Authors: Brenda Grate
He turned around as though he’d known the whole time she had watched him. He gave another wave, a huge grin, and walked around the corner and out of sight.
Hmmm … that one’s trouble.
She hadn’t agreed to his terms, but figured that wouldn’t matter one whit to him. He had been smooth, but wasn’t that what she wanted?
Chapter 10
The phone rang just as Jen tossed her Corporate Law text book on the desk in disgust. She glared at it for a few seconds then grabbed her cell.
“Yes?”
“It’s Mom, Jen.”
Damn, I should have looked at the call display.
“I’m studying, Mother.”
“I’m sure you are, so I won’t keep you.”
Jen felt a tug of guilt, then anger. If her mother would stand up more, she wouldn’t always feel so guilty about how she treated her.
“What’s up?” Jen asked, trying to sound friendlier.
“I was wondering if you could use a break after your exams are done. Maybe you’d like to come to Greece with me?”
An image of impossibly white teeth in a dark face flashed in Jen’s mind.
“Greece? What are you talking about?”
“I’m going to see the little house your great-grandpa left me and I wondered if you’d like to come with me. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit Greece. I can wait until your exams are done.”
“But, what about …” Jen stopped, lost for words. She resented the excitement rising up in her. She should be studying, finishing her degree and then getting ready to take the bar exam. She needed to do well so she’d be picked up by a prestigious firm. Her stomach clenched and she clapped a hand over her mouth, afraid she was going to throw up.
“Jen?”
She dropped her hand slowly.
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll go.”
“Pardon? I can’t hear you.”
“Yes, Mother, I’ll go with you.”
“Really?”
“I said I would,” she snapped. “Now, I really need to go back to studying. Email me the details. I can leave in a few weeks. My exams are done by then.”
“That’s great.” Her mother was thrilled. “I’ll set it up and send you the details. I’m really glad you’re coming with me. We’re going to have a great time.”
Jen cleared her throat.
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Watch for my email. Bye hon …”
Jen punched the end button and tossed her iPhone on her desk beside the text book. She wanted out. Maybe this was the answer. Go to Greece with her mother and then refuse to come home.
And how will you support yourself?
Jen hated that voice. She’d been either running from it or been driven by it her entire life. Every time she wanted to do something wild and crazy, the voice reminded her of all the negative outcomes, as if it had run a computer algorithm and was now giving her all the probability factors. She hated it. Sometimes she wished she weren’t able to look ahead more than a step or two down the road.
Jen grabbed her iPhone again and before she could think twice she slammed the door on
the voice
and tapped Dimitri Petrakis’ name. She began to shake while she listened to it ring. First, she hoped he wouldn’t pick up, then she whispered, “Pick up,” just as he answered.
“Petrakis Construction. I have picked up, how may I help you?”
Jen could see his grin in her mind and heard it in his voice.
Damn!
She sat up straight in her chair and before she could consider hanging up, she said, “Hi. It’s Jennifer Jenkins. Um … you gave me your card the other day.”
“Ah, yes, so your name is Jennifer.”
Her name sounded exotic in his Greek accent. Jen shivered and held the phone closer to her ear.
“Hello, Jennifer,” he said. “Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”
Shocked, Jen didn’t know what to say. She should tell him she had to study. She should say she had exams and then summer job applications to prepare for.
The voice
shouted, but somehow it didn’t have the normal pull on her.
“Yes, okay,” she said, shocking herself and obviously
the voice
, too, because it instantly went silent.
“Where do you live?”
“Uh, no, I’ll meet you somewhere. You live in Toronto?”
“Yes. Do you?”
Jen didn’t want to tell him anything about herself yet. Sure, he was sexy, but she wasn’t stupid enough to let him pick her up.
“I’ll meet you at Il Giardino at seven.”
Dimitri agreed, and she hung up. Jen was glad she’d thought of her Aunt Connie’s restaurant. At least there she’d be safe meeting a stranger.
Then she groaned. Aunt Connie would tell her mother about him. She’d not thought of that. Just hadn’t gotten past wanting to be in a safe environment.
