Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War (70 page)

“I love it, baby. Did you have a good time dress shopping?”

Her eyes squinted in anger. “Put me down, Salerno.”

Nathan chuckled. “Not until you tell me you love me.” He needed her to remember that fact so she wouldn’t kick his ass in front of their kids.

“Nathan—”

“I won’t do it, woman! Not until you say it.”

He gave her a stern look until she rolled her eyes. “Fine! I love you!”

Nathan smiled, dropped Carter, and caught her in his arms. “Aww, I love you, too, baby.” He kissed her lips and chuckled when she pinched his arm. “Ow,” he laughed. “All right, bambinos, here is your mama.”

He set Carter on the couch and the boys went straight into her arms.

“Hi babies,” she giggled. “Did you have fun with your silly daddy, today?”

Nathan wasn’t going to lie; he felt good about himself when his sons yelled yes at the top of their lungs.

Sofia even left Kyle’s hair and scrambled over to her beloved Auntie Carterina. Carter opened her arms wider and allowed the toddler to shower her with kisses. “Auntie Cater, look! I braid Papa’s hair.”

Carter looked over at Kyle’s half braided hair in amusement. “It’s so pretty, sweetheart,” she chuckled.

Nathan heard the soft laughter of her friends from the entrance of the living room. Aria, and the Pierce sisters, Tamara and Reanna. They were the only three of Carter’s friends that had ever been to the house. He walked over to greet them.

Tamara came forward first. “Hey, giant muscle man,” she said with a bright smile.

He chuckled. “Hi Tamara, how are you?”

She answered him with a warm hug. Tamara Pierce was a five foot five, hilariously sassy sweetheart that said whatever the hell she wanted, when she wanted. Both she and her sister were stunning women with gorgeous, eye-catching dark brown skin. They looked exactly alike, but Reanna was older than Tamara—who was twenty five—by two years. Tamara was a clothing designer, and a certified fashion junkie. Every time Nathan saw the woman she was done up to perfection, wearing designer clothes from her own fashion line. Even now, the woman was wearing black high-waisted shorts and a white lace top that Nathan was positive she’d made at her own store.

Once they pulled back from the hug, Tamara grabbed his face and kissed his cheek, making an exaggerated
mwah
sound just like she always did.

She smiled and wiped her lip gloss from his cheek. “You’re a good daddy. My friend is a very lucky woman.”

Nathan smiled.
See
, she was a sweetheart.

“I was just going to say the same thing,” Carter’s softer spoken friend and Tamara’s sister, Reanna said as she came forward and gave him a hug. “Where we grew up, we didn’t see a lot of daddies playing with their kids like that. There were some, but not many.” She kissed his cheek. “You’re a sweetie.”

Nathan winked. “Stop it. You’re going to give me an even bigger head than I already have.”

“
Please
stop
,
” Carter begged teasingly over her shoulder. She chuckled when he shot her a playful glare.

Reanna lightly patted his shoulder. “She’s kidding,” she said softly about Carter. “All that girl talked about today was how good of a husband and father you are.” She winked.

Unlike her sister, Reanna was more relaxed. She wore an oversized tan shirt that hung off her shoulder, a white tank under it, a pair of jeans that flared at the bottom, and white sneakers. Reanna’s hair was always tied up in a messy bun, and sometimes she wore a pair of glasses that made her eyes look bigger than they really were. But even when she did wear those ridiculous glasses, she was still such a lovely woman.

Reanna was hands down the kindest, most genuine woman Nathan had ever met. Soft spoken, very sweet without being weak, and she had this noticeable strength that Nathan could tell came from simply living. Both of the Pierce women were amazing success stories. They’d succeeded in life side-by-side despite all of the horrific obstacles life threw at them along the way. Nathan understood why the bond was so strong between the two and Carter. All three of them understood each other on a deeper level because they had more than a few things in common. If one were to type in
‘the Pierce sisters’
not only would their accomplishments and business websites pop up, but many news articles about Mason and Alana Pierce—Tamara and Reanna’s deceased parents—would grace your screen as well, and knock you out of your seat.

