A Touch of Fae (11 page)

Clearing her throat, she looked away. Alessandro had disappeared around the corner of the building beside her shop. “Do you mind if I go talk to him?”

She could feel Rory’s eyes on her, regarding her critically. She was basically asking him if she could meddle in their relationship. She was asking him for trust.

Rory stepped forward and cupped the back of her head, kissing her brow. “Yes.”

Violet released her breath and wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug.

Turning away, the big man headed for the stairs behind the office. “Bring him back,” he ordered over his shoulder.

Violet wasted no time in jogging across the lot and turning the same direction Alessandro had. Her heart clenched when she couldn’t see him at first, but as a car pulled out of another lot, he was revealed. In tan pants and an olive green polo he was almost camouflaged against the dingy downtown streets. He looked surprised when Violet jogged to his side.

“
Bella
, what’s wrong?”

Shaking her head, she puffed out a breath. “I just wanted to check on you.”

Alessandro’s full lips curved up in a smile. “Ach, I’m good.”

But his face belied his words. Violet didn’t contradict him. Instead she motioned toward the courthouse. It was a well-maintained area and there were flowerbeds and benches scattered around. It was a Sunday so there were a few other people out, but not many. Nobody she knew, anyway.

Violet plopped down on a bench underneath a towering oak. Alessandro sat down beside her, but kept a good distance between them. The closest he got to touching her was the knee he propped his left elbow on. Violet felt slighted that he didn’t even
try
to touch her. He had always been the first to reach out. She had to make this right.

“You know, I saw you guys years ago. I will always remember it because it was just after my eighteenth birthday. Grandad had given me a truck for my birthday, just an old beater. I appreciated that truck. I knew he had put a lot of time and money and energy into hiding that truck while he worked on it for me. And he was so tickled when he gave it to me. He knew. It gave me the freedom I always wanted to get away from this place. I put probably, oh, a thousand miles on it the first week I had it. I was always broke because I had to put gas in the damn thing.” She laughed in remembrance, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I loved that damn truck.”

Alessandro’s brows were furrowed in curiosity and his firm lips were tipped up in a slight smile.

“Then you guys walked in one day. And that truck just totally lost its charm. You were my new shiny things I kept in my heart to pull out whenever I got down, or bored, or just plain horny. God, at eighteen, your hormones are just running wild.

“And I didn’t know what to do with all that pent up frustration. I had no idea who you guys were or where you lived. Hell, didn’t know your names. Grandad talked like he knew you, but there was no way I could ask him about you. I was going to take over the shop one day, so after a certain age there was no real talk of boys, or dances, or any kind of girl stuff. I was the next man in line for the job, so to speak. He treated me like a man. As much as I loved him, that was pretty difficult for me growing up.”

Alessandro’s hand rested gently on her back and Violet almost cried. Sitting up she turned toward him, resting her knee against his thigh. “You guys made me feel like a woman for the first time. I got this tingle in my gut that just wouldn’t go away when I thought about you. I fingered myself until my finger was permanently wrinkled.”

Alessandro laughed, but even he had to see the earnestness in her face. His pretty hazel eyes were gentle in understanding. “I too have struggled with my sexuality,
bella
.”

Violet caught his gaze firmly with her own. “And I don’t want to mess with what you’ve found. You and Rory are a couple. It’s plain to see, for me at least, that you guys have a wonderful relationship. I know you’ve been together for years and I’m sorry for what we did at the park. It was rude and insensitive. At the very least we should have brought you in with us.”

Alessandro interrupted her. “No, no, I am not a part of that world. I told Rory to take you in. I knew what would happen and I was okay with it.”

Violet pulled back. “Well, why did you go all distant then? When we got back in the car?”

Alessandro leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees again. He shrugged his muscular shoulders uncomfortably, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. “I think I was jealous. A bit. I understand Rory’s, um, drives. The men with this blood, they are very—” he made a fisted motion with his hand, “
machismo
. Strong. Potent. But needy. We’ve been here many times because he felt you. And Jack. Jack is our friend, but he has the blood. He felt your pull as well.”

