What…

By B. James

Silvio Santoro, a Jet Company owner moved to a new town, where he met Kimberly Brice, a family catering business owner. Silvio befriended Kimberlys father. Silvio and Kimberly had both been in previous relationships that they had ended due to heartless and non-caring partners and their love for them faded away and died.
As time went by, their friendship turned into romance. Little did they know about their exes past and present horrendous acts which had brought tragedy to them and their family and which would have a negative effect on their relationship as well, almost ending the love they shared. The great hardship brought to them and those around them was something they all had to endure and overcome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984537249

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Music was blasting and lights were flashing in the overcrowded Kevin’s Night Club when Kimberly Brice walked in. Every bit of her five-foot-five, petite body, with her cappuccino-colored skin, short black hair, pretty brown eyes, and thin, heart-shaped lips, would be what any man would want to have. With every step she took through the overcrowded club, she bumped into someone taking a sip of his or her drink. She had to journey across the dance floor to get to the office of the owner, Kevin Tate, her boyfriend of two years. It was worth making the trip through the crowd to see him. However, no one in her family liked him, especially her two sisters who never went out with her and Kevin. But this place was where she and Kevin had met, and it was where she wanted to be – crowds and all. Just a few more steps and she’d be out of the crowd and in the restricted area where no one except employees were allowed. Whew! Finally. she said in a tone of relief.

No! she exclaimed as she sat up, sweating and breathing heavily. She was in her own bedroom. Everything in the room was wicker – the bed and the dresser and the little wicker chair. She would even have put up wicker curtains if she could have. Instead, she had white plantation shutters.

I have to get over him. It’s been almost two years. She looked over at the clock. Oh, damn, I’m late again. I’m glad I took my shower last night. She got out of bed and went into her bathroom. She stood at her basin and grabbed her tooth brush out of her huge shower. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and quickly got dressed, putting on a baby pink shorts set. She then grabbed her pocketbook off her dresser and ran downstairs to the kitchen, which had light maple-wood cabinets, a breakfast bar with wicker stools, and recessed lighting, with hanging lights over the breakfast bar. She stopped and looked around her open-concept townhouse. How she loved her wicker furnished home.

She then headed out the front door. Walking down the street to her family-owned catering business, Kimberly got hellos from just about everyone she passed, especially the men. At twenty-nine years old, Kimberly was very attractive. However, she herself was not interested in men right then, and their hellos went unnoticed. She wanted to be by herself for a while. When she reached the store and was about to walk in, someone said her name and grabbed her by the arm. Before she even turned around, she knew from the voice that it was Kevin. She turned and pulled her arm away from him. What the hell are you doing here? What, are you stalking me now? Go the hell away. She stepped a few feet away from the door.

Kevin was tall, dark-skinned, and kind of thin, with short hair and brown eyes and always dressed nicely. She had found out too late that he cared very little for other people’s feelings, including hers, just as long as he got what he wanted.

Kim, please. Let’s go someplace and talk. I love you, he said in a sad voice.

Kevin, do me a favor.

Anything.

Go the fuck away and leave me alone. We’re done. I don’t want you back. Now leave before I call the police, she threatened and pulled out her cell phone.

Okay, Okay, I’m leaving. But you’ll see me again, he told her in a self-assured tone and walked to his car and drove off.

She was not going to let him ruin her day. She walked in and past the long counter, seven registers, and three large, simple wooden tables with chairs where customers could sit and sample their food before ordering. She headed over to her father, John Brice. He was a sixty-four-year-old man of medium height, dark-skinned, and still attractive. He was talking to Silvio Santoro, who had moved to the area a week after she had started dating Kevin. Half black and half Italian, Silvio was tall, with cappuccino-colored skin, shoulder-length, wavy black hair (which he usually wore in a ponytail) and attractive hazel eyes. Kimberly loved watching him and her father talking. Both had a good sense of humor but could be serious when necessary, and both were very logical about life and problems that arose. She enjoyed hearing Silvio speak with his Italian accent and if she hadn’t gone through so much hurt and pain in her past relationships, he would have been a good catch. His private jet company had made him a rich man already, at only twenty-nine years old. Her father really enjoyed Silvio’s company.

