"You'd rather use the money to buy back the statue than reenact it?"
"In all good conscience, Nico, that one's too personal for me."
"Meaning you don't want to touch or suck my cock."
"Meaning I… Will you let me buy this one or not?"
"What about the rest of them, Danni? Each one would have you touching me."
"I know, but this one is too…personal. I can't explain it, but I know I couldn't do this one."
He raised his fingers to his forehead, his thumb and index finger rubbing his temples. They'd both gone crazy, he knew. Him for even considering this, and her for thinking she could sleep with him without emotional strings. They'd both be different people after this was over.
"Danni, you have other options."
"Yes, marriage is permanent. Seven nights out of my life, I can accept."
"I'd expect you to spend time with me like a real date and to stay the night. This isn't just one quick lay and off you go." Was he trying to scare her or himself? He wasn't sure any more.
"I understand. I just know I can't do that one." She moved to the window overlooking his back patio. They were both quiet while the clock ticked off the minutes.
He cleared his throat to get her attention. "I'll call you tonight after I've had time to think about all this, and after you've had some time to think, too."
"Use my cell. I'm not sure where I'll be."
"Fine." She left without another word, the worry on her brow enough to show her true feelings. Nico tossed the statement on top of the photo and laughed.
"So, Danielle Cirillo doesn't suck cock." The idea never entered his mind one way or the other. It was just part of the sex act. Yet, she saw it as too personal. There had to be something behind her choice, and he'd figure it out as they went along. A bit of disappointment filled him, knowing she wouldn't wrap her lips around him. But that didn't put any restrictions on what he could do to her. Nico sat behind his desk for a long time, staring at each of the photos, visualizing how they might be, locked together in the position of the statue. Unfortunately, with those thoughts came others. Like who else had made love to her? And what happened to make her afraid of his erect penis? A sick chill ran through him with the realization she'd been abused somehow in the past.
When they were younger and bolder, they'd met between the vines and necked. He'd been very careful not to cross the imaginary line he'd created for himself. They'd kissed until their lips were sore. He knew the weight of her breast in his hand, knew how her nipples would bud to tight berries at his touch. He'd felt the heat pour from her body to his as they had lain intertwined.
He never took her further. Too many cold showers in his past reminded him of that fact. He'd cared about her and tried to respect her. But it was becoming clear some other man had taken her further. Somewhere in the last three years a man had overstepped her comfort level and Danni was traumatized by it. He wanted to break something, but pulled back his anger. Danni deserved better. If he ever found out who hurt her he'd… Nico had too many ideas of revenge, and knew none of them would be productive. It was more important to let her see all men were different, and he'd cherish her, not force her into any act. Forcing his hands to unclench, he hated the faceless man.
"Hell," he said aloud. For all he knew, this might be a powerplay of some sort on her part. That idea didn't fit. In years past, she'd been more than anxious to get to him. It had always been Nico's hand stopping her pursuit. And why? Because it was Danni, and she deserved better than rolling around the yard in any attempt to complete the act. He'd pictured her naked on his bed, her sable hair spread across his pillow, her breasts waiting for his touch, her smile telling him it was what she wanted, too.
Nico hadn't let himself think about the other men Danni might have dated or slept with before. The concept was too daunting. Three years was a long time to be away and not date. He had several companions, but they were always just that. Never did he consider any kind of future with any of them. He treated his female counterparts with respect. If they wound up in bed, it was a mutual decision. He'd enjoyed their company and their bodies, but never let emotions enter into the situation.
* * * *
Danielle knew she'd totally lost her mind. Using the last of her cash for the netsuke was stupid on many levels. Sleeping with Nico to get the statues back was insane. Yet she wanted to know him before she left the valley for good. It was the only way she could go on. Once she lost the yard and the house and paid off the rest of the debts, she'd have to move on. It wouldn't be in the Sonoma Valley, that was certain. She'd find a place later on, after it was all gone. For now, she just wanted to be able to take a small piece of Cirillo history with her. The cost was great, and she knew Nico was right. They were just statues, and the money would hold her over a long time. But she couldn't touch him like that, not under these circumstances. If they were truly in love or married, it would be different. This was the only way she could go through with the deal. Having handled his erection in the past, she knew his size and girth. She wanted to explore him further, but he'd always stopped them.
Danni pushed back the unpleasant vision that always surfaced when she thought about that particular act. Her only experiment had been with a man not nearly as well-endowed, and that had turned into a disaster. She stopped dating after that, concentrating on her studies and her plans for the future.
* * * *
They met in the same spot as the night before. Danni was waiting tonight, pacing the rows with a worried look on her face. When she heard him approach, she turned and smiled. Nico felt her smile all the way to his heart. Maybe she was about to call off the deal. It would be best, he'd decided. He'd give her the damned collection after the turnover. But the idea of never getting to touch her, of losing her to another man and another yard some place far away was daunting. No other man should be touching his Danni. His cock hardened of its own accord, the idea of taking her right now in the yard was overwhelming. He decided earlier, if he became demonstrative maybe she'd run, as long as she didn't call his bluff.
"Thanks for coming. It's been a long day." She sounded defeated. Suddenly, statues and lust were gone.
"Bella, what's happened?" He was off his horse and beside her before she had time to realize he was close. One strong hand reached to her shoulder and tugged her to him. It was a good sign from his perspective that she went willingly and snuggled against his chest. "Danni, tell me what's wrong?"
She let out a big sigh and pulled back only slightly to look at him. "I had to hire private security guards today." Her words held total angst.
