Chapter 7

Reba stared at this woman in shock. She couldn't believe Lexi. How could she ask that? "You want to know what?" Reba asked, wanting to make sure she had heard right.

Lexi gave her sickly sweet smile and pulled her check book out of her purse along with a very expensive looking ballpoint pen. She set the pen to the check book, ready to write down an amount. "I want to know how much money it will take to get you out of my son's life."

Reba kept her eyes wide. She had heard right. What was Lexi thinking? "No amount of money will make me leave Vic."

Lexi shook her head and simply started writing. "Look, I know you're type. You think you've found a quick way to get money by marrying rich but my son is way out of you're league. You are older, you have three kids, and you're a real estate agent. I think we both know that Vic would never be happy with you. Now here…" She said signing the check and sliding it across the table. "This should cover it. Now you can drop me off and then go talk to Vic about how you never want to see him again."

Reba glared at the woman and pushed the check back. "No!" she said firmly.

Lexi was starting to get angry and she pushed the check back to Reba. "Look at the amount. I am sure it will be enough to cover your expenses. Now don't be a fool. Take the **** money!"

Reba picked up the check but didn't look at the amount. She didn't need to. Lexi smiled, thinking Reba agreed but Reba held the check up and ripped it up before her eyes and threw it back at her. "I don't care the amount because I am not leaving Vic. I can't believe you can ask me that. I don't know what I did to you for you to hate me but I love Vic. Sure, the way we got together didn't exactly come from a fairy tale story book but what relationship is. Ours works and…"

Lexi scoffed. "Oh please, save me the big speech for someone who cares. I don't care if you love each other. You are not right for my son. A mother knows these things. I feel it best if you just step aside because I know your kind of woman. I don't want my son marrying a woman he hooked up with after one night of drinking!"

Reba sighed and sat back in her chair looking down at her hands. This woman just didn't get it. Vic and Reba loved each other. Why would she want to jeopardize that? But Reba guessed it all came back to what happened almost three months ago. Reba and Vic had a one night stand and yes it was a weird way for a couple to get together but Reba didn't care. She had waited six long years for someone like him to come her way and she wasn't about to let him go. She already let one man go because she wasn't willing to fight. She wasn't doing that a second time.

Reba looked up to the woman who was smiling, probably thinking she was getting to Reba but she wouldn't. Reba was not going to let Lexi ruin her wedding. Reba pulled money out of her purse and slapped it on the table. She stood up and then took one last look at Lexi. "I am going to tell you this once. Nothing is going to stop this wedding."

Lexi smiled and stood up, going toe to toe with Reba. "This wedding is not going to happen. Not if I have anything to say about it." She sighed and pulled her purse strap over her shoulder. "Don't bother driving me back to Vic's apartment. I can catch a cab."

Reba stood there stunned as she watched Lexi walk out of the deli and pull out her cell phone. This woman didn't scare her but the tone of her voice did. It was full of venom and it was cold. This woman truly hated her and didn't want her marrying Vic. Reba thought she could win her over but now she wasn't so sure. Lexi seemed determined to make this wedding not happen. Reba could only imagine what this woman had in store for her. Lexi was powerful and she did have money but Reba had Vic and she knew that had to be enough, she hoped.

Reba walked out of the deli to find that Lexi was gone. She walked to Vic's car and Reba finally let the tears fall onto her soft cheeks. She only wanted this woman to like her. She didn't do anything but according Lexi she stole her son after a one night stand. Reba wiped away the soft tears. She didn't need to get so emotional.

She started the car and quickly drove to the restaurant she had dropped Vic off at. She knew she wasn't supposed to pick him up but she needed to talk to him. She had just dropped him off a half hour ago and she knew she would have to wait a couple hours but she didn't care. This was necessary. Reba didn't know what to think of when it came to Lexi and maybe if she had a talk with Vic, he could shed some kind of light onto why she would hate her so bad.

Reba sat in the car for a good two and a half hours before she saw Vic walking out and shaking the hands of a man and seeing him off in his car. Reba opened the door and slowly approached Vic and the other man he was with. He was quite tall, much older, but still well built. From what Reba could see he had the same nose as Vic and the same green eyes. She guessed this was his father, Maxwell Mariano.

The older gentleman smiled when he saw her approach. "Can I help you ma'am?"

Reba was about to say something but Vic turned and he smiled wide when he saw her. "Honey!" he said giving Reba a sweet kiss on the cheek. "What are you doing here?" He suddenly looked very concerned when he saw the tear streaks on her cheeks. "What's wrong?"

