Page 78 of Married with Mayhem

“That’s Monte.” I drop my hand to his leg. His powerful thigh muscles flex beneath my palm. “He’s all sweetness.”

“Only for you, honey.” He moves his hand lower, rubbing my back. His fingers find the outline of my bra strap and pluck at it playfully.

An impulsive thrill courses through me and I love the feeling. My hand travels higher on his thigh.

“Maybe you could give us a demonstration,” I suggest and my hand roams higher still.

Monte lets out a strangled cough and leans forward. His hands ball into fists. “Another time,” he chokes out.

Our chipper waiter stops by and drops the check off. “Does anyone want drink refills?”

“I think we’ve had enough,” I say and pat Monte’s leg. “Have you had enough?”

The look he throws me is dangerously scorching, a warning that if I want to play with fire then he’s much better at it.

“Not even close,” he mutters. “But we’ve got to get back on the road.”

I mouth the words, “I win,” to him.

His gaze fixes on my mouth and drifts to my breasts before rising again. “For now,” he whispers in my ear.

“Oh look!” My mother points at something out the window. “There’s a gift shop!”

Monte is eager to get out of here but there’s no stopping my mother when she discovers a charming store full of kitschy souvenirs. She believes that Luca and Anni and little Jane need a bushel of Colorado shirts and keepsakes even though they live here and might very well already own matching Colorado Rockies jerseys.

Monte stands by the door beside a display of sunglasses and twirls his keys with impatience while we shop. His eyes follow me when I approach and pluck a pair of purple-framed sunglasses from the rack.

“You should pick out a souvenir.” I try on the sunglasses and then return them to the rack. “To remember our road trip adventures.”

Monte holds up his left hand and wiggles his ring finger. “Thought I had one already.”

“Funny. Let’s see if we can find something new that suits your style.”

A pair of sparkly child-sized princess glasses looks appropriate. I pull on Monte’s shirt to drag him down to my level so I can add them to his face.

“There,” I say. “You look adorable.”

He removes the glasses and scowls at them. I grab them out of his hand before he can put them back.

“I’m buying these for you,” I say.

“Don’t you want a souvenir?” he says.

I glance around at the shelves of t-shirts and racks of keychains. “Nothing is really catching my eye.”

“I have a suggestion.”

“I don’t really need a shirt that says Colorado Cutie.”

“Not what I was thinking. The one I have in mind isn’t sold here. I need to make it.”

“Make it? What, are you a carpenter too?”

He twirls his keys again. “More like a jeweler.”

I roll my eyes. “Liar. Since when do you know how to make jewelry, Monte?”

“I’m a specialist. I only make one type.”

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