Sorry about the delay in posting this chapter. It has just been pure craziness around my house lately. All feedback is welcome.
Rachel looked over at the cell phone that was lying on the seat of Sergio's truck. She hadn't driven very far - she didn't want to be arrested for 'Grand Theft Auto'. In fact she was planning on dropping the truck off at his office for him to find later. She had just pulled into the lot when Sergio's cell phone began to ring again. It had been ringing off and on for the past ten minutes.
Finally she reached over and picked it up. Dare she answer it? She noticed on the display it said 'Nicola'. She dropped it as if she had been burned by it. His brother knew that she would have that phone - and he was trying to use it to his advantage.
After ten more minutes of insistent ringing, she finally picked it up. She cautiously placed the phone next to her ear.
"Hello," she answered.
"That wasn't very nice of you, Rachel," Nicola said in greeting.
"Hello, Nicky. Who ever said I was nice person?" she asked as she slid out from under the wheel and got down out of the large truck.
He laughed heartily in her ear.
"You know, I do believe you are just going to be what my little brother needs. He's a bit uptight but I think you will loosen him up fast."
"I have no intentions of loosening him up, Nicky. I have been perfectly blunt about that. I do believe that your brother will be a bit too possessive for me."
"Irregardless, Rach, I need to know how to get your dog off him without loosing a hand or either of us getting bitten."
She laughed at the thought of Rambo eating Nicola's hand.
"Now, we wouldn't want to do that. The world would be at lost without one of it's premier clothing designers."
"Sergio told you about that?" he asked - his interest piqued.
"Of course. I think he was trying to take my mind off the pain at the time. He told me that you two owned a clothing design firm. I believe he put it that you were the creative side while he was the bean counter."
"Nicola!" she heard a man's voice from the background.
"As much as I have enjoyed chatting with you, Rach, would you mind telling me how to get your dog off of Sergio?"
"Why, is he being persistent?" she asked sarcastically.
"I do believe he won't have any skin left if he continues to be licked by your dog."
"Fine. I'll give the instructions. Just take the phone over by Rambo."
"Rambo?"
"Yes. His name is Rambo. And don't give me any guff about it - I didn't name him. His trainer at the academy named him; yes, he was an action flick buff. There was a Bond, a Callahan, and a Rocky in his graduation class." She could hear the mumbled laughs and protests as it became obvious that Nicola was close enough that Rambo should be able to hear her. "Rambo! Cease!" she ordered.
* * * *
Sergio sighed in relief when the dog on top of him paused in his licking before cocking his head and staring at the phone in Nicola's outstretched hand. He could barely hear her voice. He reached out and took the phone slowly from Nicola's hand. He did not want to trigger an actual attack by Rambo.
"
Brutta birbona
?"
"You know I really should have had Rambo attack you. How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" she said tartly.
"Well, if the shoe fits..." he said evenly as Rambo focused his deeply soulful amber eyes on him.
"And I'll tell you the same thing I tell Smerelda. I am not a 'bad little girl'."
"Okay....well since you say you aren't a
Brutta birbona
would you mind calling off your dog?" he said softly as the dog continued to stare at him and listen to their conversation.
"That all depends?"
"On what,
mi bella
?" he asked as he tentatively rubbed Rambo's neck. The dog leaned heavily into his hand.
"How serious you are about this dating thing," Rachel explained.
"I'm very serious, Rachel. All I want is a chance," he stated softly.
"We'll see."
" How about ten o'clock, Saturday morning at Bianchi's. I can come and pick you up?"
"No. We'll meet there. I'm dropping your truck off at your office. You can have your brother or who ever bring you there. You can bring Rambo with you on Saturday. I won't need him again until then. He eats any thing you put in front of him, so be careful what you place in front of him. He likes leather shoes - so hide them from him."
"Is that all?" he asked.
"No, but you'll figure the rest out. Now hold the phone out to him."
* * * *
Sergio held the phone out and wondered what she wasn't telling him. He could barely hear her voice before Rambo gave him a quick lick of obvious thanks for letting him use him as his personal salt lick, before bounding off of him and joyously heading for the water. Sergio rolled to his knees, watched and listened to the sequels of laughter from his cousin's children as Rambo jumped in the water and splashed them. He slowly lifted the phone back to his ear.
"All right
mi bella
, how do I get the dog out of the water?" he asked. His question was met by silence.
"Rachel?"