Reba smiled and shook her head. His father was here, now wasn't the time to discuss it. "It's nothing."

Max smiled when Reba turned to him. "So you are the Reba I hear my son talk about non-stop." Reba held out her hand to shake his. He took it and bent his head to place a gentle kiss on top of it. Reba smiled and blushed just a bit. He held a firm grip on her hand and put his other on top of hers. "The way Vic described you he didn't do you justice."

Reba couldn't help but let out a girlish giggle. He was just as handsome as Vic and definitely a charmer. She now can see where Vic gets it. "All right…" Vic said stepping between his fiancée and his father, "That's enough dad."

Reba smiled and stepped beside Vic, slipping an arm in his. "It's very nice to meet you Mr. Mariano. Vic has told me a lot about you."

Max smiled sweetly again at Reba. "Please, call me Max and knowing what my son has probably told you, you probably don't think much about me."

Reba just smiled. From what Vic had told her, this man before her wasn't much of a man. He had treated Lexi like dirt and in turn forces his son to take over a company he never wanted to. She had never really seen him before but she has heard of him and his ruthless reputation. Reba wasn't sure what to think of him. At this moment he wasn't being ruthless so Reba figured she shouldn't be to quick to judge. "I think…" Reba said smiling, "I will judge for myself and right now you seem pretty nice to me."

Max gave a deep chuckle. "You must be a pretty nice lady to say that." Reba smiled. Max sighed and looked to his son. "I think I'll let you two love birds go. I have another meeting I need to get ready for this afternoon." He turned back to Reba and gave her a gorgeous smile. He took her hand gently into his. "It was pleasure to meet you." He kissed the back of her hand and gave her one final smile before stepping to his car door which was opened by a driver Reba had just noticed.

Reba turned to Vic when his father left the restaurant parking lot. "He was nice."

Vic scoffed. "Yeah, he is nice now but once you're in the family you better watch out. He may treat you nicely but me and my mother…" Reba frowned as they walked back to Vic's car. Vic opened the door for her on the passenger side and got in on the driver's side. Vic stopped and turned to Reba before he turned on the car. "I thought I told you I would take a cab." Vic's eyes widened when he remembered where she was and who she was with. "What happened?"

Reba shrugged. She wasn't so sure if she should tell him now. He held his mother in high regard and if she told him Lexi had tried to pay her off to leave him, he might either not believe her or he would believe her and she didn't want him to think any less of his mother. "We just had a disagreement." Reba said giving Vic a reassuring smile. "She had gone home in a cab."

Vic patted her leg in sympathy and then started the car. "I'm sorry. I should have gone with you two. Maybe I should have another talk with her."

Reba shook her head. "No, it's okay. There is no need to talk with her. It was just too soon. I went to fast with the whole lunch thing. I am sure we will eventually get along. We just need time. There is no need to worry." Vic nodded but Reba wasn't sure if he believed her. She wasn't sure if they would ever get along. It scared her, the way Lexi was so determined to see her not marry her son. It hurt that Lexi thought of her nothing but a gold digger. She wouldn't care if Vic didn't have a dime to his name. She would still love him. Reba really needed to think of something else. She needed to change the subject. "So…" she said smiling as they drove down the road toward her house. "What was it that Van talked about this morning with you?"

Vic chuckled and shook his head. "It was just about what he walked in on." Vic said smiling. Reba blushed and shook her head. She really didn't want her son-in-law to see her in such a compromising position. What if he had come in fifteen minutes later? Or even five minutes later? He definitely would have gotten an eye full of what was happening.

Reba smiled. "What exactly did he say?"

Vic shook his head. "It was rather awkward, just a bit anyway. He explained I needed to watch myself. He gave me a sort of man to man talk." Reba's eyes widened and Vic saw this. "Not that kind of man to man talk, he just explained that he knew we were engaged but I needed to learn to keep my hands to myself and away from places they shouldn't be." Reba giggled. "Then he said that if I hurt you in anyway he will proceed to break each one of my three legs."

Reba looked confused. "Three le…" Reba's eyes widened and couldn't help but giggle. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. Van is just…" Reba paused.

"Protective." Vic finished for her.

Reba smiled and shrugged. "I was going to say crazy but protective sounds better." Vic smiled as he turned into Reba's driveway. He parked the car and Reba leaned over once her seatbelt was off. "I will see you later." She said giving him a tender kiss on the lips. "Call me tonight."