Hi, Daddy, she said, kissing him on the cheek. Then she looked over at Silvio. Hi, Vio.

He smiled. Hi, Kim. How are you today?

I’m fine, thank you. She returned the smile, enjoying his sexy accent.

You know, you’re late again, her father told her.

I know, Daddy. I’m going to go say hi to Mom, and I’ll be right out. Bye, Vio.

Bye, he said, smiling, and she walked away.

Kimberly walked into the large office, which had video cameras, recessed lighting, a beautiful antique desk, a leather sofa and chair, and a large family picture on the wall. She found her mother, sister, and her sister’s boyfriend, Curtis Taylor, in the office. Her sister and Curtis were both wearing grey sweat suits, while her mother was wearing a cute burgundy sweat suit.

Hi, Mom, Patti, Curtis.

Hi, Kim, they replied, simultaneously.

Her mother, Dorothy, was so light-skinned that she looked almost white. Her color was due to the fact that her father was white, and her mother was biracial. They were both deceased, but Kimberly had fond memories of her grandparents.

Dorothy, a tiny person with long, grey-streaked black hair and brown eyes, and still very attractive, was sitting at the desk, looking over some papers. She was generally mild-mannered and very relaxed, with plenty of common sense but could be feisty when she needed to be. She would never judge anyone and would listen to whatever her daughters told her, keeping it a secret if asked.

Patti was Kimberly’s baby sister. She was twenty-seven years old and had had a steady boyfriend for three years. She was calm and sensible but had been known to lose her temper if someone pushed her buttons. Kimberly and Patti had similar physical features, but Patti kept her hair long.

Curtis was tall and brown-skinned, with dark brown eyes, short hair, and a muscular build. He and Patti had the same behavior traits which was why everyone thought they were good for each other. And it was easy to see how much they were in love when they were together.

When are you two getting married? You’ve been together for three years now, Kimberly looked at Curtis and Patti.

I’m waiting for a response from the job I applied for, and if it’s a good response, Patti is going to become my wife, Curtis replied, smiling happily.

What kind of job did you apply for?

Electrical engineer.

Wow! Engineers make a lot of money, Patti. said Kimberly with an amused grin.

Yeah, they do. But I don’t love him for the money he’s going to be making. I love him for who he is. He keeps me laughing and makes me happy. She looked at Curtis with a warm smile.

You know I was only playing, Patti.

I know you were. I just hope he gets this job. It would make him so happy.

Yeah, it would. I’ve got to go. Bye, baby, said Curtis. He gave Patti a quick kiss. Bye, Mom. He walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

Bye, Curtis.

Bye, Kim, he said and turned and walked out.

Was Silvio still here when you got here? Dorothy asked Kimberly.

Yes, he was.

He’s hooked on you, Kim, Patti said, with a big grin.

Really? She was surprised.

Yeah, really, Patti replied. Why don’t you go out with him? Just once.

Patti, you all know that I’m not ready to start dating. How many times do I have to say it?

Going out with him once is not really dating, Patti replied. Damn, Kim, it’s been two years now since you have been done with that arrogant, vain, egotistical, bragging, and overly confident Kevin. You need to start dating again.

I’ll think about it, Patti. If Silvio asks me out, I might just say yes, Kimberly said, grinning.

I hope you do, Patti replied.

By the way, where is Nessa? Kimberly asked.

Nobody knows. She told me she was going out with some new man she met last week. She’s probably still lying in his bed, Patti replied, in an unpleasant tone.

Patti, don’t speak like that about your sister, her mother told her sternly.

Sorry, Mom, but we all know it’s true that she never lasts with a man for more than six months.

She’ll find the right man, one day, her mother replied, confidently.

