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7
Hugo parked the car at the end of the shopping street, and we walked together. He didn’t touch me after we left the car, but he was close enough I could feel the heat coming from his body.
Main Street was quiet, which was expected because of the chilly weather. In the summer, this street was buzzing with people like an ant hill. The rich and beautiful would gather here under the sun, rubbing elbows on the beach and dropping serious cash in the stores that were lined up on both sides of the street. It was only natural for the Nucci influence to stretch to the Hamptons; this was the place where people came to make connections away from the madding crowd…and prying eyes. Our guest house hosted judges, politicians, NYPD commissioners, business men ready to trade inside information, all dirtier than a pigsty.
Now, the picture was very different. There were only a couple of people walking the streets, and the white string of shops, restaurants and boutiques were decorated in Christmas spirit. Decorations were hanging, jingle bells were ringing, and lights luminated the shops’ windows. I loved the winter season. If it was up to me, I’d start hanging decorations in our house right after Thanksgiving, but that was not how we did it at the Nuccis’. In our house, we respected traditions. The Christmas tree didn’t get its festive clothing until the 23rd. I was excited to have Muse in the house this year. Even if this was her first holiday without her baby brother, she still had us, and she brought the best out in Gino.
We finally made it to my appointment at Monique Cherelle’s French fashion boutique. Monique – whose actual name was Monica Vasco from the Bronx – opened this high-end shop back in ’89, and my mother had been shopping here since day one during our summer getaways. On her racks were hanging the hottest designer labels, and she would hate for people to find out that half her merchandise came into this country through shipping companies ran by my brother and cousins. When I opened the door, the bell above made a sound, and Monique came from her back room with a smile on her face.
“Ah, look at you, dear!” Her arms flew out in the air, and she came in for a hug. “You are more and more beautiful every time I see you.”
“And you still look twenty-one. How are you, Monique?”
“Baby, I am busy day and night. You know how everyone cries that business is slow from September to May? I don’t know what got into them this year, but my phone hasn’t stopped ringing. I have so many orders to send out.”
She was feisty and spoke with her hands to attract all the eyes in the room because she was the kind of woman who liked the light to shine above her. She was a glam-fabulous lady with a beautiful body and a boob job, and I didn’t like the way Hugo’s eyes slid to her cleavage once every five seconds.
“That is great to hear. I won’t keep you long. I just need to pick out a few things. My mom said she called and arranged a shopping session for me.”
“Yes, she did, and I’m going to tell you what I told her. You don’t need an appointment to walk into my shop, dear. Come on, let’s get you something pretty.” She clapped her hands then turned to Hugo, taking a step back to look at him from head to toe. “Should we get this gentleman something too?” There was suggestion lingering in her voice.
Hugo Mustafa was the furthest away a man could be from gentleman. There were no bowties, pocket squares or tailored suits with him, just raw masculinity. Monique definitely picked up on that.
“No, he’s not looking for anything.”
“Ah, perfect. He can keep me company while you try on something pretty.”
Shit, no.
“Actually, Hugo has to go to the florist and buy some flowers. We’re in town to go to a birthday celebration tomorrow.”
He didn’t say a word, almost like we weren’t talking about him, but when he heard me speaking about the florist shop, he raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Monique put her hand over her heart with a theatrical gesture.
“Yeah, too bad.” I spun in place and turned to Hugo. “Make sure it’s a big bouquet. And it has to have white lilies, they’re Caroline’s favorite. And some lavender, I think she likes the color since she dresses little Giana in it all the time. And tell the florist to wrap it with satin ribbon.”
“Noted.”
He was one foot out the door when I called his name.
“Ask them to add some white roses too.”
He stopped himself from rolling his eyes. I couldn’t lie; I liked messing with him.
“Does Caroline like those too?”
“Nope, but I do. I think they’ll look cute. I will meet you back at the car.”
“I can pick you up.”
Nah, I was not giving Monique another chance to wet his shoes with her drooling.
“I will meet you back at the car,” I repeated myself, and he left. I almost wished I hadn’t seen that faded devil smile on his lips because I wanted to run after him and jump in his arms for a kiss.
Monique dragged me through the pile of clothes and made me try on multiple dresses. I needed a dress and shoes, to begin with. Flora Maria, sweet girl that she was, packed me everything I needed. The only thing was that it was all casual. I knew that tomorrow I had to go to Freddy’s beach house for an afternoon gathering, and I had no problem wearing something comfy there, but Sunday night, he’d celebrate his first daughter’s first birthday. It was a big thing, and I had to match the occasion.
I tried everything: long, short, low cut, no back, straps, no straps. Damn, it was harder now that I wanted to make sure Hugo would lose his mind and cum in his pants when he saw me. Finally, after almost an hour and a half, I found a long black gown, made of a beautiful material. It had some glitter over it making it seem like I was wearing the night sky. Both my shoulders were left uncovered by the boat neck cut. From my waist down, the dress was floating in a river of material, split twice so my legs would show when I was walking. Monique suggested a shawl and high sued boots, also black, that went all the way to my thighs. Yeah, that would definitely play a number on Hugo.
