Navy Seal's Innocent Italian (10 page)

Trent entered the hotel in Toronto, anxious to stow his gear and head over to the meeting that would help seal the lid on Marco’s demise. He checked in and then headed towards the elevator bank.  He was so intent on where he was going, he didn’t see the gentleman step from behind the large potted plants, pacing him to the elevators.

It wasn’t until the elevator opened and Trent stepped inside, that he even noticed another person getting in with him. He glanced up and saw red. The inside of the elevator was mirrored all around, and when he saw Marco Bresi staring back at him, it was all he could do to not wrap his hands around the man’s neck.

“What are you doing here?” he spat out, turning to face his nemesis.

“I came to talk to you.”

“Now you want to talk? After kidnapping my newborn daughter? What would you have done, Marco, if something had happened to her with that fool stunt?”

Marco held his hands out in a gesture of surrender, “Trent, nothing I can say can take away the hurt I caused you and your wife. I was blinded by my need for revenge. So much so, that I couldn’t even deal with the grief and reality of Serena’s death.”

Trent looked at the man before him, broken in spirit and lacking the confidence he normally associated with Marco. “Why?” Trent asked, leaning against the far side of the elevator after pushing the stop button.
We might as well get this discussion over and done with.

“I spoke with Brianna in the hospital. She sounded devastated. It got me thinking about what I was really trying to accomplish. I knew Serena wasn’t being faithful to you. I heard the rumors. I kept hoping that you would take her back to the states and things would even out once again.”

“You knew she was sleeping around? Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Put yourself in my place, would you have told you?”

Trent shook his head, “Not hardly. But if you knew, why blame me for her death. You knew that letter was nothing but lies.”

“I was grieving. I needed someone to blame for her death. And then when I found out she was pregnant, I needed someone else to blame besides myself. I had failed her as a father.”

Trent shook his head, compassion for the man he’d once called friend rising in place of the anger he felt only moments ago, “Marco, it wasn’t your fault, anymore that it was mine. Serena was an adult and she made her choices. They weren’t what either of us wanted for her, but those are the facts. We can’t go back and change them. Believe me, I’ve had my moments of feeling guilty as well. What if I had talked to her? What if I had agreed to accept the baby as my own?”

Marco shook his head, “Don’t ever think that. We’ve both allowed her actions to color how we dealt with her death. No more.”

It grew silent in the elevator, all but the beeping coming from the alarm. Marco took a breath and then said, “I want to put this behind us. I know what I did was horribly wrong. I also know that the only reason you’re even looking at this company and others is to get back at me. You would have done your homework and you know if this deal falls through, it will ruin me.”

Trent watched him, acknowledging that he didn’t want to ruin Marco. He’d only ever wanted to help the man deal with losing his daughter and live again. “Marco, I don’t want to ruin you.”

“Thank you,” Marco said. “But the fact remains, you’ve made an offer and they are expecting you to honor it.”

Trent quickly ran through the numbers in his head before settling on a solution that would benefit them both, “How about a partnership? We often talked about doing that, why not
start the next chapters in our lives by taking this opportunity to do that now?”

Marco
was stunned. “Trent, I don’t know what to say…” He broke off and looked at the man he’d hoped to one day call “son” with awe in his eyes. Breaking down, he felt tears threaten to fall as he said, “You are one of the finest men I’ve ever had the privilege to know.”

Trent could feel emotion clogging his
own throat, and coughed before nodding, “Marco, there’s been enough sorrow over this. Although, I still want to strangle you for the anguish you put my wife through.”

“I will make it up to her anyway I possibly can. Just tell me what to do,” Marco promised fervently.

“One step at a time. Let’s go convince these men that we mean business and seal this deal. We’ll deal with the rest as we go.” Trent held out his hand, pleased when Marco humbly put his in it.

Shaking Trent’s hand, Marc
o felt a huge burden fall away from him and he was finally able to breathe freely for the first time in years.  Standing up tall, he nodded his head, the light of a shrewd businessman entering his eyes, “Let’s do this!”

Trent pushed the button, engaging the elevator once again and smiled at the man standing next to him. He turned his mind to the upcoming meeting, already planning out how he and Marco were going to convince these Canadians to take their deal and run. Life was good and about to get so much better!

