Читать книгу Ultimate Romance Collection - Rebecca Winters, Amalie Berlin - Страница 89
ОглавлениеTHE MORNING OF the day before the grand opening, Gemma worked with her team as they prepared everything. While she was supervising the tiramisu desserts, Cesare walked in the kitchen and came over to her.
“Per favore, will you stop what you’re doing and come out in the hall? This will only take a minute.”
“Of course.” She washed her hands and wiped them on her apron as she hurried after him. Once through the doors she came to a full stop. Paolo!
Cesare said, “I understand you two know each other.”
“Yes. It’s good to see you, Paolo.”
He gave her a slight nod. “I understand you’re Signora Gagliardi now. I get why it didn’t work out for us. The Duca di Lombardi was the man you could never forget.”
“You’re right.”
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you.”
“Buon Appetito magazine has sent me out to cover the grand opening of the restaurant tomorrow and write up my opinion. Knowing that you’re the new executive pastry chef has blown me away. Signor Donati told me I could say hello to you if I waited out here. I realize how busy you must be, so I won’t keep you. Buona fortuna, Gemma.”
She felt his sincerity, though that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be brutal if her food didn’t measure up to his idea of five-star dining. “To you, too, Paolo. Grazie.”
Two mornings later
While Gemma lay wrapped in her husband’s arms, both still exhausted from all the work of the grand opening, she heard a knock.
“Vincenzo, get up and see what I’ve slipped under your door.”
At the sound of Cesare’s voice, both of them came awake. The reviews!
“Grazie!”
“Stay there, caro.” Gemma bounded out of bed first and grabbed her husband’s robe to put on. Half a dozen computer printouts had been pushed through. She reached for them and ran back to the bed.
By now Vincenzo was fully awake. He threw his arm around her shoulders while they read the glowing reviews. Then his cell phone rang. He saw the caller ID and picked up, holding the phone so Gemma could hear, too.
“Dimi?”
“Have you read everything yet?” His cousin sounded ecstatic.
“Almost.”
“Our cup has run over today.”
“I agree.”
“I’m bringing Filippa to the castello with me later on today and we’ll celebrate.”
“That sounds perfect. Ciao.”
He hung up and they began to read Paolo’s article.
A new star is born in Lombardi!
Ring out the bells for the Castello Supremo Hotel and Ristorante di Lombardi. From its hundred-years-old ducal past has emerged a triumph of divine ambience and cuisine so exquisite to the palate, this critic can’t find enough superlatives. One could live forever on the slow-cooked boeuf bourguignon and the sfogliatelli Mirella dessert alone. This critic thought he’d died and gone to heaven.
It deserves six stars. Bravo!
Gemma put it down and threw her arms around Vincenzo’s neck. “You and Dimi and your partners did it, amante! You did it!” She broke down crying for joy.
“We all did it, including your wonderful mamma.”
“Was it your idea to name the dessert after her?”
He studied her features before kissing her passionately. “It was Cesare’s. An Italian loves his mother. After hearing your story, he knew your mamma deserved the credit on the souvenir menu commemorating the opening.”
“That’s so sweet of him. When Mamma sees this, she’ll die.”
“I have a better idea. Let’s frame it, along with a menu, and give them to her for a special present. Cesare was touched that you loved your mother so much you talked about her on your application. I already know how sweet you are.
“The day you came running outside with the lemon ricotta cheesecake she made for my birthday, you ran straight into my heart and never left. You’ll always be there. Ti amo, Signora Gagliardi.”
“Ti amo, Your Highness.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“It’s the highest honor I can give you, Vincenzo. You’re the greatest Gagliardi of them all.”
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