by Tanya Vought
“Excuse me, Gracelynn. Do you think you could wipe the drool off your face now and let us in or would you rather I let the other rats here see you in the morning with your beautiful pajamas?”
With that comment, she allows them in, grabs a few items of clothing and runs into the nasty bathroom to change without saying a word to Gio.
* * *
Wow. That went better than Gio expected. Gracelynn was so surprised that he and Holly were outside her door. He can’t believe how sexy she looked with that interesting bed ensemble she was wearing and those pink, fuzzy socks. She looks beautiful first thing in the morning, even with her crazy bed hair.
He laughs, wondering why ladies always take things so literally. “Gracelynn, come on sweetheart!” he yells. “I was just teasing you. You know that I’d never let anyone see you almost naked… or naked for that matter. Please come out and enjoy breakfast with Holly and I before it gets cold. Oh by the way, the breakfast is from Kat. She told me what you liked and so all this amazing food is from her.” He hopes this will get her out of the bathroom, at least.
She doesn’t reply, so he gets up and stands outside the bathroom door.
“Gracelynn, I loved the pajamas and the pink socks. Don’t feel like you need to change on my account.” He laughs, trying to let her know he’s not serious. When he still doesn’t get a reply, he goes over to the disgusting table where he placed their food.
“Come on, Holly. Let’s get you some breakfast since Miss Prissy Pants isn’t going to eat with us, so guess we’ll just start without her.” Giovanni starts feeding Holly when Gracelynn appears out of the bathroom. She’s wearing a beautiful white-collared sweater with three brown buttons at the top that fold over, nice jeans and those pink fuzzy socks, which makes him smile. Her hair is still a bit crazy but he likes it regardless.
She walks towards him, places her hand on his shoulder and tingles radiate down his arm.
“I’m sorry. I was so embarrassed you saw me in my old ratty pajamas. I’m glad you brought me breakfast but I freaked out a bit when I realized where I was, afraid someone would see me. I shouldn’t doubt you. I know you wouldn’t let anyone see me that way. You make me feel safe… which manages to scare me for some weird reason.” She looks defeated, placing her arms on the table and dropping her head on her arms. “I don’t know you but at the same time it feels like I’ve known you forever. You seem real to me, just like Angelo did and it scares me so much.”
Giovanni doesn’t know what to say. He’s shocked by her words and yet at the same time, he completely gets what she’s saying. He too feels like he has known her longer than only a few days. To think it was just a few days ago that he rescued her. He leans towards her. “I would never let anyone see you in a compromising situation, ever. I would never let anyone hurt or disrespect you either. You deserve to be treated with love, kindness and respect, just like the angel you are.”
That comment gets her to look up at him with sadness in her eyes, a look that is completely vulnerable.
He hands her a few breakfast items and a coffee and sets them in front of her.
She smiles while eating the food placed in front of her.
She’s a truly remarkable woman. One he never expected to meet. “These last few days have been wonderful,” he says to her. “Despite all the weird situations and the news we discovered, I enjoy your company, and so does Holly. Don’t you, girl?” Upon hearing her name, Holly comes over and sits next to Giovanni, waiting for him to give her a bit of his blueberry muffin that Kat packed for them. “No begging, girl. I just gave you your breakfast. Go lay down.” Holly leaves and drops down right in front of the motel door. She looks like she’s protecting the two most precious people in her life.
“I enjoy your company too, Gio,” Gracelynn says while eating her breakfast. “By the way, where did you find Holly? She’s a wonderful dog.”
Giovanni smiles, remembering the day he found Holly. He came home from work and when he came back, found a little puppy on his porch. He put an ad out in the paper and on the streets with the dog’s picture and info. No one responded back to the ads and he didn’t want to put her in SPCA. So he kept her but he didn’t know what to call her and then Holly just came to him. She brought much happiness to his life after his loss and Lizzie’s deception.
“Are you still with me?” Gracelynn shakes his shoulder while Holly barks at him, disrupting him from his thoughts.
He looks at the two of them, who both look worried. “Girls, I’m okay. I was remembering when I first found Holly and all the stuff that happened after that. To answer your question, Holly was on my doorstep one day and I put an ad in the paper about her, but no one came forward to claim her and she’s been my baby ever since.”
They continue to have small talk until Giovanni realizes what time it is. He doesn’t want to go, but he has to. He looks around this disgusting motel room and hates that Gracelynn wants to stay here. He’s glad Holly will be here to protect her though. He stands up and pushes his chair under the table. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” He goes to Holly and rubs her belly. He tells Gracelynn how much food to give her and then asks if he can give her a hug before leaving.
“Please be careful. I don’t like you staying here,” he whispers while he hugs her. “I loathe this place. Besides, the people running it out front when I came in didn’t look too delightful.”
She smiles and hugs him back. “Holly will be here the whole time and will protect me if anything should happen, which I’m sure it won’t.” She let’s go of him and he immediately misses her arms around him. Her being in his arms feels like home.
He grabs the pink carnation and hands her a little note. He goes to the door and tells Holly to protect Gracelynn and to stay guard at her door. As he is about to leave he smiles at Gracelynn.
