Читать книгу The Vineyards Of Calanetti - Rebecca Winters - Страница 40
ОглавлениеWAS HE PREPARED for that?
What the hell kind of question was that for her to ask?
He caught her arm when she turned to walk away. “Of course, I’m prepared for that! Good God, woman, I drove to Rome to bring you back.”
She shook her head with an enigmatic laugh. “Okay. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He rolled his eyes heavenward. Women. Who could figure them out? “I am warned.” He motioned to the door. “Come. I’ll drive you back to Louisa’s.”
But by the time they reached Louisa’s villa and he drove back to his condo to change for work, her strange statement had rattled around in his head and made him crazy. Was he prepared for her staying? Idiocy. He’d all but made her a partner in his business. He wanted her to stay.
He changed his clothes and headed to Mancini’s. Walking into the kitchen, he tried to shove her words out of his head but they wouldn’t go—until he found the staff in unexpectedly good spirits. Then his focus fell to their silly grins.
“What’s going on?”
Emory turned from the prep table. “Have you seen today’s issue of Tuscany Review?”
In all the confusion over Daniella, he’d forgotten that today was the day the tourist magazine came out. He snatched it from Emory’s hands.
“Page twenty-nine.”
He flicked through the pages, getting to the one he wanted, and there was a picture of Dani. So many tourists had snapped pictures that someone from the magazine could have come in and taken this one without anyone in the restaurant paying any mind.
He read the headline. “Mancini’s gets a fresh start.”
“Read the whole article. It’s fantastic.”
As he began to skim the words, Emory said, “There’s mention of the new hostess being pretty and personable.”
Rafe inclined his head. “She is both.”
“And mention of your food without mention of your temper.”
His gaze jerked up to Emory. “No kidding.”
“No kidding. It’s as if your temper didn’t exist.”
He pressed the magazine to his chest. “Thank God I went to Rome and brought her back.”
Daniella pushed open the door. Dressed in a sheath the color of ripe apricots, she smiled as she walked toward Rafe and Emory. “I heard something about a magazine.”
Rafe silently handed it to her.
She glanced down and laughed. “Well, look at me.”
“Yes. Look at you.” He wanted to pull her close and hug her, but he crossed his arms on his chest. The very fact that he wanted to hug her was proof he needed to keep his distance. Even forgetting about the fiancé she had back home, she needed security enough that he wouldn’t tempt her away from finding it. Her staying had to be about Mancini’s and her desire for a place, a home. He had to make sure she got what she wanted out of this deal—without breaking her heart. Because if he broke her heart, she’d leave. And everything they’d accomplished up to now would have been for nothing.
“You realize that even if every chef and busboy cycles out, and every waitress quits after university, Emory and I will always be here.”
Emory grinned at Daniella. Rafe nudged him. “Stop behaving like one of the Three Stooges. This is serious for her.”
She looked up from the magazine with a smile for Rafe. “Yes. I know you will always be here.” Her smile grew. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe that’s part of the problem?”
With that she walked out of the kitchen and Rafe shook his head.
“She talks in riddles.” But deep down he knew what was happening. He’d told her they’d never become lovers. She had feelings for him. Hell, he had feelings for her, but he intended to fight them. He’d told her anything between them was wrong, so she had to be sure she could work with him knowing there’d never be anything between them.
And maybe that’s what she meant about being prepared.
Lately, it seemed he was fighting his feelings as much as she was fighting hers.
* * *
Two nights later, as the dinner service began to slow down, Rafe stepped out into the dining room to see his friend Nico walking into Mancini’s. Nico’s eyes lit when he saw Dani standing at the podium.
“Look at you!” He took her hand and gave her a little twirl to let her show off another pretty blue dress that hugged her figure.
Jealousy rippled through Rafe, but he squelched it. He put her needs ahead of his because that served Mancini’s needs. It was a litany he repeated at least four times a day. After her comment about him being part of the reason her decision was so difficult, he’d known he had to get himself in line or lose her.