Patti and Kimberly gave each other an amused grin, as if what their mother had said was never going to happen.

I have to get to work. Daddy wasn’t too happy that I was late again, Kimberly said.

I’m coming out with you, said Patti. They both turned, and as they were about to walk out, Vanessa walked in, smiling and dressed in a simple, pink sweat suit.

Hello, she said happily.

Where were you? Kimberly asked.

I was with my new man, she replied joyously.

What’s his name? Patti asked. Number nine? she quickly added, and she and Kimberly laughed.

Y’all can go to hell, Vanessa angrily told them.

Vanessa was the twenty-eight-year-old middle sister, who was as free as a bird. The three sisters looked so much alike one could think they were triplets. The only difference between them was their personalities.

Y’all go on up front. I need to talk with Vanessa, their mother said. Kimberly and Patti walked out, closing the door behind them.

Look, Mom, don’t start. I already got it from Daddy. Vanessa sounded annoyed.

I know you had better watch your tone with me. I’m not one of your friends. I will still smack the mess out of you, no matter how old you are, her mother told her in a severe tone.

Sorry Mom. But why is everyone always trying to get into my personal life? And why is it that when I’m late, Daddy explodes with me? He doesn’t do that with Kim, and she’s late, too —a lot of times.

He does say something to her when she’s late. If he’s more tranquil with her, it’s because he knows that she was at home, sleeping. No one ever knows where you are when you’re late. Vanessa, honey, what are you doing with your life? her mother asked, concerned.

I’m enjoying it, Mom.

Vanessa, do you think that staying with a man no longer than six months is enjoying life? Dorothy asked.

Mom, I don’t want to be tied down to one man. Look at what happened to Kim. I heard a rumor that she caught Kevin with another woman. Two years together, wasted. If it’s true, it probably wasn’t the first time, she speculated.

Why would you say that? her mother asked with raised eyebrows.

I don’t know. Vanessa shrugged her shoulders. I don’t want to go through the heartache she went through. Six months is long enough to stay with a man. Now please, Mom, can we not talk about my personal life anymore?

Fine. Now, go out front and help out your sisters and your father. I love you, baby.

I love you too, Mom. Vanessa smiled, leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. She turned and headed for the door. Her mother watched her, wondering why Vanessa was the way she was.

Arriving in the front, Vanessa saw that Kimberly hadn’t started working at all. She was talking with their father and Silvio, so Vanessa headed over to them. Hey, Silvio, you are so gorgeous, she said, smiling happily. You have a girlfriend yet? If not, I’m available, she added bluntly. Silvio just stared at her without saying a word. Her father and Kimberly looked at each other with frustrated expressions on their faces. You didn’t answer my question. Do you have a girlfriend yet? Vanessa persisted.

Vanessa, get to work, her father commanded harshly.

What about Kim? she whined, feeling that her father was being unfair to her.

Bye, Vio. I have to get to work too, Kimberly said, knowing how Vanessa was feeling.

I’ll see you later, Kim, he told her, paying no attention to Vanessa. Kimberly smiled and walked away with Vanessa.

Does Daddy think I’m not good enough for Silvio? Vanessa asked her.

Nessa, I don’t know what Daddy thinks.

Obviously he wants to hook you up with Silvio! Vanessa exclaimed with certainty.

Nessa, I’ll pick the man I want to hook up with when I’m ready.

I’m sure you will, Vanessa replied as they walked behind the counter.

They got to work just in time, because the store was starting to get busy. Kimberly had just finished with one customer when Silvio walked up to her register. Vio, are you ordering something?

No. Actually, I came over here to invite you to dinner. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?

Yes, she answered smiling. He stared at her, open mouthed. Why are you so surprised?

Because I have asked you so many times, and you have always said no.

So why did you ask again? Weren’t you afraid I’d say no again? She was curious.

Yeah, kind of, but I knew that sooner or later you would say yes, just so I would stop asking.

