Previous Chapter: He planted another kiss on my lips to keep me from speaking further, "Please don't. At least let me take care of you tonight. If you decide that it's not going to work out after tonight then we'll find a compromising solution. Ok?"

I nodded silently. He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly to his body.

My stomach made an awful noise causing Joe to pull away from me. "Let's feed that beast of yours," he chuckled getting to his feet.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him back down onto the bed and wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him an appreciative kiss.

"Thank you for caring about me," I smiled.

"I wouldn't be able to not care even if I wanted to, Cupcake," he kissed my nose.

CHAPTER 14

The sun beamed down on me through the open window. I forced my eyes open and stretched my arms above my head and took in the view of a pair of jeans that was hugging a pair of nicely toned butt cheeks.

I smiled as I tried to untangle myself from the sheets but was stopped by Joe pushing me back down into bed. "Cupcake, stay. It's still early. I have an early meeting which shouldn't be more than an hour and I'll come back to take you back to your apartment," he kissed my earlobe.

"Mmm…" I moaned. "Ok."

"Good," he smiled. "I put out a towel out for you in the bathroom. Make yourself at home. I fed and walked Bob already so you don't need to worry about him. I'll be back soon," he kissed the top of my head.

I grabbed his shirt and pulled him back down into the bed as he pulled away. Rolling him onto his back, I straddled him and smiled. "Are you sure you have to go at this moment?" I asked coyly.

"Cupcake," he flipped me to my back pinning me down and spreading my legs. "If it wasn't for this damn meeting, I would devour you right now," he scowled running his hand up my thigh.

I giggled, "You better go then before you end up being late."

He growled, "You drive me fucking insane." He grinded up against me and kissed me hungrily before reluctantly pulling away.

I heard the door slam behind him. I planted a ridiculous grin on my face and pressed my face into his pillow and took a deep breath. So is this what domestic bliss is supposed to feel like? Because I think I could get used to it.

I got up and pulled on one of Joe's button down shirts and headed downstairs for some much needed coffee when a knock came from the front door. I smiled pulling the door open, "Did you forget your keys—"

I stopped short at the sight of two pristinely dressed elderly women standing in front of me.

"Who are you?" the middle-aged woman demanded. "Where's my Joseph?"

"H-he just left for work," I stuttered.

"Are you going to let us in or you going to stand in the doorway so that the whole neighborhood can see your unbecoming state?" the older woman barked.

"I-I'm so sorry. Please come in," I stepped aside suddenly feeling incredibly naked.

"Y-you must be Joe's mother and grandmother?" I deduced.

"You know who we are but you still haven't answered the question as to who you are and why you're standing half naked in my son's living room."

"I-I apologize. My name is Alyssa Chau," I stuck my hand out towards Joe's mother.

She looked at my hand as if it was a serpent's tentacle.

"I'm a — friend of Joe's," I said slowly pulling my hand back and nervously ran my fingers through my hair.

"That awful bombing bounty hunter that's constantly in the news? And didn't you recently kill someone?" Joe's mom gaped.

"I-I didn't kill anyone! He was trying to kill me," I protested.

"What kind of girl would stay in a man's home half naked when she's not married to him," Joe's grandmother sneered. "He hasn't even introduced you much less mentioned you to his own family."

I felt a soft stab in my heart realizing that Joe's never once mentioned me to his family. He doesn't like to show his affection in public but it's probably just because it's too early for us to really delve into anything too committal or serious.

"Joe and I have only really known each other for a little over a month."

"Our Joseph was probably too embarrassed to mention his involvement with an amateur Bounty Hunter that makes him look bad in front of the rest of the police force. And to top the icing on the cake, she's an oriental."

"Excuse me?" my ears quirked.

"You heard me. You're a no good oriental. My Joseph is to marry a nice young Catholic Italian girl. Look at you. You're not even fit to bear a Morelli child. How do you expect to give birth with hips like those," she said pinching my bottom.

I jumped back defensively. "First of all, I am not a rug," I replied sternly to the "oriental" remark. "Secondly, I'm not anywhere close to having children with Joe at this time in our relationship."

"Relationship?" Joe's mother cried out fanning herself with her hand.

I hope I wasn't overstepping labeling the fact that Joe and I were in some sort of relationship. But I wasn't in my right mind to be thinking politically correct ways to address what we currently had.

"Mrs. Morelli, as I stated earlier, Joe has just left for work. Would you like me to relay a message to him for you? It would be my absolute pleasure," I said as politely as I could to keep myself from ripping into the old ladies. I'm not one to be disrespectful to my elders but these women knew nothing about me and the hateful things they were spewing was enough to make me forget my manners.

"What would your parents think of you whoring yourself around the way you are?" Joe's grandmother accused.

"I wouldn't know, ma'am, both of my parents are dead," I replied without blinking.

She clutched her chest dramatically, "You're an orphan girl with no foundation. It's obvious now why you are a girl with no morals or manners."

I bit back my rage and maintained my composure, "I was invited here by Joe and was asked to be here, and if you don't mind, I need to get ready to start my day. I will be sure to let Joe know that you've so kindly stopped by to check up on him," I opened the door.

"Well, I never!" Joe's mother expressed as she stepped out the door.

Joe's grandmother stopped in front of me before she left. "You watch your back, China Girl, or I will put the eye on you," she pointed to her eye before stepping out of the door.

I slammed the door and ran for the phone. "Misty, where are you?"

"On my way to work, you ok?"

I sniffed, "I'm at Joe's do you think you can pick me up?"

"Of course! What did the asshole do?"

"He didn't do anything. He drove me here yesterday after lunch at Pino's so I don't have my car. I just want to go home right now."

"Give me the address and I'll be there in ten."

"1920 Slaters Lane."

Click.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Shit, Alyssa. I don't envy you. Angie Morelli is the definition of the 'Burg housewife.' She does everything to perfection and Joe is her youngest so you know she has nothing but high expectations for him. So, hell hath no fury if you cross paths with her and her Joseph. As for his Grandma Bella, she's a kook. I've heard about the eye, but fortunately, I've never been on the receiving end of it. Rumor has it that she can see glimpses of the future and place curses on you with the eye.

"Rumor has it that she put the eye on Bob 'the butcher' because he sold the last of his prime cut steaks to the customer before her and all of his hair fell out within the week. You know I usually don't believe in that kind of crap but Grandma Bella is one scary broad."

"Thanks, Mis. You've made me feel so much better," I replied sarcastically.

"Just telling you like it is. Wouldn't want you to accidentally piss her off or anything, but what those two said to you was definitely uncalled for. Just give me the word, eye or no eye, I'll help you kick their sorry asses. Nobody treats my girl like that."

I smiled at my friend, "Thanks, Misty."

"Anyways, there's no way that you are going to be alone today to wallow in your sorrows so I'm going to spend the day with you!"

"But don't you have to get to the office?"

"Nope. I told them I'd be out at meetings all day, so I'm all yours."

I rolled my eyes, "But Misty, I have to work today. My bills don't pay themselves."

"Even better. I'll be your backup today and I'll get to see you in action! Also, we can swing by Comstock to talk to Lula. I have a feeling she knew who the hair lady was but with all of the commotion I never got to talk to her about it."

Knowing Misty, once she's got her mind set on something there's no way of changing her mind. So there was no point for me to even fight it.

"Fine but we'll have to pick up my car because there's no way we can pick up skips in yours."

"Roger that, Boss."

Sorry for the short chapter. Couldn't find a better place to break at. I'll post more tmw. -Angie