As he walked out of the kitchen, he heard Nico say, “Rafe tells me you’re working out marvelously.”
She smiled sheepishly. “I can’t imagine anyone not loving working here.”
Rafe sucked in a happy breath. She loved working at Mancini’s. He knew that, of course, but it was good to hear her say it. It felt normal to hear her say it. As if she knew she belonged here. Clearly, keeping his distance the past two days had worked. Mancini’s was warm and happy. The way he’d always envisioned it.
“We don’t have reservations,” Nico said when Dani glanced at the computer screen.
She smiled. “No worries. The night’s winding down. We have plenty of space.”
Seeing him approach, Nico said, “And here’s the chef now.”
“Nico!” Rafe grabbed him and gave him a bear hug. “What brings you here?”
“I saw your ravioli on Instagram and decided I had to try it.”
“Bah! Damned trust-fund babies. I should—” He stopped suddenly. Half-hidden behind Nico was Marianna Amatucci, Nico’s sister, who’d been traveling for the past year. Short with wild curly hair and honey skin, she was the picture of a natural Italian beauty.
“Marianna!” He nudged Nico out of the way and hugged her, too, lifting her up to swing her around. Rafe hadn’t even seen her to say hello in months. Having her here put another piece of normalcy back in his life.
She giggled when he plopped her to the floor again.
“Daniella,” he said, one hand around Marianna’s waist, the other clasped on Nico’s shoulder. “These are my friends. Nico and his baby sister, Marianna. They get the best table in the house.”
She smiled her understanding, grabbed two menus and led Nico and Marianna into the dining room. “This way.”
Rafe stopped her. “Not there. I want them by my kitchen.” He took the menus from her hands. “I want to spoil them.”
Nico chuckled and caught Dani’s gaze. “What he really means is use us for guinea pigs.”
She laughed, her gaze meeting Nico’s and her cheeks turning pink.
An unexpected thought exploded in Rafe’s brain. He’d told Dani he wanted nothing romantic between them. Her fiancé was a dud. Nico was a good-looking man. And Dani was a beautiful, personable woman. If she stayed, at some point, Dani and Nico could become lovers.
His gut tightened.
Still, shouldn’t he be glad if Nico was interested in Daniella and that interest caused her to stay?
Of course he should. What he wanted from Daniella was a face for his business. If Nico could help get her to stay, then Rafe should help him woo her.
“You are lucky the night is nearly over,” Rafe said as he pulled out Marianna’s chair. He handed the menus to them both.
Smiling warmly at Nico, Dani said, “Can I take your drink orders?”
Nico put his elbow on the table and his chin on his fist as he contemplated Daniella, as if she were a puzzle he was trying to figure out.
Thinking of Dani and Nico together was one thing. Seeing his friend’s eyes on her was quite another. The horrible black syrup of jealously poured through Rafe’s veins like hot wax.
Unable to endure it, he waved Daniella away. “Go. I will take his drink order. You’re needed at the door. The night isn’t quite over yet.”
She gave Nico one last smile and headed to her post.
Happier with her away from Nico, Rafe listened to his friend’s wine choice.
Marianna said, “Just water for me.”
Rafe gaped at her. “You need wine.”
She shook her head. “I need water.”
Rafe’s jaw dropped. “You cannot be an Italian and refuse wine with dinner.”
Nico waved a hand. “It’s not a big deal. She’s been weird ever since she came home. Just bring her the water.”
Rafe called Allegra over so she could get Nico’s wine from the bar and Marianna’s water. All the while, Dani walked customers from the podium, past Nico, who would watch her amble by.
Rafe sucked in a breath, not understanding the feelings rumbling through him. He wanted Daniella to stay. Nico might give her a reason to do just that. He could not romance her himself. Yet he couldn’t bear to have his friend even look at her?
