by Eden Rose
"Yes, what's up?" Vincent whispered in my ear and I giggled as his breath washed over me.
"I was thinking about what to do with that money that I was left. Anne and I decided to go into business ourselves... together. With the money that I inherited; it is very important that I gain some type of ownership."
Vincent rubbed his hand up and down my arm and pulled me closer to him. "Why haven't you talked to me about this?"
"Because I knew you bought the company for me... I didn't want to make you mad. Do you think that is a good idea?" I could hear the twinge of hurt in his voice and that was the last thing I was wanting to do.
"Anne, are we going to put money down on this, too, so you can be part owner?" Ronnie asked her while twirling a piece of her curl around his finger.
My best friend wiggled and schooled her face to seem provocative. I love this side of her, and I just bet she will get whatever she wants with it. "I was thinking we could put half down. Do you like the idea?"
Ha ha! I knew it! "Hell, yes I do! What are you going to name it?" Ronnie's laugh radiated the whole back yard. It was easy to see why Anne loved him. They were perfectly complimentary of each other. When Ronnie's laughter got louder, Cherub started to bark louder and ran around in a circle.
"Man, look at the speed on that thing!" I yelled as Cherub ran around the pool and then up to the hot tub to scratch his paws on the side.
"Vincent?" He didn't talk about anything and it was easy to see he was in deep thought. About what, was the question of the evening. "Do you hate the idea?"
He didn't say anything to me for what felt like an eternity. After I was about to run out of the tub and grab a frying pan to hit him over the head, he answered me.
"I love the idea. However, I have some questions about it." Oh geeze. "A question I have is will you let me be a partner in it? I won't take my normal eighty percent. I just want to do this with you. Another would be, what are you going to name it and where are you going to get your office?"
Wow. He knows how to turn a dream into a business plan. "If you partner in it, does that mean everyone partners in it too?" I knew the answer. Why I bother to ask such a dumb question, I will never know.
"It’s tricky. Once you develop a clientele, then we can go from there," Ronnie said as he stared at me. I felt naked in my tank bikini right now. Completely transparent. It’s almost as if Ronnie could see through me. Could he see how nervous I was? As if he could see my anxiety, he laughed again, and my puppy joined in. "So, let's talk wedding details. I have a present for you two."
Vincent grabbed my waist and pulled me onto him, skin to skin. I snuggled my back into his chest and ran my hands over his arms as he spoke to Ronnie. "What is it, Rossi?" Vincent didn't seem excited about it for some reason.
I think Ronnie just understands Vincent and his moodiness because he didn't seem offended by it. "Do you remember that yacht we rented in Mexico the last time? Well, I rented it for you. The thing is... You would have to use it by the end of the month."
I gasped and wiggled in Vincent's lap. A matter of two weeks? Two weeks? Holy shit.
Anne was the one to break my concentration and she twirled her hair into a ponytail. "Vans, I already have some of the details worked out for you. Like you wanted, it. Will be just us four on the yacht, and then we will have the reception when you get back."
Cherub was running around outside like a wild man. He had so much energy that when he laid down it felt good. I really like this dog; however, he does need to be trained.
"Vincent?" Anne asked while I watched Cherub run at a leaf and then bark at it. I am so happy that the backyard was fenced.
"I would marry her tonight if she let me. So, to answer your question, yes," I felt his eyes burn into my flesh and his chest got more solid.
I bet he was waiting for me to agree or disagree. Shit.
"Okay. Let's do it!" Vincent wrapped me closer to him and I purred.
"I love you," he whispered. "I can't wait for you to be my wife."
"Anne, shopping in the morning?"
"Wait," Ronnie started, "what are you guys going to name it?"
Chapter 29
Vincent
In a matter of six days she will be my wife. I had to keep reminding myself that as I sat in the conference room, which resides in my basement, with two of the bosses to discuss new business. My new position was completely different than my old one. I had promised Savannah that I wouldn't participate in the hits anymore and that was true to an extent. This new position meant that I was similar to a counselor.
Today's meeting was intense. Supposedly some of the people that are apart of Dice are not appreciative of my upcoming nuptials. She got divorced from Joel. Why people still have some sort of a problem with it is beyond me.
"So, gentlemen," John started as we all looked up at him. As tradition stands and has been since my father was alive, my house is always the one where these meetings are held. "Pop... man, why do you have to keep pissing people off?"
His voice snapped me out of my daydream of Savannah in front of me wearing a white dress and my taking it off of her to expose her pale skin that lays underneath it. A woman so beautiful inside and out, she deserves the best wedding. I can't wait for it. Anne has helped me plan it and I took all of the planning from Savannah. All I want her to do is to show up, be happy and be surprised.
I growled at John: "What did I do now?"
"Stilarno and I had a meeting yesterday and he mentioned that he and you got into a dick measuring contest over your comare."
