Page 68 of Unrelenting
“No, just tired.”
The past couple of days the long hours in the restaurant have been getting to me more than usual. I feel washed out. Perhaps I’m coming down with something.
“Has something happened while I was away?” Lorenzo looks concerned.
“No. It’s been quiet.” That, in itself, worries me a little. I haven’t heard anything more from that creepy lawyer but I know he’ll be back. “There’s nothing for you to worry about, Lorenzo. I’ve just been working too hard. Suki put her foot down and sent me home.”
My second in command can be really bossy when she wants to be. She was worried about me, but I know she also wants the chance to run the restaurant without me looking over her shoulder.
“I brought you something.” Lorenzo hands me the black bag and the box of macarons.
“I love La Duree.”
“Me too. You should probably eat the pistachio ones before I get my hands on them.”
Grinning at the thought of having to fight him for the pistachio macarons, I open the Saks bag and peak inside to find a skimpy black lace garment. I take it out of the bag and examine it.
“A teddy?” It’s beautiful but definitely designed to reveal more than it conceals. “It seems you like things spicy as well as sweet.”
“Damn right I do.” Lorenzo shrugs off his jacket and sits on the sofa, leaving room for me. “You can model it for me later.”
I don’t sit next to him, but choose the armchair instead. “Let’s see how this evening goes.”
“Sure.” If Lorenzo is put out that I don’t sit next to him, he doesn’t show it. “Do you want to order pizza and watch a movie?”
“Only if you want to tell me why it was okay to walk out on me at your mother’s house.”
“I will, but let’s order the pizza first.”
As much as I love a pizza with prosciutto and arugula, the thought of eating that doesn’t appeal right now.
“Actually, I’d prefer Chinese food tonight.”
“That’s good for me. Tell me what you want and I’ll send Daniele to get it.”
“The place I like has an app. We can order on that.”
Lorenzo shakes his head. “No, I don’t want a credit card with my name on it linked to your address.”
I know it’s not because he’s worried about my reputation. He doesn’t want anyone to come to my apartment looking for him.
Though I think he’s being overly cautious, I appreciate it’s a way of keeping his business away from me.
“I can pay for it, and you can send me the money.”
“No. I don’t want some stranger coming to your apartment. I’ll send Daniele.”
As he takes his phone from his pocket, I throw my hands in the air.
“Okay, then. Tell him to get some Sichuan beef, dumplings, tofu with preserved eggs.”
“What the fuck is tofu with preserved eggs?” Lorenzo grimaces as if he can already taste something he doesn’t like.
“Don’t worry, you’ll love it.” I’m not so sure he will but I’m going to make him try some all the same. “Ask him to get some chicken with chili, Char Sui pork, fried rice and some noodles. You pick which kind.”
Lorenzo looks up from the message he’s writing to Daniele and raises his eyebrows. “You want to leave some food for the rest of the city?”
I snort indignantly. “It’s for us to share. I like a little taste of different things. Whatever’s left over, I’ll bring down to Maurizio.”
