Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic) (20 page)

Gio’s deep baritone laugh filled the room that had gone deathly quiet, her students watching the confrontation in speechless fascination. “Oh, Bella,
cara mio
, you have found a protector, no? Good, good! Introduce me to your new love properly, my sweet. Ah, you teach class. Do they know they stand in the room with two of the greatest chefs to ever walk this earth?” Gio bowed his head slightly to the slack-jawed students watching the spectacle as a king to his subjects, making Bella laugh.

“We talk,
si
? Come, let’s have a visit. You have missed me, no?”

“I have very much, Gio. Both you and your ego.”

Bella turned to Jason, frowning as she saw the look of death he was still shooting to her friend. “Hey!” she snapped, thumping her fist hard on his chest to gain his attention.

He hesitated a moment before looking down at her with a raised brow. “Did you just try to hit me?”

Try?
She knew intimately that Jason’s chest was solid muscle, but
come on
. She shook the sting from her hand as her eyes narrowed in irritation. Jason’s own eyes lit up with mirth as he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

“Behave.” She hissed at him before turning to make proper introductions.

Crisis averted, Bella introduced the men to each other and then to the class so they would get back to work. Many of her students looked at Giovanni Cossi as if he were a god among men. His reputation in the culinary world was as excellent as his cooking, but she knew the real reason for his visit. He may be one of the most famous chefs in the world today with an ego the size of Mount Vesuvius, but he was one of the truest friends she had ever had. And he was now here because he was worried about her.

Gio walked the outskirts of the long room with Bella and Jason. Jenna was as starstruck as the other students were, but giving them some privacy, she tried to stay focused on helping students and made sure they stayed on task.

Rock and Adrian bristled as Jenna repeatedly gazed at the newcomer with awestruck wonder. She looked back at the twins, and the sight of the fierce frowns had her scurrying to safety within the groups of students.

Although Jason knew that this was her friend, he was not leaving her alone with him for a second.

“Ah, your
napoleon del lampone
. I have very fond memories of you making these in that quaint little château in Nice. Ah, I see I have angered your lover again,
si
?
Il mio amico
, my friend, there were several of us there, and you have no reason for distress. Although I have loved this woman for years, we have always been just friends. Never lovers. But, she is easy to love, no? And it is just as easy to see little Bella’s heart is yours. You are a very lucky man.”

“Yes, I am.”

“I am no threat to you and yours, my friend.”

“If I thought you were, you’d be dead right now,” Jason answered, expression impassive, but Gio just laughed amicably.

Bella rolled her eyes and leaned up to press a soft kiss on Jason’s lips before going over to speak to a pair of students. For the first time since his arrival, Gio lost his smile as he focused his intense gaze on Jason.

Jason could tell this man wanted to say something to him and crossed his arms over his chest. Leaning back against the wall in a casual pose, he waited patiently until Gio seemed to come to a silent conclusion.

“She is special, our Bella. A truly wonderful friend. The best I have ever had. If I thought you were anything like
il bastardo
, I would not hesitate to take you out before you hurt her. There was a time when I was too late, but never again. You understand this, no?”

Jason couldn’t help but respect the loyalty this man showed to Bella. “I protect what’s mine, and she is mine. She means everything to me.”

Gio’s smile returned as he slapped Jason on the shoulder. “
Excellente.
I see she does.”

* * * *

Class was over, and the men were busy gorging themselves with sweets as Bella watched them in absolute wonder. Man, she was going to have to recalculate quantity for the party if this snack was an indication to how much they ate.

It was a shame Jenna hadn’t stuck around to chat with them, but Bella knew that Jenna was running from the Savage brothers. She had watched the byplay between the three of them with amusement. It was easy to recognize that while Rock and Adrian terrified Jenna, interest was there. Jenna had a hard time keeping her eyes off the two men, and Bella had caught her sneaking glances their way the whole day. The men had not been as circumvent with their interest. One or both of them had watched Jenna from the moment she had walked into the room that morning until Jenna had all but fled in panic with the last of the students. Little good it would do. If they decided to find her, they would sooner or later. Until then, Bella would do what she could to give Jenna the space she needed.

“This is like heaven in my mouth.” Adrian sighed as he reached for another piece.

Rock was studying her intensely, and she turned to him with a questioning look. “I’m just trying to figure out how you get all that hair in that hat.” He earned a laugh, and she reached out to squeeze his hand.

Just like that, Jason mused. One look, one touch, and Bella captivated those around her. His men were goners, just like him. She was his joy, and it soothed his soul that his men respected and liked his woman.

“Okay, seriously, guys, I was going to take some of this back for the others at home. Let me get a few pieces for Brett and your other friend.” At their combined stubborn expressions, Bella rolled her eyes. It seemed as if they weren’t going to stop until there was nothing left. “I promised!”

They let her take a few pieces for Brett and the injured Lynx before taking over again, pulling the trays away from her protectively. When she told them she needed to take another piece for her brother, they pulled the trays further out of her reach.

“I give up. You’re going to make yourselves sick.” All she got were grunts in reply as they continued eating. Resigned, she switched topics. “Gio, what are you doing in Chicago? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but I’m surprised.”

“Your e-mail,
tesoro
. If
il bastardo
is looking for you, then I am here. My service, whatever you may need, is yours.” At Jason’s growl, Gio simply shrugged then with a wink added, “As a bonus I was very curious to meet this new man in your life. This fiancé of yours, he will do. It is obvious he loves you deeply, as he should.” Without pausing for breath, he switched subjects. “It is good you are back in the kitchen. Although I am distressed with you wasting your time teaching. You should be creating,
si
? For the favored few, not for students. Now, for the real reason I am here, a proposition for you.”