“Give me ten minutes and I will make you the happiest man alive.”
Nico laughed, his eyes on Daniella. “I sincerely doubt you can do that with food.”
Jealousy sputtered through Rafe again. “Get your mind out of the gutter and off my hostess!”
Nico’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you staking a claim?”
Rafe’s chest froze and he couldn’t speak. But Marianna shook her head. “Men. Does it always have to be about sex with you?”
Nico laughed.
Rafe spun away, rushing into the kitchen, angry with Nico but angrier with himself. He should celebrate Nico potentially being a reason for Daniella to stay. Instead, he was filled with blistering-hot rage. Toward his friend. It was insane.
To make up for his unwanted anger, he put together the best meals he’d ever created. Unfortunately, it didn’t take ten minutes. It took forty.
Allegra took out antipasto and soups while he worked. When he returned to the dining room, there were no more people at the door. All customers had been seated. Tables that emptied weren’t being refilled. Anticipating going home, the busboys cheerfully cleared away dishes.
And Dani sat with Nico and Marianna.
Forcing himself to be friendly—happy—Rafe set the plates of food in front of Nico and his sister.
Marianna said, “Oh, that smells heavenly.”
Nico nodded. “Impressive, Rafe.”
Dani inhaled deeply. “Mmm...”
Nico grinned, scooped up some pasta and offered it to Dani. “Would you like a bite?”
“Oh, I’d love a bite!”
Nico smiled.
Unwanted jealousy and an odd proprietary instinct rushed through Rafe. Before Daniella could take the bite Nico offered, Rafe grabbed the back of her chair and yanked her away from the table.
“I want her to eat that meal later tonight.”
Nico laughed. “Really? What is this? A special occasion?”
Rafe knew Nico meant that as a joke, but he suddenly felt like an idiot as if Nico had caught his jealousy. He straightened to his full six-foot height. “Not a special occasion, part of the process. She’s eaten bits of food to get our flavor, but tonight I had planned on treating her to an entire dinner.”
Dani turned around on her chair to catch his gaze. “Really?”
Oh, Lord.
Something soft and earthy trembled through him, replacing his jealousy and feelings of being caught, as if they had never existed. Trapped in the gaze of her blue eyes, he quietly said, “Yes.”
She rose, putting them face-to-face. “A private dinner?”
He shrugged, but everything male inside him shimmered. After days of only working together, being on his best behavior, he couldn’t deny how badly he wanted time alone with her. He didn’t want Nico to woo her. He wanted to woo her.
“Yes. A private dinner.”
She smiled.
His breath froze. She was happy to be alone with him? He’d warned her...yet she still wanted to be alone with him? And what of her fiancé?
He pivoted and returned to the kitchen, not sure what he was doing. But as he worked, he slowed his pace. He rejected ravioli, spaghetti Bolognese. Both were too simple. Too common—
If he was going to feed her an entire meal, it would be his best. Pride the likes of which he’d never felt before rose in him. Only the best for his Dani.
He stopped, his finger poised above a pot, ready to sprinkle a pinch of salt.
His Dani?
He squeezed his eyes shut. Dear God. This wasn’t just an attraction. He was head over heels crazy for her.
* * *
Dani alternated between standing nervously by the podium and sitting with Nico and Marianna.
The dining room had all but emptied, yet she couldn’t seem to settle. Her fluttery stomach had her wondering if she’d even be able to eat what Rafe prepared for her.
A private dinner.
She had no idea what it meant, but when he emerged from the kitchen and walked to Nico’s table, her breath stalled. He’d removed his smock and stood before the Amatuccis in dark trousers and a white T-shirt that outlined his taut stomach. Tight cotton sleeves rimmed impressive biceps and Dani saw a tattoo she’d never noticed before.
“I trust you enjoyed your dinners.”
Nico blotted his mouth with a napkin, then said, “Rafe, you truly are gifted.”
Rafe bowed graciously.
