Tory felt distracted as they moved from shop to shop. They stopped for coffee and Tory still hadn't found anything that reminded her of Lee."It doesn't have to be today. We'll find something to put on your mantle.""You want to be on my mantle?" She joked.He reached out and took her hand. "I'd like to be among the things that you find precious." Tory moved her fingers, intertwining them with his. "You already are," she whispered.He kissed her fingers lightly and his rough growth of stubble tickled the back of her fingers. He had neglected his morning shave and the result was a rugged sexy look that kept her eyes glued to his face. She reached out and rubbed his cheek."So..." He said. "Are you getting tired of shopping? We can go back to my place and relax until dinner...?""Relax. Okay, I like to relax," she said breathlessly.He retrieved his cell phone. "We're going to take a cab this time."While they rode the short distance to his place, Tory leaned in and whispered to

They reached a brownstone building. Several little kids that had been playing on the stoop ran up to them."Hi Uncle Lee!" They crashed in to him, from the youngest that looked no older than three to the eldest that was as tall as Tory. He seemed to be prepared for the tackle and accommodated each of them with hugs. She even got a hug from the three year old and that put a happy smile on her face. The children were gorgeous, some pudgy, some stick thin and all happy to see their Uncle."Hey guys, don't knock over my girlfriend.""Sorry, Ma'am." One of the smaller ones said solemnly while watching her with big light brown eyes."I don't mind being bowled over, as long as it's with hugs and kisses." She hadn't realized that it was an invitation but suddenly she was swarmed by little bodies as well. Lee laughed merrily and rescued her by picking up two of the smallest ones who giggled happily.Someone darted up the stairs of the building and Tory could hear the distant voice shouting

"Uncle Lee, Tory is here." A boy about sixteen said. Lee turned in his seat and held out his hand from where he was sitting on the couch. "Hey, querida. Welcome back." Paulo stood and moved to the chair, allowing her room to sit next to Lee. She smiled her thanks to him. Lee pulled Tory into his arms snuggling with her and she passed him the beer."Cerveja for you, honey." She said."Where's my wife with my cerveja?" Paulo asked playfully."Last I checked she was carving the biggest leg of lamb ever known to man."Rafael winked at her. They were a playful, winking family. "We're going to have to trade our wives in for new ones like you, Tory.""I heard that!" The woman that had taught her to make the aletria was suddenly in the doorway holding several beers. "For that I take these right back to the kitchen-"There were several protests and she pretended to relent, and walked around the room passing out the beers to the adults, slapping the hand of the 16 year old when he reache

The next day she could have lingered but she got up, dressed and after kissing and hugging Lee goodbye, Tory went to the bus stop so that she could go home. That evening after she'd finished cleaning her apartment and doing the laundry her phone rang and it was Lee explaining how much he missed her. He'd gone to the grocers with one of his sisters and had gotten his shopping done and now he was thinking about her dancing."Oh. I got you a present. I'll give it to you tomorrow on the bus." He said."A present? You found something for the mantle?""No. This present you aren't going to want to keep on the mantle...maybe a little closer to your person.""So...are you going to give it to me on the bus?"He sighed. "Tory, you know what you do to me when you talk dirty...But if I could give IT to you on the bus, I most certainly would. But the present I have for you—now that I can manage on the bus."They talked for almost an hour and then she showered and put on pajama bottoms and a te

"It's Monday. The Jewel is going to be serving seafood cataplana today," Lee said later that evening. Cataplana is what they called paella. Tory had intended to head straight back to the apartment. She was a little tired. Mondays were always rough because she hated leaving behind their lovefest weekends for the reality of the real world. Mmmm but the cataplana at the Jewel of the Azores was the best thing in the world. And it also meant that she wouldn't have to cook. Tory had gained a renewed love for cooking since being introduced to the das Torres family. Their lives revolved around food, which is the reason that even though she had dropped several pounds she was destined to remain a 'big girl.'"Mmm that sounds good, baby. Let's do that." They had to search for parking. The Jewel had been featured in the city newspaper and now reservations were a must—well at least for anyone other than family. One of the nephews had designed a website and the traffic there was unbelievable. Ther