by Theda Vallee
“How am I going to get out of here with my ass hanging out?” I felt the rumble of his laughter roll through my body. “You can laugh all you want, but seriously? How am I going to walk out of here?”
“Stay put for a second. I have a solution.”
I stayed deathly still. His arms moved from my waist as he stepped back an inch. A few seconds later, his arms wrapped back around my waist holding the sleeves of his gray shirt. Tying it into a knot, he stepped back again.
“There all covered up. I suppose bowling is out of the question?” I turned to find him in a white undershirt with a hopeful expression plastered on his face.
“Hey, I know you!” Bob’s disgusting voice echoed off the ceiling as he shouted at us from three lanes away.
“We need to go. Now,” I said my voice quivering.
“Etta, you’re pale. Did you hurt yourself? What’s the matter?”
I ignored him, turning to grab my purse from the bench. I scooped up my borrowed heels ready to make a hasty retreat.
I was too late. Bob stood at the end of our lane glaring at me. Shit.
“You better watch out, buddy. This one’s a man-eater. Aren’t you, sweetheart?” Bob said, licking his lips like I was a pork chop dinner.
Magic flooded my body remembering our last encounter. It may sound weird, but it knew who Bob was, and it really wanted another piece of him.
“Entitled pricks who try to force themselves on ladies do tend to have a problem with me, but everyone else loves me. I suggest you step aside. Unless you really want matching arm slings,” I said with all the sass I could muster. I wasn’t going to let this asshole see I was afraid of him.
“Here? What are you going to do here? You ain’t got the balls to do anything here in front of everyone. You strega are all alike. Hiding in the shadows, waiting for the moment when a man’s guard is down. You’re cowards. That’s how I know you won’t do anything here.” He stepped forward until his face was inches from mine. He was right. What could I do in a bowling alley full of people, especially knowing the Osservatori were in town?
“Hey, you need to step back a few feet, buddy.” Luc’s massive hand cupped Bob’s shoulder edging him away from me. “Etta, go ahead and start walking. This man isn't going to do anything foolish, now are you?”
I turned to leave but I was almost knocked off my feet, again. Bob’s hand was intertwined in my hair for the second time in so many weeks. What was with this guy and pulling hair? I may not be able to use my magic, but I sure as hell wasn't going to let him get away with this. I twisted my body around until I was facing him. My braid a tangled wad in his fist. It felt like it was going to be parted from my scalp. I didn't care. I smiled and winked at Bob enjoying the confused look that crossed his face. My arm slid back as far as it could go before I let my fist slam into his already damaged nose. He let go of me with a yelp of pain. Blood sprayed out his nose like a sprinkler, covering the expensive blouse I was wearing.
“Bitch!” Bob stood next to the ball return, howling. Blood seeped from his fingers, dripping all over the balls as they made their way back from their journey to the pins.
Luc took ahold of my elbow before I was able to savor my victory. He moved me out of the bowling alley at a brisk pace. His face tightened into an unreadable mask. He seemed unhappy with what had just happened. Not that I blamed him. Bob had once again ruined a perfectly lovely evening.
“How the hell do you know a guy like that? Is he an ex-boyfriend or something?” Luc exploded once we finally found his car.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why would I ever date some nasty piece of slime like that? Does it matter how I know him? He’s a horrible human being. End of story.” I sputtered indignantly.
“Seriously, Etta, why was he so intent on you? Do we need to call the police?” He was inches from my face peering at me with laser focus.
“He was at the club the other night. He cornered me in the parking lot. He pulled my hair then too.” I reached up to rub the sore spot on my head. How had he managed to get almost the exact same spot? “He wanted to take more than I was giving.”
“He attacked you? What did he do to you? Did you file a police report?” Luc fired questions at me without stopping to catch his breath.
“Calm down. Nothing happened. He tried to drag me to his car, but I stopped him.”
“You did that too him? His face, the arm, and the head? What are you? A boxing champion? How could you manage to do that?” His eyes bore into me.
