Sal Gabrini: His House of Cards Read Online Free PDF Page B

it.   “What’s so funny?”
    “You
are!   Fragile?   Vulnerable?   Innocent?   Me ?   Really, Sal?”
    “That’s how
I see you.   And that’s how a lot of other
guys sees you, too.   I don’t want those
sweaty-palmed salesmen salivating over you and taking advantage of you and I’m
not even in town to set their asses straight.”
    Gemma was
touched by his concern for her.   She felt
blessed to have a man like him.   “I
didn’t purchase it.   I told them you
would have to approve first.   But I think
it’s the one I want.”
    Sal was in
full eating mode now.   He was also
inwardly pleased that she didn’t drop the hammer and purchase the thing without
him.   “What kind is it?”
    “A Focus,”
she said.
    Sal thought
about it.   Then he frowned.   “A Focus?   I’ve never heard of any Focus before.   What the hell is a Focus?”
    “You know,
Sal.   A Ford Focus.”
    Sal stopped
chewing mid-chew and looked at her.   “Are
you needling me?”
    “Needling you?   Why would I needle you?”
    “You’re my
wife, Gemma!   No wife of mine is
driving---”
    Gemma
couldn’t hold back any longer.   She
laughed.   “I’m just messing with you,
boy!   Although I do think the Ford Focus
is attractive, I knew you wasn’t having it.   I wasn’t either, to be honest with you.”
    Sal smiled
this time.   “Your ass was driving a BMW
when I met you.   Your ass like cars just
as much as I do.”
    “Nobody like
cars as much as you and Tommy and Reno.   I’m just saying.   But it’s past
time, Sal.   Ever since my BMW was shot up
at the courthouse and we decided to get rid of it, I’ve been driving your
car.   Which is fine.   And I know how you feel about me going on a
car lot.   Those salesmen try to take
advantage of women, you’re right about that.   But they aren’t going to take advantage of me.”
    “That’s what
they all say, babe,” Sal said.
    “But if you
insist on coming with me, fine.   Come
with me.   But we’ve got to take some time
out of our busy schedules and get this done.”
    But Sal was
nonplussed.   “Stop worrying so much.   I took care of it already.”
    Gemma looked
at him.   “What do you mean?”
    “I took care
of it.”   Sal stuffed more food into his
mouth.   “I found one I think you’ll
like.”
    It was hard
for Gemma to get accustomed to a man taking care of her needs the way Sal often
did.   She used to battle him about it,
but he made clear that a man had to be a man and she had to let him be her
man.   That didn’t diminish her, but it
helped to make him feel as if he was taking care of his responsibilities.   It was a tough compromise for Gemma.   Maybe the toughest compromise she had to make
when they got married.   But now she
understood.   Gemma was getting excited.   “What is it?   No, let me guess: a Porsche just like yours?”
    “Hell
no.   Mine is one of a kind.   Who do you think you are?”
    Gemma
laughed.   “Then what kind is it?”
    Sal
smiled.   She knew then it was going to be
good.   “An Aston-Martin,” he said
proudly.   “A DB9.   It’s gorgeous, Gem.   I think you’ll love it.”
    Gemma was
stunned.   “But Sal,” she said, unable to
comprehend such a gift, “that cost more than your Porsche!   That’s a two hundred thousand dollar car
easy.”
    “What do you
care how much it costs?” Sal shot back.   “And of course it cost more.   It’s
a classy car for a classy lady.”
    Gemma smiled
and shook her head.   “That’s so sweet,
Sal.”
    “Nothing but
the best for my baby,” Sal said, and pointed his fork at her.   “Don’t you forget that.”
    “I won’t.”
    “So we’ll go
look at it.   If you like it, then it’s
yours.   If you don’t, then you keep driving
my Porsche and we keep looking.   I don’t
do cheap, and you aren’t doing it either.   We work too damn hard.”
      Especially Sal, Gemma thought, as her heart
swelled with emotion.   She used to