Vic smiled and nodded. "I definitely will." Reba smiled and gave him one last sweet kiss before opening the door. "Umm…hey…" Vic said placing a gentle hand on Reba's arm. Reba turned and smiled. "There is something I need to discuss with you." Reba's mind went in many different directions. He seemed serious. What could it be? Vic saw the worried look in her eyes. "Don't worry, it's nothing too serious." He said assuring her. Reba relaxed a bit. "I found out today I have to go away for a while."

Reba frowned. "How long is a while?"

Vic cringed before replying, "A week."

Reba's eyes widened. "A week?"

Vic nodded. "I have to go to New York and then Los Angeles with my father to follow him as he makes a few deals. It's part of learning the business. I have to go."

Reba sighed and nodded. "When do you have to leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Reba eyes widened. "Tomorrow morning?"

Again, Vic nodded. "Yeah, I'm sorry but this is the life you will have to be faced with once we get married. I will have spur of the moment business trips. If you don't think you can handle it you should get out now." He said in a kidding tone of voice.

Reba smiled and leaned back against the seat. "I guess I will have to deal with it. I just wish you didn't have to leave."

Vic smiled and took her hand into his. "I wish I didn't have to leave either but I do." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand and she smiled at his loving gesture. "There is a reason I am telling you this. Not only because of the obvious but because I need you to do me a favor."

Reba smiled and nodded. "Anything."

"I need you to entertain my mother while I'm gone."

Reba still kept her smile. "How about I just take a pencil and jam it into my eye socket. That would be less painful."

Vic shook his head and sighed. "I know you and my mother had a disagreement but I think it will be good for the two of you to spend some time together. My mother isn't that bad once you get to know her. Trust me. Just think about it, okay."

Reba sighed. "I don't need to think about it." Reba really hated what she was about to do. "I will try to get along with your mother while you're gone and who knows…" Reba said with a smile. "Maybe when you get back we will be the best of friends." Reba said in the same fake enthusiastic voice as his mother used not too long ago when they picked Reba up for lunch.

Vic laughed and pulled her into a sweet kiss. He pulled away, holding her face still in his hands. "I love you so much. You are a very sweet lady and my mother will see that."

Reba smiled and kissed him back. "I love you too and I will miss you." Reba then made a frustrated face. "That means we have to wait another week to be together."

Vic then remembered that and groaned. "Right…" Vic sighed but then his eyes lit up and he turned to Reba. "You should come with me. We can have a week alone together. We can check out the honeymoon suite, try out the hot tub, the bed, the shower, the couch, the…"

Reba cut him off by placing a finger to his lips and giggling. "As tempting as that sounds I can't and you know it. I have to work and I can't leave my family on a day's notice. We will be fine and as soon as you get back…" Reba said smiling, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I will make sure we have some time alone and it will be worth your while and wait."

Vic smiled. "I will make sure to get business done and come home as soon as possible."

Reba smiled. "Good." She kissed him again and leaned her head against his. "I will definitely miss you. I mean you just got back from Italy two weeks ago and now you have to leave again."

Vic gave her a playful frown. "Don't worry, a week will go by fast and we will be together again."

Reba shrugged. "I can only hope it goes all right. I mean I do have to hang out with your mother."

Vic chuckled and kissed her forehead. "You will be fine."

Reba nodded. "You should go now. I am sure your mother will want to talk about the horrific lunch she had with me today." Reba sighed as Vic chuckled. "Don't believe a word she says."

Vic laughed and patted her hand. "Honey…" he said finally calming himself down.

Reba nodded. "I know, I know. I need to get along with her and it will happen. Don't worry." Reba said. "Now I really should go." She put one foot out of the car and she was pulled back by Vic and brought into a passionate kiss. Reba responded immediately. They broke away breathlessly and Reba smiled. "I hope that is able to last a week."

Vic nodded. "It should, now I really should go before I just throw caution to the wind and take you up to your room and just forget about anybody in that house."

Reba chuckled. "I really better go then because I think my family is in that house. I am sure they don't want to see or hear that." she said with a giggle.

Vic nodded. "Right, I will miss you." Reba nodded and finally got out of the car. "I'll call you tonight." He yelled out the window as she walked up to her door.

Reba sighed as she watched Vic leave her driveway. She blew him one last kiss before he drove down the street. He was leaving her for a week. He had to and she understood this was part of his job. She only hoped it wouldn't be too often once they were married. She hoped he didn't end up like his parents. His father seemed nice but she only met him for a few minutes and from what she understood from Vic, it was his father that caused the problems. Reba sighed and remembered that she had to entertain Vic's mom while he was away. She only hoped she didn't end up killing the woman.

End of Chapter