“We wrestled around. I hit him. He was really drunk. At some point he tripped over one of those concrete parking things. The ground did most of the damage.” It was only a partial lie. The ground had done most of the damage. Granted his face had met the ground because of my magic, but that was a minor detail.
“What was he calling you? You seemed to know the word. Strega? What the hell is that?”
“It means witch. He called me that the other night too. I have no idea why. It probably helps soothe his bruised ego to think the only way a woman could beat him is if she had supernatural powers.” This was getting a little too close to the truth for comfort. “Why are you grilling me? I’m the one who had this jerk attack me twice. I did nothing except say no to him. That’s not a crime. Can you take me home, please?”
“I’m not upset with you. I’m worried. That guy really seemed to want to hurt you,” he said, turning from me in frustration, slamming his fists on top of the car.
“Please just take me home.” I was not in the mood to hear anything else he had to say. He’d just turned into all the other assholes I’d ever known. I was so done.
He opened the door to the car waiting for me to climb in. I tucked the shirt securely under my rear before sliding in. The last thing I wanted to do was have my butt stick to his leather seats. This night was already ending awkwardly. We were silent on the drive home. The fun boy who’d joyously showed off his car was replaced with a sullen man. At least I’d found out that there was something not so perfect about him. I should’ve known he was too good to be true. “It looks like we’re here,” Luc announced as he eased into a spot near the bakery. “Do you live in the bakery?”
“Sure, we pull out our beds and a TV after we close for the day.” I was not in the mood for small talk.
“I didn't think you lived in the actual bakery.”
“We live above it. It’s not much but it’s home sweet home. Thank you. I had a good night until the end.” I turned to get out of the car, hoping he got the signal that I wasn’t open to further conversation.
“Here let me get the door for you.” He uncurled his body from the car quickly coming around before I could get the door open.
“Etta, please just give me a second. I want to apologize.” He stood blocking me against the car.
“Fine. I’m not sure what you can say to make this better but go ahead and try.”
“I screwed up. That guy set me off. No one has the right to touch you without your say. I’m glad you punched him, but I wanted to be able to handle it for you. I felt terrible that I let him get ahold of your hair, and that you had to defend yourself. What kind of man am I to let that happen in front of me? It came out as anger, but really it was just frustration.”
Really? That’s what this was all about? I’d wounded his male ego.
“I took care of myself the other night when you weren't around. If you and I are going to ever see each other in the future, you need to understand, I’m not a damsel in distress.” I put my hand up pushing him out of the way. “I’m not waiting for a man to fix my life or to protect me. If I have someone in my life, we’re partners. Equal in everything, including fist fights with assholes in bowling alleys. If you can’t handle that, then thank you for dinner, and have a nice life.”
“I regressed to my caveman roots back there. There’s no excuse for it. I’m in awe of your ass-kicking abilities. You don’t need saving.” He ran his hand through his golden hair, in frustration. “I’d
like to do this again. I need a redo, so you can see I’m not that guy. I’m not perfect, but I’m not a total arse either. I seem to recall you wanted to test drive the car? I’m hoping that will be enough to tempt you into another date and perhaps grant me a pardon for my boorish behavior. I’m offering up my car. That has to show you how sincere I am.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. Between his sincere-sounding apology and the earnest look on his face, it was too much for me to resist. We all made mistakes, right? Perhaps he truly was remorseful about his momentary lapse into man baby city. I took out my phone pulling up his number on my contact list. I hit the call button and waited for his phone to ring.
“You saved my phone number?” He looked at me, raising an eyebrow.
“Only so I could cancel our date if I needed to. There, now you have my number. I might say yes if you ask me out again.” I decided I should leave with an air of mystery in my wake. Without another word, I turned to sashay down the walkway with the best booty shaking strut I could muster. The only thing detracting from it was the slight breeze that kept attempting to lift the shirt tied around my waist.
