The Morning After

The following morning found me lying on my side, gazing at the peaceful face of my sleeping beauty.

I couldn’t bring myself to wake her. Yesterday had been a long day for her, and I’d kept her in the dark about the specifics of our plan to take down Christian and his crew.

She knew the basics—how we planned to draw him out—but I’d kept the rest to myself so she wouldn’t worry.

She and my mom had been tucked away in a secure room that was virtually impenetrable unless you had a massive arsenal.

Brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, I studied the features of my love.

“What are you looking at so intently?” she murmured sleepily.

I smiled down at her. “Just you, sweetheart. I was lying here thinking about how lucky I am to have you, how beautiful you are, inside and out. I’m so blessed that you’re mine.”

She rolled onto her back, then snuggled against my chest. “Are you sure about that, darling? How do you know I’m the one who can thaw your icy heart?”

I pinned her down as she giggled.

“Because this heart only beats for you. When we talked, I tried to keep my feelings in check, but the more we talked, the more my heart knew you were the one for me.

“I didn’t drop the bad boy act because I was trying to resist your pull, but you broke down those walls so quickly. It made me feel vulnerable for the first time in my life. I was terrified.

“In my mind, I was losing control so fast, and that’s not how I operate. My mind was so messed up, I couldn’t think straight. My thoughts were so consumed by you that nothing else mattered.

“When the club was attacked, I was so worried about your safety that the guys thought I was falling apart. There were so many times I had to pull my head out of the clouds just to run my operation correctly.”

She gently kissed my lips. “I’m sorry for bringing the big bad wolf down to a small boy, confused and scared.”

I nuzzled my mouth into the crook of her neck. “I think we both know I’m no boy. Our child in your belly should tell you that much.”

She laughed, then pushed me off her. “So when are you thinking of going back home? I want to see the countryside before we go.”

Sitting up, I leaned my back against the headboard.

“We’ll need to leave in the next two days so the guys and I can get back to business. If you want, I was thinking of taking you out today and showing you around a bit.

“We’ll have about three hours for sightseeing after lunch. Since our plan worked so well yesterday, we don’t have to stay here as long as I originally thought we would.”

Shay rolled onto her elbows and looked up at me with a smile.

“I was hoping we could see some of it before we had to head home. Flying over it, then the short drive here—it was hard to really take in the beauty of the landscape.”

Chuckling, I looked down at her.

“I knew you really wanted to see where I grew up. I would have taken you on a tour before we left regardless, even if it was just for an hour or so. If I would have had to delay our return for a little while, then so be it.”

Shay got up to use the bathroom. I put my hands behind my head and let out a huge sigh.

The life I had now was nothing I could have ever imagined. It was something out of a fairy tale, not for a Mafia leader.

Shay came back, giving me the smile I’ve been in love with since she smiled at me in the alley. That first smile nearly stopped my heart.

My guys had asked me multiple times what was wrong with me. I’d shrugged it off, telling them it was nothing, but deep down I knew I was lying to them and myself.

This woman who gave me that quick look and smile had made my whole world come crashing down on me so fast that my head was spinning out of control.

“Baby, are you listening?” Shay’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts quickly.

“Sorry, darling, what did you ask? I was lost in thought and I didn’t hear.” I felt foolish for not listening.

“I asked what should I wear today? I know that we might be walking, looking around at things. Would a dress be fine, or should I wear pants?”

“Wear a comfortable pair of jeans, the pink shirt that looks amazing on you, and then those tennis shoes we just bought to help out your feet so they won’t be hurting.” I pointed inside the closet.

“The hot-pink shirt, huh?” She grinned as she walked into the closet. After a few minutes, she came back out in some jeans and an off-the-shoulder blue shirt. She held some shoes in her hands.

“Um, did I say the wrong color?” I waved my hand at her shirt.

“No, the pink one is in the dirty clothes from the other day, darling. I haven’t had time to wash our clothes yet, and I had already worn it when we came over here.” She sat down, starting to put on some socks.

I got out of bed and looked in the dirty basket, which was almost full. “What the hell? Why hasn’t the maid taken these to wash them yet?”

“I told her not to. I don’t feel comfortable with someone messing with my underwear,” she replied as she bent over and put on the first shoe.

I hit the intercom button.

“Mom, make sure while we are gone that our laundry is done. Shay told the maid not to do it, but I’m telling you to let her know it needs to be done today. I want some of these clothes done so she can wear them again.”

“Sure, son. I’ll make sure Margie gets it done today.” My mom’s voice answered.

I looked around and saw a pair of eyes glaring at me.

“Look, we have maids here just like we do at home,” I said. “They’re not going to do anything wrong with any article of clothing. These ladies have been here since I was little, and it doesn’t bother them to do their chores.”

She grunted, then put on the other shoe. “I can wash my own clothes, just like back at the house.”

I froze in my steps. I’d been on my way to the bathroom, but now I found myself glancing back over my shoulder. “Wait, you’re saying you do your own laundry at home?”

She rose to her feet, arms folded across her chest, her gaze challenging. “Yeah, is that a problem?”

I slowly turned to face her, “That’s what we have housekeepers for, sweetheart. They’re there to clean, do the laundry, and make sure the sheets are fresh twice a week.”

She held her ground, her expression unchanging. “So what? I’ve never been comfortable with other people handling my personal stuff, so I wash them myself. They handle everything else, just not that.”

I shook my head, a little bewildered.

“Here’s an idea. While I’m getting ready, you can toss your stuff in the washer. Ask Margie to dry them for you, then just put them in a basket and bring them back up here, unfolded. Would that make you feel better?”

Her arms fell to her sides and a small smile played on her lips. “Yes, that would make me feel a lot better.”

She nodded and moved towards the laundry basket while I headed into the bathroom. Man, women could be so complex sometimes. I couldn’t wrap my head around why they’d be uncomfortable with someone else doing their laundry.

I mentally chided myself, remembering that Shay was used to being self-sufficient. Despite her luxurious lifestyle, she didn’t take advantage of it like I had all my life.

I’d have to keep in mind that women do things differently than men. I finished up in the bathroom and got ready to head out for our tour.