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Sage and Juniper were on a mission when I woke up this morning. Sage was insisting that she and Juniper open the salon today. They, too, had been going stir-crazy with nothing to do. At first, Salem put his foot down and said no way in hell. But Sage didn’t relent. She pleaded her case, explaining that she had a bridal party scheduled today, and there was no way she could live with herself if she had to cancel at the last minute and ruin some poor woman’s wedding. In the end Salem caved, with the exception that one of the guys always stayed with them. Once I heard him agree to let Sage and Juniper go into town, I jumped in on the action. Luca was not happy but agreed as long as I had a bodyguard. And since Luca had some business to do for Salem, he gave Baja the task of babysitting me.
“You know what?” I hop down off my stool. “I have a rather large order that needs boxing up. You can help with that, if you don’t mind.”
Baja rubs his palms together. “Put me to work, woman.”
“Here.” I hand him a list of products. “Go around the store and pick out everything listed on this paper. I have some bubble wrap over there.” I point to the counter. “Then you tape the box up and slap this shipping label on there.”
Baja takes the shipping label from me. He eyes it with a raised brow. “Why are you shipping all this stuff to Harlem when he can just walk his grumpy ass in here and buy whatever he wants?”
I nearly trip over my feet when I walk away. Turning, I look at Baja. “Uh… What are you talking about?”
Baja’s mouth opens and closes, but he doesn’t answer my question. Instead, he’s looking everywhere but at me.
“Baja,” I warn.
“Uh… What had happened was…” He starts to fumble over his words, looking somewhat guilty. “I think I fucked up.”
I snatch the shipping label out of his hand and looked down at the address listed. It’s the same P.O. Box used for my last big order. It has the initials L. D. Oh my God! How did I not see that before? Luca DeSantis. It makes sense now. That order was placed right after the incident with my foot. He knew things with me and my mom were tight.
“That sneaky asshole,” I hiss. “I’m going to kill him!”
I close my eyes. I know exactly why he did this, and now I can’t be mad. Because even though he’s been lying, Luca, in his way, has been making sure I’m taken care of. Then I think back to when I got the first order. We weren’t even together then. That thought gives me warm fuzzies.
“Uh… Sukie?”
I narrow my eyes at Baja.
“When you rip my brother a new asshole, can you maybe leave out the part where I snitched?”
“What are you, twelve? You’re acting like a little brother who’s scared of his big brother.”
Baja’s eyes go big. “Fuck yeah, I’m scared of that big son of a bitch. This is Harlem we’re talking about.”
I roll my eyes, not believing for a second the man in front of me is scared of Luca. Baja smirks, knowing he’s full of shit.
Our heads turn when a customer walks in.
I smile and greet her. “Welcome to Belladonna’s. Let me know if I can help you with anything.”
The lady returns the same warm gesture. “I will. Thank you.”
I twist back toward Baja with a sigh. “Hold off on boxing this order. I have a call to make.”
Baja gives me a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
I make my way back behind the counter and snatch up my cell. I pull up Luca’s name and place the phone to my ear.
He answers on the second ring. “Babe.”
“Do you want to explain why you have been placing rather large orders through the Belladonna’s website and having the products sent to a P.O. Box?”
“No.” His response is swift. He lets out an audible sigh. “I knew you wouldn’t take my money, so I devised a different tactic,” he says without an ounce of remorse.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have taken it. I also don’t like you sneaking around behind my back.”
“I did what I had to do, and I’m not sorry I did it.”
“Well, stop.”