I felt his hand on my elbow before I made it to the door. He turned me towards him. I could see the laughter in his eyes. Underneath the laughter was something a little more. “I think you forgot my goodnight kiss.”
“I thought you said you were done being an ass?” I said with a grin.
“I feel like this might be worth it.”
The slight hitch in his breathing as he moved his face closer to mine, made my legs wobble. He wrapped his arms around me. His mouth enveloping mine, the velvet softness of his lips paralyzing me. I melted into his body, letting the fact that I was on the sidewalk in front of the bakery fade from existence. Time stopped. There was no beginning or end. Just now, in this delicious man’s arms. I felt myself responding to him like the tide answers to the moon. I was kissing him back whether I willed it or not.
I’d been kissed before, but this was different. Every molecule in my body fired to life. It was as if everything had been dormant, waiting for the right catalyst. Fire trickled through my veins fueled by the spark. Everything in me was alive. My magic slithered inside of me just underneath my skin, threading itself through my veins. A need I hadn’t even known existed, bubbled up from my core, threatening to consume me if I didn't satiate it.
His lips pressed deeper into me. Jolts of electricity played between our lips. Small zips of static tantalized our mouths, urging us to fuse deeper. A symphony of pleasure and pain echoing the thundering of my heart. His tongue pushed against my lips, demanding entry. I complied. My body would have revolted if I tried to stop it. His tongue burned a path through me. I wanted and needed to get closer. I was grinding my hips into his. I would have climbed into his body if I could. I wanted to possess him from the inside out.
Abruptly he pulled away. Everything that had been building in me suddenly plummeted to earth. Sweat beaded my forehead, as I tried to compose myself. I could see from Luc’s breathing, it had taken a monumental effort for him to stop. We moved apart slowly, neither of us wanting to.
“Goodnight, Etta. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He brushed a kiss against my forehead before briskly turning back towards his car.
I watched him walk away, stunned by what had just happened. That kiss had probably just ruined me for life. It was a life altering kiss. For the first time I truly understood what the word passion meant. If lip-locking with him felt that good, I couldn't even begin to fathom what sleeping with him would be like.
I made my way into the kitchen to find Nerina eating a bowl of ice cream. “What the hell happened to that shirt? O-M-G Etta, that’s an expensive blouse! I hope to hell it was worth it because Gia is going to kill you when she sees this.”
“You should see my ass.” Laughter rolled out of me in giddy waves. My first date in six years and I’d come home with a bloodied shirt, ripped pants and bruised knuckles. It was the first time I’d felt happy in a very long time. I was so totally going out with him again if he asked.
Chapter
6
“You act like I’m not gonna tell you. The second I know, all of you will know,” I said in exasperation. Like I could keep anything secret in this house.
“We just need plenty of time to take you shopping. In case you forgot, you’ve lost your borrowing privileges,” Gia advised me. Clearly, she was not going to forgive me for the ruined outfit.
“Wow, can we not let this go already? I said I was sorry!” Truthfully, I wasn't that sorry. It’d been worth it. Running into Bob had put a slight damper on the evening but that earth-shattering kiss more than made up for it. For the first time in years, a little kernel of hope had nestled itself inside of me.
Luc had called me the next day as promised. He’d asked me out again in the most adorably, awkward way. I’d said yes without hesitation. Now that I’d put myself out there, I was anxious for our next date to happen. Obviously, my family was feeling the same way. Some snags had come up for him at work over the last two weeks. Setting up the new branch of his company was a little more challenging than he’d expected. Hopefully things calmed down this week, so we could have our second date. I really wanted to drive his car.
“Hello? Etta? You still with us?” Nerina waved her hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I’d taken to staring off into space over the last few days. My imagination gleefully running away with possibility. I’d taken a few leaps into the world again. It felt good. Who knows maybe I’d join a book club or take some dance lessons. Everything seemed a little less terrifying than it had a few weeks ago. The world was just a little bit brighter.
“Get your hand out of my face.” I swatted her hand away.
