Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

As she finished, she put her fork down and folded her hands in front of her. “Rocco, did your mother check into the cancer center?”

  Twenty minutes before he’d seen Mica in the dress, his mother had called him and she’d handed him her phone out in the second floor hallway. So she knew they’d spoken again. So he nodded and said, “She had.”

  She scooted closer and said, “Good. I hope she’s okay.”

  If his mother went into treatment, he’d succeeded in his mission because of the beautiful angel at his side. He’d do anything for her if she continued to trust him like she did. “Me, too. I hope delaying won't hurt her.” She let her hands fall in her lap, her softness this evening making her gorgeous. “Can I ask you a question, Mica?”

  “Anything.” She stacked their empty bowls.

  The last thing his princess should do was dishes. That was for common people, like himself. Rocco took the dishes but she followed. Once he had them in the kitchen sink he turned and asked, “What is it about me that made you trust me? For all you knew I was… just as bad as my brother.”

  She picked up yellow rubber gloves, put them on, and then picked up a sponge like she’d do the chores. He blinked in surprise as she turned the water on and started scrubbing the sponge over the bowl. “You’re not a bad person. When I stared into Ali’s beady eyes I saw he cared only about himself. When I stare into your eyes, I see… appreciation and serenity.”

  Any blind man would see how wonderful she was, but he narrowed his gaze as he took the dish she’d washed, rinsed, and put it on the drying rack as he said, “I’ve never been serene.”

  She laughed, finishing the second bowl as she said, “You know who you are, Rocco, and don’t mind holding a baby to help a woman.”

  Yet at this moment she was doing his job, and Mica somehow became even sweeter. “Jacob will grow up to be a man who is worthy of you.”

  A huge grin grew on her face as she started on the silverware. “See, your humble nature is far more attractive than a royal pedigree.”

  He headed to the refrigerator and found the vanilla ice cream and the bowls to serve dessert as he swore to himself he’d never hurt her.

  Mica deserved protection and if by some miracle in heaven itself he remained free then he’d take a bullet for her and Jacob. “Attractive?”

  “It’s not just your rough around the edges handsome face.” She finished with the dishes and turned off the faucet as she said, “You took my armor from me and showed me that good men exist in the world.”

  He stopped and put the container down as he met her stare. “So no bad men in your life.”

  “Not here, not today.” She took his hand. “I don’t want ice cream. I want you, here, with me.”

  He swore like this was the day he'd promised the Marines to be all he could be. He puffed out his chest and said, “I won’t let you down. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you and Jacob are safe.”

  “I believe in you.”

  If he was truly a free man, he’d found his angel. He knew better than to believe in fairy tales, but he leaned in, intending to kiss her cheek, but she turned and let him kiss her lips.

  And he was lost in her perfection.

  11

  Mica’s lips still had the taste of Rocco’s kisses that lingered as she woke.

  She’d ached for him in a way she'd never wished for anyone, but he’d gone to his room, alone.

  Once she woke she’d see him again.

  And the thought brought her into the shower singing, and she danced as she shampooed and rinsed.

  Once she went to the closet she settled on spring white pants and a teal t-shirt. No black today.

  Then she dressed Jacob in a navy blue onsie that had a fake tie drawn in, though he was still bald.

  Ready for a new day, she heard her phone beep and she quickly read the text that sent a shiver of nerves down her spine.

  But she picked up her son and headed downstairs to talk to Rocco.

  She found him in the kitchen, near the oven, flipping an omelet.

  Today he wore black jeans that fit his body perfectly and a light blue t-shirt.

  His defined muscles made him hot, but she kept that thought to herself as she smiled and said, “Rocco, good morning.”

  He flipped the omelet he’d cooked onto a plate. “I've made breakfast.”

  He walked toward her and instantly she relaxed her shoulders from the smell of his lemon citrus hair products she’d left in the room. She took her seat and placed Jacob in a high chair as she said, “I received a text this morning.”

  She took a banana and smashed up a few pieces mostly for Jacob to play with as he wasn’t ready for real solids yet. Rocco sat down and asked, “And you’re worried?”

  She was alert and awake now. Her cells were alive, and he read her clearly. Wow. Mica sat straighter and lifted her chin as she picked up her fork. “Yeah, Julie said someone tried to hack into her computer.”

  He didn’t blink and his huge brown eyes had an intensity that somehow made her calm. “Did she unplug it?”

  She shook her head, not knowing the answer. “Good question, but the issue for me is my current address.”

  She bit into the omelet but Rocco didn’t. Instead he put his fork down, folded his hands in front of him and asked, “So do you want to go somewhere else and not tell Julie?”

  Her cheeks heated because that’s exactly what she’d done for the past six months at one hint of trouble. Now she glanced at her omelet and said, “Hopefully it’s nothing.”

  He leaned closer. “If you’re worried, it’s on your mind and we should consider our options.”

  “Eat, before the eggs get cold, and let me think about this, okay?” She lifted her fork higher in the air.

  She didn’t move until he did, but they both ate in silence as Jacob mushed up his banana and smiled the entire time.

  Rocco had no ID so going through security would be difficult, so she’d settled on road trips and helicopter as her best options for a while now. But her address being out there meant any flights she reported might be easily found.