“See you in two days. I look forward to getting to know you better when I return. Thank you for taking care of my girl until I get back.” He winks at them and leaves the room without a backwards glance knowing that if he does, he’ll want to stay, but work calls and he needs to do something other than fantasize about being with Gracelynn day and night.
* * *
Gracelynn watches him leave and feels sad. How can this man, who she’s known for less than a week, make her feel so safe? Maybe it’s because he rescued her in the snow and provided for her and protected her when she needed him? Or maybe it’s because he’s Angelo’s brother and despite them not being able to grow up together, they both know how to treat and respect a lady? Whatever it is, she’s so happy that despite everything that happened and the upsetting news she and Giovanni learned about Angelo, she still wants to know more about Gio. They could become good friends, even when she has to go back home. She sniffs the carnation and smiles. He’s such a nice man. Then she glances at the note.
Gracelynn,
I can’t say thank you enough for watching Holly. In this short time we’ve known you, you’ve become someone special to both Holly and I. I hope that in the two days I’m gone she’ll be a good girl for you. I can’t wait to get back and for us to talk and get to know one another better. I don’t want to replace Angelo. I don’t. I just want to be someone in your life now and hope that you can call us friends.
If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll leave you my work phone number and the direct line to the hotel should you need me. Again, call me anytime you need me.
Giovanni
Wow. She can’t believe he wrote her the sweetest little note. He really is a kind man…but not seeing him for two days will do her some good. She can’t just go and fall for the first guy she meets. And maybe she’ll have some time to look around this wonderful town.
She’s happy Ben and Cassie made her go on this trip. Already, it’s been a trip she’ll never forget.
She yawns and decides she should try to get some more sleep after her abrupt awakeni
ng this morning. She calls Holly over, and they both fall fast asleep.
* * *
Giovanni is distraught that he had to leave Holly and Gracelynn in that gruesome place they call a motel. He didn’t like the way the two men in the front of the motel were acting. Something about them seemed off when he asked for Gracelynn’s room. He hopes they stay clear of his girls or they’ll pay when he gets back. He wanted to give her a carnation and wanted to leave her a little note behind to let her know that he was thankful, truly thankful that she is now in his and Holly’s life. She’s obviously not up for a relationship right now, and he wasn’t either, but now he can see more than a friendship with her. She seems like the real deal, a woman with kindness, compassion, spunk, sass and probably a real sexy gal when you got to know her. He wants to pursue a relationship with her. They should be friends first though. He knows that may be hard but knowing that Angelo was her husband and his brother will probably most likely keep it that way, despite the way he feels when she’s near or when she looks at him or when she touches him. It’s a feeling that he’s never experienced before. He wants to protect her, because of what Angelo asked, but also for himself.
He drives back to the office, grabs his items and calls for a taxi to drive him to the airport. He can’t wait to get these conferences over with and come back home and see more of Gracelynn.
Chapter 16
GRACELYNN STRETCHES HER ARMS above her head and feels heat beside her. She smiles, reaches out and rubs Holly’s stomach. Holly stretches, licks Gracelynn’s hand and wags her tail.
Since it’s three pm, Gracelynn decides to take Holly outside for a walk and see what else this beautiful town has to show her.
She gets out of bed, grabs her keys, phone and Holly’s leash. As soon as she sees the leash, Holly acts all excited, and runs to the door. When Gracelynn applies the collar, Holly grabs the front part of the leash and puts it in her mouth, happy to go. It makes Gracelynn laugh.
They leave the motel without any issues. Holly walks right beside her, acting all normal until she starts barking when they’re outside. Gracelynn notices a park off to the right. “What’s the matter, girl? You want us to go to the park?” Holly barks again and Gracelynn knows her answer. For the next hour they both walk through the park, enjoying the scenery and nature. Gracelynn wishes she had her camera to capture all the beauty. They start walking back and head towards the sign that shows the café and a few other places to dine.
* * *
Giovanni makes it to his hotel, completely exhausted. He kept thinking about Gracelynn and wishing he could get out of this trip somehow. Something doesn’t feel right. He senses something bad will happen while he’s away. He keeps rubbing his bracelet and it makes him smile knowing that Gracelynn has one too. He wonders when he should let her know that Anne is his grandmother and hopes she won’t be mad he kept it from her.
He looks out of the window of his office, wishing he knew what Gracelynn and Holly were doing. He’s never been a worrisome man before; but with Gracelynn he doesn’t like having her away from him, especially since Angelo asked him in the letter to watch over her and protect her.
He decides to text Gracelynn while he waits for his managers to come into the boardroom.
Gio: Hey! I made it to my hotel safely. I hope Holly is doing her job.
Only a few seconds later, a message comes in.
Gracelynn: I’m so glad you made it to your hotel. Holly & I are great. Went to the park & I loved it. I wish Ben and Cassie packed my camera. The scenery was magnificent.
He smiles, deciding he’ll buy her a camera and gift it to her when he returns. He knows exactly what park she went to and wants to take her there again himself. She’ll definitely need a camera to capture her memories from her vacation.
Gio: I believe I know the park you’re referring to. I’d love to take you when I get back.
