Any Way You Want Me (7 page)

NEW
RELEASE COMING THIS MONTH:
Lust in Rome

PROLOGUE

           
"So, I'll be losing the condo to foreclosure unless I can come up with six
month's mortgage payments, plus all the interest and fees they charge … and
their lawyer's fees. Can you believe it. They're taking my home but they want
me to pay their attorney's fee if I want to keep it."

           
"It's not fair. The big banks get the bailouts, while the struggling
homeowners get thrown out," Charmaine said as she dug into her peach pie.
Mrs.
Smith makes the best 'homemade' peach pie on the market
, she thought as she
spooned the last piece into her mouth.

           
"Girl don't I know it. You're not the only one I know who's had to face
this Char. Even though the so-called experts say that the foreclosure crisis
officially ended last year, people are still struggling through it. … So how
much exactly do you have to come up with? I have a couple of thousand I could
loan you. I know it's not much, but …" Lisa said, her voice trailing off.

           
"Thanks Lisa, but I couldn't take your money. Money and friendship don't
mix. Mama told me that a long time ago and I learned the hard way to keep the
two separate. But I really appreciate your offer. I'm thinking of just throwing
in the towel. Sometimes you need a fresh start, you know."

           
"But you love your condo," her friend sympathized.

           
"Yeah, I do. I can't imagine living any place else. I've been there almost
a decade, but unless I can come up with $29,643.28 within the next 30 days,
it's going up for auction on the courthouse steps month after next,"
Charmaine said. "Drink up girl, and let's start brainstorming cheap
apartments. I'm gonna need a new place to live."

           
"You know Charmaine, I know this may seem like completely the wrong time
for you to do this, but I want you to think about it before you say no. … I
have a flight to Rome next week. Why don't you use my buddy pass and come with
me? It won't cost you a dime. You can stay in the hotel room with me, which the
airline pays for. We can stay a few extra days for little or nothing."

           
"After what you've been through, I know you could use a getaway, and since
you won't take any cash from me, it's the least I can do. I've been to Rome
probably a hundred times or more, but I've never really experienced it. And I
don't know any body who'd appreciate all the history it has to offer more than
you. Please, please, please say you'll come."

           
"You know Lisa, I don't regret taking time off to care for mama. These
last few months, I don’t think I've ever laughed or cried so much in the 30
years I've been on this planet. Who knew having breast cancer could be funny!
That little bald woman turned into some type of cancer yoda comedienne."

           
"Stop it Charmaine," Lisa said, laughing out loud. "It seems so
inappropriate to laugh, but when you talk about Ms. Mabilene, it's so
funny," she finished, referring to Charmaine's deceased mother.

           
"Now you know how I felt!" Charmaine said. "I wanted to be sad
girl, I did; but she was having none of it. The sicker she got, the funnier she
got. … I know now that she was preparing me for life without her, and she
wanted it to be filled with laughter, not sadness."

           
"That sounds like Ms. Mabilene. She always adored you Char. I can see her
giving you that gift."

           
"Yeah, it took me a minute to realize it. … So in spite of the fact that I
lost my job, drained my savings and now face foreclosure, nothing … nothing
could make me regret spending those last few months with her," Charmaine
said, wiping silent tears that fell onto the empty saucer holding the remnants
of her peach pie.

           
"See Char, you need this trip. Ms. Mabilene is gone now; she'd want you to
let your hair down and have some fun. … And not to be totally inappropriate,
but when was the last time you got laid?"

           
"Are you channeling my mother? I swear to God she said the exact same
thing to me the day before she died!"

           
"Char you're kidding. She did not. She … did … not … go there on practically
her death bed!" Lisa said incredulously, tears trickling out the corners
of her eyes she was laughing so hard.

           
"Yes she did. The woman was a hoot right til the end! Bald, yoda
comedienne, I tell ya. Bald, yoda comedienne."

           
"Stop," Lisa said. "Please stop. You're killing me!"

###

           
"Girl, that gorgeous hunk of a fine man is checking you out!" Lisa
said excitedly.

           
After landing and checking into the hotel, Lisa and Charmaine had decided to go
out for something to eat. As Italians ate dinner much later than Americans, the
piazza
which housed the quaint little restaurant was crowded. They'd
been lucky to get a table, even at this advanced hour.

           
"Who?" Charmaine inquired, looking about curiously.

           
"Who?" Lisa said. "Who?" she repeated incredulously.
"Girl how can you miss him? The tall, dark one two tables over with the
gold eyes. How can you
not
notice him?"