Well, you were right. What time and where? she asked.

I’ll pick you up at six thirty here. I want to eat at home, if you don’t mind, he told her.

That’s fine. I’ll see you at six thirty. She smiled again.

Okay. He returned the smile, turned, and walked away.

She had said yes because maybe if Kevin saw her with another man, he’d finally understand that she truly didn’t want him anymore, and then he’d leave her alone. And to do something different besides going home every day to be alone.

As the time got closer for Silvio to pick up her up, she closed her register and started thinking about his home. I love Silvio’s house, Kimberly murmured to herself. She thought that his home was like something out of one of those nice home magazines. He had invited the entire family over to his home the previous year for the Fourth of July, and there was nothing they didn’t like about it. She wouldn’t mind seeing it again. She finished her thoughts and looked at her watch. It was twenty after six. She turned and headed to the office. Mom, Silvio will be here soon. I came to get my stuff, she said, as she walked into the office.

Your father told me that you were going out to dinner with Silvio. But I have one question for you. Why did you agree to go to dinner with him?

I don’t know, Mom. Maybe it’s because I want to do something different. I work and go home every day. I’m tired of that, she said, not wanting to tell her mother the truth that she was hoping that Kevin would see her with Silvio.

Well, you have fun, her mother said, smiling.

I hope I do, she said, a bit doubtfully.

This could be the first dinner of many dinners, her mother said.

Mom, I’m not going to get romantically involved with Silvio anytime soon— or maybe ever.

Honey, no one said you were. Just take it slow and see what happens. You know, sometimes love happens at first glance, and sometimes it just takes time.

Do you really believe in love at first sight, Mom? Kimberly asked.

I most certainly do. I fell in love with your father the moment I laid eyes on him. He was so handsome and had such a beautiful smile. And he was funny. I saw him while he was with his friends, talking and laughing, and he was the one making all of them laugh. I knew I was going to marry him. And when he asked me out, I said yes before he even finished the question. Dorothy chuckled.

That’s a nice story, Mom. But I know love is not going to come soon for me. The boyfriend before Kevin left me for someone else, and Kevin…, let’s not talk about him. I truly don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust a man again. I’ll just keep a man as a friend, then it won’t matter who the hell he goes and screws around with, because I won’t care. He’ll just be a friend.

But you can’t judge Silvio the same as those other two. He is totally different, her mother assured her.

He’s a man, Mom, she replied wearily.

Now, wait a minute. Your father and Silvio have very similar personality traits. So you can’t go wrong if you have someone like your father. Not unless you’re thinking that your father is a cheater like ‘all men’?

I don’t think that about Daddy, Mom, she quickly replied.

Good, because your father is a great, wonderful man, and I’ve never regretted marrying him—not for one day. Her mother’s voice was filled with love.

Okay, Mom, I get it. But I’m still not interested in Silvio or any other man right now.

Okay baby. But try and have some fun. And tell Silvio I said hello.

I will. Bye, Mom. Kimberly kissed her on the cheek and walked out.

Returning to the front, Kimberly saw that Silvio had arrived and was talking with her father. As she headed over to them, Patti and Vanessa waved to her with big grins on their faces. They were smiling as though she were going out on a real date, which she didn’t consider this to be. Silvio, I’m ready. Bye, Daddy, she said, smiling, and kissed her father on the cheek.

Bye baby. You two have fun.

Thank you, Mr. Brice. Bye. Silvio said, and he and Kimberly headed for the exit.

CHAPTER 2

As Silvio drove his light metallic grey, stick-shift Mercedes, Kimberly sat silently in the passenger seat, looking out of the window. There was a question he wanted to ask her that had been nagging him all day. He had to find out. We are almost at my house, and you still have not talked to me. Are you not going to talk to me? he asked.

Sorry. I was just looking at the sights outside.

Kim, I need to ask you a question.

She just looked at him, waiting for him to ask.

