All of Me Read online

  Bobby L. was a really good looking guy: tall, dark, and handsome. Exactly who her parents had envisioned their daughters marrying. A guy from the block. A paesan.

  “Hi,” Stella shook his hand. She exhaled a little laugh, pulling back her hand. “Sorry it’s so sweaty. It’s hot in here.”

  Bobby laughed. “Yeah, I hear you.” He pulled out her chair. “Here you go.”

  Stella hung her handbag on the chair and sat. She wished like hell she could adjust her boob, but it was way too crowded in here. Plus, Danny and his date were staring at her; Penelope with friendly interest and Danny with pure, unadulterated guilt.

  Stella stood and extended her hand across the table, a little uncomfortable that her butt was now squarely in Bobby’s face. “Hi, you must be Penelope. I’m Stella Ciaramitaro.”

  “Hi, Stella, so nice to meet you! Danny has told me so much about you! So glad you could come! Sit down! Sit down! Do you want some wine?” She tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and frantically looked around. “Where is that waiter?”

  Wow, Penelope was a ball of energy. And it was no wonder. She was all of about 20 years old.

  Art history enthusiast, my ass.

  Bobby busy messing with his tie and Penelope manically searching for a waiter, Stella took the opportunity to shoot Danny the biggest, baddest malocchio she could manage. And it was a doozy. He actually winced.

  He mouthed “sorry” to her, but before Stella could reply, his eyes darted to the front of the restaurant. He winced again. “I’m really sorry,” he mouthed.

  Stella turned to see what he was looking at and nearly fell out of her chair.

  It was Nathan.

  Oh, but not just Nathan…Nathan and a tall, thin redhead with big ole boobs, a 24 inch waist, and baby-making hips she was currently sashaying their way.

  Nathan’s expression when he saw Stella would have been comical had she not been an unwilling participant in this fucked-up charade. He stopped short, midway to the table and, very literally, gawked. At Stella. At Bobby. At Danny. Then back at Stella.

  Stella shot Danny a look. Penelope, Bobby, and Miss Porno Star wouldn’t know what it meant, but Danny Stella, and Nathan knew exactly what it meant. Danny had the good sense to look genuinely afraid when Nathan’s glare turned on him.

  Stella took a moment to admire Nathan while he walked up. He looked amazing: khaki pants, a white dress shirt, blue blazer, and a tie. Spotless brown oxfords. He was freshly shaven and Stella knew from experience he smelled divine.

  She glanced at Nathan’s date and her lips curled. The red-headed slut – er, woman – seemed to know Danny and Bobby. She was gabbing away and swirling a hand full of perfectly French manicured nails in the air to get the waiter’s attention. She wasn’t super young – probably early 30’s – but she looked like she had been ridden hard and put up wet. More than a few times.

  Bitch.

  “Drazek.” Bobby extended his hand to Nathan who reluctantly shook it.

  “Luciano,” he replied in a clipped tone. He released Bobby’s hand and met Stella’s eyes again. “Stella, can I talk to you outside for a minute, please.”

  Bobby looked from Stella to Nathan. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”

  “We’re neighbors,” Nathan snapped. He cleared his throat and softened his tone. “I’ve got some, uh, neighborhood business to tell Stella.” Nathan gently tugged on Stella’s upper arm. “So, if you’ll excuse us…”

  Stella half-followed him, was half-dragged, toward the front of the restaurant, out the doors, and around the corner. Once they’d gotten to a more secluded spot, Nathan turned and cursed. Loudly. Hands on hips.

  “What in the hell are you doing here with him?”

  Stella reared back. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. I said, what are you doing here with him?”

  “Listen, I don’t know where you get off being pissed at me! Danny called me and invited me out to dinner and the museum with him and his girlfriend!” Stella pointed toward the restaurant. “I show up here and there’s some guy named Bobby waiting to meet me! And then you and your date show up. I don’t have any idea what Danny is up to, but don’t you dare talk to me that way!”

