Chapter 17
Carina
Ijust finish putting a load in the washing machine when my phone rings. Excited, I run to it.
Could it be Rhett?
We parted ways a few hours ago, and already he’s sent a flurry of text messages.
It’s not my guy.
I pick-up. “Hey, Mani.”
“Hmph. Fake BFF.”
“Hey, I take offense to that, Veronica Mancini.”
“You’ve been sending me one-word text message replies,” Mani says. “Where the hell have you been? I thought you were in small town Texas, not Mars or Pluto.”
“Smart ass.” I laugh. “I’ve been busy.”
“The only valid reason for that excuse would be if you’ve been busy doing unspeakable things in a barn somewhere with a hot ranch hand.”
If you only knew.
“Hello? Are you still there, Carina?”
“I am.”
“Must be a bad connection. I said––”
“I heard what you said, Mani.”
“Let’s get on a video chat.”
“Okay.”
My phone rings a split second later. I tap the screen and I’m looking at her beautiful face. From the background, I can tell she’s at her place.
I gasp. “Holy shit, you’re so tanned.”
“Have you not been following me on social media?”
“Like I said, I’ve been busy.”
“Let me get back to that,” she says, narrowing her gaze.
“About my absolutely fabulous tan… the Bahamas was a dream. I didn’t do much other than enjoy the weather, the beach, the food, and island cocktails.
You got to love a good all-inclusive. Things have been so hectic at the company, I was too exhausted to consider a beach fling with a sexy stranger. ”
“I don’t believe a word you just said.”
“You know your life has hit rock bottom––or your priorities are screwed up––when you’re surrounded by fit men wearing nothing more than swim trunks, but you go to bed soon after the evening entertainment.” That’s so unlike her.
“Wow. Your dad has been working you hard.”
“He has,” she lets out a heavy sigh. “When I told him I wanted to learn the business from the ground up, I didn’t expect he would take it literally. In the month before I left for the Bahamas, I was in Italy twice to check up on vendors. Be careful what you wish for…”
“I still don’t know how you survived the jetlag.”
“Neither do I,” she says. “In any case, I desperately needed those ten days of holiday. Since my best friend is in small town USA, I had to take my cousin with me. It wasn’t the same, but it was still worth it.”
“You look well rested.”
“I am and I’m ready to get back into the swing of things.”
Veronica and I have been best friends since she moved into the neighborhood when we were both ten years old. Her natural dark-blonde hair and green eyes don’t give much of a clue to her ethnic background. Her mom is Swiss and her father is Italian American.
Alex Mancini owns a company that imports stone and ceramic tiles from Italy. Some of the biggest development companies and interior designers use their material. Along with her three older brothers, Mani works in the family business.
“So why haven’t you been in touch?”
Someone is a little bossy. “We’ve been in touch. We’ve been texting back and forth.”
“We talk all the time, but in the last two weeks it’s been radio silence.”
“Reminder, I was working long days at the Fort Worth locations.”
“That was last week.”
“I’ve been really busy since I got back to Summerville.”
“Busy doing what? Chopping too many onions?”
I roll my eyes. “Busy-busy.”
“Why are you so flushed?”
“Flushed?”
“Your cheeks.” She waves a finger at the screen. “They’re beet red.”
“Must be the heat.”
She narrows her eyes and brings the phone close to her face. “You look different.”
“You spent too many hours under the sun.”
“What are you keeping from me?”
I let out a bubbly laugh. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit!” She narrows her eyes again, but this time she squints sideways. “Does this have to do with a guy?” A hint of hope bleeds into her question.
Like Brenna, Mani never thought Stefano was good enough for me. While the rest of my family was pissed off at his betrayal, Mani was thanking God. She wanted to kill the cheating asshole, but she was relieved I still had a chance to find the one.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you even go there with me, Carina Callahan. We’ve known each other far too long for you to look me in the face and lie. Spill it. Who put that spark in your eyes?”
“It might have to do with a certain local boy.”
Her eyes go so wide, they practically take over her face. “He has a drawl?”
“Of course.”
“Cute?”
“Devastatingly handsome.”
“Tall?”
I nod.
“Older?”
“Only by a few years.”
“He has a full head of hair?”
“Silky, dark brown and thick.”
