by Claire Woods
“What’s going on here?”
Gianni’s mouth’s in a firm line, as he notices a sobbing Tommy cradled in my arms.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to them both.
“I’ll talk to him.” Gianni turns around to find Luca, and I rock Tommy in my arms, soothing him the way only a woman can. From the way he clings to me, I can tell Tiff doesn’t hold him like this much.
“He didn’t mean it. I swear he loves you, Tommy. He’s just having a hard time right now. He was hoping me, and his dad would get back together.”
“I was hoping my mom and dad would, too. But I like you. You’re nice and smell like flowers.”
“Aw, sweetie. I like you too. Are you okay with your daddy and me being friends?”
“Yeah. I like having Luca to play with when he’s not being mean.”
“Come on, let’s wash up for supper.” I help him up, drying his last tear. He holds my hand as we walk back to the kitchen. I give Gianni a soft smile. Luca’s sitting at the table with his head down, refusing to look at anyone. Tommy’s eyes dart over, hoping for his friend back.
“This might be harder than I thought,” I whisper to Gianni.
“I’m not letting anyone come between us. Not even our own flesh and blood…yours or mine. He’ll be fine, he just needs to get used to the idea of another man being in your life.”
I squeeze his arm and kiss his cheek. I’m willing to fight for what we’ve started too. I deserve to see how far we could go because in my gut I know it could be forever.
“The snow’s supposed to taper off in the next hour. Stay until the roads clear, and I’ll drive you and Luca home in my truck.”
He lights a fire, handing me a glass of wine.
“This is nice.” I sit on his couch, tucking my feet under me. A small blush stains my cheeks. The last time I was in this room—Gianni took me for the first time. Right on the rug.
He smirks, raising an eyebrow, “God knows I want to. But the boys have just forgiven us for making-out.”
“I know.”
He sits next to me and sips his beer. “Tell me what happened today with Chet and the account.”
I fill him in, first about how Chet wanted to snatch all the Hatchimals at Target and how it gave me the idea to get to them first. Then about the fortuitous circumstances that allowed me to meet Margie and how everything unfolded from there.
“I’m not gonna tell you what to do. You have to look inside yourself and do what feels right. But I’m here babe, either way. But if you do end up quitting let me know. I’d like to pay that Chet guy a visit.”
“Why? So you can break his nose too?”
“Yep. But I’d do it in my Santa suit. I’d have just cause too. What’s wrong with that man, trying to flip toys for a quick buck?”
I shake my head, “My first impression of him was that he was a cheap man in an expensive suit. Guess my instinct was right.”
Gianni gets up to put another log on the fire. “I’m gonna check on the boys. Can I get you more wine?”
“No. I’m sleepy enough as it is.”
He smiles, unfolds a throw blanket and drapes it over me before dropping a kiss to the side of my neck. I melt and snuggle deeper into the couch that smells like the man who’s stealing my heart.
“The boys passed out watching Henry Danger.”
He stops in front of me cocking an eyebrow. I answer with a grin. He peels my sweater over my head and groans seeing my hunter green satin bra. It’s a demi-cup and squeezes my breasts together, giving the illusion I’m at least a size bigger than my average C’s.
“I love your breasts. They’re so soft. Did you know I watched them bounce every time I thrust into you?”
I nod my head dumbly.
“Well, I did. God, I need to watch them again.”
“We can’t… the kids…”
“Well, the way you scream when you come, I agree. Can you be quiet and take me like a good girl?”
“Yessss…” I pant.
He grunts, removing his pants and shirt. He takes himself in his hand and pumps between my cleavage. “Fuck, this even feels amazing.”
Opening my mouth wide, my tongue comes up trying to lick him as he rubs himself between my breasts. He hoists a knee up, and my nails rake across the muscles of his thick thighs as his tip slides past my lips into my wet mouth.
He groans going in slowly. He’s too big to go deep, so I make sure his head gets all my attention. He hisses through his teeth and pulls out, flips me over and unhooks my bra.