  Nathan steamed and stewed and processed what she’d said until he calmed down enough to speak. “I am going to strangle him. I am going to-“

  Stella waved it off. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, get in line.” She blew out a long, hard breath and crossed her arms over her midsection. “So what should we do? Leave? Bobby seems like a nice guy and this isn’t his fault. I’d hate to ditch him.”

  Yeah, she threw that last part in for fun. And it was fun to watch Nathan’s Adam’s Apple bob up and down and up and down.

  He scoffed. “I wouldn’t get too chummy with good ole Bobby. He’s got quite a reputation around the station.”

  “Oh, good, cause I was gonna jump his bones as soon as we go back in!”

  Nathan’s expression darkened.

  “And what about your lovely lady?” Stella stepped closer and went up on her tiptoes. She was nowhere near being able to confront him face to face, but it was the best she could do. “I can only guess what you see in her. I guess she can really handle all of your issues, huh?” She sneered. “I’ll just bet you’re not too screwed up for her!”

  Nathan grabbed her and pulled her closer; kissing her so deeply she melted right into him. Stella’s arms snaked around his neck and moaned with pleasure when Nathan’s hands found her lower back and pressed her farther into him.

  He walked her backwards until her butt hit the restaurant’s brick wall. One of his hands braced the wall next to her face and the other one gently gripped the back of her head. Ladylike decorum and her short-ish dress be damned, Stella lifted a leg and curled it around the back of his leg.

  He liked that. A lot. Enough to growl in the back of his throat. Nathan broke the kiss and moved his lips to her neck. He kissed and licked his way up to her earlobe, nipping at it before whispering in her ear, “What have you done to me? I don’t understand...”

  Stella grabbed his face and kissed him long and deeply. He tasted like Altoids – the green ones, not the red. His lips were somehow firm and soft and she couldn’t get enough of them. She sucked them, bit them, and licked at them before plunging her tongue into his warm, silky mouth.

  She’d kissed men. A handful between junior high and today. They’d been nice kisses given by generally nice guys and she’d really enjoyed most of them. But this…this was something else. This was primal and desperate and Stella couldn’t get deep enough, hard enough, or close enough.

  That is until he slid one hand up from her hip over her ribcage and headed straight for her fake boob.

  And – just like that – the spell was broken.

  Stella pulled away and pushed at his biceps. “No. Please. Stop.” She twisted out of his embrace and side stepped until she was a safe distance away. She readjusted her dress and patted her upswept hair checking the damage.

  She felt eyes watching her and knew he was confused. Stella was tempted to talk to him – it was her instinct to get it all out. But it probably wasn’t a good idea to get into a conversation about life, death, missing boobs, and damaged psyches in the bushes of The Stony Lonesome while their respective dates were inside wondering what “neighborhood business” Nathan and Stella were up to.

  She approached him. All the while she adjusted his tie, shirt tails, and wiped the grass clippings from his pants, Nathan’s eyes followed her every movement. Stella moved a hand up to smooth over his hair and he caught her by the wrist. He held her hair there, mid-air, while he stared into her eyes. Searching.

  “I…”

  Stella waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts and formulate his words, but nothing more was said.

  She smiled up and gently pulled her hand back. “We have to go back in now.”

  Nathan nodded and gestured for her to precede him.

  Chapter E
leven

  “You’re kidding me.” Bobby shook his head. “Your dad owned ‘C’s?’ We shopped there all the time. My grandparents lived over off Groveland.”

  “My family still owns it.” Stella threw a forkful of ice cubes into her wine glass and swished it around. “My sister and her husband run it now.”

  “Wow. Cool. Great.” Bobby was nodding his stupid head up and down, staring at Stella’s profile as she sipped her wine.

  When she looked back at him, Bobby smiled. No, ‘leered’ was definitely more like it. “So where did you go to high school?”

  “St. Clarence.”

  “Ah, a Catholic girl, huh?”

  “Born and bred. Didn’t do much good though. My sisters and I all have mouths like sailors and we eat meat on Fridays.” While Bobby fake laughed his ass off, Stella stole a quick glance at Nathan.

  He knew what she saw: nothing. A straight face. Stoicism. No emotion.

  Because that’s how he rolled. Which was a really good thing, because if his face had betrayed his insides, the whole restaurant would have run screaming for cover.

