wished he had more time to meet her. He hung up and a ping of loneliness creeped through me.
I spent the next few hours unpacking my bags. The closet could hold a lot more than I had brought with me. There was a knock on the door. I stepped over the shoes I was attempting to organize. I opened the door to several dozen red roses. Dominic stood behind the massive arrangement.
“ Mr. Moretti sent this for his bride . ” He said. I stepped aside so that Dominic could set them on the table closest to the window .“ There is a card . ” He said then left the room closing the door behind him.
I took a long whiff of their strong fragrance and untucked the small white card.
Mrs. Moretti.
I look forward to our lunch date.
Mr. Moretti.
I smiled at the gesture.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. As I stepped into the restaurant I was greeted by the hostess. Dominic stood close to me, matching each step I took. He was serious about the job that h e’ d been given and unlike the Cugine that had protected me, he did n’ t seem annoyed with the job h e’ d been given. So far everyone was very kind.
We approached the table that Jax was sitting at and he stood when he saw me, a smile lifted to his lips for a brief moment .“ Hello . ” He said tucking his napkin into his lap after I’ d sat.
“ Hello , ” I smiled as I took in the beautiful restaurant.
“ Do you approve ? ”
“ I suppose . ” I smiled on the inside leaving no evidence of approval on the outside.
“ Yo u’ re a difficult woman to please . ” He said as he waved the waiter over to the table. The tall very cute waiter approached, smiling to me then to Jax. I of course smiled back, catching Ja x’ s attention.
“ Mr. Moretti, what can I get you this afternoon ? ”
Jax ordered for me and was very clearly marking his territory when he named me as his wife. His tone was sharp enough to slice through a steak. The waiter nodded, never looking back to me as he walked away.
“ Staking a claim I see . ” I twisted my hands together on the table. Jax reached for my hands as he watched me closely.
“ I am. I have something for you . ” His eyes met mine. He released me and reached for a small bag that sat on the seat next to him .“ This is for you . ” He opened a tiny black box. My eyes widened when the large shiny ring sparkled in the sunlight .“ You needed a wedding ring . ”
“ Yes, we must keep up appearances . ” I answered sardonically.
“ Why must everything I do not be good enough for you ? ” My eyes narrowed, but I did n’ t look up. I realized I had been less than kind to him, but honestly what did he expect?
“ Where is your ring ? ” I said when I realized there was n’ t one in the bag for him. Could n’ t I claim him?
The look of shock filled his face .“ I was n’ t shopping for myself, I was shopping for you . ” I nodded as he placed the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. How had he known my size? I could n’ t help but stare at the beautiful sparkle the ring threw as the light caught it .“ Do you approve ? ”
I shrugged back against my seat .“ Do I get to claim you as well ? ” I asked ignoring his question.
His eyes grew wide and then picked up the wine glass and finished it off quickly .“ You did n’ t answer my question Bella . ” He removed the napkin from his lap and waved the waiter over asking for the check.
He handed over payment for lunch and stood hovering over me as I watched him. He was cocky, sure of himself to say the least. I honestly wondered if this pissed me off or turned me on. The fact that I had to ask myself that question in itself pissed me off.
***
I stood from my seat once we'd finished our lunch. I wrapped my scarf around my neck and slid into my black wool coat as Jax held it close for me to enter. I’ d never been good with giving up control. I’ d begun slipping into the idea that I could give it someday, but I did n’ t like being told what to
I spent the next few hours unpacking my bags. The closet could hold a lot more than I had brought with me. There was a knock on the door. I stepped over the shoes I was attempting to organize. I opened the door to several dozen red roses. Dominic stood behind the massive arrangement.
“ Mr. Moretti sent this for his bride . ” He said. I stepped aside so that Dominic could set them on the table closest to the window .“ There is a card . ” He said then left the room closing the door behind him.
I took a long whiff of their strong fragrance and untucked the small white card.
Mrs. Moretti.
I look forward to our lunch date.
Mr. Moretti.
I smiled at the gesture.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. As I stepped into the restaurant I was greeted by the hostess. Dominic stood close to me, matching each step I took. He was serious about the job that h e’ d been given and unlike the Cugine that had protected me, he did n’ t seem annoyed with the job h e’ d been given. So far everyone was very kind.
We approached the table that Jax was sitting at and he stood when he saw me, a smile lifted to his lips for a brief moment .“ Hello . ” He said tucking his napkin into his lap after I’ d sat.
“ Hello , ” I smiled as I took in the beautiful restaurant.
“ Do you approve ? ”
“ I suppose . ” I smiled on the inside leaving no evidence of approval on the outside.
“ Yo u’ re a difficult woman to please . ” He said as he waved the waiter over to the table. The tall very cute waiter approached, smiling to me then to Jax. I of course smiled back, catching Ja x’ s attention.
“ Mr. Moretti, what can I get you this afternoon ? ”
Jax ordered for me and was very clearly marking his territory when he named me as his wife. His tone was sharp enough to slice through a steak. The waiter nodded, never looking back to me as he walked away.
“ Staking a claim I see . ” I twisted my hands together on the table. Jax reached for my hands as he watched me closely.
“ I am. I have something for you . ” His eyes met mine. He released me and reached for a small bag that sat on the seat next to him .“ This is for you . ” He opened a tiny black box. My eyes widened when the large shiny ring sparkled in the sunlight .“ You needed a wedding ring . ”
“ Yes, we must keep up appearances . ” I answered sardonically.
“ Why must everything I do not be good enough for you ? ” My eyes narrowed, but I did n’ t look up. I realized I had been less than kind to him, but honestly what did he expect?
“ Where is your ring ? ” I said when I realized there was n’ t one in the bag for him. Could n’ t I claim him?
The look of shock filled his face .“ I was n’ t shopping for myself, I was shopping for you . ” I nodded as he placed the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. How had he known my size? I could n’ t help but stare at the beautiful sparkle the ring threw as the light caught it .“ Do you approve ? ”
I shrugged back against my seat .“ Do I get to claim you as well ? ” I asked ignoring his question.
His eyes grew wide and then picked up the wine glass and finished it off quickly .“ You did n’ t answer my question Bella . ” He removed the napkin from his lap and waved the waiter over asking for the check.
He handed over payment for lunch and stood hovering over me as I watched him. He was cocky, sure of himself to say the least. I honestly wondered if this pissed me off or turned me on. The fact that I had to ask myself that question in itself pissed me off.
***
I stood from my seat once we'd finished our lunch. I wrapped my scarf around my neck and slid into my black wool coat as Jax held it close for me to enter. I’ d never been good with giving up control. I’ d begun slipping into the idea that I could give it someday, but I did n’ t like being told what to
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