  As she finished her last bite, she put her silverware down and said, “If we all go into my helicopter, I’ll file reports. It will be easy to track. I had to ship my helicopter here and drive to avoid the records.”

  He collected the plates as he asked, “So you think flight records aren’t secure.”

  Okay. Maybe she hadn’t explained in much detail but bragged more about her skills. She cleaned Jacob's banana tray and smiled at her beautiful son as she said, “My ex and his family know I enjoy flying planes and helicopters. Tracking aviation records and pilots is pretty standard if you are searching for someone, and if his brother, the new crown prince, comes after me, that’s the most obvious way for them to find me.”

  He took the tray as she lifted her son. “So we should drive?”

  A road trip with Rocco played in her mind. Shoulders brushing against each other, taking turns at the wheel and laughing for hours.

  If only.

  However she shook her head and followed him into the kitchen. “If they know we’re here, we can get farther in my helicopter. So we should stay close today, but maybe a walk to clear our heads so I can think better, and a small trip to the local grocery store might be fine.”

  He saluted her again and this time she cringed. She didn’t want to always be the boss, not with him. He said, “I’ll get the stroller ready.”

  For now she fixed her ponytail tighter and said, “Be right back. Jacob’s adorable with banana stains but outside we’ll need pants, jacket and a clean onsie.”

  He winked and turned on the sink as she left.

  To earn his trust, she’d have to be honest.

  Perhaps outside was the best place to tell him. Then they’d work on trust as she hoped he’d stay and help her as he'd promised.

  So she cleaned Jacob fast and then strapped him into his all white Versace Book Plus Stroller.

  Rocco
came out with a new heather-gray Armani puff jacket that seemed like it was tailor made for him and her heart skipped a beat. He held the door as she fluffed her hair and checked her own navy blue Prada trench coat with the belt buckle reminiscent of the 1950s.

  They walked onto the main road of the mountain pass, with light traffic and headed down the small one lane road.

  Neither said anything for a while but he ensured no snow or ice were in her way as they walked to the corner store. Mostly the country road was alone as the small town she’d bring business too was below her mountain resort. The locals were going to get a huge economic boom when her clientele came for a visit.

  Once her chalet hotel reopened, skiers would come to this paradise in droves and the small market would get a lot of customers. And she’d help bring everyone more cash which was good. For now, her small town was peaceful and quiet.

  As the first car passed them on their short walk, Rocco said, “I missed the smell of fresh clean air.”

  She sighed and wished there was no threat and she was just a girl and he was just a boy. She smiled. “Me too. In New York is all skyscrapers except for Central Park, the air doesn’t have this scent.”

  “In Miami, the air has a distinct swamp smell . I mostly had mountain clean when I was in the marines and we had training in Alaska which was beautiful and so different than Miami.”

  She looked down at Jacob, who slept in his stroller.

  Now would be a good time to tell Rocco. She lifted her shoulders to confess that she knew his name, past, jail, everything, and that she'd fixed the wrong against him.

  Hopefully.

  She paid her lawyers to be fast and competent and had confidence in their abilities. Mica tugged her ear, then chided herself for stalling. “Rocco?”

  A police car passed them on the two-lane highway.

  He kept his head down but everything about his body tightened. She wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked. The police car drove out of sight.

  Completely white, Rocco met her gaze. “I’m… I’m uncomfortable walking on the road.”

  They turned the corner already at the small store.

  Drat. She should have spoken sooner. His fear of being caught because she wanted to take a walk was like a knife to her own gut just hit. This walk and maybe get ice cream wasn’t worth his pain.

  She’d come to clear her head from running because someone might have hacked information from her secretary that included her address. His fear now was because she hadn’t told him she was about to solve his problems.

  For now she hugged him and said, “Don’t be. You’re here, with me. And we’ll only be five minutes. What kind of ice cream do you want?”

  He held the door for her and asked as a bell rang over their head, “Ice cream?”

  She nodded. “Yeah all we have is vanilla so if we’re going to indulge, I wanted a yummy flavor.”

  They headed to two freezers with ice cream as he said, “Then it’s your choice.”

  She reached in and picked up the green that made her mouth water as she said, “Mint chocolate chip.”

  “Sounds girly.” Rocco watched the front door.

  “Didn’t we just eat two deserts the other day?” She pursed her lips together and scanned the other boxes as she said, “But if you don’t like it, we can get another flavor.”

  He reached behind her and massaged her arm. When she glanced up she was warm despite the coldness that pressed against her skin from the freezer as he said, “I like girly.”

  Right. She let the door close and her heart raced. She glanced up at him. “This might be the first time you joked with me.”

  He motioned with his head and winked at her as they headed to the register to pay. “Guess I’m starting to lower my guard around you.”

  Her pulse zipped but she paid for the ice cream. The cashier put it in a paper bag for her and Rocco picked it up.

  She pushed the carriage and met his gaze as she said, “About that-”

  “Let’s go home,” he interrupted and headed to the front door.

  Right. She didn’t need an audience. She straightened her spine and walked out, then waited for him. As he followed she said, “Sounds good.”

