Dressed in Yellow: BBW Contemporary Romance (4 page)

“No,” he replied, slowly. “Not in the way you mean.”

Leon lifted her hand from her thigh, cupped it in his. His fingertips traveled slowly over the back of her hand and circled her wrist, the featherlike caresses causing her breath to catch in her throat. An innocent touch, nothing overtly sensual. But yet her body tightened.

“I need a woman who is loyal,” he said. “Who will tell me the truth. A woman with strength to ride out a storm with me. A woman who will nurse our babies instead of giving them a bottle of synthetic cow’s milk. A woman from the old country.”

“Barefoot and pregnant over a pot of marinara,” she said, breath uneven.

Leon laughed softly. “Maybe some of the time. But I would want her to have her own interests- her own life. A mind to challenge mine.”

“Not too many Harvard models walking around this town.”

“Harvard didn’t produce the woman I want.”

His free hand touched her cheek, turning her face with gentle pressure. He waited until her eyes rose to meet his, the only light from the windows and the streetlamp over the alley. It was enough. Enough to see he wasn’t smiling and the intensity in his face wasn’t a trick of the shadows.

Leon’s head dipped forward, lips brushing hers once, twice. A seeking, or first foray before committing fully to battle. Her mouth opened underneath him slowly and when he felt her relax, his head angled, tongue swooping in to claim her mouth. He leaned into her, arm coming around her back and pulling her even closer to him. She felt him unleash the strength he kept caged, her hands rising to grasp his arms. Blood rushed through her veins, warming the parts of her that begged for a man’s touch. Aiva didn’t understand why she allowed him the liberty, only knew that something in the way he looked at her, the timbre of his voice when his mouth caressed the syllables of her name… it felt like a chance for passion, and something deeper, less transitory.

Leon’s mouth devoured her, inhaled her breath as if he were trying to capture her soul. A strong hand wrapped around the nape of her neck and he stood, pulling her to her feet along with him. Pulling her hips against his.

Aiva moaned, the heat building deep in her pussy as unexpected as it was unwelcome. No man had ever affected her like this- she always found their attentions suspect, maybe because she now realized, their passion was false. He held her like she was the only thing on his mind. Aiva struggled to remember that she didn’t trust Leon- didn’t really know him. Shouldn’t put too much hope into this flare of desire between them. Men like him weren’t interested in women like her. A plain, no frills, down to earth working girl who enjoyed her pasta a little more than she should- and truthfully, liked the results. Because the results gave him a whole lot of woman to work with. And his hands were busy covering her body, cupping her buttocks with a possessiveness Aiva knew she needed to challenge. This kiss was getting out of hand; he touched her as if he had a right. As if they weren’t in her
father’s backyard
.

“Aiviana!”

Shit. Aiva tore away from Leon, who didn’t immediately let her go. She got a glimpse of his hard expression before he allowed her to turn.

“Pa, I was just coming-”

Her father slashed a hand in the air, hurrying towards her, Saltano and Andrew right behind.

“You come in my home and assault my daughter?” her father roared.

Aiva was shocked. “Pa! It’s okay. He didn’t force himself on me.”

“You’re a good girl of good family, it doesn’t matter whether he asked
you!”

“Defend yourself, Sudano,” Andrew said, lining up with Saltano behind their father.

Aiva’s knees trembled. Had they all gone mad? “Father-”

“Saltano, take your sister.”

Leon growled, hands wrapping around her forearms. “No.”

The menace in his tone touched a note of fear deep inside her- a feminine fear. A woman knowing that a man was ready to kill for her. 

But then he took a deep breath, releasing her.

“My apologies,” Leon said. “Aiva, go to your brothers.”

He spoke as if he had a right to order her around. She turned and glared at him, opening her mouth to tear a strip out of his hide when he looked at her. And Aiva understood, then, why he was who he was. Why the men feared him.

Well, except for her father and brothers.

By now the whole family had spilled out into the backyard, drawn by the unnecessary ruckus. Great. Aiva closed her eyes.

“I apologize for offending you, Mr. Losito,” Sudano said quietly, hands at his sides. Andrew grabbed her arm and dragged her away from him, shoving her behind their father. “I’ve disrespected your home- but it wasn’t intentional.”

“So you had no intentions to come here and take advantage of my daughter under the dark of night- with her family in the house? Are you laughing at us?”

“No.” Leon lowered his head, a gesture of penitence. “I came to ask your permission to court her, for marriage. I... wanted to ask her first, though.” He smiled, a little ruefully. “I thought it would win me some points. Her beauty... went to my head.”

Aiva stood, stunned, gaping at Leon, unsure she’d heard his words correctly. But when her father’s bristling shoulders relaxed and he hooked thumbs into the waistband of his pants, Aiva knew she
had
heard correctly.

“Well. I’m a man. I can understand... a nice night, a lovely girl. But it had better not happen again. My wife and I raised a respectable young woman.” Father paused. “Courtship, eh?”

“Yes.” Leon’s expression was grave. “It’s high time I took a wife.” He glanced at Aiva. “She...suits me.”