           
Charmaine looked in the direction of Lisa's gaze, directly into the fiery,
coppery-colored eyes of the handsome stranger. She'd never seen eyes that color
before. They were striking; like the eyes of a tiger.

           
Unflinching, he continued to stare right back at her, a barely-there smile
curving his too-kissable lips.

           
Charmaine had never seen a more perfect specimen in all of her life. Jet black
hair was smoothed back from a beautiful forehead.

           
Was it possible for a forehead to be beautiful? It is … and that's all there
is to it
, Charmaine thought.

           
 The golden eyes were fringed by thick, black lashes; lashes so perfect,
it was almost — almost — a crime they didn't belong to a woman. They'd need no
adornment.

           
Rounding out his flawless features were high, angular cheekbones; a classic
Roman nose; and a square, rawboned jaw; the line which was off just a bit. But
even this only added to his appeal because this simple flaw kept his face from
being picture-perfect.

           
"Oh my goodness  he's headed this way," Lisa whispered, barely
able to contain herself. "Looks like someone is in for some lust in Rome
right away!"

           
"You're not exactly playing it cool Lisa. Pipe down, will you?"
Charmaine said, her heart thumping in her chest.

           
"
Buona
sera signores," Alexandre said as he towered over the table. He was at
least 6'2", maybe an inch or so taller.

           
"Good evening," Lisa said.

           
"American?" he asked in perfect English.

           
"Yes," Lisa answered for the both of them. "Italian?" she
continued, craning her neck to take in the hulking stranger.

           
Charmaine
wanted a black hole to open up and swallow her she was so embarrassed at Lisa's
bold sense of humour and overt ogling of the handsome stranger.

           
"You're quite funny," he said to Lisa, all the while keeping his
golden gaze locked on Charmaine.

           
"And you're quite gorgeous," Lisa said.

           
She did not just stay that
, Charmaine said to herself.
No, she did
not just say that
.

           
"I'm Lisa and this is my friend, Charmaine."

           
He extended his large hand and declared, "I'm Alexandre. Nice to meet you
Lisa … and Charmaine."

           
Charmaine had to physically stop herself from jerking her hand out of the
stranger's warm handshake. The blood rushed to every one of her pulse points.
She was sure he could see the throbbing vein at her wrist as he held her hand.

           
As he continued speaking, she could still feel the warmth of his palm on her
skin. "Forgive me if this seems forward, but my friend and I would love it
if you ladies would join us for dinner. That is, unless you are expecting other
… guests?" he finished, questioningly.

           
Before Charmaine could even begin to formulate a response, Lisa had
accepted. 

.
. .

           
As they made their way through the cobble-stoned streets of late-night Rome,
Charmaine couldn't believe how much she and this handsome stranger had in
common, and how intuitive he was. It's like he had a map, not only to her
brain, but to her heart.

           
"And your mother, tell me, what is the thing you will miss the most about
her?" he asked. The question brought tears to her eyes, which she tried to
hide by averting her gaze.

           
"Oh,
mia
bella, I did not wish to make you cry."

           
"No, no. They're happy tears, really. .. and to answer your question, her
sense of humor. She was one of the most ridiculously funny people I've ever met
— even with cancer."

           
"How about you? What is it you're going to miss most about your mom?"

           
"Oh, so much. But really, her advice. She was the only person I could talk
to from my heart," he finished in his silken baritone.

           
She adored how open he seemed to be with his emotions. Charmaine touched his
arm, feeling the cord-like strength of his bicep, even through the cloth of his
navy blue suit jacket.

           
Alexandre turned to her, suddenly tense with need. The golden color of his eyes
had deepened to a rich amber. "I want very much to kiss you
Charmaine," he said, brushing her right cheek with the ridge of his thumb.
Searching for, and sensing, no resistance, he lowered his head to claim his
prize.

           
Time was suspended as he made love to her mouth. His lips, so soft and warm,
still tasted of the wine from dinner. It was an added aphrodisiac that
escalated the passion between them.

           
"Ah mio amore. How natural you feel in my arms," Alexandre whispered
between soul-searing kisses. "I want to do so much more than kiss
you," he said, his need evident as he pressed his body into hers.

           
 Charmaine's need was every bit as intense. But, could she give to herself
to the handsome Italian … and leave with her heart intact?

END
NOTES

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Disclaimer:
This is
a work of fiction. Many of the names, places, characters and incidents are
either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual persons — living or dead — organizations, events or
locales is entirely coincidental.