  In the parking lot another car pulled in but soon they were on the empty road up the mountain.

  What would it be like if she truly had to run?

  Rocco would know more what to do if she was truly on the run if he could escape from a prison. That couldn’t be easy to pull off.

  His presence helped her mind stay off her ex’s family.

  And appreciate the chirp of birds in the trees. As they made their way back onto her property, Rocco once again held the door of the chalet for her.

  Now she needed to tell him what she’d done. She ignored the spike in her blood while she took off her trench coat. “Jacob’s sleeping. Can you put him in the playpen in the library we set up and get the ice cream bowls ready? I want to call Julie and see what they found out about her computer.”

  And find out for sure Rocco was absolutely free. If he was, he could leave or go, but it would be his choice that she’d given him.

  Hopefully he would choose to stay with her. Hope soared as he said, “One of the perks of the job is watching out for Jacob.”

  “I trust you.” She rushed up the main stairs.

  She hung up her jacket in her closet, then opened her laptop in case there was an email from her legal team. Nothing.

  Mica called Julie on her speakerphone and her secretary answered on the first ring. “Julie, what did IT find out about your computer?”

  Her secretary sounded wary as she said, “They still haven’t figured out what, if anything, was compromised. I’m so sorry, Miss Murphy.”

  Her reputation as a boss couldn’t be so bad that her employees were afraid of her, could it? She’d send Julie a bonus check next month to make up for any shortness. Mica typed her payroll department to add money to Julie's salary as well. “You didn’t hack it yourself. Any news from legal?”

  Julie then said without typing as was her usual background noise. “Yes. All the papers are filed. Let me connect you to Cardona so he can brief you now.”

  Mica sent the email to payroll so hopefully whatever Julie was feeling was smoothed over. She was a decent assistant.

  Hopefully IT found out what was hacked if anything, including her location soon.

  She perked up as Cardona asked, “Miss Murphy?”

  If she’d freed Rocco, he needed to know. She glanced out the window. Rocco was not in the courtyard but she saw the birds near the tree as she said, “Yes. How’s the case I put you on?”

  Cardona’s hard-edged voice said, “Going well. I should have Mr. Hellsworth’s record expunged today.”

  Confidence in her lawyer was justified. She crossed her arms to ensure she was correct when she said, “I want to tell him he’s a free man.”

  “I'll call you the second the paperwork is complete.”

  “Hurry.” She checked her nail polish was still clean as it was her habit since being a teenager she’d never shaken.

  Cardona continued in a faster tone, “I did everything on our end. Just waiting for the clerk in the court in Nevada to finalize the paperwork that the judge has already signed off on. It could be five minutes, or five hours.”

  “I understand. Keep me posted.” She hung up without another word.

  She’d found if she spoke in short sentences, workers responded better and she got quick results.

  Mica needed this done now. Today. Rocco didn’t need to worry anymore.

  This was her gift to him.

  So why was she so wound up about telling him? If he was free, did he just leave her? Was she hesitating out of fear for herself? If so that was weakwilled and bad on her end.

  He deserved to have something good in his life.

  She tucked her phone in her back pocket and headed downstairs.

  The hotel was quiet and as she reached the lobby she
glanced out the windows and she could see trees gently swaying in some mountain breeze.

  She headed into the library, denying her feelings for Rocco just in case he left her. Her defenses melted as she noticed that he’d built a fire, and had two bowls of ice cream on a low table before the sofa, along with a bottle of chilled white wine. Jacob slept in his playpen. She joined him and a zap of desire hit her the moment she brushed against the muscles on his arm. “Rocco.”

  He took her hands and led her to sit beside him near the fireplace as he said, “I thought our ice cream would melt.”

  Today was perfect and beautiful. She ate a few spoonfuls and suddenly she finished, like she hadn’t eaten anything.

  Then she put the bowl beside her and said, “The call took longer than I thought.”

  He finished his too and then poured them both wine. “Are we in the clear?”

  He absolutely was. She sipped the sweet Riesling that went with their ice cream perfectly and brushed against his knee. “IT doesn’t know what files were accessed yet, if any. I was firm with Julie and she’ll call me the moment she finds out anything.”

  He chuckled. “I can’t imagine you having much of a wrath.”

  She took another sip and saw the outline of a dimple on his cheek. Seriously? It wasn’t funny--she crossed one of her arms like she did when she ran a meeting and said, “I’ve headed my family’s business since I graduated college. I learned the ropes in high school.”

  He drank his wine and beamed at her and that somehow relaxed her to lower her arm. “At least your parents gave you a headstart in life. How many hotels do you manage?”

  Telling him wasn’t news. This was her life. She sipped from her glass and decided to answer his questions as a means of bridging how she had the power to fix his situation. Mica lowered her glass. “My portfolio has over one thousand hotels worldwide, but I’ve been growing that to twelve hundred. I want to be over ten thousand when I turn fifty, so when I turn the company over to Jacob, he’ll have a healthy bank account for whatever he wants to do.”

  He gulped his wine like he suddenly saw her differently.

  Once he met her gaze again she saw how his cheeks were red as he said, “That’s a lot of hotels.”