When sisters stepped around him to go see the kids, Sofia screamed, “Reanna,” and ran off the couch straight into her arms.

Nathan saw Kyle squint his eyes in confusion, looking at the woman, most likely trying to remember who she was. Nathan was sure he didn’t remember. The last time Kyle and Reanna were in the same room was the day the twins were born. Sofia, on the other hand, frequently saw Reanna because she spent a lot of time at Nathan and Carter’s house, which she and her sister visited often.

“Come and sit with me and my papa, Reanna,” Sofia said

Reanna kissed her cheek. “Okay, baby.”

Reanna looked around until she locked eyes with the only blue-eyed man in the room. She smiled and walked over to Kyle, who was still confused. Once she stood in front of him she extended her hand.

“You’re probably wondering who I am and why your daughter knows me,” she said through light laughter. “My name is Reanna.”

Kyle politely stood to his feet and shook her hand. “Kyle. It’s nice to meet you. It seems my daughter knows you very well.”

She nodded as she lovingly smiled down on Sofia. “I first met her here, when she was about five months old. She’s such a sweet little girl. She talks about you with me all of the time. I honestly feel like I already know you.”

Kyle finally cracked a small smile and Nathan released a relieved breath. Kyle usually didn’t like to meet new people, and he was far from personable and polite. This was a good thing. He was actually talking to a woman and smiling at something she’d said.

“My lady bug is very sweet.” He looked at Sofia, who was now resting her head on Reanna’s shoulder. “She’s taken with you.”

Reanna kissed her forehead. “I’m taken with her,” she whispered as she began swaying back and forth. “Are you tired, honey?”

Sofia sleepily rubbed her eyes and yawned.

Nathan noticed the look in Kyle’s eyes as he gazed at the woman swaying with his little girl. Kyle seemed to be entranced. For a moment, Nathan’s eyes cut to Carter to find her staring at Kyle, Sofia, and Reanna with a hopeful smile on her face as she rocked the now sleeping Aleksandr and Maksim in her arms. He looked back at Kyle just in time to see him snap out of the trance.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Umm … Here, you two can have a seat next to me. It looks like Sofia is ready to take her nap.”

Reanna smiled and sat down on the couch, and a now uncomfortable Kyle sat next to her.

Nathan felt a gentle hand on his arm, then a small woman leaned against him. “Hey, bear, how’s it going?”

Nathan smiled, glancing down at the young woman resting her head on his arm. She looked up at him with her warm, dark-brown eyes and smiled. Standing on her toes, she accepted a kiss from him on her forehead. “How are you, Aria?”

Aria Hernandez. A part Hispanic, part African American young chef that owned a small restaurant in Manhattan.

It wasn’t often that Nathan was charmed by … well, by anyone, yet this young woman had managed to. She was quiet and shy, but also strong and exceptionally smart. She had this innocence and vulnerability about her that called to Nathan, urging him to take her under his wing, and he did. This twenty-four-year-old girl was like the little sister Nathan and Carter had never had.

She shrugged as she always did. “I can’t complain. Business is going well, thanks to you and Carter.”

“You did that on your own, Aria,” Nathan interjected. “We referred the customers, but it’s your cooking that keeps them coming back.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she whispered with a smile. “I finally moved into the apartment above the restaurant. I can’t believe it’s mine, it’s so beautiful. Now that I have a bigger place I can babysit more. I know Anastacia has to go to France for a few weeks soon, so I told Carter that I can be on twin duty while she’s away. I know how much Carter hates daycare, and she shouldn’t have to miss work.”

Nathan was touched by her kindness and love for his family. “Thank you, sweetheart, that’s nice of you to do that for us.”

She shrugged and looked up at him with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “It’s no problem, really. You know how much I love you guys. The twins can be my helpers. I’ll get them all hopped up on chocolate and send them home with you and Carter.”

