Chapter 3
Ashley’s mother was not as excited as Ashley was. She knew the Porchelli name, and it was rumored that they made their money illegally. Most people guessed they were tied to the mafia, but nobody could ever prove it. Judith knew that Ashley was innocent, and had very little experience with the opposite sex. She was not comfortable with her daughter spending so much time with a single Porchelli, especially in his home.
Ashley listened as her mother admonished her for agreeing to do the Porchelli job. Ashley admitted to herself that Davio was very handsome, and he seemed to be single. But he wanted her to decorate his home and she felt that this was a great opportunity for her. This job would provide her with the finances she needs to get through the next several months. She tried to assure her mother that she knew what she was doing and that she would be careful.
***
Ashley made a list of the things she would need to get started on her new job. She would need a tablet for notes, and a tape measure to determine sizes. She was determined to be very thorough and give Davio a design that he would be pleased with. Her first day would be spent jotting down ideas and taking measurements. She planned to get a general idea of the entire house, but she thought she should take one room at a time once the actual work began. She reached into her closet and drew out her favorite pair of jeans. Today she needed to be comfortable. A tee shirt completed her outfit.
Ashely arrived at Davio’s place at 9 a.m. She knew that she would likely spend most of her day going through the house. She walked up the front steps and rang the doorbell, anxious to get started. Davio answered the door and invited her inside. He suggested she join him in the dining room for a cup of coffee. He wanted to go over some ideas he has about the design. Secretly he just wanted to enjoy her company. He had looked at some magazines and found some things he really liked so he had bookmarked them. He knew that for now he would have to make Ashley believe that he was really interested in her decorating. If she was as innocent as he suspected, it would take time for him to persuade her to join him in bed.
Ashley followed him to the dining table and accepted his offer of coffee. She realized that in her excitement she had forgotten to eat breakfast. Hopefully, her stomach would not give her away. Perhaps she would take time later to go out and get something for lunch. When she sat down at the table she noticed a stack of magazines at the end of the table. Davio told her that he had found some things he wanted to show her. She watched as he poured her a cup of coffee. When he asked if she wanted cream and sugar, she shook her head and told him she preferred black.
The coffee was good and Ashley could feel the caffeine take effect. Davio told her that he was not a fan of carpet and preferred hardwood flooring in the living areas and ceramic tile in the bath and kitchen areas. She took notes as he listed several of his preferences. She determined that he was not looking for a bachelor pad, rather he wanted a place where he could be comfortable. A place where he could entertain friends and make them feel relaxed. He didn’t want a place where people were afraid to live. She was somewhat surprised. She had expected him to want his surroundings to be predominately male inspired.
Ashley explained to Davio that she wanted to assess then entire house, but that she planned to take on one room at a time. She felt the main living level should be first since that is what people see when they enter the home. From there she would move to the apartment downstairs. The bedrooms would be last on her list.
Ashley missed the grin on Davio’s face. She would be leaving the bedrooms or last. Not if he had his way about it. Ashley Lane would be introduced to his bedroom long before she completed the work on the first floor. He looked at her as she sat there taking notes. She looked so much better in her jeans and tee shirt. The tee shirt accentuated her breasts, allowing him to better determine their size. Her jeans accented her long legs and slim hips. He couldn’t wait to have those legs wrapped around him in passion. He wanted to get up right now and whisk her to his bedroom. He wanted to see her naked. But he knew that it was too soon. First he must win her trust and make her feel comfortable around him. If he played his cards right, she would be begging him to make love to her. She would spread her legs wide, allowing him to bury his manhood deep inside.
If Ashley could read Davio’s mind, she would probably run as fast as she could out of his house. Instead, she thought Davio was really interested in having his home transformed to identify with his own preferences. She stole a look at him. He certainly was handsome. His body showed that he was very active in staying in shape. She figured that he had little trouble in finding women who would do anything just to get his attention. She found herself wondering what he would look like naked. She guessed that his muscles on his chest would ripple with exertion. She noticed that his arms could barely fit into his shirt because of his huge muscles.
Ashley shook her head and brought herself back to reality. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. Ever since she had met Davio her mind took her to places she had never been. She had never before been drawn to a man, especially in a sexual way. But every time she was around Davio she found herself daydreaming about his body. She knew that men and women did things with their bodies, but she really didn’t understand the attraction. She had always considered getting naked and exchanging body fluids to be somewhat gross. She had heard stories of pain and humiliation. Stories of women having to give themselves to a man whenever they mood struck him. Of lying there, allowing him to do whatever he wished while they covered their faces in shame. She remembered school boys fumbling, trying to unbutton her blouse before she stopped them. But there was something different about Davio. She felt something stir in her innermost being. Something she was not familiar with.