“And, Marianna.” When Rafe turned to see her half-eaten meal, he frowned. “Why you not eat?”
She smiled slightly. “You give everyone enough to feed an army. Half was plenty.”
“You’ll take the rest home?”
She nodded and Rafe motioned for Allegra to get her plate and put her food in a take-out container.
Rafe chatted with Nico, calmly, much more calmly than Dani felt, but the second Allegra returned with the take-out container, Marianna jumped from her seat.
“I need to get home. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight, but I’m exhausted.”
Nico rose, too. “It is late. Dinner was something of an afterthought. I promised Marianna I’d get her back at a decent hour. But I knew you’d want to see her after her year away, Rafe.”
Rafe kissed her hand. “Absolutely. I’m just sorry she’s too tired for us to catch up.”
Dani frowned. Nico’s little sister didn’t look tired. She looked pale. Biting her lower lip, Dani realized she’d only known one other person who’d looked that way—
Rafe waved her over. “Say good-night to Nico and his sister.”
Keeping her observations to herself, Dani smiled. “Good night, Marianna.”
Marianna returned her smile. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of you since Nico loves Rafe’s food.”
Nico laughed, took both her hands and kissed them. “Good night, Daniella. Tell your roomie I said hello.”
Daniella’s face reddened. Louisa had been the topic of most of Nico’s questions when she’d sat with him and his sister, but there was no way in hell she’d tell Louisa Nico had mentioned her. Still, she smiled. Every time she talked to Nico, she liked him more. Which only made Louisa’s dislike all the more curious.
“Good night, Nico.”
After helping Marianna with her coat, Rafe walked his friends to their car. Dani busied herself helping the waitresses finish dining room cleanup. She didn’t see Rafe return, but when a half hour went by, she assumed he’d come in through the back door to the kitchen.
Of course, he could be talking to beautiful Marianna. She might be with her brother, but that brother was a friend of Rafe’s. And Nico had said he wanted to bring Marianna to Mancini’s because he knew Rafe would want to see her. They probably had all kinds of stories to reminisce about. Marianna might be too young to have been his first kiss, his first love, but she was an adult now. A beautiful woman.
Realizing how possible it was that Rafe might be interested in Marianna, Dani swayed, but she quickly calmed herself. If she decided to stay, watching him with other women would be part of her life. She had to get used to this. She had to get accustomed to seeing him flirt, seeing beautiful women like Marianna look at him with interest.
She tossed a chair to the table with a little more force than was necessary.
Gio frowned. “Are you okay?”
She smiled. “Yes. Perfect.”
“If you’re not okay, Allegra and I can finish.”
“I’m fine.” She forced her smile to grow bigger. “Just eager to be done for the night.”
As they finished the dining room, Rafe walked out of the kitchen to the bar. He got a bottle of wine and two glasses. As their private dinner became a reality, Dani’s stomach tightened.
She squeezed her eyes shut, scolding herself. The dinner might be private for no other reason than the restaurant would be closed. Rafe probably didn’t want to be alone with her as much as he wanted her to eat a meal, as hostess, so she could get the real experience of dining at Mancini’s.
The waitresses left. The kitchen light went out, indicating Emory and his staff had gone.
Only she and Rafe remained.
He faced her, pointed at a chair. “Sit.”
Okay. That was about as far from romantic as a man could get. This “private” dinner wasn’t about the two of them having time together. It was about a chef who wanted his hostess to know his food.
She walked over, noticing again how his tight T-shirt accented a strong chest and his neat-as-a-pin trousers gave him a professional look. But as she got closer, Louisa’s high, high heels clicking on the tile floor, she saw his gaze skim the apricot dress. His eyes warmed with interest. His lips lifted into a slow smile.
And her stomach fell to the floor. This was why she’d never quite been able to talk herself out of her attraction to him. He was every bit as attracted to her. He might try to hide it. He might fight it tooth and nail. But he liked her as more than an employee.
