Under His Skin (5 page)

Chapter 9

I spent the remainder of the morning drifting between Facebook stalking and actual work.  When lunchtime hit, I felt a pang of hunger hit followed by a loud rumble.  I had been so preoccupied all morning that I hadn’t eaten breakfast which I have intended to do right after our meeting.  As I was finishing up a section of coding there was a knock at my door.

“Feel like grabbing some lunch,” Pete asked.

“Perfect timing, I’m reaching a stopping point and I’m starving.

“Are you working on that new grocery shopping app?”

After talking to my mom on one of our date nights, she was explaining to me the difficulties that my grandmother had because she was advanced in age and getting to the grocery store.  It gave me the idea of an app for a tablet that would allow her to not only to list what she needed from the store, but to order it, pay for it a track its progress from shelf to door, similar to ordering a pizza and tracking it. 

“Yeah, I think I’m pretty close to a finished beta version.”

“I’m sure Nonna Rosie will love it.”

“She’s still a spitfire man.  I think she probably knows more about computers than I do.  I just wish she lived closer.”

My grandmother lived in Florida and had most of my life so I didn’t get to spend much time with her over the years.  She was eighty-nine and still got around mostly unaided.  She lived in a senior living complex.  She was in the unassisted section, which meant she didn’t have any aides to help her in her daily activities but the complex made check-ins on the residents twice a day. 

“Sounds like time for a vacation when you get this program finished,” Pete said.  “You can go down, install it for her and give it a test run.”

One of my fondest memories of my Nonna was one summer when I was probably around twelve or thirteen.  Nonna had an abundance of oranges that summer so she was making a bunch of different dishes to get rid of them.  Cakes, marmalades, I think there might have been some cookies too.  Nonna loved her brandy, so she took oranges and kiwis and laid them in a dish and poured brandy over them and let it sit in the fridge overnight.  Before she recapped the brandy she poured some in a small glass and placed it on the counter.

“A well-traveled man needs to know how to tie a tie and what a fine brandy tastes like.  Actually, you need to know about good scotch and bourbon too, but today we’ll start with the brandy.”

She handed me the glass and told me to sip it.  I felt like such a grown up.  It was also my first experience with a hangover but I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. 

I have spotty memories of Nonna.  I never knew my Nonno because he died when I was a baby.  Nonna’s house always smelled like lemon, I think it was her cleaner or something.  I can remember sticking to the couches that were covered in plastic and she always had hard candy, usually butterscotch or those weird tasting red anise candies.  On the rare occasion she would have chewing gum.  I made a mental note to call her later.

“Yeah, I’ll have to do that,” I said.  What’s up for lunch?” 

“I was thinking something quick.”

“Ted’s?  Anderson’s?”

“Ted’s sounds good. I could pound about 2 dogs and some fries.”

“Count me in for that.  I need my Loganberry fix.”

Pete and I spent lunch discussing future projects and a few clients when he shifted subjects suddenly.

“So how much time did you spend on her page?” Pete asked.

“What?  What are you talking about?”

Pete shook his head.

“Don’t shit me Stephen. I know that as soon you walked back into your office you looked her up.  How much time did you spend looking her up?”

Pete knew me better than anybody.  I just smirked at him.

“Just a few minutes. I know she has a kid.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And did you find out the answer to the question you went looking for?  Is she single?”

“Yeah, she’s single.  So, what does that mean Pete?”

“It means you are going to try to get laid dude.  It means that you still have it bad for that girl after all these years.  It means,” Pete paused for a few seconds.  “It means trouble.”

“Would you stop?  I’m a grown man.  I’m not the fucking kid anymore.  I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.  Look, whatever you decide to do, it’s your business.  Just know I’m here for you.”

“I know man. I know and thanks.”

We discussed a few more business details, then went back to the office.  I spent the rest of the afternoon making phone calls and responded to emails.  When five o’clock rolled around Gina came to my office to see if I needed anything before she left for the weekend.

“No Gina, I’m okay.  Thanks!  Have a great weekend!  The weather is supposed to be beautiful.  You should take the boys and Gary to the lake house.”

“Oh no Mr. Pascarelli, that’s okay.  You might want to use it this weekend.  You and your lady friend Kellie might want to go up there.”

“Oh well, we are off-again Gina,” I laughed. 

“So I will have no use for it, besides I have other plans.  If you want to use it, it’s yours.  You know where I keep the keys.”

“Thank you Mr. Pascarelli.  I know the boys will be thrilled.

Gina has been my assistant for the last four years.  She and her husband Gary have two teenage sons.  Really good kids, they are both straight ‘A’ students.  One plays soccer and the other is more into astronomy.  I enjoy seeing them at the company barbecues.  I have always liked Gina.  I have asked her on numerous occasions to call me Stephen but she refuses.  She says it’s “unprofessional.”

As soon as Gina left my office, I maximized Addie’s Facebook page.  I scrolled to the top of the page and clicked on the link for her boutique.  Once the boutique page opened I scanned it in search of the address.  I decided I wanted to pick up a present for my mother before dinner tonight and I knew just where I was going. 

Addison

I was busy counting the drawer so that I could get out of the store as soon at five-thirty on the dot when I heard the bell on the door ding.  I tried my best not to look extremely annoyed when I looked up to greet whoever had the nerve to walk in and try to shop ten minutes before the boutique closed. 