  She looked back at Bobby and Nathan almost upturned the table.

  Nathan jerked when a bony hand squeezed his knee. He looked to his right to find Nadia almost purring next to his face. “What made you finally agree to hang out?” She leaned in closer, pressing her huge breasts into his bicep. Nadia stuck out her bottom lip in a fake pout. “I’ve been trying to catch your attention for years, Nathan.”

  God, he wished he could flirt with this woman and make Stella as crazy as she was making him. But Nathan had never flirted a day in his life. He wouldn’t even know where to begin.

  And he didn’t want to do anything but stare at Stella across the table.

  Oh, and fantasize about different sadistic ways he was going to murder Danny.

  Nathan knew everyone noticed him staring, but he couldn’t help it. Stella was a natural beauty – no makeup, fancy clothes, or jewelry needed. But Nathan couldn’t deny how amazing she looked in that tight little black dress and black heels, with her hair pulled up, and dark makeup around her eyes. She was wearing gold hoop earrings, a gold charm necklace, and some gold bracelets that clinked when she gesticulated

  She looked like an Italian princess. Or a gypsy.

  His gypsy.

  Unfortunately, his gypsy was on a date with another man. And watching her talk to him, smile at him, and accidentally touch him now and again was enough to have Nathan grinding his molars down to nubs.

  “Are you related to the cop Nina Ciaramitaro? Over in Collinwood?” Bobby asked.

  Stella nodded. “Yep, she’s one of my sisters.”

  “I thought my cousin on the force told me one of her sisters married a Shaker Heights cop.”

  Stella paused, wine glass in hand.

  Danny leaned into to their conversation. “Is one of your sisters married to a cop, Stella?”

  Stella finished drinking before replacing her glass on the coaster. “That was me. But we never got married.” The table quieted down and a slight blush rose in Stella’s cheeks. She smiled stiffly and shrugged. “Worked out for the best though.” Her forced laugh was like a knife in Nathan’s heart. “Usually does, right?”

  “It did for me, that’s for sure,” Bobby said and everyone laughed.

  Well, everyone but Nathan. And Stella. And Nadia, who was too busy trying to grab Nathan’s junk under the table to be aware of anything going on. The more she drank the clumsier her grabs were, thank God. Four chardonnays later, she was currently caressing the table leg and that suited Nathan just fine.

  Stella had dated a Shaker Heights cop. They were supposed to get married, but didn’t. Whatever happened, obviously Stella was still affected by it. And that bastard Bobby thought the Shaker Heights’ cop’s loss would be his gain.

  Over my dead body.

  Nathan had never been a jealous person. He’d never cared enough to muster up the energy. His father had cheated on his mother over and over again; flaunting it in his mom’s face all the while accusing her of being unfaithful and eventually killing her in a jealous rage. So Nathan knew not to take any relationship too seriously. Feelings were fleeting and love was for people west of the Cuyahoga. Or at least people not living in the projects or foster homes or a state run juvenile center.

  But try telling that to the ugly, green monster foaming at the mouth inside of him right now.

  Nathan guzzled down the rest of his iced tea and polished off the pitcher of water on the table, but his mouth was still dry. His mouth was dry, his palms were sweaty, and his muscles were twitching.

  I’m a hot, fucking mess.

  The lights suddenly dimmed and the restaurant glowed with candlelight from the tables. Nathan stole a glance at Stella’s profile. She was leaning in toward Bobby to hear him over the discordant sounds of instruments tuning up.

  The candlelight was not helping his situation. At all. It just made Stella look even more beautiful. She was radiant, as stupid as that sounded. Stella tilted her head back and laughed at something Bobby said and Nathan couldn’t stand another second of it.

  He stood so abruptly his chair teetered. “I need some air,” he announced to no one in particular.

  Nathan wasn’t outside two seconds before Nadia stumbled through the doors. “Nate! Nate!” Never mind he’d never been called ‘Nate’ in his life. He couldn’t imagine where she’d come up with that.

