Page 19 of Accepting His Name (The Sartoris 1)

“W-what?” Shakarri kicked herself for the hoarse quality to her voice. She straightened her shoulders and focused on making her sandwich of salami, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. “Never mind. I don’t care to know.”

Cason moaned. “That looks so good.” He flashed puppy dog eyes at her. “If I tell you all about Madison will you make me one?”

“I don’t care about Madison, and didn’t Clara cook?”

“She did, but something tells me a sandwich made by the bellissimo Sha will be even better. Clara, although a wonderful cook and a wonderful woman, doesn’t make my heart beat faster.”

She laughed. “When did you start calling me Sha? And your heart beating faster after you eat sounds like a medical condition.”

He snorted. “You always make me laugh. Your blunt speech is intriguing.”

“Uh-huh.” She deliberately bit into her sandwich and then felt sorry for him. Knowing the Sartori men’s appetites, she piled his sandwich high with meat and cheese. Cason hurried to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of sliced pickles. She cringed when he threw on a few of those as well. “You’ve ruined the sandwich. Now it can’t be called one of mine.”

He devoured half the sandwich in one bite. “I will fantasize that it is.”

“Suit yourself.” Shakarri carried her plate over to the table and slipped her feet out of her shoes. She rested her feet on the chair next to her, and Cason dropped into the spot across the table.

“Madison has been my brother’s lover since he first came to the United States. We thought they would get married, but it never happened. I suppose if Madison had her way it would.”

Shakarri lost her appetite and shoved her saucer away. “You’re saying he was still seeing her when he was married to Catalina’s mom?”

He shrugged. “It would seem so.”

“And…” Shut up! Don’t even ask. “And now?”

“Unless he sends her home, then I assume it will continue. Business kept her out of the country for a while, but she’s back. She arrived here an hour ago and decided to wait for him.” Cason reached for her hand and held it. “You’re American, bella. Don’t let it bother you. An affair means nothing.”

“So I’m supposed to look the other way and let him do whatever he wants? I know our marriage isn’t…” She figured Ezio’s brothers knew the truth about why she married him, but she hated saying it out loud. “In your culture, the women can have affairs too, right, without it destroying the marriage?”

He grinned big. “Shall I make you an offer, Sha?”

“Not unless you want me to embarrass you.”

He burst out laughing and laid a hand over his heart. “You’re so cruel, and yet it makes me love you more.”

“Cason, you don’t have any shame. I know you’re not serious, and I guess Ezio knows it too, so he doesn’t say anything. I doubt that you give two rips about me.”

“Not true. You are my family now. Family is everything.”

“I’m going to bed.” She stood and gathered her plate and his. After rinsing them and cleaning everything up, she left the kitchen. Cason didn’t

follow her. Shakarri took the back stairs in order to avoid her husband. She wondered as she headed to the second floor if what Cason told her was true.

One part of her wanted to find a lover just to get even with Ezio. After all if he could cheat, so could she. Then she thought better of it. Sleeping around wasn’t her deal. Intimacy with a man was more than just physical pleasure. There was a connection that formed, a bond, and making it with any and everybody wasn’t just disgusting, it was detrimental to her soul.

“I’ve got some serious views for someone who married a man for his money,” she grumbled beneath her breath.

In her bedroom, she showered and changed into a nightgown. The one she chose was Ezio’s least favorite, but the color soothed her from the first time she saw it. Ezio had too many opinions anyway. Her wearing the nightgown had nothing to do with trying to tick him off.

Not like he’ll come to bed tonight.

The little bit of sandwich she’d eaten sat like a stone in her belly. She hated the negative emotions he’d made her feel, and if he thought he was carrying on his affair right under their roof, he would hear from her!

The door opened, and a frisky little figure scurried in. “Shakarri!”

“Hey, sweetie, how are you?” Shakarri fell back on the bed when the fireball hit her full force. Catarina had two speeds—stop and go. She left a sloppy kiss on Shakarri’s cheek and then jumped to her feet and bounced on the bed. Her nanny must have gotten her into a bath and changed her into pink princess pajamas.

Catarina sang something in Spanish, and the jumping bean bounced higher. “Can you speak Spanish, Shakarri?”

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