It was too late now.
Chapter 11
A tray of buns hit the floor with a clang. Connie jumped and grabbed her heart. Then her head as she surveyed the mess. The new kitchen help stared at Connie, dread and fear all over her sixteen-year-old face.
“I’m so sorry, Connie. Take it out of my pay.”
If Connie had a dollar for every time a kitchen helper said those words to her, she wouldn’t need to work again.
“Just clean up the mess and go get some more buns from the freezer. Hopefully we won’t run out before they’re thawed and ready.”
Connie turned away, too busy to employ her usual compassion. This girl, Kira, was more clumsy than most. It wouldn’t be long before she’d have to let her go. Connie only held back because the girl seemed to be a quick study and really wanted to be a chef one day. Hopefully it was only nerves that caused her to be clumsy.
Maybe in a few more days she’ll come into her own.
The pasta pot bubbled, ready to boil over. Connie grabbed a slotted spoon in one hand and a heat pad in another. She was already infamous for her compassion on new help, so they all seemed to find their way to her restaurant. She didn’t mind helping someone get a leg up in the business. Where would she be if people hadn’t done that for her, especially in Rome?
Connie’s gaze blurred on the pasta pot as Rome came into focus in her mind. The Eternal City. She’d loved Rome.
Connie gave the pasta a vicious stir. What she hadn’t loved was getting her heart broken by Giovanni. She’d found out only after she’d slept with him that he had a wife and child. He’d begged her to stay, promised to put her in a house and keep her in style if she’d agree to be his mistress.
Connie looked around the kitchen, teeming with sweaty cooks, and smiled to herself. At the time she’d been insulted and furious, but maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad to be taken care of.
She turned back to the pasta, pulled out a noodle and tasted it. Almost
al dente
. She gave it a quick stir, pulling her thoughts away from impossible dreams.
What is wrong with me? I love Il Giardino.
That’s what bothered her. The restaurant was the most popular place around and she’d done it all on her own. She used to have such pride in it, but it had recently become a job rather than a passion. She’d always been passionate about cooking and serving food, so where had that gone?
Connie grabbed the pot and dumped the pasta into the waiting colander.
“Con, I’ve got three orders for the pasta primavera.”
Penelope stood at her shoulder, practically vibrating. Connie remembered when she’d been that energetic, how she’d loved the rush of dinner hour and the madness of trying to get perfect dishes out in the shortest amount of time possible.
“Keep your hair on, Pen. Here you go.” Connie handed her the pasta and stepped away from the station. Without a word, Rick stepped in to take Connie’s place. He gave her a cheeky grin as he began to prepare another pot of pasta.
They’d had a fling and ended up friends. Connie was glad because she couldn’t imagine her kitchen without Rick’s unflappable sense of humor and quick thinking to avert disaster. He was worth much more than she paid him, but he would stay for less. They had a good arrangement.
Connie felt a tug in her loins as she remembered the fun they’d had. He was a generous lover, and had given her a very nice time. But it had always felt like she cuddled with her best friend after, so she’d never taken it further. He’d recently started dating someone new, and Connie was glad for him.
“I’m taking a smoke break,” Connie called out to the staff. A few laughs followed her out the back door. None of the staff at Il Giardino smoked. It was Connie’s one unspoken rule. Once as a joke, a new hire had said it, and forever after it became the parting shot as they left for a break.
Taking a break in the middle of the dinner rush would normally be suicide, but Connie had done well with her staff. She no longer even needed to come in if she didn’t want to, but what else would she do? She had no life outside of the restaurant.
The air had cooled some from the warmth of the day, but it felt nice after the heat of the kitchen. Connie pulled off her chef coat and tossed it over her shoulder. Sometimes she liked to walk around the restaurant during her breaks, watching from the side to see who came for dinner. She hadn’t done it in far too long.
The street in front of Il Giardino had no parking room left. Someone getting out of a car double-parked in front of the restaurant caught Connie’s eye just as she went to turn away.
