolutely amazing!” When he had corralled all of the birds off of her body, Morgan thanked him and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a long hug and a longer kiss.

  “No, thank you for coming here, Morgan. I'm glad it was you.”

  “It's been my pleasure. Now, how about some dessert?”

  *****

  Shit. I never called Ju
lianne! When they got home from the bakery, where Morgan had enjoyed some Brazilian nut bread with some hot coffee, she went upstairs to change and the flashing phone in her bag caught her attention.

  Everyone and their mother had sent her a text, but the ones she had to focus on first were those from her boss. Morgan felt awful for completely neglecting to let Julianne know her plans and desperately hoped that the older woman wouldn't be upset with her. She tried to call her boss, but got voice mail. It was three AM in Ohio, and that made the young girl feel even worse. Great job, Morgan. How about you just wait until morning and call her with thirty seconds to spare.

  Morgan couldn't calm her nerves enough to speak on the phone, figuring she would only end up apologizing too many times and embarrass herself. Instead, she decided on a text message. Julianne, sorry for not getting with you sooner. I am taking a few days off and going to see Tanner. Are there any men in Australia for Friday?

  “Hope that's good enough,” Morgan set her phone back in her bag and changed into a comfy pair of shorts and went downstairs to meet her two friends.

  Chapter Nine

  “Kiss PoPo!” Morgan's eyes flew open from a sound sleep to see her feathered friend mere inches from her face. PoPo was sitting on her chest, demanding some morning lip action from his new girlfriend.

  “No! PoPo.....you're too loud!” She pulled the pillow over her face which gave the bird another perch to screech his demands from.

  “Kiss!”

  “Angel!” Gio rolled over and put his arm out, trying to coax PoPo from Morgan's pillow.

  Angel ran into the room and stopped next to Morgan's side of the bed, and he put his arm out over the front of the pillow. PoPo eagerly ran up Angel's arm where he proceeded to kiss the man loudly as they left the room.