  Nadia giggled, holding out a hand for him to grab. When Nathan didn’t comply, she narrowed her eyes and pointed at him, shaking her head. “You bad boy. You’ve been playing hard to get all night.” Nadia ran a fingertip down Nathan’s tie. “What do you say we get out of here? Go back to my place?”

  Both great suggestions. Nadia would be bummed when she realized Nathan wasn’t having a slumber party at her place, but he’d deal with that when it happened. For now, he needed to get away.

  When Nathan nodded, Nadia’s eyes lit up and she made a beeline for her sweater and purse inside. Nathan trailed behind, coming to a sudden halt when he realized Stella and Bobby weren’t at the table anymore. He scanned the room and finally found them.

  On the dance floor. Together.

  Bobby has his arm around Stella’s waist and she had her arm around his neck. Their hands were clasped and their bodies, while a respectable distance apart, were still close enough to make Nathan’s vision go fuzzy. Bobby wasn’t a freakish giant like Nathan, so his face wasn’t far from Stella’s as they rocked back and forth to the music.

  They looked like a perfect couple. A great fit.

  Well, how lovely for the two of them.

  It was for the best. Nathan was no good for Stella and she had been nothing but a wrecking ball through his existence since he’d met her. She belonged with someone like Bobby – a normal, well-adjusted guy who could be everything she deserved.

  Nathan had been fine before he’d met Stella and he’d survive her aftermath. But he wasn’t going to stand here and watch the happy couple laugh and whisper on the dance floor. Even a robot like Nathan had his limits.

  He stalked over to the table and grabbed his suit jacket.

  “Wait, where are you going?” Danny walked over. He looked around and lowered his voice. “Listen, I know you’re pissed at me and I don’t blame you. Hopefully you’ll let me explain later. But stay. We’re hanging out here a little while longer here and then we’re heading over to the exhibit.”

  Nathan didn’t look around and he didn’t lower his voice. “Fuck. You.”

  “Come on, Nathan-“

  “You wanted drama, but you should know me better than that, brother.” Nathan smiled wide and tight. “I don’t give a fuck. Never have and never will.” He pulled two $100 bills out of his wallet and tossed them on the table. He pulled out a third and handed it to Danny. “This is for Stella. If I find out you let that douchebag pay for her, I swear to God I will cause you pain. Do you understand me?”

  Danny wisely cho
se not to ask any questions or point out the hypocrisy of Nathan paying for Stella’s dinner when he’d just declared to ‘not give a fuck.’

  Nathan gestured for Nadia to precede him out of the restaurant. Nathan left without looking for or at Stella again. He silently wished her luck and promised himself that was it. The few weird, wild times he’d had with her were over. It had been interesting and…different…for sure. But it was over. Done.

  Nathan swore to himself he would never have anything to do with Stella Ciaramitaro again.

  ***

  “Let me drive you home. It’s the least I can do since Danny insisted picking up the tab,” Bobby said. “I can drive you back here tomorrow to get your car.” At Stella’s quirked brow, he laughed. “No, no, nothing like that. I just had a really good time tonight and I’d like to spend some more time with you.”

  “I’m flattered. But I’m really not looking for anything serious right now.” Stella jingled her keys, hoping Bobby would get the hint.

  “Okay, nothing serious then. We’ll just hang out. Maybe catch a movie or a concert sometime?”

  “I’m not ready for a relationship right now, Bobby, and I wouldn’t want to lead you on.”

  “Are you still hung up on your ex? The Shaker cop?”

  Okay, this guy was starting to get on her nerves. It was midnight. Stella was tired, her feet were killing her, and she was heartsick thinking about Nathan and that ginger bitch rolling around somewhere together. She needed to go home and regroup. Maybe do some screaming into her pillow.

  Without Robert Luciano III up her butt.

  “I’ve gotta go. Take care. And thanks for the dance.” Before Bobby could ramble on about being email buddies or text friends, Stella jumped into her car and slammed the door shut behind her.

  When Bobby finally ambled away, Stella exhaled a sigh of relief. She jumped at the knock on her window. With another sigh, Stella rolled it down.

  Danny rested his forearms on the sill and gave her a sheepish look. “Scale of one to ten, how mad are you?”