“Good evening. Welcome to Bree Elle Boutique, how may I help you?”  I said without looking up.  It was then I heard the deepest, sexiest baritone voice.

“Good evening, just looking for a gift for my mom. I’ll make it quick.  I see you’re closing in a few minutes.”

I looked up and my mouth literally fell open.  He was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen.  His dark blonde hair looked like it had just been cut and completely complimented his flawless bronzed complexion.  His jaw line was that of a Roman statue, strong and sharp.  His eyes were like the blue of a crystal clear lake and his lips were full and pink and looked like they could deliver sweet, meaningful kisses and they could also bring a woman to the height of pleasure.  He was beautiful.  No, he was absolutely breathtaking.

“Oh, I’m in no rush.  Please take your time.  Is there something in particular that you are looking for?” I said a little too eagerly.  I took a deep breath.  “Are you looking for a special occasion?”

“No, not really.  Just looking for a little something for my date tonight.”

I’m not sure why, but I was immediately disappointed.  I shouldn’t be surprised there is no way someone that looked like that is single.

“Tell me a little bit about your girlfriend and maybe I can help,” I said, sounding more deflated than I had intended.

“Hmm… let me think.  She’s very elegant, regal even.  Not too tall and statuesquely beautiful.”

“Wow… she sounds remarkable.” His eyes literally sparkled when he spoke about her.

“She is.  I love her more than life itself and would do anything for her.  I should also mention she’s my mother,” he said with a devilish chuckle.  I grinned. 
Damn he’s sexy,
I thought.

“What a lucky mom, she is.”

“I actually consider myself the lucky one.  She’s a remarkable woman.”

“She certainly sounds like it. Any ideas on what you’d like to get for her?”

“She loves scarves, but it’s a bit warm for that I guess.”

“Well, we sell summer scarves they’re really good in the evening.  If you don’t think she would do that, what about a necklace?”

“No, I think I like the scarf idea.”

“Let me show you what we have.  Right over here.”

I took him over to the back corner of the store where we kept the scarves.  I watched him from behind as he picked through the selection, his backside looked like it was molded into his pants.  He had his sleeves rolled up on his forearms and I watched his muscles flex as he moved around the merchandise.  I leaned against a display table and started to fantasize about what he looked like under that crisp white dress shirt, lightweight sea foam green sweater and immaculately pressed tan chinos.  I had him undressed down to his designer boxers when his voice brought me back to reality.

“I’ll take this one,” he said.

“Ah, that’s the Camille Striped Infinity Scarf, one of my favorites.”

“Looks like a black and white striped scarf to me,” he grinned.

That man’s smile was intoxicating. 
I should carry men’s clothing so I could get him to model, especially underwear,
I thought and smiled.

“That’s the name from the manufacturer.  Regardless, it’s a good pick.  I think she’ll be really happy with it.  Would you like it gift wrapped?”

“That would be great. Thank you.”

“Let me get this all taken care of for you.  Feel free to look around some more while I get this all wrapped up.”

I walked back over to the counter, rang up the scarf and started putting it in a box when I glanced up and saw him watching me.  It made me a little nervous.  Maybe I was mistaken, but he looked at me like he wanted me, but at the same time it was like he couldn’t wait to get out of here fast enough.

“Okay, sir, that…”

“Stephen,” he interrupted. 

“Excuse me?”

“Stephen, my name’s Stephen.  I feel like sir, is for old men.  I don’t think I’m old, yet do you?”

“You look pretty good to me.”  He smirked. 

“I mean… what I meant to say is that you appear to be in great shape.  Um… I mean not old at all.” His smile widened.

“Thank you,” he said then lightly touched his tongue to his top lip. 

“You’re welcome,” I said then quickly looked down and finished wrapping the scarf. 

“That will be $23.87 Stephen.”

He reached in his back pocket and pulled out his money clip.  As he unclipped his cash I saw sticking out of the bundle of large bills his American Express Platinum card. 
He’s gorgeous, smart, and successful and loves his mother.  He’s too good to be true,
I thought.  He peeled off a hundred dollar bill and handed it to me.  When our hands touched I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body.  My legs actually shook.

“Okay twenty-three, eighty-seven out of one hundred.  Your change is seventy-six thirteen, Stephen.”

“Thank you…”

“Addison.”

“Thank you Addison,” he said and briefly held my hand before taking his change.

God, he is sexy,
I thought. 

“I hope she likes it.”

“I’m sure she will.  I’m her favorite child so she loves everything I give her.”

“I sure hope you don’t tell your siblings that.”  He gave a half smirk and his eyes twinkled.

“No worries, I’m an only child.”

“Good thing you sound like a handful.”

“You have no idea Addison,” he said in a way that just oozed sexual innuendo.

I placed his gift in a bag and handed it to him.

“You have a nice shop here Addison.  How long have you been here?”

“Thank you.  I opened this location about five years ago, about a year after I had my daughter.”

“This location?  Do you have another?”

“No, not yet, but I’m hoping to soon.”

“Well, good luck with that.  If mom likes the scarf I’m sure I’ll be back again.  Repeat business is always a good thing.”

“I hope she likes it. Not just for the repeat business,” I giggled.  “She sounds like a genuinely special woman and deserves a wonderful treat.”

“Well, I have kept you open past your regular business hours.  I should be going.”

“It was my pleasure Stephen.  Have a good evening.”

“And you as well Addison.”