Page 11 of Bella Rosa
She suddenly breaks my concentration. "How did you get so good at this?"
I place my pen down on the table and rub my chin. "A decade in the business is bound to teach you a few tricks."
She's the one that leans forward now. Her sudden movement causes the air to shift and her delicious scent to fill my space. I feel my nostrils flare as I try to keep my composure at the sudden intrusion. I watch as she studies me. Her gaze roaming over my face. I wonder what she finds in her inspection. "That's quite impressive, Mr. Moretti."
I shake my head as I lean forward so my elbows rest on the table. "Don't call me that. That's my fathers name."
I can tell she's holding back a smile. "Just Matteo then?"
I feel my breath catch at hearing her say my name. "Just Matteo."
She places her napkin on the table and pushes her seat back. "Thank you for your help," she says as we both stand. She gathers her things and spins around to look at me. "I’m really so grateful. I know that my article will be so much better if I have a real chef there to answer my questions! I’ve really got to be going now. I like to write when the experience is fresh on my mind."
Right on queue one of my busboys, Enzo, comes over to clear her table and says exactly what I told him to say, "Hey boss man, this is my last table. I’ll be heading out after this. Need anything else before I go?" He looks up at me like a child would when a parent tells them to say please and thank you.
Rosalie is still gathering her things. "Sure, can you take Rosalie back to where she is staying? I'd rather her not walk back in the dark."
She whips her head around to stare at me like I just told her to stand on her head and sing the happy birthday song. "Oh that’s not necessary." She says it like she doesn’t mean it at all.
"Oh it would be no trouble at all, miss. I’m Enzo," he answers with a smile, also just like I told him to do. He sticks his hand out to take hers. As soon as they make contact I feel all the muscles in my body go hard as stone. Interesting.
"If it’s really no trouble." She inches forward with a hopeful look on her face. I knew she didn’t want to walk back, and I didn’t want her to walk back. I just couldn’t offer to take her because that feels too much like a date. Taking the lady home after she ate a nice dinner in a nice dress like that. Too much. I did come up with this plan before I offered to take her to nice dinners pretty much every day for the next three weeks. That’s business though. I’m only doing that so she will keep us in the article, after all.
"No problem at all. Just let me go get my things." He says as he picks up the last few plates off the table. He uses that opportunity to sneak a peek at her cleavage.
I grab a receipt book from a passing waiter and write my number down. I hand her the paper with my number. "Text me and we will work out the details of our little pact here."
She takes the paper and looks at it before putting it in her purse. "Pact?"
I take a step closer to her. I’ve got to put some expectations on this before my dick can have his own way. "This is a mutually beneficial business arrangement." She goes still at my sudden change in tone. "I take you on this grand food tour and you make sure my restaurant is in the article at the end of the three weeks. Deal?" I stick my hand out for a hand shake, but regret it the moment she touches me. There’s that shock again. I’ll add it to the list of things I need to talk about with my doctor.
"Deal," she says as she shakes my hand more forcefully than necessary. She picks up her bag and starts walking to the front of the restaurant. "I’ll be out front," she adds, looking at Enzo. She’s not put off by my coldness as she walks away with her head held high. Good girl.
Enzo tries to follow her like a lost puppy. I grab him by the collar and yank him back into the storage room. I push him up against the wall a little harder than intended.
"What the hell?" He squeaks out.
Still holding him by his shirt collar, I get up in his face. "If you so much as think about touching her, not only will you be fired, but I will set you on fire. You got me?"
He nods his head so quickly I’m afraid it will fall off.
"Good. Now get out of here." I release him and step back out into the main room. I adjust the tie around my neck as I walk to the kitchen. What came over me? I never lash out like that.
If I didn't need to get away from her so badly I would tell Enzo to screw off and I would just take her myself. I can't do that though. I have got to get away from her to clear my head.
Plus, I have to move my schedule around for the next three weeks if I'm going to be spending so much time with Rosalie.
When I get back to my office I have a text waiting for me.
Rosalie:I’ll see you at 6pm tomorrow for dinner. Pick me up at my bed and breakfast. I’ll send you the address.
Me:Sweet dreams, Rosa.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
8
Mystery Man