“Yeah… time to watch these babies bounce for my cock. Did you know I fantasized about doing just that the first moment I saw you in the principal’s office?”
My reply is a whimper as his fingers push my thong to the side. Our groans fill the room. I feel him pulsing against my ass. “Bite the pillow. Bite it hard, ‘cause I’m gonna take you in a way you’ll never forget.” He lifts my ass and nudges my knees further apart. I hear him tear open a foil packet and turn my head to watch him sheath himself. But then I can’t help but do what he said. I bite the pillow to stifle my screams as he pounds my G-spot relentlessly while his fingers delve through my folds caressing me. He slips in and out. In and out, pressing my mound into his waiting fingers that play with my clit, every time his thrusts push my hips down into the couch.
I bite the pillow coming so hard; it almost makes me cry.
He draws lazy circles on my back. I turn to stare into the crackling fire, wishing I didn’t have to go home.
“That was amazing,” I whisper.
“Better every time.”
“Don’t break my heart.”
“Never.” He kisses my back before refastening my bra and slipping out.
It’s so tempting to curl up and forget my responsibilities. But Luca has school, and I have a meeting to prepare for. I fix my thong and re-adjust my skirt while Gianni takes care of the condom. I cross to his front window where the world outside is covered in a blanket of white. The clouds have cleared, and the stars shine from the within the inky night sky.
He joins me at the window hauling me to his side. “I’ll go wake the boys in a minute. I was going to take Tommy out to Mahwah after school on Thursday to cut down a fresh tree. You and Luca wanna join? We could get one for you too.”
“I’d love that. But I need to speak to him. I can’t have him mistreating Tommy anymore.”
Gianni nods his head and walks to the stairs. I gather up Luca’s backpack and my tote. Gianni comes down with two sleepy boys tucked in each arm. We get them into coats and boots, and the boys perk up; suddenly itching to get outside and pelt each other with snow.
Gianni and I laugh with them. I deftly scoop a handful, packing it good. It hits Gianni square in the back. I squeal trying to run, when he tackles me to the ground kissing me in front of them both not caring. It’s not a tender kiss either. It’s a toe-curling, tongue-thrusting, baby-making kiss.
“Gross. What are they doing?”
I shriek, feeling ice rain down on me. The boys shovel snow with their hands onto Gianni and me. He chuckles, “Well, I guess we do need to cool off. Damn woman, it’s never enough.”
“I know.”
“All I want for Christmas is you—for a week, naked and in my bed. Is Tony taking Luca over break?”
“Yep.”
“Good,” he grunts, “I don’t trust Tiff for a week, but between her and my ma we could work something out. Pack your bikini babe. Santa just might take you to paradise.”
“He already did.”
Gianni helps me up, and we wrangle the boys into the truck. Gianni drives us carefully home, and I turn to him, already missing him and he hasn’t even gone yet.
“I know. It’s never enough. Stolen nights here and there… would you really consider going away with me? Our relationship seems to be stuck on fast-forward, why slow down now?”
“Yes. I would love to go away with you.”
“Then it’s settled. Merry Chris
tmas to us.”
“… if we get through these next few weeks until then. That reminds me—did your Santa suit ever come?”
“Unfortunately, it did. It was waiting for me on the porch when I got home.”
“I can’t wait to see you in it. It’s going to be hysterical.”
“Yeah, you are gonna owe me big time, baby. Get ready to pay up. I’m meeting a prospective client in the city tomorrow, want me to just drive you in?”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be there.”
“Okay. Good night babe.” He kisses me slowly, thoroughly, like the last thing he wants to do is leave.
As I open my eyes, I catch Luca glaring at Gianni with a look so hateful it makes me shudder. I’m exhausted from the ups and downs of the day, but I can’t let this slide. I need to talk to my son and make sure he’s okay.