Why did you accept my dinner invitation this time, having said no every other time? he asked.

I don’t know, she said, shrugging her shoulders. I guess because you’re so persistent, she added, not wanting to tell him the truth for fear it would hurt his feelings. Patti told me today that she and Curtis come over to your house every Sunday to work out.

Yes, they do. Curtis and I work out on the exercise equipment while Patti does half an hour of aerobics. Then she takes a shower and goes to play in the game room to wait for Curtis. Curtis is such a nice guy, and he loves Patti very much. They are like my younger brother and sister, he told her. Just then, his cell phone rang.

Pronto, he answered in Italian. No, he said firmly a few seconds later. He began to get angry and started yelling in Italian. After a minute, muttering to himself in Italian, he ended the call and tossed the phone onto the dashboard. I’m sorry, he apologized to her.

Whoever that was sure did make you mad, she said.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than his cell phone rang again. Aren’t you going to answer that? she asked.

He grabbed the phone to see who it was. No, I’m not going to answer it. He turned it off and put it back on the dashboard.

She was curious to know who had called him and made him so angry. All she knew was that it was someone who also spoke Italian. If they were closer friends, she surely would have asked him. So, what are we going to be eating tonight? she asked with a touch of curiosity.

You’ll see when we eat, was all he said.

Oh, a surprise, is it? She grinned.

If that’s what you want to call it, he replied, grinning back at her. He pulled up in front of the gate of his home and waited for it to open.

Why did you get a plastic gate? she asked as they rounded the circular driveway of the stucco rambler. They pulled up in front of the three-car garage and waited for the door of the first garage to open.

It’s not just plastic. Behind that plastic is steel, he told her.

I didn’t know you could do that.

If you have the money, you can do anything.

Why didn’t you just get a regular gate? she asked curiously.

Because the plastic is slippery, animals can’t get into my yard, he told her.

Oh. Anyway, your house looks nice from the outside. I love that enclosed porch at the entrance and all these roses. You only have roses.

Thank you. My mother loved roses, so that’s why it’s just roses, he replied, as he pulled into the garage.

They got out and entered the house through a door in the garage that came out in the kitchen.

Wow! I didn’t remember just how beautiful your home is, she exclaimed, looking around the spacious kitchen. She could see into the living room and dining room where all the furniture was Italian designed, and all the floors were terracotta. There were murals of the most famous Roman structures. The kitchen was huge. In the center of the room was an island while a gas range and breakfast bar were at the far side. Frosted-glass cabinets lined the walls. Kim turned to Silvio. I love this décor, she said. Are your counters made of granite?

Italian granite, he said. I loved the color, so I had it imported.

Nice. Your refrigerator is huge, she exclaimed.

I mainly use the freezer.

And that glass dinner table and chairs are stupendous.

Thank you. Take a look around while I fix our dinner, he suggested.

Okay.

She walked down the hall to the two huge bedrooms—each with its own bathroom—with Roman murals, terracotta floors, and Italian-designed furniture. She then walked back down the hall to the living room, sat down on the huge, very soft sofa, made of imported leather, and looked at the photographs on the glass coffee table. The first was of an attractive, brown-skinned woman with short hair, in her mid-fifties, and an attractive, olive-skinned man, also in his mid-fifties, along with Silvio and a girl and boy with cappuccino-colored skin who looked identical. She imagined they were probably his brother and sister—perhaps twins—and she imagined the older man and woman were Silvio’s parents. She then looked at a photograph of only Silvio’s parents and one of his brother and sister standing with a young, olive-skinned, white woman with long, shiny black hair. Kimberly wondered who she was.

Kim, the food is ready, he yelled to her.

Coming, she said. She stood up went to the kitchen. You fixed dinner that fast?

No. It was already fixed. I just had to heat it up.

What are we eating?

Risotto alla Milanese e’ vitello con insalata.

Can you repeat that in English? she asked, grinning.