“Huh. Well, come on boy, come into the house. We’ll talk about it.”

Leon nodded, walking forward, Saltano sandwiching Aiva in between himself and Andrew so Leon couldn’t do more than glance at her, ruefully. Dark hair falling over his eyes as if he were a naughty boy.

Aiva didn’t buy that shit for one minute.
 

Chapter

4

Aiva didn’t have to call b.s.- Daniel did it for her, taking her father aside as soon as they’d entered the house.

“You believe this crap?” Danny hissed. “He doesn’t want her- he wants control over the business.”

Pa stiffened. “You don’t use that language with me, boy. And I’ve no cause to question the man’s word.”

The man in question, having been ushered by her mother into the living room, glanced over as Aiva as Daniel and Pa entered. Danny glanced at Leon, eyes narrowed. Her father wasn’t the kind to talk behind a man’s back, though. He faced Leon squarely.

“My nephew here says your intention to court my only daughter is a smokescreen to involve yourself financially in her shop.” Pa’s tone, and direct stare, challenged Leon.

Leon said nothing for a moment, dark brow slowly rising. Then he laughed, startling them all.

“Funny,” he chuckled. “I’ll let the insult go because of the entertainment value.” He shrugged, lip curling as he glanced at Daniel. “The shop is a testament to her intelligence and business sense- but what would I want with flowers?”

Danny faced him squarely. “Are you telling me you didn’t call me to your office to discuss a deal to take over her contract with me?”

Leon sighed, hands sliding into his pockets. His eyes glittered. “Of course I did. It wouldn’t be appropriate for my future wife to be contracted to another man- even her cousin. That business should go through me in the future.”

Aiva stiffened. She supposed another gal would get all hot and bothered over his high-handed declaration of intent- in front of witnesses of sound reputation in the community. But all she heard was that-

“Wait just a damn minute,” she said.

“Knew that was coming,” Andrew murmured, moving past her to take a seat. He picked up a nearby glass of wine, examined the rim and contents critically then shrugged and took a sip.

“I built that business,” she continued, ignoring her brother. With effort. “And if you think I’m going to just turn it over-”

Leon held up his hands. “No, don’t misunderstand me, Aiviana. You can have as many businesses as you like. If you don’t want my help, that’s fine with me, too. But if you answer to any man, it will be me.” He pinned Daniel with a hard glare. “And me alone.”

“You talk like we’re actually getting married!” she exclaimed. “I don’t even know you.”

Leon grinned. “Ah, well. In the old country, when did that ever stop a wedding from happening? We’ll get to know each other first, of course. I know how you American girls think.”

The... effrontery. Aiva was speechless, and if it weren’t for the gleam of wicked humor in his eyes as he looked at her, almost
daring
her to lose her temper- she would have.

Unexpectedly, she relaxed, and returned his grin. Two could play this game.

“You want to court?” she asked, a purr in her voice. She took a step forward, enjoying the suddenly wary expression on his face.

“With the permission of your father and mother.”

“You have it, you have it,” her mother yelled from the kitchen. “Family dinner is every Sunday. Bring more wine.”

“Saltano can chaperone,” Pa said. “And maybe that girl from your shop, Aiva. Mandy? Maybe do a double date. I know you young people think that it’s okay to get up to all kinds of mischief-”

“No, no,” Leon interrupted. “My bride deserves the upmost respect.”

Aiva could tell her Pa was both gratified and satisfied. He nodded. “Well, it’s getting late. Mr. Sudano, you may say goodnight to Aiva- she has to work in the morning.”

***

Her family gave them the illusion of privacy. She walked Leon out of the house and stood with him in the front yard. It was dark, but the curtains continued to flick aside for brief moments, letting Aiva know they were being watched- not too discreetly.

Leon smiled at her. “That went well.”

“It would have gone better if you had asked me first. I don’t even know you.”

“You will.”

She wanted to roll her eyes. “
You
don’t even know
me
.”

He picked up her hand again, this time raising it to his lips to brush a soft kiss on her knuckles. “I know enough. I know you’re a dutiful daughter, and sister. I know you work nearly seven days a week and you treat your employees fairly. I know you’re determined to succeed, and pay your debts. I know you are fucking hot, and the day I can claim your body underneath mine can’t come soon enough.”

Aiva inhaled abruptly, the suddenness of his explicit talk shocking her, causing her pussy to clench. He spoke soft enough no one would hear him- but in the bright light of day, no one would have mistaken the look on his face for anything but possessive, sexual. Fortunately, it was not the bright light of day.

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you home, yes? And we’ll talk in the morning when you’re free.”

She didn’t know anything about him other than the gossip she’d gleaned. He was rich, yes. Sexy as hell, check. He’d come to her parents and her brothers like a man of the old ways, publicly declaring honorable intentions- he wanted her for a wife, not a fuck buddy. And he seemed firm in his conviction. A man who rose to his station in life didn’t make mistakes like that- not with women. Women would be easy for him.