“THIS SPACE IS IMPRESSIVE.” I follow my potential client through the old building in Queens. It used to house thirty apartments, but now it’s been auctioned off and sold to a private investor who’s looking to hire me to renovate every kitchen and bath in the building. It’s a tremendous job. The most extensive my small company would have to date. It’d be back-breaking, ball-busting work.
I can’t wait to get started. There’s nothing like doing your own demo work, watching in satisfaction as every whack of your sledgehammer breaks shit.
“We want to get the project started as soon as possible so we can finish by summer and put all the units on the market.”
I whistle through my teeth, “That’s damn aggressive.”
“Think you can do it?”
“I know I can.”
“Excellent. I pretty much already decided to go with you. The fact that you have an eye for design and functionality eliminates the need to hire a designer. Work me up a quote, and we’ll iron out the details.”
“Give me five minutes. I have a portable printer in the truck.” I jog down the stairs and out to the curb. I’ve been dying to check my phone. But there’s still no text or missed calls from Kate. The flat of my hand slaps the steering wheel. I’m one second away from peeling out and going all caveman. I’ve got the urge to drive down to her corporate office and slay her dragons. But she’d get fired, and I’d go to jail. But the thought of her sitting in a room with those two schmucks makes me wanna break shit. Right now. My sledgehammer is in the back...
I quickly put together a proposal and an estimate. Doing a job this big and turning it around in a tight time frame is gonna cost money. I need to hire extra guys. I hook the portable printer into the USB port and recheck my phone. It’s 11:15. I’ll wait forty-five more minutes before texting.
Hopping out of my truck, contracts in hand, taking the stairs two at a time—I half expect the client to laugh in my face when he sees the figure on the paper. But he wants high-end finishes, and my carpenter and tile guys are the best.
“I have everything written up here. The contract is standard. I need twenty-percent up front and another twenty when we’re at the fifty-percent mark. A copy of my contractor’s license and insurance is stapled at the back.”
He takes it from me, skimming the pages. “Looks about right.” From the inside pocket of his coat, he pulls out a checkbook while signing his name on the line. And just like that—I got a job that will net me one-hundred-thousand dollars when it’s finished.
“I need you to start the demo right away. My permits came in this week.” He hands me the signed contracts and the down payment for the job with a set of keys to the building.
“No problem. I have my sledgehammer in the truck.”
We shake hands, and he leaves me to get to it, but first I need to know what’s going on with my girl. “Kate? I didn’t think you’d answer. How did it go?”
“I can’t talk long. I’m fine. I’ll tell you about it over a bottle of wine. I’m actually entering Tony’s office building. I’ll call you after.”
“Tony?! What the hell are you doing seeing him?” I roar, unable to stop the beast in me that wants to rip his head off. He’s seen her naked. He married her, planted his seed in her—that alone is enough to give me just cause.
She’s quiet, “He’s always going to be in my life. You know that. I need to talk to him about Luca.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes, “Yeah, I know. But I fuckin’ hate it. I’m in Queens working on a job. I’ll text the address—meet me.”
“I will.” She answers softly before hanging up.
I swing the sledgehammer over my shoulder slamming it down in the middle of an old Formica counter. I do it again and again until there is nothing left but dust and rubble.
An hour goes by. Then two. My shirt’s soaked with sweat. I rip it off and wipe the sweat from my brow with it. I knocked the fuck outta the kitchen cabinets. They lay in splinters on the floor. Putting my sledgehammer down, I pick up the broom and sweep the smaller pieces into a pile. The larger ones I take to the window and drop into the dumpster below. Removing my face mask, I take a deep breath of winter air. Kate and I have so much shit going on in our lives, but I need to make it work with her. I know we can blend our lives together, we just need more time to get to know each other. Alone time, without our kids and exes… to fall in love. Hell, I’m already half-way there.
“Hey.”
“You made it.” I turn from the window, catching her staring at me wearing nothing but worn jeans and work boots.
