Page 86 of Poison and Wine
A low growl came through the phone. “He’s close to where you are naked?”
I rolled my eyes. “I have on my underwear.”
“I don’t care.”
“He’s not right outside. He’s staying a respectful distance away.”
“Good. He’s a valuable soldier. I would hate to have to lose him.”
“Could you please be a little less psychotic?”
“Show me the dress.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want to see what you’re wearing.”
“Um, okay.” I put him on speaker phone and then quickly snapped a picture.
After texting him the picture, he snarled, “Motherfucker!”
“What’s the problem?”
“The problem, my dear wife, is you appear to be missing half your dress considering how much leg you’re showing. For fuck’s sake, if I were to see it from behind, I’d wager your arse would be hanging out.”
I scowled at the phone. “I don’t think it shows that much. I’m tall, so everything tends to be shorter on me.”
“You’ve only been out of the order a few weeks, and you’re already dressing like a fallen woman.”
With a gasp, I replied, “I know you didn’t just bring up the order.” Although there were times I swore Callum knew me far too well, there was no way he could have a grasp on the level of guilt I carried about leaving the order.
“Perhaps reminding you of it will help you make better choices.”
“You know what? Since I’m married to a fallen Irish mobster, perhaps I should dress the part,” I hissed.
“I’m done speaking to you about this. Pick another dress.”
And then he had the audacity to hang up on me. “Two can play at this game,” I muttered.
At a knock on the dressing room door, I called, “Yes?”
Jessica replied, “I was just checking to see how things were coming along.”
With a smile, I opened the door. “I’ll take this one.”
Chapter Twenty-Four: Caterina
Just before seven, I stood before the full-length mirror in the bedroom. As I stared at my reflection, it was like seeing a stranger before me. I barely recognized the woman in the skin tight dress, the flowing wavy locks, and heavy makeup.
Guilt, my almost constant companion since leaving the order, rippled through me. A month ago I would’ve been in my plain blue skirt and white blouse. My hair would’ve been swept into a ponytail. My time would’ve been consumed by caring for others unlike today where it was focused on frivolous things like shopping for a dress to make my husband desire me.
Callum was right. I had turned into a fallen woman.
Unable to bear my reflection any longer, I stepped away from the mirror. Just as I reached around to unzip my dress, a knock at the door startled me. “Yes?”
Seamus stepped inside. At the sight of me, his eyes bulged somewhat comically out of their sockets. “I, uh…” He swallowed hard. “Callum asked me to tell you it was time to go.”
I held my hand up. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving the house in this scrap of a dress because I’m not going to the club.”