                                                                                    *****

Stepping out of the elevator, Marco and Trent marched towards the exit to the largest business complex in Toronto. Both of them wore smiles of satisfaction and were silently congratulating themselves on a job well done.

It wasn’t until they were safely ensconced inside Trent’s hired limousine that either gave way to the euphoria that came along with sealing the deal. “You had them eating out of your hand,” Marco congratulated him.

Trent smiled and then asked the question that had been burning in his head for the last hour. Twice during the negotiation meeting, Brianna had texted him wanting to know if everything was okay. “So, when did my lovely, interfering wife contact you?”

Marco paused and schooled his face to show no emotion, “Your wife?”

“Cut the crap, Marco. Brianna’s been texting me, wanting to know if everything was going well. She knew you were going to be here, didn’t she?”

Marco slowly nodded his head, but hurried to explain, “Now, don’t get mad at her. She’s the only one that seemed to be thinking clearly in all of this.”

Trent smiled at him, “Yeah. Remind me to pick her up a nice ‘Thank You’ present before heading home.”

Marco relaxed and was about to suggest they find someplace to eat when his private cell phone rang. Answering it, he was pleased to hear Bruno’s voice on the other end of the line – at least until the man started speaking.

“Bruno, I was wondering when I would hear from you.”

“Mr. Bresi, I wish I was calling with more pleasant news.”

“Why?! What’s happened?!” Marco tried to keep his voice calm, even though everything within him was screaming.

“It’s Mrs. Panturo.”

“What’s wrong with Louisa?” Marco demanded, not even thinking to call her by her surname. In his mind, they had gone past that point and there was no returning to previous times.

Bruno paused at hearing Marco use Mrs. Panturo’s first name, having never heard him be that familiar with her before, but then got to the matter at hand, “She was trying to clean the chandelier in the dining room. I’ve told her many times to let someone else do that, but she was determined to see the entire house cleaned from top to bottom before you returned.”

“Bruno, get to the point. What’s wrong with Louisa?” Marco was growing impatient and just wanted to know what had happened.

“She was standing on the dining room table and lost her balance. She fell, breaking her right ankle. They’re performing surgery right now to pin it back together.”

Marco closed his eyes, wishing he was there and not here. “Is she going to be okay?”

“Yes. But she’s going to be on crutches for at least six weeks after the surgery, with no weight to be put on that ankle. Then she will need several months of physical therapy.”

“Thank you for calling me. Let me call you right back. Stay with her until you hear back from me.” Marco disconnected the call and closed his eyes, sending up a silent prayer for a quick recovery.

“What’s wrong?” Trent asked, having only heard half of the conversation.

“Mrs. Panturo – you remember her right? Anyway, she fell and broke her ankle.”

“I always liked Mrs. Panturo. I didn’t know her name was Louisa,” Trent remarked with a smirk upon his face.

Marco blushed and Trent’s grin grew. “You have something going on with the housekeeper, Marco?”

“That is none of your business. I do care for her and am not happy that she is hurt.” Marco’s mind was spinning. He needed to return to Denver to check up on Alex before he could even consider leaving the country and returning to Italy.
Or did he?
He looked at Trent and an idea began to form in his mind.

“Trent, you are returning to Denver, yes?”

“Yes. First thing in the morning. Why?”

“I need a favor. I escorted a young woman, the daughter of a business associate, over to the states and am supposed to be making sure she gets everything squared away to live here. She just arrived in Denver yesterday, and I wonder if I could get you to check on her. Maybe keep in touch with her and make sure she isn’t putting herself in any danger.”

Trent smiled and then nodded, “Would this be the same young woman Jake Travers is following around?”

Marco narrowed his eyes at Trent, “How do you know Jake?”

“Shawn sent Jake to figure out what you were up to. He was supposed to watch you and notify us if you came after Brianna or Faith again. Instead, it seems he has become enamored of your young charge. So much so that he lost sight of the mission entirely.”

“Jake works for Shawn?” Marco asked, wondering how tangled this web could get.

