Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
TONY
Yesterday, I took my woman around town, feeding her some of my favorite treats in the city.
Her happiness has allowed the beast in me to settle down.
There’s a lot more to discuss, but for now, I’m a lucky man.
Our relationship is so new that we both have to let in that trust. My phone rings just as I get out of the shower.
It’s my assistant. “Hello Cynthia, what is it?”
“Dax can’t make the trip. He’s out sick.” I growl and slam my head into my hand, rubbing my face.
After taking a deep breath, I come up with a plan. “Okay. I’ll be taking my wife with me then.”
“Sir, do you really want to take her there when you’ll be working all day?” I know she means well, but she has no idea how much Rosalyn means to me.
“Cynthia, that’s not your concern. I’m taking Rosalyn with me.”
“Sorry. Yes, sir.” I end the call and walk into my closet for some clothes.
When I step out into the bedroom again to get dressed, Rosalyn watches me with her arms crossed. “What’s wrong?”
“How do you feel about going to South Padre Island for a work trip?” I ask. I’m taking her regardless, but at least I want her to believe she has a choice. I’m still recovering from the scare I had the night before last. The thought of losing her sends a chill down my spine.
“You want me to go?” The pure look of surprise and excitement makes me smile.
“Of course I do. It’s going to be a busy two days for me, but I’m not ready to be away from you.” I slide my arms around her waist. “So what do you think?”
“I’d love to go with you even if I have to wait in our hotel room until you get back.”
“Thank you, love. We need to pack today.”
“Okay. When do we leave?”
“Since I get to spend some time with you on the beach, I want to go down two days early. I’ll call my hotel and fix the schedule. Do you want to fly or drive?”
“I’ve never been on a road trip.” Her brow quirks upward.
I kiss her lips and say, “Road trip it is. Go get ready.”
“I can do that.” She jumps up and down before running to our closet to get her suitcases.
“And I need to pick up a new laptop,” I say, making a note to myself.
“Sorry about that.” I drag her back into my arms and cup the back of her head, tilting her face to meet mine.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m the jealous fool.” I kiss her lips and one thing leads to another as I pin her to the wall with my hands running all over her body. “Damn it,” I growl, stopping to remember that we need to get shit done.
“We don’t have time for this.” I nod and pull back, setting her on her feet. Shit, I didn’t realize how quickly I lost control.
My phone rings, giving me a reason to step further away before I maul her again. “Tony speaking.”
“Good afternoon, bro. How is my sister-in-law?” It’s my sister Maggie who went out with Rosalyn last night.
They’re not far apart in age and Maggie’s been welcoming and inviting even though no one thought it was smart of me to marry a complete stranger.
“She’s good. Getting ready for our mini-getaway. ”
“Sweet. She seemed worried. I just wanted to make sure you’re not too damn possessive with her. She’s allowed to have friends, you know?”
“Thanks for the lecture, sis, but I assure you, my only concern was that I had no idea where she went and I got worried.”
“Sorry. I was just watching some crazy show on Investigation Discovery about a super possessive boyfriend who takes it too far, and I wanted to make sure she’s all good.” I’m rolling my eyes, but it makes me think. Have I been fucking too possessive?
“Of course she is. Do you want to talk to her?” I need to process what she’s saying.
“No.”
I ignore my sister and hand the phone to my wife. “Here. Rosalyn, it’s my bratty sister.”
“Hey girl,” Rosalyn says as she puts the phone to her ear.
I walk away and go into the closet to get my suitcase.
I don’t want to listen in because despite my sister’s concern, I am not a crazy fuck that controls her whole life.
In fact, she’s been friends with the girl next door as well as spending time on the phone with her family.
Shaking my head, I pull out a couple of pairs of jeans and one suit from the closet before coming out to load it on the bed.
“Okay. We’ll hang out next week sometime.” She ends the call and hands me my phone. “Sorry, your sister saw me upset yesterday and jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“Hey, don’t worry. If I ever get that fucking controlling, let me know. Kick me in the balls and tell me to get my head out of my ass.”
“You weren’t. I love the way you control me in bed. We have a lot to learn like any new couple. We’re just doing it while already married.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. I love you,” I whisper as I pull her in for a kiss.
It’s brief when she quickly pushes me away. “Stop that. We have to get going or we’re never getting anything done.” She walks to the dresser and then says. “I love you too.”
Now that we got that squared away, I need to call my assistant to make sure everything is handled and that the plane and reservations can be modified. Then we need to load the SUV, pick up a shit ton of snacks to take with us and fill up the tank.