"Why?" He was more confused than before. "Who's threatened you?" His tone had changed, and she smiled at him for just a second.
"Don't get in a snit. Nobody threatened me, physically." She glanced away and his fingers lightly turned her chin back toward him. "I found Robert and Felice trying to move out some of the antique furniture this afternoon. If I hadn't gotten there when I did, they would have filled a moving van."
"What?" Nico was stunned. He'd never thought Felice was true mother material, rather too wrapped up in her own private world of clothes and parties. He'd only tolerated Robert because of Danni. It didn't surprise him they'd try to take advantage of her. "Tell me what happened, exactly." He didn't let her move from him, rather held her lightly, his chin resting on the top of her head, her citrus scent filling him.
"I was supposed to be in town this afternoon, but Sam Parkins cancelled. I came home to find a van with several burly men taking out the dining room set. The mahogany set that came over with my original Cirillo family." She paused, and he felt the shudder run through her. "I called the police…didn't you see the sheriff's car here?"
"No. I was in town on business most of the day myself. Aunt Maria didn't tell me when I got home."
"Maybe she didn't know. He didn't come with sirens blazing. Anyway, after he looked at the eviction papers and spoke with Sam by telephone, he sent the movers away and told Robert and Felice not to try anything like this again."
"I'm sure that went over well."
"Of course, Robert got drunk while waiting for the sheriff to arrive, and Felice decided to reinforce all the hardship in her life due to me and my father's trust. It wasn't a good afternoon, Nico."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I thought about it, but what would I say? Nico, my mother and stepfather are stealing the family furniture, could you come and stop them?" She laughed a bit and relaxed against his chest. "No, it was better this way. The sheriff is aware of the situation now, and has reinforced it to Robert. He also wasn't very sympathetic to hear Felice screeching about the injustice of it all."
He smiled at the mental picture. Sheriff Addams was a seasoned veteran, had spent his career in the valley, first as a deputy, then sheriff. The valley was his home and his territory.
"It was his idea to hire on a few private guards to make sure nothing else left the property without my consent."
"Who did you get?"
Danni mentioned a few of the retired policemen who still lived in the area, and he knew them all. "I think in the long run it was a good idea. Better to be safe…" He'd started, but didn't want to scare her. "Danni, if you have security watching them, why not move to Casa Maria for a few weeks? Maria would love to have you around and you wouldn't be tormented by Robert and your mother."
"Thanks, but it's not a good idea. I don't want them to think I'm running scared. That's exactly what they want."
"Keep in mind, bella, you'll always have a home at Severino."
"Thanks," she whispered. "I just wanted you to know the guys will be around, so if you see anyone or get stopped you'll know why."
"I'll mention it to Tia Maria later."
"Better tell Mario and Lugi too."
"What about Antonio and Carmen? Do they know what's happening?"
"Yes, Carmen was there during the whole ordeal." Danni pushed away from his chest and started to pace. "Would you like to know what else I found out this afternoon? Don't ask, I'll tell you." Her arms folded across her stomach as she paced. "From the time Felice turned over the yard to Robert, he's had Antonio and Carmen and Vito paying rent for their homes!" Her voice lowered with anger. "Hell, that was always part of the package, working at Cirillo. The home was part of the pay. And since my freshman year, that bastard Robert has had them paying rent back to him."
"That I wasn't aware of."
"Nobody was. It was Robert who made them keep quiet or he'd force them to leave." Danni threw her arms up in the air. "Can you imagine, taking rent from those two? They're more family than Robert ever was, and spent more years working this farm than I'm alive. And he made them pay rent!"
"All right, Danni, calm down. I'm sure you told Robert and Felice where to put their rent and made it better with Antonio and Vito." She only shrugged. "Seven years and I never knew." Danni stopped before him, just a few inches separating them. "Was I really that self-absorbed? How could I not see this?"
"Lots of ways. You weren't meant to find out, Robert made sure of that. And they kept you away every summer. What could you really find out in two weeks a year?"
"I never really wanted to spend the summers away. All year I'd be at school and dream of coming home for the vacation, and every year Robert and Felice just happened to arrange an apprenticeship somewhere." Danni let out a loud scream. "I'm grateful for the experience on one hand, but I've been so naive on the other."
"Take a breath, Danni. It's been a long day." He gathered her against him a second time, and she rested her cheek to his shoulder. His fingers tugged the band from the bottom of her braid, letting the sable strands loose between his fingers. Even in moonlight, red and gold highlights glinted at him. It was difficult to let her go when she pulled away, but he did.
"Can we talk tomorrow about the rest of this mess? I'm exhausted."
"Of course."
She mounted her horse and looked down. "Thanks for meeting me tonight. I just needed to vent."
"Anytime, bella."
"Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow, somewhere in town? We can discuss the other situation then."
"We can drop the whole idea, too."
"No, I can't. Let me know in the morning what time and where." She turned the horse toward her home and steadied him. "You know, I'm having trouble thinking about it as home already. Beside the structural changes…"
"Come home with me, bella. Tia Maria will fill you with pasta and send you to bed with a lighter heart." His aunt had a knack for making people comfortable. It was a talent for knowing what soothed each person.
"Not tonight. Tomorrow we'll work out the rest of the details of the…"
"Trade, or deal, what would you like to call this arrangement?"
"Just our arrangement will do," she snipped, and goaded the horse into a trot.
"Danielle Cirillo, one of these days I'm going to take you over my knee and paddle some sense into you!" She turned the horse and stopped, leaning over its long graceful neck.