Page 36 of Delicious

“Alright, in every way that really mattered. You made mistakes early on, but you learned from then. And after that, with Izzy, I know it wasn’t all your fault, really, but . . .”

“But?”

“But you were drifting. In and out of relationships, relationships you didn’t really care about. And youdocare about the restaurant, but . . .” She trailed off, hesitating again.

“Oh, don’t hold back now,” Marco said, baring his teeth. “Let me have it.”

Marcella laughed. “But it was getting a bit stale. You needed shaking up.”

“So you decided to throw Andrew at me.” Marco didn’t know whether he was annoyed still or actually grateful.

Did he wish that Marcella was less like Luca in that her primary tool was bludgeoning a guy to death with the truth?

Maybe.

“I thought . . .just maybe, it might be worth seeing what happens,” Marcella acknowledged.

“You knew about his ex.”

Marcella made an exasperated noise. “Marco, most of the culinary world knew about his ex. It was a big deal when he left. A big deal to talk about starting his own bakery.”

Well, that answered the question of whether Marco should’ve googled him.

“You didn’t know—” Marcella continued, realization dawning on her face.

“About the whole famous thing, no. About the shitty ex? Yes. I figured it out. But that’s why you lectured me on boundaries, before.”

Marcella shot him a hard look. “Marco, darling, I lectured you on boundaries because it’s the twenty-first fucking century. And no, it’s not your fault if your employees can’t stop themselves from falling in love with you. That’s on them. But youcanbe over friendly with them. I just wanted you to be a little more aware of the potency of your charm.” The corner of her mouth tilted up. “Andyes, there was Andrew’s shitty ex. Though I had a feeling he knew you better—at least hedid—than to assume you would pull that garbage. And Iknewyou wouldn’t, ever.”

“I wouldn’t, no, but . . .” Marco took a deep breath. “I wouldn’t ever want to push him into something he wasn’t comfortable with. This is his plan. I was willing—notwantingbut willing—to go the six weeks or two months or whatever.”

It would’ve been hard. Maybe one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he’d have kept his distance, because Andrew deserved hard things.

“He suggested this because he trusts you,” Marcella said and the look in her eye made it clear that if he fucked with that trust, she’d have Marco’s ass on a platter. “And, well, he wants you. He always has.”

“You’re not going to give him the shovel talk? I’m your darling brother.” Marco grinned at her.

“Oh, he already got it. When I told him you’d call him about the job.”

Marco felt his annoyance soften. It was hard to be mad, not when Marcellahadbeen right. “Are youeverwrong?” he teased her.

She smacked him on the arm. “Sometimes. I never thought Luca would go out to South Carolina andstaythere.”

“To be fair, I don’t thinkLucaknew he’d do that,” Marco said. He paused. “But I’m really glad you weren’t wrong about this.”

“Me too.” Marcella pulled him into a tight hug. “Don’t fuck it up.”

Marco rolled his eyes, and she added, “Not that I actually thought you would.”

“So much faith in me, little sister,” he teased.

“Littleby what . . .three minutes?”

“Three minutes or three years, who’s counting?”

After leaving Marcella to her conference with Bea, Marco headed back towards the kitchen.

Ran into just who he wanted to see. Andrew had his hand on the door to the big walk-in fridge, and when he saw Marco, his smile dispelled the last bit of annoyance lingering inside.

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