Davio brought Ashley back to the present. He had noticed that she seemed somewhat distant, as if deep in thought. While he hoped those thoughts were on him, he doubted it. He suggested that she start with the sitting room. It is the first room that people see when they come through the front door. Perhaps she could set the tone for the remainder of the house by transforming the sitting room.
Ashley picked up her tablet and tape measure and headed in the direction of the sitting room. She stopped in the doorway and surveyed the room. It was large for a sitting room. It was full of windows on the front with a fireplace on the side. She knew the carpet would have to go. The curtains were too fancy for a bachelor, and the furniture was much too heavy for the room. Instead, she pictured hardwood floors, curtains of navy, with modern furniture placed strategically around the fireplace. She would bring out small pops of color with accessories while keeping the furniture more neutral. She was totally caught up in her work when Davio walked in and startled her.
“I noticed you haven’t taken a break since you got here. Don’t you want some lunch, even if it is midafternoon” Davio asked.
Ashley had completely forgotten about eating. She had been so caught up in her design that she had ignored the growl in her stomach. She stood up and told Davio that she would run out and get something.
“No need for that. I already have something prepared for you. I hope you like chicken salad. I have some sandwiches made and waiting on the dining table.”
“Oh no, I can’t expect you to feed me. I just got busy and the time got away from me. I can go pick up something and be back here within the hour,” Ashley said.
“Then I presume you want me to throw out the sandwich I made you,” Davio asked. “I don’t expect you to work hungry. And I do make a mean chicken salad sandwich.”
Ashley gave in. She supposed if he already had the sandwich made it would be an insult to not eat it. She followed him to the dining room where she saw he had a place set for her. The sandwich looked delicious, especially since she had not eaten anything at all that day. She sat down and picked it up, taking a large bite. To her surprise, it was the best chicken salad she had ever tasted. She took a drink of water that was sitting in the glass in front of her. She found that she was famished. S
he continued to eat while watching Davio at the same time. She noticed the way he picked up his sandwich and took it to his mouth. She saw a look of arrogance on his face. He knew his chicken salad was good, and his face had an I told to so look on it. She had only met Davio yesterday, and already she had detected his arrogance. But she was drawn to him in a way she could not explain. She had to rein in her emotions. She was here to do a job and she could not allow herself to be distracted by whatever desires she was feeling.
Ashley finished her sandwich, thanked Davio for fixing it for her, and told him she needed to get back to work. Davio had other ideas.
“Why don’t you relax a bit and let’s talk,” Davio said. “I want to learn more about you.”
“There is not much to tell. I was raised here in Chicago and decided to attend Northern Chicago University after I finished high school. It allowed me to be close to my parents while still living in a place of my own. I studied hard because I really want to succeed in this business. I fear I am pretty boring,” Ashley said.
“Not at all. I find dedication and hard work to be an asset. There are a lot of people who attend college just to advance their social lives. Personally, I have never found that type of life acceptable. My family has all worked hard for what we have. We are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make sure we are successful. My brother, Adam, is the one who graduated with you. He will now be working closely with our father so that he can learn our business,” Davio said.
Ashley had heard rumors about Davio’s family, and the type of business they are in. But it was not any of her business. She was here to do a job, nothing more. However they made their money was no concern of hers.
The two sat at the table chatting for the next 30 minutes. Ashley found that she loved to listen to Davio talk about himself and his family. She gained the knowledge that they were a very close knit family, always keeping other family member’s interests at heart. Davio had only recently began working on his own. His father had taught him the way he was now teaching Adam. Davio had felt the need to move out of his parent’s home and find one of his own. That was how he ended up with this place. This was his first home of his own.
Before she knew it, the afternoon was gone. She had listened to Davio talk about his family and completely lost track of time. She knew that it was time for her to call it a day. She thanked Davio for the talk and promised that she would be back first thing in the morning. On the drive home she went over the day in her mind. She had gotten something accomplished, but not enough. She had been distracted by Davio, something she must not do again. It would be easy to fall for his dark good looks, his charming smile, his muscled body, but he was out of her league. He probably had plenty of women vying for his attention. Somehow that thought caused her a stab of pain. She didn’t want to see Davio with women. That would be too difficult for her. She would always picture them in her mind, taking off their clothes and having an afternoon of fun in his large bedroom. No, she needed to stay focused on her job. Davio Porchelli was out of her reach. His was an entirely different world from the one she lived in.