“He just got out of the military and was heading to Colorado anyway. Shawn asked him to stick around New York to watch you. And to answer your question, Shawn speaks highly of the man. I’ve yet to meet him, but if he passes Shawn’s approval test, he’s okay in my book.”

Marco nodded his head, “So, knowing that she now has a former special forces member looking after her, I would still feel better knowing you had checked in on her.”

Trent nodded his head, “Of course I will. I’ll do it as soon as I can. Now, the only question left to answer is, are you leaving for Italy tonight, or in the morning?”

Marco smiled at Trent, “Tonight. They just took her into surgery, and I want to be there as quickly as possible.”

Trent nodded his head and tapped on the dividing window, instructing the driver to head towards the airport first. He would drop Marco off and then he was going to get some sleep. He’d been putting in long hours, trying to destroy the man sitting next to him, and his infant daughter had been doing her part to keep him awake at all hours of the day and night. It might only be one night, but he was going to take full advantage of the peace and quiet of his hotel room.

After a restless night, tossing and turning as she dreamt of Jake and his magic kisses, Alex was irritable and couldn’t wait for the day’s end to arrive. Jake had told her if she was of the same mind tonight, he would reconsider his time frame for making love to her, and she was determined to see that end tonight.

Shawn arrived first thing in the morning to take Jake to purchase a vehicle. Alex stayed behind and made use of the hotel’s luxurious spa. She went for the entire treatment – haircut, mani, pedi, massage, and wax.  When she emerged from the spa five hours later, she felt like a brand new woman.

She visited the boutique shops in the lobby area, purchasing a one piece pantsuit in a shimmery black fabric that clung to her curves. After trying it on, she felt sensual and hoped that her new look might help convince Jake she wasn’t a child that needed to be protected. She was a vibrant, sexy woman who was going after what she wanted.

She arranged for dinner to be served in her room, having heard from Jake that he planned to pick her up around 5 o’clock.  She didn’t answer her door when he knocked at 4:15, wanting her new look to be a total shocker to him when he arrived to pick her up for the dinner that would already be waiting for him.

At 5:00 p.m., she heard Jake’s light tapping on her door and slowly opened it, revealing herself in the process. She watched as Jake’s eyes widened and then took in her new look from the top of her head to the dark red of her toes.

“Wow! Alexandra?”

“What do you think of my new look?” she asked him, biting on her bottom lip as she anxiously awaited his approval.

“God, woman. You were breathtaking before, but now, I might need to keep you locked up so the rest of the male population doesn’t get themselves in trouble.”

Jake stepped into the room, immediately taking in the candlelit table, the covered dishes, the wine bottle sitting in ice, and the soft music coming from somewhere in the room. “What is all of this?”

Alex closed and locked the door, but not before putting the “Do Not Disturb” sign over the handle. She turned to look at him and then told him, “You told me if I still felt…”

Jake turned to her, “I know what I said. Is this your way of telling me you’re not willing to wait any longer?” He took a step closer to her, loving everything about her. Her new hairstyle. The pantsuit that clung to her body in all the right places. Even the new confidence she had was alluring.

“I know what I want. I may not be experienced, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know my own mind. I want you, Jake Travers. And no, I don’t want to wait.”

Jake had sensed something like this was coming tonight. Smiling at her, he pulled her to himself, kissing her lightly on the lips, before running his hands down her back, loving the way the silky fabric felt on his palms. “How about we eat first?”

Alex nodded and let him lead her to the table. She allowed him to carry the conversation, and she found herself relaxing in his presence. After refilling her wine glass for the third time, Jake announced he’d had enough to eat and suggested they make use of her balcony and look at the stars.

Alex nodded her head, feeling only slightly fuzzy from the wine. She followed Jake outside on the balcony, going easily into his arms when he leaned against the railing and pulled her to rest against him, back to front. She held onto his forearms, loving the strength she felt in the muscles.

“Are you sure about this?” Jake asked.

Turning to kiss his cheek, she whispered, “One hundred percent. No doubts at all. Make love to me, please?”

Jake’s response was to turn her in his arms and ravage her mouth. He searched out the recesses of her mouth, encouraging her to respond in like fashion and using his hands to hold her head still for his onslaught.

