Free Love and War 2 by Jackie Chanel Page A

Marketing and Finance. In case your son hasn’t told you, I was running my own business before I had a high school diploma. I am neither crazy nor stupid. I am very intelligent; intelligent enough to not waste my time and money on another degree just for the sake of having it. That would not be in the best interest of my business.”
    Gloria rolled her eyes and took a bite of her calamari. “There’s something wrong with you.”
    “The only thing that’s wrong with me is that I have to pee. Excuse me.”
    Caprice pushed her chair back from the table and walked away before her temper flared. She bypassed the ladies’ room and went outside. She breathed in deep gulps of air and stared at the pretty lights up and down The Boardwalk.
    “Baby,” Diesel said as he wrapped his arms around his woman’s waist. “You okay?”
    Caprice continued to stare ahead. “I’m fine, but I don’t think I want to continue this meal.”
    “You gotta understand,” Diesel tried to explain his mother’s behavior. “She’s been sick and she hasn’t seen me in a relationship in years. You’re not like anyone she’s ever met.”
    “I understand perfectly fine,” Caprice snapped. “I’m not going to cry or try to get her to like me though. I only have one mother, and we get along just fine.”
    She turned around and ignored the disappointed expression on Diesel’s face.
    “Look, I don’t know what I said or did to set her off, and honestly, right now, I don’t care. My mother is only going to be here for a couple of days and I don’t plan on spending the little time I have with her complaining about your mom. Please go back in there and enjoy your dinner with your family. Tell my mother, I’m at the valet stand.”
    “I don’t like that plan.”
    “It’s the only plan I have,” Caprice shrugged. “I’m not going back to that interrogation. I promise you that.”
    Diesel smiled and held Caprice against his chest. “You want to leave me here?”
    “Don’t try it,” Caprice giggled. “I’m not falling for those puppy dog eyes tonight.”
    Diesel drew her earlobe into his mouth and nibbled until she began to wiggle in his arms.
    “You better not be mad and not telling me.”
    “I’m pissed,” Caprice admitted. “But I’m not mad at you.”
    Diesel released Caprice from his arms and kissed her forehead. “See you back at the house?”
    “Of course. Have fun.”
    Caprice started to walk towards the valet. Diesel called her name and she stopped.
    “What?” she called back.
    “I love you.”
    A wide grin spread across Caprice’s face. “I know.”

Chapter Eight
     
    Carrying two cups of Starbucks, Caprice used her foot to hold the door that had Gina Abruzzo, Attorney at Law, etched on the glass. Finding the small office in the Bronx had taken forever. Caprice could have called first, but she wanted to surprise her new friend.
    “Caprice!” Gina called from behind a big desk in an even larger office with no doors. A couple of paralegals sat at desks in the crowded outer room.
    “What are you doing here?” Thought you were causing trouble on the Boardwalk?”
    “Now I’m causing trouble in the city,” Caprice replied. “I need your help with a couple of things.”
    Gina waved Caprice into her office. “Come on in and have a seat. Brenda. Kevin!” she yelled at her paralegals. “Got get breakfast.”
    It was obvious that Brenda and Kevin were used to hearing such demands. They were out the door before Caprice took her first sip of coffee.
    “What’s up?” Gina asked. “You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.”
    “Paolo, man. He’s working my last nerve.”
    Over the rim of her Starbucks cup, Gina watched Caprice. She’d seen the same look on Domani’s face over twenty years ago and the topic of conversation had been the same.
    Paolo Mancusi.
    Gina chuckled. “Your father had his fair share of complaints about Paolo, that’s for sure. After Gianni died, Domani refused to work with