“Don’t walk any further. There’s broken nails everywhere.” Placing down my tools, I walk to the sink and remove my gloves, “I have an extra shirt in the truck. Let me take you to lunch.”
“That’d be great. We need to talk.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” I rinse the suds from my hands without looking at her. If I do—I won’t be able to stop myself from taking her, here in this dirty room until she pants my name and tells me she’s mine—I wouldn’t stop until I’m satisfied. Convinced that she knows, I’m not playing around here—I’m gonna fight whatever comes our way. I’m not letting her go—when I’ve finally found happiness.
She’s quiet as we walk hand-in-hand to a cozy café on the corner. I let her place her order and take her coat off before my eyes demand answers.
I place my hands over hers, but she pulls back and stares out the window.
“I know I haven’t fucked up. Don’t shut me out.”
Her eyes cut to mine and soften, “No. You’ve been perfect. The only brightness in the dark.”
“Then let me keep shining for you baby. I’m right here.”
“I quit. Walked away from the career I was determined to have.”
I suck in a breath, “Oh, babe. I know how much you loved it.”
“I did and yet I didn’t. Chet almost had a legit heart-attack when I whipped out those signed contracts. But the damage was done. He sunk my reputation. It turns out he and Tom are golf buddies. Part of me thinks it wouldn’t have mattered no matter what I did.”
“What happened?”
“They offered me a ‘package.’ If I was to forego the 30-day plan and sign a termination agreement. They’d pay me severance, and I’d keep my benefits for six months. I refused. The money would’ve been nice, but I can’t put a number on my pride. If I took the package, it would be agreeing with them there was cause for firing me.”
“But you made your numbers… ”
“I know. It’s personal at this point. Chet wants me gone, and Tom went along with it.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“I know…but honestly, it’s for the best. I had a long talk with Luca last night. He’s more upset than I realized about us being together. Especially since Tony fueled his hopes that we might get back together. It made me realize—I need a time-out, hit a reset button. Luca needs me more than ever. I want to be home more…less distracted by emails and meetings. Right now, I’m focused on getting him back on track.”
I stare at her, falling more in love by the second. She’s got
more grit than most men I know. But her heart—is strong and true and I hope there’s room for me in it. “That’s admirable. More than admirable. Most people would’ve grabbed the money and ran.”
“I’m not most people.”
“I know. And that’s why… I’m gonna steal you away and lock you in my lair.”
“Yeah… about that. I don’t think it’s a good idea to see each other during the week so much anymore. Luca’s feeling like a leftover. He said I only had time for my job and you. I got rid of my job—”
“I get it. I’m not happy… but I get it. But come the weekend—your mine. I mean sunset on Fridays to sunset on Sundays. I’m not compromising on this.” I meet her eyes not blinking, not giving a damn inch.
“Okay.”
I grunt in disbelief that I just got cock-blocked by a third-grader.
Friggin’ hell.
But Kate is precisely the kind of mother I wish Tiff were. So how could I be pissed? But I do need to get back to work. I’m itching to break more shit.
I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE him. It feels like forever since we last touched. He’s been distant, gruff… sensing I’m pulling away. We came together like a gathering storm; fierce and wild, but had to pull apart because life keeps getting in our way.
I’ve been at the school all week setting up for today’s holiday bazaar. As much as the other women on the PTA drove me bonkers asking about Gianni and me, I’m grateful to be keeping busy instead of sitting at home stewing over how Chet screwed me out of a job at Christmas.
Luca beamed every time I walked by his class carrying loads of garland and lights. I even helped make a “Hanukkah Bush” decking it out with blue lights, silver tinsel, and hanging wooden dreidels.
Despite my promise that I’d be his, starting last night—I was late coming back after dropping Luca off in the city and Gianni ended up going over to his mother’s house to fix a broken water pipe. There’s something about a man who can do things, fix things that gets me all turned on. Lord knows, Tony couldn’t do shit around the house.