She reached the chair. He pulled it out, offering the seat to her.
As she sat, her back met his hands still on the chair. Rivers of tingles flowed from the spot where they touched. Her breath shuddered in and stuttered out. Nerves filled her.
He stepped away. “We’re skipping soup and salad, since it’s late.” All business, he sat on the chair next to hers. He lifted the metal cover first from her plate, then his own. “I present beef brasato with pappardelle and mint.”
When the scent hit her, her mouth watered. All thoughts of attraction fled as her stomach rumbled greedily. She closed her eyes and savored the aroma.
“You like?”
Unable to help herself, she caught his gaze. “I’m amazed.”
“Wait till you taste.”
He smiled encouragingly. She picked up her fork, filled it with pasta and slid it into her mouth. Knowing he’d made this just for her, the ritual seemed very decadent, very sensual. Their eyes met as flavor exploded on her tongue.
“Oh, God.”
He grinned. “Is good?”
“You know you don’t even have to ask.”
He sat back with a laugh. “I was top of my class. I trained both in Europe and the United States so I could ascertain the key to satisfying both palates.” He smiled slowly. “I am a master.”
She sliced off a bit of the beef. It was so good she had to hold back a groan. “No argument here.”
“Wait till you taste my tiramisu.”
“No salad but you made dessert?”
He leaned in, studied her. “Are you watching your weight?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Then prepare to be taken to a world of decadence.”
She laughed, expecting him to pick up his fork and eat his own meal. Instead, he stayed perfectly still, his warm eyes on her.
“You like it when people go bananas over your food.”
“Of course.”
But that wasn’t why he was studying her. There was a huge difference between pride in one’s work and curiosity about an attraction and she knew that curiosity when she saw it.
She put down her fork, caught in his gaze, the moment. “What are we really doing here, Rafe?”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
“You aren’t staring at me like someone who wants to make sure I like his food.”
“You are beautiful.”
Her heart shivered. Her eyes clung to his. She wanted him to have said that because he liked her, because he was ready to do something about it. But a romance between them would be a disaster. She’d be hurt. She’d have to leave Monte Calanetti. She could not take anything he said romantically.
Forking another bite of food, she casually said, “Beauty doesn’t pay the rent.”
His voice a mere whisper, he said, “Why do you tease me?”
Her face fell. “I don’t tease you!”
“Of course, you do. Every day you dress more beautifully, but you don’t talk to me.”
“I’m smart enough to stay away when a guy warns me off.”
“Yet you tell me I must be prepared for you to stay.”
“Because you...” Like me. She almost said it. But his admitting he liked her would be nothing but trouble. He might like her in the moment, but he wouldn’t like her forever. It was stupid to even have that discussion.
She steered them away from it. “Because if I stay, no more firing me. You’re getting me permanently.”
“You keep saying that as if I should be afraid.” He slid his arm to the back of her chair. His fingers rose to toy with the blunt line of her chin-length hair. “But your staying is not a bad thing.”
The wash of awareness roaring through her disagreed. If she fell in love with him, her staying would be a very bad thing. His touching her did not help matters. With his fingers brushing her hair, tickling her nape, she couldn’t move...could barely breathe.
His hand shifted from her hairline and wrapped around the back of her neck so he could pull her closer. She told herself to resist. To be smart. But something in his eyes wouldn’t let her. As she drew nearer, he leaned in. Their gazes held until his lips met hers, then her eyelids dropped. Her breathing stopped.
Warm and sweet, his lips brushed her, and she knew why she hadn’t resisted. She so rarely got what she wanted in life that when tempted she couldn’t say no. It might be wrong to want him, but she did.
His hand slid from her neck to her back, twisting her to sit sideways on her chair. Her arms lifted slowly, her hands hesitantly went to his shoulders. Then he deepened the kiss and her mind went blank.