Chapter 4
Ashley was well pleased with the way the sitting room was coming together. She had hired carpenters to install the floor and painters had given the room an updated color of pale gray. She thought the gray walls complimented the navy curtains that had been installed yesterday. Now she needed to go shopping for furniture and accessories. She was really enjoying this job. She realized that she might never again get a job where she didn’t have to stick to a budget, so she was going to make the most of this one. She knew exactly what kind of furniture pieces she needed. She couldn’t wait to get Davio’s thoughts on the room once it is completed. So far he had seemed pleased with her work. He always looked in on her to see how she was doing, and to ask if there was anything she needed. She resisted the urge to tell him that she needed him. By now she had admitted to herself that she was very attracted to Davio. She had never experienced these feelings for another man. Just being around him seemed to make her body feel things that were strange to her. There was an unexplained desire in the pit of her stomach every time she was around him. She had no idea what to do with that desire, but she felt it just the same.
The following morning the truck arrived with all of the furniture Ashley had picked out for the sitting room. She was excited because she knew that today she would get to stage the room with the furniture and accessories she had purchased. She had a picture in her mind how it was going to look. She just hoped the actual finished product looked as good as it did in her mind. She directed the movers to place the furniture as she had sketched. She could work with the accessories after they were gone. She stood back and looked at the room with the furniture finally in place. It looked great. It was even better than she imagined. The final touches would be easy. She realized that this looked so much better than the room she was originally introduced to. This was sleek and modern. Not too masculine, and not frilly. It was a style that should appeal to Davio and his business associates. She felt a pain when she realized that it was also a style that would appeal to women.
It was later that afternoon when Ashley place the last accessory on the mantle above the fireplace. She stood back and surveyed her work. She was pleased, and she hoped that Davio would be pleased as well. She went in search of him to tell him she was finished with the room.
Davio walked into the new sitting room and let out a low whistle. He really had not cared about remolding his house, but he had to admit, Ashley had done a great job. He looked around the room at the placement of furniture, and knew that she had placed the furniture where it would have the benefit of the fireplace. She had refaced the surface of the fireplace with sleek tile, making it the main focal point of the room. He had not expected this out of her. She had talents that he had not suspected. He felt this was a great time to make his move. The two of them had gotten to know each other a little better over the past weeks, and he felt that she was more comfortable being around him.
“This room is a great success. I absolutely love it! I know you have worked all day without eating, so please allow me to take you out for something to eat. It will be our way of celebrating your success,” Davio said.
Ashley thought for a minute, trying to decide if it would be appropriate. She was keenly aware of her attraction to this man, but she knew that she had to remain focused. Finally she agreed to go with him. She knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t help herself. She was intrigued by this man, something she had never experienced. She was inclined to see just how much she could find out.
Davio drove them to a small bistro on the outskirts of Chicago. The décor was quaint and simple, reflecting the simplicity of the menu. They offered several different types of sandwiches, salads, and soups. There was a showcase that featured decadent desserts that looked irresistible. She noticed their menu also included wine. Davio asked the waitress to bring them a bottle of Chablis. He explained to Ashley that they had the best Chablis in all of Chicago. When the waitress returned, she brought two wine glasses with her. Ashley watched as she poured a small sample for Davio to test. He nodded his approval and instructed the waitress to pour them each a glass. Ashley took a sip and agreed, it was very good.
Ashley ordered a bowl of cheese potato soup that was served with a side of crusty bread. The soup was delicious and the bread was the perfect compliment. She ate it all while working on her glass of wine. She listened as Davio talked about how pleased he was with the sitting room, and how anxious he was to see what she would do next. Ashley relaxed and enjoyed the meal. She had no idea the wine was helping with Davio’s plans for her.
Davio watched as Ashley enjoyed her meal. He knew that she had not eaten anything that day and the wine would likely relax her. That was just what he was counting on. If he could get her relaxed enough, perhaps he could persuade her to join him in his bedroom once they returned to the house. He could already picture her naked body in his bed, waiting for
him to have his way with her. He felt a stirring deep in his loins at the thought.
Ashley was feeling good. She had just enjoyed a great meal, and now Davio was paying the check, getting ready to return home. She watched as he took out his card and handed it to the cashier. She noticed his hands, his long fingers, the way they picked up the pen to sign the receipt. She couldn’t put words to what she was feeling, but it felt good. She allowed Davio to open the car door for her and wait for her to have a seat before closing it and walking around to the driver’s side.
When they arrived back at the house, Ashley knew that she should get into her car and go home. Instead, Davio asked her to come inside. Still feeling a glow from the wine, she agreed to stay for a few more minutes. They walked up the steps to the front door while Davio searched for his keys and opened it, leading her inside. She felt his arm around her waist as he turned and shut the door behind them. Alarm bells were going off in her head, but she was powerless to resist. Davio took her hand and started toward the stairs. She followed like a helpless puppy, not able to find the strength to protest. She knew that he intended to take her to his bedroom. She wasn’t sure what to do, but she knew that she wanted to find out. She was so attracted to this man that she would allow him to do anything he wanted, especially if he could help her make sense of this burning desire she was feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Mafia Romance Series Page 2