Violet felt her mouth fall open in shock. Jack was Fae too. Well.

“That explains a lot,” she mumbled. The drive to be with him. The drive to forget about Rory and Alessandro.

“I try to ease him but sometimes he has to be with another person like him. And I understand that.”

Violet felt incredibly humbled. She and Rory were getting each other off and Alessandro’s heart was breaking. But he was doing what he had to do to keep Rory. And to keep Rory happy.

“Well, I appreciate you sharing him with me.”

Pulling her to him, he gave her a peck on the temple. “I don’t actually mind sharing him with you.”

“Good, because I plan on absolutely wearing the two of you out before you leave. Any idea when that will be? How long do I have left?”

Alessandro shrugged in that European, what-would-it-matter-if-you-did-know kind of shrug.

Sighing, she rested her head on his shoulder. She would just have to take whatever she could get.

“Violet? Violet Nichols?”

At the first sound of the high, sweet country voice, Violet felt her heart sink.
No, please
. But she knew even before she looked up who was going to be standing there.

Madelyn Hughes. Pretty, blonde, perfect Madelyn.

Of the Pickerington Times Newspaper founding family.

Blanking her face, she smiled blandly at the novice reporter. “Hello, Madelyn. Isn’t it funny seeing you here?”

Madelyn’s big blue eyes rounded as she looked from Violet to Alessandro. If it hadn’t been such a volatile situation she would have laughed outright at the cub reporter’s star-struck face. It was obvious she couldn’t believe such a hot guy was sitting with grease-stained Violet Nichols.

“Oh yes, funny,” she agreed, holding a manicured hand out to Alessandro. “Who’s your friend?”

Alessandro, being the charming gentleman he was, turned up the wattage and stood to shake her hand. He even bent over to kiss it. What should have looked stupid in the middle of Kentucky turned into one of the most gallant things Violet had ever seen.

Madelyn must have thought so too because she got an insipid, dreamy look on her face. “Oh,” she moaned again.

“Alessandro Martinelli,” he said quietly, deeply. Violet watched as his thumb ran over the back of Madelyn’s hand and the young woman’s shiver. It was pretty sad to watch, actually. Poor Madelyn had no chance against Alessandro’s effortless charm.

Aggravation was growing though, too. Why did he have to kiss her hand? If he had any idea what a little motor mouth she was he would be running in the opposite direction as fast as he could.

“Alessandro, this is Madelyn, Pickerington’s—” damn, she almost said town busy body, “uh, cub reporter.”

Big blue eyes flashed at her angrily. “Oh Violet, haven’t you heard? I’m full-staff now.”

Blinking up at Alessandro she threw her shoulders back proudly, smile gleaming. “So, where did you meet Violet?”

“At her garage.” Gently he pulled his arm away from her lacquered nails. She was slick because Violet hadn’t even seen her clutch his arm.

Madelyn’s cute face wrinkled in distaste and she cocked her pink-skirted hip. “Oh, that dirty place. I don’t go over there if I can avoid it. It’s no place for a woman.”

Violet felt her own anger stirring. That little cat…

“Oh, I don’t know,” Alessandro said smoothly. “You might be surprised what kind of treasures you can find in a garage.”

Violet could have kissed him. Right there in the middle of town. She was sure it was an act, but the sexy Italian was looking at her as if he could eat her. And it was absolutely burning Madelyn to bits.

Little Miss Perfect was used to getting her way and didn’t appreciate Violet getting any attention at all. Violet could remember all through grade school, junior and high school trying to dodge Madelyn’s little barbs. Madelyn was actually two years behind Violet but she had always been in the midst of the action. Dating boys older than her, driving the sports car her father bought her as soon as she got her license. Violet thought Madelyn had maybe been a bit envious of her because she had always hung out with the guys, working on their trucks, getting them deals on parts through her granddad. As much as Madelyn complained about the garage she had spent a lot of time there trying to entice the boys away.

Violet watched the imaginary wheels turn in Madelyn’s head. She was trying to come up with some way to latch onto Alessandro.