Rice Milan with veal and salad, and we will drink some red wine. Where would you like to eat? At the table or breakfast bar?

The bar will be just fine.

He set the bar with plain plates, silverware, glasses and napkins, and they sat down. Oh my God! This food is so good, she said, after taking a bite. She took a sip of the wine. Man, this wine is bubbly and nice and sweet. I’ve never tasted wine like this. What is it?

Lambrusco.

I have to get me some of this, she replied, picked up the glass and finished the wine. She then poured herself another full glass. Are those photographs on the coffee table of your brother and sister?

Yeah.

Are they twins? Where are they? she asked, as she was curious.

Yes, they are twins and I’ll tell you about them one day, he replied.

Okay, she said, realizing he didn’t want to talk about them now.

Who was that pretty girl in one of the pictures? She didn’t look like she was part of your family.

She’s my soon-to-be ex-girlfriend.

What do you mean, soon-to-be? Kimberly had a confused frown. Either she is, or she isn’t. And if you have a girlfriend, even somewhat, I don’t want to be in the middle of a breakup. Been there, done that.

You won’t be, I assure you, he told her.

If you say so, she replied. She quickly drank her entire glass of wine and again filled her empty glass.

You should take it slowly with that wine, he suggested. Are you done eating?

Yes.

Well, let’s go downstairs now and go and sit outside.

She grabbed the bottle of wine and took it with her. This is your bedroom, she said when they got downstairs.

You have to go through my bedroom to get to the outside of the house.

She was amazed at his bedroom. It was huge, furnished with pretty Italian-designed furniture, a Roman mural, terracotta floors and recessed lighting. It also had a beautiful antique chaise that she fell in love with. There were two wooden sliding doors that were closed, and she wondered what was behind them.

You want to see outside?

Sure.

They walked outside into his back yard where there was an Olympic-sized pool. This was enclosed by brick, as though it were an add-on to the home, with four windows on each side through which she could clearly see roses on the outside of the enclosure. At the end of the pool, there were two sliding glass doors, through which she could see the exercise room and there was a beautiful, emerald Italian onyx-stone patio with a complete outdoor kitchen and grill. And there was a glass roof over the enclosure through which you could clearly see the sky. Kimberly thought it was amazing.

I love it down here! It’s beautiful, Kimberly said. But I don’t remember you showing us down here when my family and I came.

I showed them, but you didn’t want to come downstairs at the time. You can’t see the pool from upstairs. As you can see, the roof looks like a huge skylight that I open in the summertime. You can get to the pool from the living room when you walk outside and go around to the back.

Vio, this is so beautiful! I love the fact that your roses are all different colors. But you don’t have any trees.

I don’t have any trees because I couldn’t close in my pool if I did, he explained.

Well, I’d spend a lot of time out here, if it were my house, she declared.

You want to go and play? he asked.

Sure. Where?

They walked back into the bedroom and went through the wooden sliding doors into a room with three game machines against the wall. There was a computer desk and sofa to the left of them.

Wow, two pinball machines—and Pac-Man. You know, when I was growing up, I was the Pac-Man and pinball queen, she told him.

What do you want to play?" he asked.

Pinball.

He plugged in one of the pinball machines and she started playing with one hand, while with the other hand she held the bottle of wine. She drank from it continually.

Kim, I think you’ve had enough wine, he commented.

I’ll let you know when I’ve had enough wine, she replied nastily, and took another big sip.

He stood there and watched her as she played and drank the wine, and he knew that at some point she wouldn’t be able to stand anymore. Then it happened: about half an hour later, she almost fell to the floor as she was trying to go and sit down on the sofa. He caught her and helped her to stand up.

You know, those two stupid ex-boyfriends broke my heart, she slurred in a whining tone, wrapping her arms around his neck. You wanna be my boyfriend? Take me to bed so I can see how good you are. But don’t leave me afterwards. Stay with me forever. Please stay with me forever, she whined again. Take me to bed, damn it! She now had an angry