Chapter 9
Wizard
I watch her walk away, admiring her fine ass. Those pants hug her every curve. The private dining room I reserved comes with private bathrooms. The moment I hear the click, I flag our server and hand him the card. And tell him to give himself a twenty-five percent tip.
“Mr. Hurl picked up the food. He said to tell you Tully’s sister had a girlie emergency. He gave me a generous tip.”
“Good, you can have both tips. Please hurry before she gets done.”
“Yes, sir.”
True to his word, the server came back less than a minute later, final receipt in hand. I signed his copy and put mine away. He hurries away, closing the door behind him as Charlie emerges from the bathroom.
She rushes to the table, phone in hand. “Can we get that to go? The girls are fighting. Ma says she needs me.”
“We can. Let’s go.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
A few minutes later, we’re walking hand in hand to the sled. I unlock the luggage and hand her a helmet.
“Let me give you my address.”
“I have all your info.”
“Oh, right,” she says with a laugh.
We make it to her house in record time. I didn’t speed that much. I’d never endanger the precious cargo on the back of my bike.
The more time I spend around her, the more time I want to spend around her. I turn off the engine before we get there and coast in, pulling into the shadows.
“A moment before you go in?” I ask as she dismounts.
She takes off her helmet and waits for me. I take mine off, laying it on the seat before stepping into her space. I gently cup her face in one hand, placing the other in the small of her back. I look from her lips to her eyes, asking permission. She gives a slight nod of her head. My lips descend on hers. The kiss is soft at first as I revel in the feel of her lips on mine. I’ve wanted to kiss her from the first moment I met her. She moans and opens to me. I run my tongue along the open seam before slipping it inside and tasting her. It’s my turn to moan.
Charlie molds herself to me. I draw her closer, slipping my arm around her waist and lift her. She wraps her legs around my waist as the kiss continues. Consuming us. The front porch light turns on. Charlie scrambles down. I offer her my hand and walk her to the door.
“I’d like another date. And please call me Damian when we’re alone.”
“I’ll do that, Damian. Time for me to go into the lion’s den.”
“Call me if you want or need to talk.”
Charlie
THE DOOR OPENS AND a blank-faced Pops looks out. This doesn't bode well. Pops steps out.
“I’ll be in shortly. Please wait for me to start, neonata.”
“Of course, Pops. I’ll grab the whip and chair and keep them in their corners until your arrival.”
Pops pulls me in for a quick hug and kisses the top of my head. I straighten my shoulders and head inside, stopping in the kitchen to grab a grape Nehi. After opening it and tossing the cap in the recycle bin, I take a deep breath and head into the family room.
Ma is sitting on the couch in between Lucia and Francesca. Veronica is in a side chair, arms crossed, a pout marring her beautiful face. As soon as they saw me, they all start speaking at once.
I let them go on for a couple of minutes. I need to give Pops a few minutes. A loud whistle pierces the air. The girls immediately stop talking. Pops comes in, putting an arm around my shoulders and guiding me to the love seat.
Wizard
POPS SURPRISES ME BY walking me to my sled.
“I need your phone,” Pops says.
I take it out of my back pocket and hand it to him. He fiddles with it for a minute and hands it back.
“Now we have each other's numbers. Take care of my neonata. Her ex doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air. He’s got Valentina tied up in knots.”
Pops walks away cursing Roger Caruso, aka JR. Two minutes later, my phone rings. It's Pops. It takes a few seconds to realize he’s called so I can listen in to the meeting.