He wipes his brow, suddenly nervous. He hopes that he didn’t push himself on her and hopes she understands what he meant.
A few minutes go by and he finally gets another message.
Gracelynn: I’d love for you to take us. Holly & I didn’t stay long. I forgot to say thank you for my carnation. Thank you so much. Xxx’s
Gio: You’re welcome. I look forward to seeing you soon, doll. Xxx’s
Talking with Gracelynn has him in a good mood, smiling even. He sets down his phone and waits for his staff to enter.
The rest of the evening is spent with them going over corporate lingo, sales, issues, complaints, you name it. It’s boring, and he misses Gracelynn more than he thought possible.
His staff starts to get hungry and he offers to take them to the bar downstairs since he owns the hotel and offers free food and drinks on the house.
As his staff heads out without him, he gathers all his paperwork and decides to text Gracelynn.
Gio: Just checking in and hoping all is going well.
He gets a text back almost right away.
Gracelynn: All is well. Holly & I are charming like always and were getting hit on all day.
Now, that makes him furious. He doesn’t know if she is serious or not but doesn’t like knowing people are checking her out.
Gio: Who checked you out? Care to elaborate?
Gracelynn: Chuckles, no. But don’t worry your irresistible little head over it. I’m teasing & am glad to see I can get your boxers in a bunch.
Man he loves her feisty, crazy personality. She makes him laugh and love life more than anyone else he’s ever met.
Gio: Well, who says I wear boxers?
Gracelynn: Who says I’m wearing any underwear at all?
What? Whoa. Calm down boy. Don’t think bad thoughts. Don’t think bad thoughts.
Gio: Lucky Holly. Bet she just loves all that.
Gracelynn: Why yes she is. She loves it and told me to walk out of the motel this way.
Gio: Don’t you ever got out of the motel looking like that. That’s not for everyone to see.
Gracelynn: What do you mean not for everyone to see? You saying they wouldn’t like what I would show them?
Oh my God. This conversation can’t keep happening over text. He has to call her.
“Hello, Mr. Irresistible,” she says, answering the phone right away. It’s in a sexy seductive manner that instantly has him worked up more than before.
He clears his throat. “You know you shouldn’t be naked or running around naked in that nasty infested motel.” He hates that she’s staying there, but loves her independence and wanting to do something on her own.
“Well, Gio, I thank you for giving me your take on this situation. I’m sure that you’ve seen way better bodies than mine anyways, so what’s it to ya?” she says rather sarcastically.
Oh really. What game does she think she’s playing here? He runs his left hand through his hair and decides he can play dirty too.
“How about if I said I was going to go outside my hotel and streak people? Would you like other women seeing this irresistible handsome body?” He hopes she’ll become jealous and even though he’s never liked jealous women, he wants her to be that way.
“Um, I guess if you’d like to be arrested, by all means go for it. I’m sure there’s nothing there for the gals to see anyways.”
He laughs and quickly abandons the crazy topic of either of them streaking. “I have to go,” he tells her. “We’ll talk tomorrow, alright?”
He gathers his paperwork, smiling because he knows Gracelynn and Holly are all right. He’s thrilled to go downstairs and hang loose with the fellas for the night.
Chapter 17
GRACELYNN WAKES UP TO HOLLY licking her face and whining for her to take her outside. She grumbles but gathers her shoes and takes Holly out. When she comes back in, she crawls right back into bed and sleeps some more, with Holly right by her side.
Grace
lynn wakes up at ten am, feeling refreshed. She glances down to see Holly holding her paw on her leg. This dog and Giovanni give her such peace that she had the best sleep in years. They offer a calming embrace in her goal of finding her inner peace.
She gets up off the bed. “Come on Holly. Let’s call Kat and see what she’s up to today. Maybe she can go shopping with us? What do you say, girl?”
Holly starts wagging her tail, which Gracelynn takes as an approval.
Gracelynn calls Kat and finds out Kat is off work today and would love to go shopping with them. They arrange to meet at the café at noon.
Several hours later, Gracelynn pulls up to the café and after parking the car, walks over to Kat, who is standing outside the café.
Kat suggests they walk downtown so Gracelynn can visit all the shops she missed the other day. After walking for a while, they come across a boutique with stylish dresses on the mannequins. Kat insists Gracelynn needs to try on a green, backless dress they spot on one of the mannequins. Gracelynn agrees and the two girls and Holly enter the store.
They look for the dress and Gracelynn goes to try it on. When she comes out of the dressing room, Kat is speechless. “You totally need to buy that dress. It looks amazing on you.”
“Do you think?” Gracelynn turns to look at herself in the mirror. She looks stunning. She never thought she could look like that!
“Yes,” Kat says. “I’ll go find you some matching shoes.” Seconds later, she finds some amazing, black high-heeled shoes. Gracelynn purchases both the dress and shoes and thanks the lady behind the counter before leaving the store.
Gracelynn’s stomach rumbles as they continue to walk down the street.
Kat chuckles at the noise. “Hungry much?”
”I guess so!”
Kat leads them to a small diner where they order a BLT, chicken noodle soup and raspberry tea. Gracelynn also orders a little something for Holly.
