Page 33 of Unrelenting
The kitchen erupts with gasps, squeals and a whoop that I think comes from Carina.
“Not your boyfriend, my ass,” Stefan says, coming over to give me a hug.
Flicking my hair over my shoulder, I turn and walk away. “Make sure to lock everything up tight,” I call out as I exit the kitchen.
As I approach Lorenzo, he gets up from his stool at the bar to greet me. He makes a spinning motion with his finger, and I oblige by doing a twirl for him.
“Well?” I ask. “Will I do?”
“Absolutely. You look incredible,gattina.”
I could be wearing a brown paper bag and Lorenzo would make me feel as if I was the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Nicolo’s going to lock up for me tonight.”
Lorenzo nods approvingly. “Good. It’s time your staff pulled their weight around here.”
“Lorenzo,” I scold. “My staff work hard. It’s not their fault I find it hard to delegate.”
“Ah, you admit it.” He takes my hand and leads me to the door. “It’s something I’m working on. I told Stefan he can choose some new wine for the restaurant.”
“I know. He called the winery. I’m going to show him around next week.”
I suck a breath in over my teeth.
“What?” Lorenzo asks.
“Can’t you ask someone else to show him around? I think he’s a little……” I don’t want to tell Lorenzo my sommelier is frightened of him. “He’s overawed by you.”
Lorenzo squeezes my hand as he leads me out through the front door. “I know,gattina, but I like to show prospective clients around personally.”
I slap his arm lightly. “Now who has trouble delegating?”
Chuckling, he opens the passenger door of a BMW SUV for me. He helps me settle into my seat, closes the door and gets into the driver’s side. He switches on the engine, but before he moves off, he waves behind us toward the building next door to the restaurant.
“What’s happening there?”
“Oh, it’s going to be a restaurant.” I keep my tone light, afraid that if Lorenzo knows I’m worried about the competition, he’ll try to eliminate it for me. As tempting as it is to ask him to fight this battle for me, I just can’t bring myself to do it. “Apparently Marco Agostini’s going to be running it.”
Lorenzo fixes me with a concerned stare. “That doesn’t worry you.”
“Of course it does, but he’s all about modern, flashy techniques, and Gianetta’s focuses on tradition. We’re catering to different customers.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“So do I. Bet you’re glad you didn’t buy Gianetta’s now.”
“I am, but not because I’m afraid of a little competition. I wouldn’t have got to know you if you’d simply signed on the dotted line like you were supposed to.”
As he releases the parking brake and takes off down the street, Lorenzo purses his lips as if he’s deep in contemplation. “You know, I could just get rid of Agostini for you.”
My heart sinks. This is what I was afraid of. “How?”
“I could speak to the mayor. Have their permits rescinded.”
If he has that sort of influence, I’m impressed, but I can’t ask him to intervene like that. “No, I’d rather you used your powers for good rather than evil.”
Lorenzo shoots me a look. “You know what I do for a living, right?”