Aiva made a decision. She wanted a husband, a family. She wanted a man who respected her traditional values but also allowed her the freedom to explore her talents and goals. If he proved he wanted her, would treat her well, and they suited, then she would marry him. Why the hell not? Aiva stepped into his body, lifting her face.

“Kiss me,” she said softly, resting her hands on his chest. The hard muscle under her palms flexed. Strong fingers wrapped around her wrists, trapping her.

“You come to me,” he said, voice hoarse. His head lowered, lips seizing hers. “That makes you mine.”

It was just a kiss- not her virginity. But she knew he saw it as the same. Knew she wouldn’t have offered even that much if she hadn’t decided to give herself.

The kiss melted her spine, washing away any thought or sensation that wasn’t settled on him. When she arched her body into his, the hardness of his erection pressed against her middle and she felt the fierce satisfaction of a woman who knew she could make a powerful man want her. Need her.

“You may have fooled her father, but not me.”

Leon didn’t allow her to pull away. He raised his head, but kept her body against his.

“I’m getting tired of you, little man.”

Daniel sneered. “What, we’re practically family now. You can’t raise a hand against me. But if she defaults on her loan- she belongs to me.”

Leon stilled. “She won’t default.”

Aiva’s cousin crossed his arms. “The payments have to come from the proceeds of the business. You can’t gift them. That would be a cheat, and break the contract, making her honor forfeit.”

Leon laughed. “You’re an amazingly stupid little man. Aiva, sweet, you drove? I’ll follow behind you in my car. It’s late.”

“You can’t ignore me,” her cousin spat.

“I’m not ignoring you,” Leon replied, cold. His tone, if she were less sturdy of heart, might have frightened her. She sincerely hoped she was never on the receiving end of the death in his voice. “I gave you an opportunity to benefit from my involvement in the shop. You didn’t take it. Aiva will have enough business from me in the morning to pay out your entire contract.” Leon smiled. “Perfectly legitimate business, so no one can say she didn’t honorably fulfill the terms of your agreement. Now go away, little man. Before I do something I regret.”

Leon followed Aiva to her car to open the door, a gesture that charmed her. He drove behind her on the way home, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he had men of his own driving behind
him
. It disturbed her a bit, knowing he needed security. Something she filed away to think about in the future. She had an inkling of the lifestyle she might be getting herself involved in- both the benefits and the disadvantages.

The next morning she took her refrigerated van to the wholesalers at first light, the way she did every morning, to choose her blooms of the day. She kept a few varieties perpetually in stock, but also wanted to keep a rotation of new and interesting things so her customers never felt like they’d already seen everything. When she arrived at the first wholesaler, chose her flowers, and went to pay, she received a shock.

“I’m sorry, I can’t sell to you, Aiva,” the manager said, bluntly. “You’ve been blackballed. No one will sell to you. Whatever shit you’ve got going- you need to fix it first.”

She sat in her car, her shock rapidly evaporating into a fury that left her hands trembling on the steering wheel. Pulling her cell from her pocket, she dialed Daniel.

“What the fuck is going on?” she hissed.

He laughed. “How are you going to be a flower shop if you don’t have flowers to sell, Aiva? No profits- no way to pay your loan.”

“You think you can blackball me and then turn around and state I didn’t fulfill my contract?” She stared at the screen, unsure she’d correctly heard his logic. “Are you mad?”

“Run to Sudano, cousin,” he replied coldly. “Prove that you are nothing, that you couldn’t make it without a man of means backing you. That’s what you set out to prove, wasn’t it? That you could make a place for yourself without the help of your father and brothers. You didn’t want a man controlling your life. Unless that man is rich and powerful, of course.”

Cold settled in the pit of her stomach, the verbal blow hitting home. “I can make it on my own without Leon, without you, without any man. This is not the old country.”

“Prove it. Do it on your own.”

“You think I can’t?” she snapped. “I’ll refuse Leon’s order, refuse his help. I can make my business work without him- and without you. You’ll get your money, and not a dime of it will be from an order from Sudano.”

She sat in the parking lot of her shop, knowing Daniel had manipulated her- but knowing he was right. For one mad moment under the cover of night she’d forgotten, intoxicated by her own lust, that she’d started along this path out of a desire for independence. How could she let Leon save her if she wouldn’t accept help from her father or brothers? Daniel, her cousin, was barely acceptable as a source of capital and only because she knew he was an ass and would scrooge every dime out of her he could- he didn’t care they were related. He just wanted his money, and in lieu of money, control over other people. She’d known, going into the deal with him, that his very nature would act as a prod to drive success.

When she called Leon, she could tell from the carefully controlled neutrality that he was displeased.

“What’s the real reason you don’t want the order, Aiva?” he asked softly.

She’d told him that there was a problem with the suppliers and she couldn’t reliably fill it, recommending several reputable shops as alternatives.

“Mr. Sudano- thank you for the offer. But I need to do this on my own.”

The silence on the end of the line warned her. Maybe he’d been soft with her, nearly sheepish. But she couldn’t forget he was a man of power, with the pride and ego attached.

“Very well, Aiviana. When you’re ready to make me an offer I can’t refuse, call me.”