Nathan chuckled. “You’re an evil woman,” he joked, nudging her gently. “How do you like living in Manhattan?”

She smiled. “I love it most times, but sometimes people are a little rude … and a little frightening.”

Nathan frowned. “Is someone bothering you?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“If someone is frightening you, Aria, you need to tell us. Carter and I will handle it for you—”

“No, no, no,” she whispered firmly. “I’m just trying to get used to living in the City that’s all. It’s different. There was less hustle in Queens. But I can get used to it, so please don’t go all
big brother, king of New York
on me
please
?”

Unlike the Pierce sisters, Aria knew the lifestyle that Nathan and Carter lived. It was a long story of why, but to give the short version Aria had a brother that was a dumb shit. The asshole messed around in gangs and mobs—mostly making bets that would get him killed, and borrowing obscene amounts of money that he couldn’t pay back—and he’d told her that he heard the Salernos were mafia.

After a moment Nathan nodded. “Okay, but—”

“But nothing, bear. I know. I’ll tell you or Carter if someone messes with me.”

“You better, Aria.”

“I will,” she reassured once again. “I promise. Nobody would mess with me anyways. I’m not worth bothering. I’m just a small time chef. All I could offer a thief is baked goods, and maybe a few leftover pieces of chicken,” she said with amusement. “My life is not as exciting as yours and Carterina’s.”

Nathan snorted. “Sometimes I long for a life of simplicity for myself, my wife, and my children … but then I remember I’m too damn good at this to leave it for the simple life,” he finished with a smirk.

Aria shook her head slowly. “I’m praying for you guys,” she sighed through pursed lips.

Nathan chuckled softly. Aria was always praying for somebody. It was her favorite thing to do.

“Hey, am I late for lunch?” Mickey strolled into the living room behind them, smiling when he saw Aria. “Hey babe,” he greeted, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. “You look gorgeous today.”

Nathan rolled his eyes. What Mickey would usually say to a woman would be something along the lines of:
“Damn! You look that sexy for me, baby?”

“I love that dress, is it new?”

In translation,
“I love how your ass looks in that dress.”
Nathan had seen Mickey’s eyes cut to Aria’s behind a few times since he’d walked in.

Aria’s caramel brown cheeks tinted red, as they did every time she received a compliment. “Hi, Mickey,” she said. “Yes, it’s a new dress. Thank you for noticing.”

“How could I not?” he asked with a soft smile. He took his eyes from Aria and looked up at Nathan. “Everything’s ready for tonight, Nate.”

He nodded. “Good. We’ll leave at seven.”

“Well,” Aria sighed softly, “I’m going to put the finishing touches on lunch so we can eat before you and Carter have to get ready. Is Gabriel here?”

“No, he’s still at school, but he’ll be home in time to watch the kids,” Nathan answered.

“Okay. I’m going to the kitchen. Lunch will be ready soon.”

“Let me help you,” Mickey said, following behind her. “I’ll get first taste of everything.”

Giggling, Aria nodded in acceptance of his offer.

Nathan chuckled and turned back toward the living room. Mickey should just go ahead and tell the girl he was interested, but Nathan knew he was probably wouldn’t. Aria was drastically different from the girls he usually became involved with. Mickey didn’t get or stay in relationships with woman because he didn’t think they’d tolerate his … eccentricities. He wasn’t the sanest of men, but Nathan had known Mickey since he was inside of his mother’s womb. He had the ability to be a good man to a woman that fit with him. An exceptionally strong, fearless woman that wouldn’t shy away from the sadistic serial killer that Mickey rarely kept hidden inside. Mickey was a nice guy, but he was also a cold-blooded murder. That part of him could only be accepted, not changed.

Unfortunately, though, Nathan didn’t think Aria was the woman that would accept Mickey’s eccentricities. The man needed a woman that was crazier than he was …

“Nathan, honey,” Carter called, pulling him from his thoughts.

Nathan walked over to his wife. “Yes, dear.”