Well, he just knows how to rub me the wrong way. "She is just not my comare, in six days we are getting married. What did he have to say?" I wasn't trying to be a dick with him, but this whole situation was getting out of hand. If she wanted to be with him, she would have been with him. But she chose me. Savannah has agreed to marry me, and I want to make sure that she won't ever regret being my wife.
Sal was the one to answer my question. "He mentioned that he supposedly seen her first or something along the lines of that. What do you have to say about that?"
My temper started to shoot out of control and my fists clenched. I listened upstairs to hear the clacking of her shoes. Savannah will be home at any minute, and she will come looking for me and Cherub. More than likely she will have Anne with her. They have been inseparable lately. It’s not as if I am complaining about it, I just wish that she and I could have some alone time.
"That's horse shit," Leo said as he walked into the room. "Pop had bought that company like two years ago. Stilarno just wants to create a problem because he wanted to marry Moretti's ex-wife first."
Now I remember. Mary came home one day after I caught her cheating on me with that dirty asshole and told me that Stilarno asked her out. At the time, I was insanely jealous because I knew that Mary would go for him. I am hoping that I am making Savannah happy enough to not want to leave me. She is my woman, damn it.
"Okay, this is what I want to do about this," I started to say but then I heard her shoes clack up and down the hall as she walked through the house. Cherub's face looked up and went to bark at the bottom of the stairs. Since Ronnie moved out, we used my basement since it had more room and Cherub loved to play down here with me.
The basement door creaked open and I he are her voice. "Vincent?" She called from the top of the stairs and she got her answer by Cherub barking. I listened as she walked down the stairs and her face shot around to look at the intense stares that everyone had. As always, she was breath takingly beautiful. Her hair was long and straight, and she had all the right curves. Why this woman chose me, I will never know. "What's going on? Anne, they are down here!"
Anne started to run down the stairs, and it seems as if she took her shoes off because I didn't hear her clack.
"What are you doing today?" I asked her as I motioned for her to come over to me.
As Savannah sat down on my lap, Cherub jumped on her legs and she laughed a little giggle. She has the most beautiful laug
h in the world. Anne sat down next to Rossi and he kissed her cheek. The guys in the room took out their phones to check messages.
"We are going to go to the dog park. Cherub needs some friends," she said as she picked the dog up and giggled as he licked her face.
"Hey, hey, now he gets a kiss, but I don't?" I joked as she turned on me and kissed my lips. "Which dog park are you going to be going to?" She has never mentioned before wanting to go to a dog park before.
"Well," she and Anne exchanged giggles and then Savannah fiddled with her ring on her finger, "there is a man who is selling an office space in a great building... We heard that he goes to the dog park frequently. Anne and I are going to do a drive by and see if he will sell it to us."
"How much are you wanting to throw down at it?" Even though she was so excited about this company, I didn't want her to spend all of her money. Savannah needs to hold on to it for her own sanity. I wish she would let me buy it for her because I have some money laying aside from my construction business. We could even consider it a wedding present.
She moved on my lap and her pencil skirt clad ass rubbed my dick. Fuck. I want to throw her on the ground and take her right here. As she and the guys talked, Savannah was so animated that her chest moved up and down. I am pretty sure that everyone knew I am staring at her tits, but they are so perfect. Round, soft, big. Fuck.
"I am thinking a quarter or something. What do you think, baby? You are the professional, you know." She was baiting me as she wiggled on my lap to put the dog down.
I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her further up my legs. "Seriously, stop wiggling. I want to take you right now."
She giggled and wiggled again. Damn. This is going to be a long meeting.
"Well, it depends on who this guy is and where the building is. I can come with you, if you want," I stated as I tickled her sides which only made it worse since she was wiggling even more. Savannah laid her back to my chest and grabbed my hands to wrap around her waist. Perfection. Pure perfection. "Six more days, my love."
She laid her head down on my neck, so her mouth was right next to my ear. "I know. I can't wait. Come on, you are coming to the dog park too." She stood up and picked up Cherub. "Come on, Kitten. We need to get changed. You can borrow something of mine." They walked out of the room that we were in and started for the stairs. "Hurry up, baby. I want to go now."
I wanted to jump out of my chair and go after her, but it would look so bad to follow her in front of everyone. "Gentlemen, feel free to continue and I will be back later."
As I stood up and straightened my pants, all of the guys stood up to in order to follow me and Rossi.
"I think we all could use a little fun," Rossi stated as he walked up the stairs.
Vinny laughed as he called Annabeth to invite her. Johnny called Bethany and Sammy called Valerie. The others called their significant others, but my mind was on my own. After we got to the top of the stairs, I walked fast to my bedroom. I could hear her laughing about something as I made it to the door.
I stopped at the door to listen to what Anne and Savannah were talking about.
"So, Vans... I have something to tell you."
"Yes, what's up?" From the sounds of it, Savannah was digging through the closet to find a shirt. After she picked one out, she walked across the room in just her jeans and her bra. Holy fuck.