Three hours later all of the arrangements have been made, and we’ve just turned onto the highway enjoying the time alone.
It’s ten hours to South Padre and the weather looks to be nice.
I can’t wait until we have our own little family to bring with us.
Rosalyn’s phone rings and I turn down the music so she can answer it.
“Hey, Mom. No. We’re not home. We’re on our way to South Padre. What? That’s a nice surprise, but I wish I would have known.”
“What’s wrong?”
“They’re on their way to our house from the airport.”
“Shit. Do they feel like hitting the beach with us?”
“Mom, Dad, do you all want to come down to South Padre? Tony has to work, so we can hang out when he’s working. Okay. Okay.”
She covers the phone and then looks at me. I’ve already pulled off the expressway and into a gas station. “What’s going on?”
“I hope you don’t mind?” She looks at me anxiously.
“Do you want me to turn around?” Asking the question she’s silently asking.
“Can we?”
“Sure. Tell them to wait at the house and I’ll be about twenty minutes.”
“Okay.” She tells her parents and then I turn back around and head home.
“I really hope you’re not upset by this.”
“God, no. I’m glad because I won’t feel so bad about leaving you alone all day.” I planned to have my company security detail fly down to meet us, but now that she has her parents with her, I’m sure she’ll be okay. Her father isn’t one to suffer fools.
We pull up to the house and see them sitting on the porch swing. Rosalyn runs out of the SUV as soon as I put it into park. “Be careful,” I call out. I’m barely out of my seat when she falls. Her dad luckily is there to catch her. Her dad pulls her into a hug as I close the door.
“Rosalyn, are you okay?” I ask, reaching her side and looking to see.
“I’m fine. Clumsy as hell, but I’m fine.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Vitello, we’re glad to see you out here. Come inside and freshen up before we head out.”
“I’ll give them a quick tour,” Rosalyn blurts out.
“If you can stay on your feet,” her dad teases.
“Go ahead, babe.” I unlock the door and then take their luggage to the SUV.
“You have a very nice home, Tony,” her father says when I come into the house.
“Thank you. It’s small, but next year I’m hoping we can find a larger house.”
“For as wealthy as you are, I’m surprised at the modesty here.”
“I’ve had no one to share it with, so I had no reason to buy a large home or even build one.”
“That makes sense.”
“Besides, I want Rosalyn to have as much of a say so in the house and styles.”
“That’s a good man. Learn early that you don’t have a say if there’s twenty pillows on the bed that you don’t even use.” We both chuckle.
“Do you need anything before we leave?”
“I could use something to drink. It’s hot as hell out there.” I lead him to the kitchen where I get him some water from the dispenser. “Thanks.” He takes a long drink before he continues, “We figured since you work a lot that Rosalyn would be here alone, so we wanted to see her for a bit.”
“And check up on me?” I add, knowing exactly what they’re up to. They want to make sure I’m treating their baby well.
“Hey, you two rushed it. I can’t help but worry about my little girl.”
“That’s fine. I’m not bothered at all. I want her happiness, so as long as she wants you here then so be it.”
“Tony,” Rosalyn calls from the stairs.
Moving double-time, I reach the bottom steps and ask, “What’s up, babe?”
“You forgot something.”
“What?”
She wags my toiletry bag. “Ha-ha. I’m glad we came back, or you’ll have to deal with a grizzly bear husband,” I inform her. She loves my scruff in her hands and between her legs.
“Then maybe we should leave it,” she says as she bounces down the steps to me.
“I need the deodorant at least.”
“Yes. Let’s not forget that.” She pinches her nose. I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head.
“I love you, babe,” I growl, stealing a peck on her lips.
“I love you more.”
“No chance in hell, babe.” I kiss her again until her dad coughs.
“So who is ready?” Mrs. Vitello asks, acting a little anxious.
“Sure.”
We head back out after they use the restrooms and then the real road trip begins. Three hours into the drive, her parents have fallen asleep, and Rosalyn yawns. “Go to sleep, babe. I have the navigation on.”
“I can’t believe I’m so tired.”
“I’ll take credit for that,” I growl, grabbing her hand and bringing her palm to my lips, giving it a kiss.
“Yes. It’s all your fault.”
The phone rings again, and I say, “I don’t care who else is at our house. We’re not going back.”
“It’s your assistant.”
“Answer it, please. I hope it’s not another problem.”
Rosalyn answers it and says, “Okay,” and then passes the phone to me.
I tuck it under my ear, and say, “Yes.”
“They canceled the meeting in South Padre.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, they’re going to use a different contractor.”
“Did they say why?”