Page 34 of A Treasure To Keep (Leone Legacy #2)

El

I t’s almost closing time at work, and I’m finishing up with my last client.

Holy shit, that was a hard one. Nothing I chose was good enough for her.

‘Too short, too long, too tight, too loose, blah blah blah.’ Finally, we find a mid-length dress that’s fitted on top and flowy on the bottom.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she returns it.

These types of clients normally have something going on internally, preventing them from being happy with anything they wear.

She also prevented me from going downstairs to greet James, who is back from maternity leave.

The only time I saw her was the morning after we went out to the club, trying to put together any missing details of that night.

She’s sent me plenty of pictures of Oliver, yet avoided telling me how she’s doing.

Every new mama needs someone to check in on her.

When I’m scanning through my numbers for the day, arms wrap around my center, and I know exactly who they belong to. My love. The arms I’m the safest in. Andrea’s arms. He kisses me gently on my shoulder, going up my neck and behind my ears, before he whispers.

“Mon trésor, tu es à couper le souffle aujourd’hui. Incroyable.” Ugh! This man.

“I have no idea what you said, but the way you whispered it in my ear made me need new panties.” Andrea drags his hand up the outside of my thigh, spinning me around when he notices I’m wearing bikini-cut underwear. Also known as my version of period panties.

“You wore something other than a thong today?”

“Yeah. I’m having my first period in months.

I had to buy new underwear here. You know it happens every once in a while.

It’s a period from hell, though. Cramps, cravings, bloating, the works.

I wanted to punch my last client. You and I both know I’m mellow when it comes to my clients.

” Since I get the shot, my periods have been few and far between.

I can have no periods one year and three the next year.

I decided to use the shot as a form of birth control after a pregnancy scare with Andrea early in our relationship.

Andrea and I fought that entire time until I started my period.

We chalked my bitchiness up to PMS. Now that I think about it, I chalked it up to PMS, and Andrea quickly agreed with me before moving on.

I should have seen that as a sign. Hold on.

Chill out, El. We’re trying to be stronger as a couple, not rehash the past.

“How about we get takeout tonight, mon trésor? I’ll take you to as many places as you want to fill those cravings.” This man is perfect.

“Chinese food from the mall, garlic knots from next door, and ice cream on the way home?” I know Andrea will say yes, but I still smile and bat my eyes at him.

I wrap my arms around his neck, and he wraps his around my waist again, holding me close as he kisses me.

When I nibble on his bottom lip, I taste something different, something salty, something oddly specific. “Why does your mouth taste like cum?”

He takes a step back, whistling as he runs his hands through his hair.

Whistling from Andrea is never a good thing.

It usually means he’s going to tell me something that will piss me off.

It’s his only strange habit. “Umm. Marco came by. I-I gave him head in the dressing room.” He must notice the expression on my face when he continues.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. That won’t happen again. ”

“I saw he was on your schedule. I didn’t think that it would be for dressing room head.

I thought that was our thing. I guess we’ve never had any rule that it has to always be the three of us.

You and I are intimate alone all the time.

It only makes sense. I’m okay with it. I promise.

” Am I okay? I give Andrea my best fake smile while I try to reassure him and myself that I’m not upset with him.

Of course, Andrea sees right through me when only insecurity kicks in.

I spiral when I think about whether I’m truly okay with Andrea and Marco being together alone.

This could bounce back at me. Hard. And if my past repeated itself, especially with Andrea, I don’t think I could survive it.

“El, mon trésor. I’m not him. If you don’t want me with Marco alone, all you have to do is say the words, and I’ll respect it.” Him. The only man who broke my heart. The dumbass I let myself fall for and found him fucking my cousin. Giovanni.

“Seriously, Andrea, I trust you. The three of us spoke about it and decided we would be intimate. We never had any rule about it exclusively being the three of us. You and I make love all the time alone. You can be with Marco all you want. Now, let’s go get food to feed my sucky ass period.

” I trust Andrea. Honestly, I do. It's hard to put that aside when you’re conditioned to believe that someone could leave you for someone else.

Andrea and I walk into our apartment, multiple takeout bags from multiple places in my hands, trying to balance them as I reach for my keys. Gentle lips kiss my cheek as Andrea inserts his key and opens the door for me.

“Let me grab those bags. You go take a shower, and let me know if there’s any specific movie you’d enjoy watching tonight.

I’ll plug in your heating pad and set out all our food.

While we’re eating, I’ll give you a neck and shoulder massage, and I'll rub your back once you’re done eating.

Does that sound good?” This man always knows what to do.

I turn toward him and rise on my toes, kissing him while I hand him the takeout bags. “That sounds amazing. Thank you for being more than I deserve.”

“You deserve the world, mon trésor.” Don’t cry, El. Why did I choose today to wear non-waterproof mascara and winged liner?

I hop in the shower, thinking of the differences between Andrea and Giovanni. Differences that make him the perfect man.

How Andrea never gaslights me.

How Andrea always tells me exactly what’s going on in his head.

How Andrea shows me I'm the most important thing in his life.

Most importantly, how Andrea would never blame me for cheating.