It wasn’t so much the physical sensations that robbed her of thought but the fact that he kissed her. He finally, finally kissed her the way he had the night he’d walked her to her car.
When he thought she was free.
When he wanted there to be something between them.
The kiss went on and on. Her senses combined to create a flood of need so strong that something unexpected suddenly became clear. She was already in love with Rafe. She didn’t have to worry that someday she might fall in love. Innocent and needy as she was, she had genuinely fallen in love—
And he was nowhere near in love with her.
He was strong and stubborn, set in his ways. He said he didn’t do relationships. He said he didn’t have time. He’d told her he hurt women. And if he hurt her, she’d never be able to work for him.
Did she want to risk this job for a fling?
To risk her new friends?
Did she want to be hurt?
Hadn’t she been hurt, rejected enough in her life already?
She jerked away from him.
He pulled away slowly and ran his hand across his forehead. “Oh, my God. I am so sorry.”
“Sorry?” She was steeped in desire sprinkled with a healthy dose of fear, so his apology didn’t quite penetrate.
“I told you before. I do not steal other men’s women.”
“Oh.” She squeezed her eyes shut. Paul was such a done deal for her that she’d taken him out of the equation. But Rafe didn’t know that. For a second she debated keeping up the charade, if only to protect herself. But they had hit the point where that wasn’t fair. She couldn’t let Rafe go on thinking he was romancing another man’s woman. Especially not when she had been such a willing participant.
She sucked in a breath, caught his gaze and quietly said, “I’m not engaged.”
Rafe sat up in his chair. “What?”
She felt her cheeks redden. “I’m not engaged.”
His face twisted with incredulity. “You lied?”
“No.” She bounced from her seat and paced away. “Not really. My boyfriend had asked me to marry him. I told him I needed time to think about it. I was leaving for Italy anyway—”
He interrupted her as if confused. “So your boyfriend asked you to marry him and you ran away?”
She swallowed. “No. I inherited the money for a plane ticket to come here to find Rosa’s relatives and I immediately tacked extra time onto my teaching tour. All that had been done before Paul proposed.”
“So his proposal was a stopgap measure.”
She frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Not able to keep you from going to Italy, he tied you to himself enough that you would feel guilty if you got involved with another man while you were away.” He caught her gaze. “But it didn’t work, did it?”
She closed her eyes. “No.”
“It shouldn’t have worked. It was a ploy. And you shouldn’t feel guilty about anything that happened while you were here since you’re really not engaged.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. I called him after we returned from Rome and officially rejected his proposal.”
“You told him no?”
She nodded. “And told him I might be staying in Italy.” She sucked in a breath. “He wished me luck.”
Rafe sat back in his chair. “And so you are free.” He combed his fingers through his hair. Laughed slightly.
The laugh kind of scared her. She’d taken away the one barrier she knew would protect her. All she had now to keep her from acting on her love for him was her willpower. Which she’d just proven wasn’t very strong.
“I should go.”
His gaze slowly met hers. “You haven’t finished eating.”
His soulful eyes held hers and her stomach jumped. Everything about him called to her on some level. He listened when she talked, appreciated her work at his restaurant...was blisteringly attracted to her.
What the hell would have happened if she hadn’t broken that kiss? What would happen if she stayed, finished her meal, let them have more private time? With Paul gone as protection, would he seduce her? And if she resisted...what would she say? Another lie? I don’t like you? I’m not interested? I don’t want to be hurt?
The last wasn’t a lie. And it would work. But she didn’t want to say it. She didn’t want to hear him tell her one more time that he couldn’t commit. She didn’t want this night to end on a rejection.
“I want to go home.”
His eyes on her, he rose slowly. “Let’s go, then. I will clean up in the morning.”
Finally breaking eye contact, she walked to the front of Mancini’s to get her coat. Her legs shook. Her breaths hurt. Not because she knew she was probably escaping making love, but because he really was going to hurt her one day.
