Page 5 of Accepting His Name (The Sartoris 1)

“You’re a mess. Get the blouse, nut, and let’s get out of here. I want to try on some shoes. You know I have to get my fix.”

“He didn’t buy you shoes?”

“You’re not funny.”

Nay grinned. They both knew how Shakarri loved trying on shoes even if she didn’t buy them and even if she’d just purchased new ones last week. For a long time, she hadn’t been able to indulge, what with work and zero extra money. Ezio had showered her with as many pairs as she wanted just before the wedding, and after he left on business, she had spent half a day going through her closet trying them on.

In the shoe store, Shakarri sat down to strap on some peep-toe stilettos. The five-inch heel elongated her legs. She always loved stilettos because of her height. They brought her five foot five inches up to ten, which in her book was perfect. She had selected a lot of spiky heels when Ezio took her shopping, and he didn’t seem to care one way or another that she nearly reached his height wearing them. His confidence radiated and made him larger than life.

“I’m getting hungry.” Nay stretched and yawned. “How long have we been here?”

Shakarri glanced up from admiring her feet. “I don’t know. Three hours maybe?”

Nay checked her phone. “Crap, it’s almost five-thirty. I said I was going to cook for Andre tonight, and I haven’t even been to the store. Well, he can wait. I’ll make it up to him.”

Shakarri gasped. “It’s that late? Dang, I better get moving too. Ezio will be home. Shoot, I can’t help it. I’m going to buy these.”

Nay wrinkled her nose. “They’re forty bucks.”

“So what? I think I get another fifteen percent off at the register.”

“No, I mean they’re cheap. We were only in here because you like their shoes, Sha. You can afford far better.”

Shakarri shook her head. “How did you get so spoiled when I got married? I like them better than some of the expensive ones Ezio bought, but you’re right. I said I don’t want to spend much of his money, so I’ll wait until next time.”

“Get them.”

“Nay.”

Her friend snatched the shoes and walked them up to the register. When the sales girl announced the total, Nay turned to Shakarri with an expectant look on her face. Shakarri sighed and gave in. Maybe she was getting too soft lately.

They left the store, and after a hug and kiss on the cheek went their separate ways. Nay had met Shakarri at the mall earlier because she had been coming from work. Shakarri drove home using her GPS because she sucked at directions and she hadn’t learned the exact route to the mansion yet. All the back roads and trees looked the same in that area. One giant Southern California house on acres of land wasn’t much different than another.

At last, she drew up to the low brick wall that ran along her husband’s property. She pulled into the drive and headed along the three-quarter mile stretch to reach the house. One of her brother-in-law’s Porsches sat in front of the house, and another butter yellow convertible sat behind it. Shakarri didn’t recognize the car, so she figured they had guests.

She wondered if she had time to run up and shower and decided she would greet her new family really quick and excuse herself. A servant opened the door, a middle-aged Italian man who didn’t speak much English.

“Thanks, Goro. Is my husband in yet?”

He smiled and nodded, but she was pretty sure he had zero idea what she said.

“Signore Ezio?” she tried again.

He nodded vigorously this time. “Si, signora, si.”

He swept his hand out to the side to guide her into the house. Shakarri picked up laughing voices beyond and hesitated. She tiptoed forward a few steps and turned back to the butler.

“Goro, can you tell him I’ll be down in a minute? Crap, you have no idea what I’m saying. Un minute.”

She started toward the stairs, but Goro jogged ahead of her and blocked the passage. He smiled and swept his hand out again. “Signora, per favore.”

She knew what that meant—please. He wanted her to go right in to Ezio. In fact, she wouldn’t have doubted it if her husband had told him not to let Shakarri go anywhere but in to him when she arrived. She gritted her teeth.

“Look, just one minute, okay? I want to freshen up.” She kept her voice low so no one would hear her. “He can wait just five minutes.”

Goro started to look green around the gills. She wondered if he would get into trouble if she dodged him and went upstairs anyway. Goro wanted to respect her but follow Ezio’s instructions no doubt.

“Shakarri.”

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