“So, what do you do, Mr. Martinelli? If I may say so, you look like you could be in print.”

Alessandro tipped his head coyly and looked at her from beneath his Superman curl. “Nah. I teach in Missouri.”

Madelyn’s cunning eyes lit up. “Ahhhh,” she drew out softly, “what do you teach?”

“Art appreciation.”

Madelyn’s eyes fluttered as if she had heard something else.

“That’s nice,” she said softly. Her eyes suddenly opened wide. “Mr. Martinelli, maybe you can help me with something. I’ve been looking at a picture at the Art Guild down the street I’ve been thinking of buying. Would you mind looking at it for me and telling me what you think?”

Being the gentleman that he was, Alessandro didn’t laugh in Madelyn’s face. Violet wracked her brain but couldn’t remember anything in the Guild building other than Larry Fryman’s aluminum can sculptures and Mary Henry’s pictures of her beloved pig Chester. She struggled not to laugh out loud.

Shaking his head at her dolefully, Alessandro squeezed her hand.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Hughes, but I have other plans. Maybe another time.”

Madelyn rallied. “Oh, that’s fine. Another time would be fine. When would be good for you?”

Alessandro’s smile was broad on his face. “I’ll have to get back to you. My girlfriend,” he shook his head with a hound-dog look, “she does not let me out of her sight very long.”

Madelyn looked comically concerned. “Oh, how sad. Well, tell your girlfriend to lighten up. And you call me.”

Reaching into her oversized designer bag, she pulled out a dog-eared notepad and pen. Scribbling her name and number on it, she handed it to Alessandro.

Tucking the note in his polo pocket, he smiled politely at Madelyn. “Thank you.”

Tugging on Violet’s hand, he pulled her up off the bench and into his arms. Nuzzling her ear, he whispered, “Are you ready,
bella
?”

Violet could only nod as he pulled away. Glancing at Madelyn, she saw the cute little blond was furious, only just realizing who Alessandro meant by ‘girlfriend’. Violet couldn’t help but wink at her as they passed.

The smugness she felt walking away faded quickly even though Alessandro held onto her hand. They weren’t actually connected like that and Violet felt a little depressed. It wouldn’t take Madelyn long to figure out the Italian was teasing her. They would be gone, probably within hours and the sham would be outed, so to speak.

Tightening her hand on his, she decided to enjoy it while it lasted.

Alessandro held her hand all the way back to the garage. Unlocking the door, Violet finally pulled away.

“Thank you for doing that, Alessandro.” Violet looked down at her stained hands, seeing again the differences between her and the younger woman. “Madelyn has been a burr under my saddle for as long as I can remember. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had incidents like that through my life. I’ve never had anyone stick up for me like that before.”

Running his thumb down over her cheek, he tilted her face up with a finger under her chin. “
Bella
, I wish you could see what I see when I look at you. No, you are not the most glamorous woman I have ever seen, but you have something about you that pulls my eyes to you as soon as you are near. I don’t know what it is exactly. Even when Rory is near I still find myself watching you. Your eyes light up and your voice goes even lower to this sexy alto that tickles my ears. You came back from the woods earlier and the well-sexed look in your eyes was an incredible turn-on.”

Violet smiled sexily, teasingly. “I thought you were happy to see me.”

Alessandro rolled his eyes expressively. “Ach, then I got a whiff of you. It was you and Rory mixed together. How would that not appeal to me?”

Leaning forward, he bumped her nose with his, teasing her lips with his breath. He stayed just far enough away to aggravate her though. When she tried to close the distance between them, he pulled back, smiling broadly. He clucked at her impatience.

“Slowly,
bella
, slowly.”

Violet growled and started to pull away but Alessandro snagged her arms, holding her still. He raised his eyebrows at her. “You won’t wait for a little pleasure?”

Frowning, Violet shook her head at him. “Nope. If you don’t kiss me right now I may be very upset.”

Eyes twinkling, he gave one tip of his head. “Ah, it’s that way, huh? You sound like Rory. Well, I can’t have you upset with me.”

And his soft lips settled on hers.

‡