“Eye color?”
“God was undoubtedly behind that one. Dark green with specs of gold.”
She brings her hand to her heart. “Sweet baby Jesus.”
“I know.”
“Strong and muscular?”
“It goes without saying.”
“Butt?”
“Perfect. Round. All muscle and clad in Wranglers.”
“Really?”
I nod with pursed lips. “You won’t see too many men walking around with their jeans hanging from their knees, flashing their boxer briefs down here.”
“If you tell me he has a tight beard or a permanent 5 o’clock shadow, I might have to pack my belongings and fly down to Summerville.”
“Well, you better start packing fast.”
“Interesting.” She’s impressed. “Large hands?”
I cock an eyebrow in response.
“Large feet?” She’s a little cautious.
I nod.
“Do I have to ask?”
“The answer is, beyond large.”
Her head jerks back. “You’ve been riding a sexy cowboy’s huge cock?”
“Not quite.”
She knits her eyebrows together. “I’m confused.”
“More like, I’ve been fooling around with a hot country boy. That said, I saw said huge manhood with my own two eyes. I’ve touched said huge manhood and even had said huge manhood in my mouth… and between my boobs.”
Her jaw drops.
“I can’t even explain it. I barely know this guy, and already I’ve allowed him to do all sorts of dirty things to me… and I’ve done dirty things to him… some of them outdoors––”
“No way.”
I nod.
“No fucking way.”
I set the stage to my first date and fast forward to the good stuff. “A blow job was too risky, but we got away with a hand job,” I say. “Thank God for blankets. I’m not the best at it, but Rhett placed his hand over mine and guided me until he came. You wouldn’t believe how sexy that was.”
Mani jerks back and drops her phone.
I hear some rumbling in the background and then see her face again.
“You did not just say that?” Her green eyes are enormous.
I nod. “It sounds like a scene from a spicy small-town romance, but in this instance, I’m the heroine and I wrangled myself a hotter than hell hero.”
She blinks several times.
“I’m not making this up,” I say. “And as God is my witness, I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”
“He leaves your ex in the dust?”
“It’s like comparing a mule to a stallion.”
“Better kisser than Stefano?”
“Puh-lease.” I scuff.
“You’re finally living it up.”
Mani isn’t promiscuous, but she has a lot more experience than I do.
She dated her high school sweetheart Joshua Gifford for seven years—even while he was deployed overseas to serve our country.
We were all devastated when Josh never came back from the war.
Mani nearly died of sorrow. She grieved him for a long time.
In recent years, she’s dated a few guys, but nothing comparable to what she had with Josh.
“It’s so amazing, I have to pinch myself.”
She squeals.
I squeal.
We both do a happy dance. Me standing up, and her sitting down.
“I want more details,” she says with a bring it on hand gesture.
“We had such a phenomenal time together, we extended it by driving around Summerville so Rhett could show me some of his favorite spots. Since Saturday night, I’ve been walking on a cloud.”
“I’m so happy for you.” She claps. “Stefano is an ass wipe and Dale is a backward thinking ape. Karma took care of your ex-fiancé. No doubt it’ll be the same for Dale.”
“I doubt Dale’s karma will be as punishing as Stefano’s.”
She taps her chin with her finger. “I guess you’re right.
Finding out eight months after Cardi gave birth his son wasn’t his because the cunt was cheating on him with a porn star—who’s stage name is Foot Long—who had fucked Cardi’s cousin on camera several times is pretty out there in terms of punishment.
Still, I’m confident karma will make sure to take care of Dale. ” She lets out an evil laugh.
“Here’s to karma giving him a good ass kicking.” I lift my hand over my head.
“As much as I miss you, leaving New York was the best decision.”
“It was. I needed room to breathe.”
“And to meet the right guy.”
“Everything is still so new… it might be a little early to proclaim such things…”
It was lust at first sight and everything about Rhett feels so right, but I don’t want to jinx it.
“At least, you get to enjoy him without feeling any pressure from your family.”
I shake my head with an eye roll. “I can’t wrap my head around them right now.”
Mani frowns. “I understand you’re still basking in the newness of it all, but if things were to get serious, you’ll have to tell your parents.”
Thanks for ruining a perfect weekend.