How Deep is Your Love?

by Kathryn Shay

  He laughed. “So where were we?”

  “You asked what now.” She leaned over and grasped his hand. “I want to pursue our relationship. I know we both have issues, but I’ll be better.”

  “I want that, too. And I’ll be better.”

  She smiled. He smiled.

  “I love you, Brie.”

  All her insides softened at the declaration. “I love you, too.”

  After a bit, he stood. “Let’s see if we can make it to the bedroom.”

  * * *

  Dante’s leg throbbed but he didn’t tell Brie. He wanted her tonight, to seal their bond. They entered the bedroom. No smoke in here as the door had been closed. He stood with his back to the bed and reached for her. The silly pin on her dress popped open and he went to remove it.

  “Ouch.” Metal pierced her skin. Little droplets of blood fell onto the dress.

  She grabbed onto the top. “Che diavolo.” Turning she stomped into the bathroom, grabbed a cloth and wet it and pressed it to her chest. She came back to the bed where he’d sat down. “It’s only a scratch.”

  Looking up at her, he joked, “Maybe I should go home and we should try this again on another night.”

  “No. I want this.” She dropped the dress and stood before him in a strapless yellow bra and thong.

  Despite his pain, his body lurched to attention. Kneeling in front of him, she pulled the shirt over his head and ran her hand over his muscles. “I love your chest.”

  “I love yours,” he said eyeing the swell above the bra.

  “How about the pants?”

  “Let’s get them off together.” Carefully, he inched up and she drew down his torn trousers and briefs.

  Her nose scrunched. “Dante your leg is swelling pretty badly.”

  He took her hand and pressed it to his groin. “This is swelling more.”

  She laughed and he reached around her to release the bra. Standing again, she pushed down the thong. Using the strength of his arms, he slid back on the mattress and stretched out. He had to have this woman now.

  She climbed in next to him.

  They kissed. A long, slow, sexy mating with a lot of tongue that went on and on...

  Until, “Ouch.” He rolled away from her.

  “What’d I do?”

  “You lifted your knee and hit mine.” He looked down and his head plopped back on the pillow. “It’s worse than that.” He was no longer aroused. He closed his eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

  She lay down next to him and brushed his hair off his face. Pain shadowed his eyes. “I know.”

  After a bit, she scrambled up, got the remote and threw it on the bed. Naked, she went to the kitchen and returned with ibuprofen and ice packs. As she knelt between his legs, and wrapped the pack around his knee, she said, “I called for a pizza. You and I are going to stay in this bed all night, except to answer the door for food. We aren’t taking any more chances. Now, you can pick the movie.”

  Side by side, propped up on pillows, they searched the television set for films.

  He said, “I’m pissed.”

  “Me, too.” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “But we’ve got tomorrow.”

  “More than tomorrow. Forever, I hope.”

  “I hope so too, Dante.”

  * * * * *

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  Author’s Note

  So, what did you think of Dante Federico? As I was planning the book, I kept thinking, he’s way too good to be true. However, as I got into the story, something I didn’t like in his personality kept cropping up until it became, to me, his tragic flaw: his protectiveness. Since in my work, I always try to present strong heroines who can take care of themselves, I resented this trait in him. Of course, he was this way with reason—his father dying at an early age and Dante taking on the role of protecting his mother and sisters. So I was able to forgive him. And ultimately so was Brie.

  Brie turned out to be a special kind of person. Most of us don’t know what last effects being kidnapped might leave on us, but I could see where she was coming from. But, boy, is she an advocate for her own mental health, which I admire.

  The most relatable reason for her distancing from Dante was that he took Eddie Smith’s job as a teacher, so she associated him Eddie’s role in the incident with Dante. Why should she have to deal with him after all she’s been through?

  The answer came quickly—because he was a great guy, loving, kind, sensitive, even if he did have that pesky flaw. As far as he was concerned, his protectiveness was warranted, but he has to learn to deal with Brie’s need for autonomy. He does, thankfully. And she has to understand where he’s coming from.

  I chose to deal with a taboo subject, having a parent who’s a sexual predator. Well, really, I didn’t choose it. The conflict appeared on the page one day, which seems to happen in my storytelling a lot. It was a very, very sensitive issue to use and I hope I executed it skillfully. And yes, even I was glad when his father left home. Sammy’s life was intolerable as it was.

  I also enjoyed all the teaching aspects of the book, of course. I never taught elementary age students, but they require skills and knowledge not required for older kids. And I loved bringing Pickles back to help out.

  Stay turned for the next book in the series, LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER, a tearjerker that would be expected of Mariella. Last up will be Raven’s tale, and I just figured out where that will go.

  Thanks for your support of the Gentileschi women.