“You’re not here. You’re making out with Luc on a beach in Bermuda. You’ve been lost in lustful thoughts ever since your date. You gonna try and get that “D” next time you go out?” she asked gesturing lewdly.
“Nerina, seriously stop. Obviously, that’s what she’s going to do, but we don’t need to make it a big deal or she’s going to get too nervous before their next date,” Gia said, trying to be helpful.
“Nope. You both need to stop. I’m not talking about this. Especially not on Easter Sunday. That just seems wrong.” I wasn't going to lie to myself and pretend I didn't fantasize about seeing him naked. And yes, I did want to jump on him and ride like a cowgirl all night long. However, I was NOT going to admit that to these two. They’d never shut up about it if I did.
I’d been put in charge of preparing the Easter meal this year. Nonna had morbidly pointed out she wasn't always going to be around, so one of us girls needed to know how to cook the traditional family meals. Part of me thought she used it as an excuse to keep me busy. Easter dinner was a big ordeal in our house. Almost as big as Christmas Eve. Wedding soup was simmering on the stove. The parmesan bread cubes for the soup were in the oven baking. Spaghetti sauce bubbled slowly on the back burner. My hands ached from rolling meatballs, but it was going to be worth it when we sat down to eat.
“How much longer? I’m starving. I should’ve eaten before mass,” Nerina whined, trying to distract me from the fact that she was stealing bread from the counter.
“Get out of it! Everything will be ready in twenty minutes! Why don’t you two make yourselves useful and set the table?”
“Fine, but I’m taking the bread basket with me.” She lunged for the basket.
“I don’t think so!” I snatched the basket off the counter, holding it over my head. Nerina was not tall enough to grab it from me but she was not one to accept defeat. I watched gleefully as she jumped in vain trying to reach it.
The back door seemed to burst at the seams as Aunt Sophia flew into the room. She was panting like she’d been running. What the hell could have happened? Aunt Sophia rarely even walked at a brisk pace, let alone run. She’d taken food to a sick neighbor. Maybe she thought she’d contracted whatever disease they had?
Her words came out in gasps as she tried to catch her breath. Raising her hand, she pointed at me. Terror printed across her face. She was prone to over-dramatizing but there was something in her eyes that told me that was not the case this time.
“Mamma, what’s the matter. Do we need to call 9-1-1?” Gia rushed to her mother’s side in a panic. She must have seen the same thing I did. “Someone get her some water.”
“No, no water. There’s no time. Etta, run. You have to run.”
“What you do you mean run? Run from what?” Gia asked holding onto Aunt Sophia’s shoulders to help steady her.
“They’re coming, Albert sent message. They’re coming for you tesoro mio. You have to run now!”
“Who is coming for my granddaughter? What nonsense are you babbling? What is the meaning of your words?” Nonna came into the kitchen alerted by Aunt Sophia’s dramatic entrance.
“There’s no time. The Osservatori are coming for Etta. Please run. Go to Albert, he can hide you until night. The vampiro’s can take you somewhere safe after.” Aunt Sophia gasped still straining to catch her breath.
We’d forgotten the Osservatori were still in town. Our guard had dropped slowly over the last couple of weeks as they continued to leave us alone. We’d decide it was a coincidence that they’d arrived into town the night I’d magic-punched Bob. Why would they be coming now?
“She can’t trust a vampiro to take her anywhere! They can barely control themselves most days. She’ll just be a vampire road-snack!” Nerina yelped.
I simply stood there. My feet glued to the floor. The bread bowl frozen in the air above my head. I should be running out the door. I’d sooner take my chances with the vampiro than the Osservatori.
“Why are the Osservatori coming? She’s done nothing wrong. We don't run when there is nothing to hide, unless there is something I don’t know?” Nonna looked at each of us in turn, waiting for our protest. As her eyes bore into each of us, fear flickered across her face for the first time I could remember. Our silence was answer enough. “What have you done, tesoro mio?”