Moments later, he let his hands start wandering. The sides of the pantsuit overlapped, providing easy access to her breasts and the smooth skin of her stomach. Jake kneaded her breasts, kissing the taut nipples through the fabric, and pulling them gently with his teeth.

“How does this come off?” he asked, using his hands to try and discover a zipper or buttons.

Alex giggled and then reached up and untied the string behind her neck. The entire bodice of the pantsuit fell away, leaving her bare from the waist up. Jake met her eyes, giving her one final chance to stop where this was heading. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Kiss me.”

“Where?” Jake asked, wanting to hear her verbalize her needs.

“My breasts. I want to feel the heat of your mouth on my breasts.” Alex was on fire for him and needed him to do something more.

“Let’s take this somewhere a little more private. The balcony is nice, but a little too public for what I have in mind.”

Jake led her back inside the room, urging her to take the pantsuit completely off as he began to undress. He was waiting for her to become shy, or nervous, but she did neither. Instead, she stripped down until she was completely naked and then stood there watching him do the same.

“Get on the bed,” he urged her, grabbing a condom from his wallet.

Alex climbed into the middle of the bed, watching him the entire time. “Are you planning to join me?”

He nodded, “Answer me a question. Have you done this before?”

Alex had known he would ask, that was just the type of man he was. Shaking her head at him, she said, “Only in my dreams.”

Jake smiled warmly at her as he lounged on the bed at her side. Using his hands, he traced patterns over first her breasts, and then down onto her stomach. When his hands slipped lower, she opened her thighs slightly, silently giving him the permission he sought.

He used his lips to trace a path down her torso and beyond. When she went to return the favor, he grabbed her hands and placed them above her head, instructing her, “Leave them there. I only have so much control and you’re testing it right now.”

Alex had done as he asked; using her body she writhed and rubbed against him, urging his desire into a frenzy. She wanted him to lose control and stop playing it so safe with her.

After driving her to the edge a number of times with both his hands and his mouth, Jake levered himself above her, having rolled the condom on only seconds before and waited until she opened her eyes and looked at him. “Keep your eyes on mine,” he said as he tested the entrance to her body.

Jake was a large man, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but he wasn’t quite sure he could prevent it. Slowly entering her in small increments, he watched her eyes for signs of discomfort, stopping whenever they widened, and waiting until she had become accustomed to his size. After ten torturous minutes, Jake came to the barrier that signified her innocence.

“Wrap your legs around my hips and hold onto my shoulders. But don’t stop looking at me.” Alex complied, her breathing coming fast, and something wonderful just out of reach. He withdrew from her and then plunged back in to the hilt, feeling her barrier give way as he made them one.

Alex gasped at the brief pain of his entry, but the euphoric feelings started up again and she moved her hips in time with his own. “Jake, you feel…amazing...,” she uttered on a staggered breath.

Jake echoed her sentiments, “Hang on tight. I’m can’t slow down now.” Jake pumped into her, feeling her body begin to quiver with her impending release, and he strove to hold out until he felt her shatter around him. Only then did he let his control slip as he reached ecstasy along with her.

He whispered words of adoration and love in her ear as he felt her body gentle beneath his own. “Thank you,” he said right before taking her mouth in a sweet, kiss full of promise.

Alex had never felt so much in her life. She felt amazing! Jake had made her feel amazing! Sh felt him withdraw from her body and excuse himself to the restroom. When he came back moments later with a warm washcloth, she tried to take over the task herself, but Jake wouldn’t hear of it.

After cleaning them both up, Jake climbed into the bed, pulling the sheets up and over them both before wrapping her in his arms and urging her to get some rest. Alex felt content in his arms and did as he suggested, falling into sleep within minutes of closing her eyes.

Once more during the night, Jake awakened her, taking her slow and gentle the second
time, as she was a little sore. She didn’t really care; she just wanted to be close to Jake.

Jake held her close throughout the night, already making plans for their future. He knew she needed some time to be on her own, live in her own apartment, get a handle on her research, but he planned to be there every step of the way, until such time as they could neither one live without the other. He gave them six months. She gave them two.