Connie pressed herself against the side of the brick building and watched Jennifer Jenkins make her way to the front doors. Whoever had dropped her off pulled into the parking lot across the street and took the spot of a diner who was just leaving. Connie peeked around to the doors where Jen waited for the driver.
Her curiosity piqued, Connie stepped back in the shadows and watched the driver cross the street. Jen had always let Connie know when she was coming in for dinner. She couldn’t be trying to hide anything, or why would she have come to Il Giardino, but it was odd that she didn’t call first. It was a weekday evening, so Jen would know she’d be able to get a table, especially as she was part of the family.
I wonder who she’s having dinner with …
The breath caught in her throat as the young man came into the street lights.
Now that’s a man!
Connie fanned her face and smiled, then she lost her smile and peeked around the side of the building again. He was definitely not Jen’s normal type.
Connie watched while the man put his arm around Jen and guided her through the door. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear and Jen didn’t move away, something she would normally do. Jen had always kept her distance from her dates, showed them who was in control, but with this guy she seemed to be practically glued to his side.
Connie raced around to the back door and into the kitchen. She had to know who he was and what Jen was doing with him.
After all, I’m her godmother!
The kitchen looked busier than ever and Connie felt some guilt that she’d taken so long on her break. She moved to the prep table and elbowed Melissa aside. Without a word, Melissa moved toward the back door for her break, wiping her brow on her arm as she walked.
Carl, one of the wait staff, entered the kitchen. Connie called him over.
“My niece and a date just showed up. Did you seat them?”
Connie had always felt it easier to call Jen her niece to other people, just as Jen always called her Auntie Con. She and Emma were close enough to be sisters.
“Angela did, but I’ll be their waiter. Don’t worry. I’ll give them great service.”
Connie smiled. “You always give everyone great service, Carl. I want to know what they order. When it’s ready, I’ll take it out to them.”
“Sure thing,” Carl said over his shoulder as he grabbed two plates and swung back out the door.
“Your niece is here, Con?” Rick called from the pasta station.
“Yep, and you can just stay in the kitchen,” Connie shot back at him.
Rick had crushed on Jen for a long time. Connie told him he was far too old for her and definitely not Jen’s type, but Rick didn’t care. He always asked about her and tried to maneuver his way into being the one to bring out her meal. Jen liked him a lot and didn’t seem to be drawn in by his flirting, but Connie was never too careful where Jen was concerned.
The time flew while Connie did prep-work, then covered for Rick while he took his break. She watched until Jen and her date’s meals were ready, then she pulled off her coat and picked up the plates. She wore a pink T-shirt and jeans with her hair pulled back into a messy bun. She definitely didn’t look like the owner of a prestigious restaurant and Connie liked it that way. She had never been one to fit into anyone’s mold.
“Well, hello, Jennifer,” Connie crowed as she swept up to her table with the two plates held aloft.
Jen closed her eyes and swallowed, then opened them again and pasted on a huge smile.
“Auntie Con, how nice to see you.”
Connie set the plates on the table in front of Jen and the man across from her.
“Did you not expect to see me? This is my restaurant after all.”
Connie examined Jen’s face, surprised. Jen had never looked so embarrassed or nervous before. Her date smiled up at Connie with a flash of white teeth in a dark face.
Wow.
“You’re Jen’s aunt?” He got to his feet and stuck out a hand.
Connie looked up, way up, at him.
“You’re tall,” she said as she grabbed his hand. She gave it a quick business-like shake and let go. She wasn’t going to let him think he could charm Jen’s aunt so easily.
“Yes, I am.” He laughed easily. “I’m Dimitri. Dimitri Petrakis. It’s nice to meet you …”
“Connie.”
“Connie.” He sat back in his seat and smiled at Jen. “You didn’t tell me this was your aunt’s restaurant.”
A blush crept into Jen’s face.
Connie had to struggle to keep her mouth from dropping open. What the hell was wrong with her? She looked back at Dimitri, her eyes narrowed.