  Kathy

  Visit or Contact Kathryn at www.kathrynshay.com

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  Don’t miss the rest of the books in

  THE GENTILESCHI SISTERS Series

  I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, Book 1

  Lexy Marcello Gentileschi may be a princess, brought up in a sheltered world, but she knows how to fight Ryder Reynolds in negotiations for her book contract. However, falling in love with the boss is a very different thing!

  THIS GUY'S IN LOVE, Book 2

  Detective Francesca Marcello Gentileschi can’t afford another screw up like the one she made at her last precinct where she fell for one of her colleagues. Unfortunately Detective Tyrell Beauregard Collingsworth has other things in mind for the lovely princess cop.

  CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE, Book 3

  When Evangelina Gentileschi is hit by a stray ball at a Major League baseball game, the batter, Mike Jagielski leaps over the dugout and climbs into the stands to help her. Neither knows that the entire course of their lives are about to change.

  LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER, Book 5

  Widowed at twenty, Mariella Gentileschi Moretti came to the U.S. to get her law degree and plans to return home to help her father run the country. But Dr. Jordan Dubois, one of her professors, threatens all that when he takes an interest in her that is anything but ethical.

  I THINK I LOVE YOU!, Book 6

  Ravenna Marcello Gentileschi badly wants a show at the prestigious Parkers, a top-notch art gallery in Baltimore. But can she put up with stiff and starchy Blake Parker, the owner, long enough to have her paintings displayed before the world?

  Take a look at Chapter 1 from the next book in the series, LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER:

  Statement 1:

  A lawyer dies and goes to Heaven. "There must be some mistake," the lawyer argues. "I'm too young to die. I'm only 55." "Fifty-five?" says Saint Peter. "No, according to our calculations, you're 82." "How'd you get that?" the lawyer asks. Answers St. Peter, "We added up your time sheets."

  Statement 2:

  What's the difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer?

  A bad lawyer can let a case drag out for several years.
A good lawyer can make it last even longer.

  Statement 3:

  A woman and her little girl were visiting the grave of the little girl's grandmother. On their way through the cemetery back to the car, the little girl asked, "Mummy, do they ever bury two people in the same grave?"

  "Of course not, dear," replied the mother, "Why would you think that?"

  "The tombstone back there said... 'Here lies a lawyer and an honest man.'"

  Statement 4:

  Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, an honest lawyer and an old drunk are walking down the street together when they simultaneously spot a hundred dollar bill. Who gets it? The old drunk, of course, the other three are fantasy creatures.

  Statement 5:

  At a convention of biological scientists, one researcher remarks to another, "Did you know that in our lab we have switched from mice to lawyers for our experiments?" "Really?" the other replied, "Why did you switch?" "Well, for three reasons. First we found that lawyers are far more plentiful, second, the lab assistants don't get so attached to them, and thirdly there are some things even a rat won't do."

  Statement 6:

  The lawyer's son wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, so he went to law school and graduated with honors. Then he went home to join his father's firm. At the end of his first day at work, he rushed into his father's office and said, "Father, father! In one day I broke the Smith case that you've been working on for so long!" His father yelled, "You idiot! We've been living on the funding of that case for ten years!"

  Statement 7:

  How many lawyer jokes are in existence?

  Only three. All the rest are true stories.

  A cold January wind blew against the wall of windows as Dr. Jordan Dubois sat with his hip edging a table in front of the students in his Ethics and Lawyers Seminar. The ten people who’d won the lottery for this class read the front whiteboard.

  He waited, his hands jammed into the pockets of the pressed jeans he wore with a striped Oxford shirt and a navy cashmere sports coat. He watched everybody with knowing blue eyes. Mariella thought, and not for the first time, he was so handsome he was almost hard to look at.

  After five minutes, he said, “So, who thinks these statements are funny?”

  Student desks had been place in a horseshoe—four in the first row, four in the second. At the uncomfortable question, two males shifted in their seats. A woman crossed her legs. Some sat unusually still.

  Always honest, Mariella raised her hand. Only two others joined her.

  “Who thinks the statements reflect the truth about lawyers?” he asked.

  This time seven people concurred.

  “The three of you who didn’t raise your hands for either can get up and leave. I don’t think you’re ready for this class.”

  Dead silence. More than one nervous cough. A few more students moved restlessly in their seats. Finally, one girl stood.

  “Hold on a sec, Ms…?” Dubois said.

  “Carrington.” The woman’s voice wobbled. Mari knew her, Anna, from other classes in the two and a half years she’d attended Georgetown, and Anna wasn’t a wilting flower.

  “Sit down, Ms. Carrington. I was kidding.”

  She flushed.

  “Do not be embarrassed. You’ve showed integrity to obey a directive even if you think it’s unfair.”

  “Or weakness.” A guy mumbled the insult under his breath, but the room was small and everyone heard him. Which he probably intended.

  Dr. Dubois laser focused on him. “Your name, sir?”

  “Barry Walker.”