"This is hard for me to tell you... Well considering everything that has happened." Anne moved on the bed and picked the dog up. Savannah passed the door again while fluffing her hair out as she pulled the shirt on. "We are pregnant. Two months."
My mouth hit the floor and I suddenly wanted to yell at Rossi for not telling me first: we're like brothers. Maybe, Anne wanted to tell Savannah first. I looked at her and seen her process the information. For a second, I honestly thought she was going to freak out.
"Pregnant? We are going to have a baby!" Savannah jumped on the bed and hugged Anne. This is when I made my presence known.
"Baby doll, are you ready?" I crossed the room to where she was sitting and pushed on her shoulders to have her lay on the bed. "You are so beautiful. The things I would do to you right now," I whispered in her ear as I nibbled her ear lobe. Damn it. She is so sexy. "But we should go so we can get you this office," I extended my hand for her to grab it, and when she did, I pulled her off the bed and wrapped her in a hug. Savannah's body fit so perfectly against mine.
Rossi appeared in the door frame as I held Savannah close to me. When she is this close to me, I love it. I won't ever understand why she took me back, but I vowed to never let her go.
He only had eyes for his knocked-up wife. "Hi, baby," Rossi said as he walked into the room and grabbed Cherub from Anne as she climbed off the bed. "Did you tell her?"
Anne took a deep breath of relief and then giggled. "Yes, I did. It was hard."
"Speaking of babies... Have you thought of any names?" Savannah asked with excitement as she traced her finger over my hands as I kept my arms around her waist.
"I like the name Vivienne," Rossi said and as soon as he finished his sentence, Savannah's body shook.
"Um..." that is all she said as she fell against my chest having me carry both of our weights.
"Baby doll, what's wrong?" I held onto her tighter trying to get her turn around so I could look at her face, and she wouldn't budge.
"What did I do?" Rossi asked as Anne came over to hug Savannah.
She tensed even further with Anne's contact.
"Vans, I am so sorry. I told him that we couldn't name the baby that."
"What's wrong with the name?" Rossi asked as my mind swirled. This must have something to do with her past.
"That is what I was... going... to name my... baby. She was a girl."
"Shit, I am so sorry! I didn't know!" Rossi came over to where we were, and Savannah clenched my fingers with hers. I knew she wanted him to leave.
"Hey, back up a little," I said as I felt her body shake against me. If need be, I will protect her from this and tell Rossi that he needs to pick another name. Savannah doesn't need a constant reminder of her baby being a still born. Hell, if I could knock her up and get her a baby, I will be a very happy man.
What felt like ours was probably only a matter of seconds until she spoke again. She never talks about her baby and the loss that she suffered. I wish I knew whether or not she was able to discuss her feelings with a counselor because then she will be able to get some closure.
She finally spoke as she peeled my hands off of her. I held on tighter as she tried to walk away but she squeezed both of my hands and walked over to her friend. I couldn't help the glare I gave Rossi as he waited to see what the scene will unfold.
Savannah was still in my grabbing reach when she approached Rossi and Anne, so I stepped forward and ran my hand down her back. "No, its fine. Seriously. It’s a beautiful name and that was seven years ago. And... and.... uh, um... A name that beautiful deserves to be used," Anne hugged her as she walked out of my grab and Savannah responded to her hug. "Besides, it isn't as if I bought the name. I would rather you use it opposed to someone else. Congratulations!" Savannah backed out of the hug and walked over towards Rossi. Rossi looked scared as he straightened his back and held onto Cherub. "Congratulations. Really, you didn't know. Don't be upset," she hugged him and when she backed out of the hug, she picked up her dog.
"Baby doll, just because there is one name, doesn't mean that we can't come up with our own names," I said to her as I walked into the closet to put on a pair of jeans. We're getting married in a few days and we never discussed wanting children. I grew up in a very Catholic Italian family, so kids are something that I want. Hell, I want a full house.
I watched as she readjusted her hair tie and slip off the bed. "Really? You want kids?" Savannah seemed so out of place in the conversation. Almost as if she had no idea why this topic even began. Sometimes I forget that we have only known each other for a few months.
"Of course, I do. Don
't you?" I danced around that line as I unbuttoned my shirt and picked a fitted tee. Once I was dressed in it, I kicked off my dress shoes and stepped into my tennis shoes.
"Yes, I do. I just didn't realize that you wanted them as well," she appeared in the doorway with a smile displayed on her perfect mouth and walked over to me. Once she was in front of me, she placed her hands on my shoulders and kissed me. "I can't wait to get married to you. I love you."
To watch her mouth open and say that is amazing. I look down at her ring on her finger. Her second engagement ring that I gave her, and I smiled. I asked Annabeth if three karats were too small, and she said it wasn't. I would have given her five karats if Annabeth wouldn't have been there. Savannah is worth it.
Stilarno and the family drama will have to wait. In six days, I am marrying my dream woman and she deserves all of my attention.