Chapter Four #2
“For real?” Clarissa asked.
He saw the excitement in her eyes.
Lorenzo chuckled and grabbed her hand, using any excuse to touch her. He wanted to touch her every change he got.
“This is incredible,” she said.
They walked into the shop together, and caring husband that he was, he grabbed a large shopping cart, allowing Clarissa to explore.
He followed close behind, watching her as she reached out, touching the fabric.
He didn’t know if she was going to enjoy this shopping trip, but as she started to gather rolls of fabric, he knew he’d hit the jackpot.
Lorenzo took the rolls of fabric from her and placed them into the cart. After about twenty minutes, and nearly five rolls, a woman offered to take them, asking how much fabric Clarissa would like.
He stayed silent, just watching, admiring, and knowing he was making Clarissa happy. She was not done with the fabrics, and he was content to take the fabric rolls over to the woman. Once Clarissa was done, she returned to the main table and asked for the required amounts.
In all the time he’d known her, Clarissa had never appeared outgoing, or someone who was overconfident. Watching her today, in her element, he realized there was a lot more to Clarissa and the simple fact was, he hadn’t even begun to explore it.
Their families had gotten in the way, and that fucking business deal, and just the fact he didn’t know the first thing about being a married man. This was all completely new.
Once Clarissa was done with the fabric, she made her way around the shop, looking at buttons, zips, and other little trinkets. She grabbed something called a seam ripper, which he had become acquainted with when he was sewing with her.
When they got to the counter, Clarissa and the woman were enjoying a very long conversation about patterns, and the latest trends.
Lorenzo was more than happy to pay, and then carry the multiple bags outside the shop.
Of course, this wasn’t over, and he took them to the trunk of the car, where his men unloaded his arms.
He took Clarissa to two more shops in the area, and she was just as giddy in each one.
Once again, talking with the staff or owners as she shopped.
Lorenzo marveled at this side of Clarissa.
Her cheeks were flushed from all the excitement, and he couldn’t bring himself to look away.
He found her growing more attractive with every passing second.
She was stunningly beautiful, and she stole his breath away.
The car was completely loaded up, and they were sharing bags in the front seat, but Lorenzo didn’t want it to be over.
Rather than go back to the hotel, he called ahead to one of the restaurants in Diego’s territory that was run by the Colombo Mafia. It was a cute Italian place that had the most delicious food, including the best meatballs and pizza.
They had a small booth, and he pulled out Clarissa’s chair, refusing to allow the ma?tre d’ to do that job for him. No one was going to do any job for him, when it came to protecting his woman. Only him.
“Have you enjoyed today?” he asked.
Clarissa’s smile was wide, and her eyes were aglow. “I absolutely loved it. Were you bored?”
“Hell, no, I loved watching you, and I cannot wait to see what you plan to make. You make all your own clothes, don’t you?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, my parents weren’t thrilled. So, some of my wardrobe does have brands they found acceptable.”
He wrinkled his nose. “If you don’t want them, bag them up and we’ll donate them.”
“You’re being serious?”
“Yeah, you’re my wife, and if you don’t want to wear any branded products and just the clothes you make, do so.”
“But, aren’t you worried what other people might say?”
“Do I look like the kind of guy who gives a fuck what other people will say?”
She opened her mouth and closed it. “I don’t know.”
“You were the prettiest bride, Clarissa, and we both know you made that dress.” He winked at her. “Come on, live dangerously. How long has it been since you went shopping like you did today?” he asked.
“Five years ago. My grandma took me on my sixteenth birthday before she passed away.”
Shit, fuck, he was not expecting that as an answer.
“You’ve not been since?”
She shook her head.
He didn’t want to lose their momentum. “Your grandmother was a good woman. Feisty, and she was so used to having her own way.”
Clarissa started to laugh and nodded her head. “Oh my, yes, she did. I can’t believe, yeah, wow. All the time. I’m sure everyone was afraid of her, because she would get this look in her eye that just ... yeah, you either did as you were told, or you were in trouble. She was a fiery one.”
He smiled toward her. “You miss her?”
“So much.”
He reached across the table, holding her hand. “I’m glad I was able to get to know her, and that she refused to let me just wing it with your sewing room.”
Clarissa laughed. “I still can’t believe she came to you with that and told you what to do.” She chuckled. “That must have been a request you were not expecting.”
“It wasn’t. There was no way I was going to deny her, though. You meant a great deal to her.”
Clarissa nodded.
Silence fell between them, but it was interrupted quite quickly with the waiter bringing their food. There was candlelight, and it cast a soft glow between them.
“They’re the only ones who were willing to be patient with me after it happened,” she said, looking up. “My parents wanted to send me to some kind of hospital, and it was my grandma who said I didn’t need a hospital. I just needed some patience.”
“Did you ever talk to them about what happened?” Lorenzo asked.
“No. I’ve not talked to anyone, just mentioned it to the girls,” Clarissa said.
He reached across the table, and part of him expected her to pull away, but she didn’t, she held onto him. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.