  AKA, Mr. Antagonizer. He gave all the professors grief. And almost all the students in their last-year of classes were his targets. One time, he’d said something condescending to Mariella in an open discussion and, assuming her most haughty princess demeanor, she caught up to him after class and told him if he took that tone with her again, she’d get back at him when he least expected the attack. He went on to other victims and left Mari alone.

  “Mr. Walker, ask the class if you should stay?”

  Grumbling.

  “I’m waiting.”

  Mariella didn’t know why she let the nasty guy off the hook, but she said, “I think he should stay.”

  “Why, Ms. Moretti?” Dr. Dubois’ voice was laced with humor, so she relaxed.

  “Because we don’t know what you expect as far as decorum.”

  “Was decorous for Mr. Walker to insult Ms. Carrington under any circumstances?”

  “No,” another person spoke up. “It was mean.”

  Mari said to him, “But Josh, mean isn’t unethical. It’s just boorish.”

  “Ah, now we get to the heart of the issue. And calm down everyone. No one is being asked to leave.” He arched a beautiful brow at Walker. “Even if you are boorish.”

  Laughter rumbled through the class at Walker’s expense.

  “The first question for us to clarify is, What does it mean to be ethical? Not only in the law, but in our personal lives too.” He scanned his students. “Anyone have a problem with us delving into your life? I’m not going to insist anyone leave, but can do so under your own free will, if you’re concerned about that kind of exposure.”

  No one exited. Of course. Jordan DuBois was world-famous, having taught at the Sorbonne-Assas International Law School in Paris. And snagged a Pulitzer Prize during those years for his book, Ethics and Lawyers. Over fifty law students had vied for these eight positions.

  “All right, now for test number two.”

  Walker blurted out, “That was a test?”

  Again, the amusement on his face. “Everything’s a test inside these four walls. As it will be inside the walls of justice.”

  “Will you remember who said what?”

  In Mari’s opinion, Walker didn’t know when to shut up.

  “I’m an eidetiker.”

  Blank stares from nine people.

  Mari said, “He has a photographic memory.”

  He beamed a smile at her. She thought she heard the woman next to her sigh.

  Turning, he lifted a screen he’d pulled over the white board. “Here’s the course description. Don’t copy it down. It’s in the school catalog.”

  Ethics 401 Ethics and Lawyers

  Focus of the course: The ethical expectations and professionalism standards applicable to attorneys in their professional capacity, but also as applied to their personal life as well.

  The statement had been written in beautiful script.

  In the Ethics and Lawyers Seminar, we will examine how a lawyer can, should and does, act in relation to clients, other attorneys, the courts, the legal system and the broader community. Although moral and ethical dilemmas are regularly posed and considered, this course is designed to be practical and to encourage application of the ethical rules governing lawyer conduct to real-life situations. Students will be assessed through class participation, a series of assignments and presentations to the group.

  “Any questions?”

  Ms. Carrington raised her hand. “There was no syllabus or reading list on the website. Can you give us those today?”

  “No.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Because no other books but mine have been published that I agree with.”

  “What about your book?” The number one bestseller had held the number one spot on the NEW YORK TIMES list for months and had snagged one of the most prestigious award in France, the Prix Goncourt and finally triumphed with the Pulitzer.

  “There are copies in the bookstore.” This point came from a man in Mari’s study groups, Ahmad Bashir. She liked him. “I already bought it.”

  “Go ahead and read my work if you want. But I’m not requiring it for class.”

  “Why?” A fifth student finally spoke up. “All the professors use their own books.”

  “Because each class is different. I can’t assign a book or create a syllabus until I know my students.”

  The group exchang
ed wary glances. Dr. Dubois must have caught them. “The offer is still open for you to leave.”

  Again, no one exited.

  “So, this is a two-credit class that meets on Tuesday from 4-6 pm. For homework, I’d like a two-page paper, written on some ethical issue you feel strongly about. The topic doesn’t have to be a legal one. And only write it once. No editing or revising. Write from the heart. You can even tell personal stories, but know you’ll read your essays aloud in groups.” He glanced at his Rolex. “We’re an hour into class. For the next half, I want you to discuss in small groups the definition of ethical behavior in law and in life. Give examples. Record them. Next week we’ll share your findings. And go somewhere comfortable and to do that.”

  He dismissed the group with, “Bon nuit,” then scanned the room. “Ms. Moretti, could you stay after class, please?”

  Mari nodded graciously and asked Ahmad to save her a place.

  Amidst the low rumble of conversation, the members of the class gathered their things. When a few started to circle around him, he shook his head. “I’m sorry. No discussions with me tonight. You have work to do in the sixty minutes. Besides, I need to talk to Ms. Moretti. I have office hours posted, so you can speak with me then.”

  With some askance looks at her, the class filed out.

  * * *

  Jordan leaned against the white board and folded his arms over his chest. “So, how do you think the class went?”