Bella rested her chin on her hands and raised an eyebrow. Jason was sitting next to her, and his hand stilled on her back where he had been rubbing at the mention of a proposition.

Gio shot Jason a knowing smile before continuing. “I am considering moving here, to your fine city of wind and snow if you, my sweet Bella, will partner me in a new restaurant. Our restaurant.
Bella Gio’s
will be the
premier ristorante
in the city,” Gio said waving his hand in the air.

Bella was shocked, a dreamy smile on her lips. Years ago they had joked about opening a restaurant together. Her smile disappeared as she remembered that things had changed. Too many things. Gio’s smile faded just as quickly and turned into a fierce frown.

Before she could say a word, he was raging at her, passion lending strength to his rapid Italian. “
Do not even begin to give me that bullshit about your hand
!
Your hands create excellence, you create excellence! None of that has changed. This was your dream, our dream
!
You cannot let this stand in the way of a future, your future, our future
!
Stop being so stubborn, woman
!”

“Gio, you know I would love to, but I don’t know if I could handle the work.”

“
Impossible
!
You will do the work. And how could you fail with me by your side! A small place,
si
? Intimate. Keep them waiting for our genius, panting, begging for more. I will not accept any other answer but yes!” He made a slashing gesture in the air as if she had no choice in the matter.

Jason continued to rub Bella’s back slowly in comfort as he considered the idea thoughtfully. He knew from personal experience that Bella was a master at her craft, and he begrudgingly had to agree that Giovanni Cossi was quite talented. Jason had eaten at Gio’s restaurant,
Perfetto
, in Italy, and it had been a very memorable meal. How could he begrudge this man who was trying to make Bella’s dream come true?

“It’s a brilliant idea.”

Bella turned to Jason in shock. Unguarded doubt shone from her eyes, and it left an ache in his chest. “Darling, think about it. A small place where you can change the menu at will. Imagine how much fun you could have. Plus you can hire a brilliant staff so the workload would not be that bad.”

“Not too small,” Adrian argued with an encouraging smile. “You would need enough space for all of us. You know, tables for your regulars.”

Gio looked him and his brother up and down before saying, “As long as you pay. We would go broke in no time flat if we gave you free food regularly.”

Rock scoffed at Gio’s dry tone.

Bella trailed her fingertips along the counter, ignoring their banter. She had wanted this for so long. Was it really possible? “Give me some time to think about it, Gio.”

Gio wanted to argue but he conceded with a quick nod. Getting Bella to think about it without her flat out turning him down was a small victory in itself.

“Good, good.” Gio’s smile was back. “I am staying at your apartment, or should I say your old apartment. Antonio let me in. Now what is this about a party the delectable Jenna was telling me about?”

Both the Savage brothers tensed, and Gio winked at Bella. Of course he had noticed the interest the twins had paid to her assistant. As jovial and carefree as Gio acted, Bella knew he never missed anything. She laughed as tried to figure out how to con Gio into helping cook for her army.

“No, no, no! Too much basil in the sauce!”

“Shut up, you arrogant swine! Do
not
tell me how to make my sauce! Don’t touch it! I’ll kill you, I swear. You philistine! You overrated line cook! Go finish the
ravioli dell'aragosta
over there. Stay away from me or I’ll take a meat cleaver to your head, you crazy bastard!”

Slade and Finn sat in absolute shock, watching as Gio reached over and smacked a kiss on Bella’s snarling mouth. Tony, Danny, and Liz simply smiled as they were used to Bella and Gio’s volatile nature while in the kitchen.

Jason fought the need to shift in his seat, restraining the urge to go pound on the man cooking in his kitchen as he did every time Gio touched her. The urge had weakened as Jason watched them bicker like siblings or bitter enemies throughout the day and he saw firsthand the lack of physical intimacy involved. Sure, Bella and Gio were both passionate people who obviously loved each other, but that love was similar to the love between Bella and her brothers.

As the day continued, Jason found himself ridiculously pleased each time Bella’s voice rang out a dire warning of the promise of violence. He hated having any man’s hands touch Bella but his own. It was an uncomfortable feeling for a man who had never before suffered the pains of jealously, but he tried to hold back the need for violence every time he saw another male come into contact with her. She was naturally affectionate to those around her, and he knew without a doubt she would have a great deal to say if he voiced his opinions on the matter out loud. Hell, she was likely to take a meat cleaver to his own head and accuse him of having another stupid male moment as she called it when she thought he was being unreasonable.

He smiled at the thought.

Although Bella had lived through a horrible situation, she was no one’s pushover. With her fiery temper and zest for life, she shone like the sun in the dark shadows of his world. She was his match in every way. Jason’s attention was brought back rather abruptly in the form of a sympathetic grimace as Bella threatened to cut off one of Gio’s rather favored appendages.

“Ouch.” Tony grimaced. “That’s not good. It usually takes longer to push her to that point.”

Danny laughed evilly. “Yeah, but you gotta admit it’s thoroughly entertaining. Don’t worry too much. Gio usually knows when it’s time to run.”

“Da-yum, Mac, she’s a bloodthirsty little thing. You ever worry she’s gonna kill you if you piss her off when she’s PMSing?” Finn gaped as he continued to watch the battle in the kitchen.

“No, but if you piss me off, I might just let her have a go at you with that meat cleaver.”

“Like you wouldn’t take him apart yourself if he pissed you off,” Slade scoffed.