Page 27 of Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires 3)
Lucaand I arrive at the restaurant a little early and are led to a sort of bar-like area that centers around an interactive cooking space.
Luca’s surprised smile is everything.
“Wait. Is this one of those underground kitchen things?”
“Yep,” I say, proud of myself.
He grabs my hand, kissing it. “You remembered.”
“Of course. You’re not a man who asks for much, so when the opportunity arose, I jumped at it.”
Okay, my assistant-slash-his nephew jumped at it, but he doesn’t need to know that.
James Beard Award-winning chef, Cesar Ronaldo, is setting up his mise en place and turns when we walk in. Recognition crosses his face, and he comes around to greet us.
“Luca! Who the fuck let you into Brooklyn?”
“Cesar, my friend, what a surprise! I finally get to see you in your environment.”
Cesar grins broadly. “It’s been too long.”
“Indeed. I’m trying to reform my image, going to all of these fundraisers.”
“But it’s such a handsome image,” he says, practically leering.
Grrr. Also, how does he even know Cesar?
Luca rolls his eyes. “Shush. Say hi to my gala companion, Ford Bradley.”
Cesar’s eyes widen as he turns to me. “Bradley?Youare a legend. Companies are scrambling to copy your retirement plans.”
I smile, internally preening. “I’m just trying to help people get where they need to go.”
Luca shakes his head. “He’s always this humble.”
“And humility issodifficult to pull off in crushed red velvet,” Cesar says, winking at me.
The other mega-rich Manhattanites start filtering in, and we let Cesar return to his kitchen duties. I’m thrilled that Luca is happy with the surprise, but he’s been eyeing the door since we got here.
I lean in. “Are you okay? Do you not like this place?”
He smiles carefully. “I’ve always wanted to go to an event like this but never did. Never felt right.”
I pull my chin back, puzzled. “You don’t strike me as the kind of person who hesitates if you want to do something.”
He kisses my hand as Fallon walks in. He sees us, and a disgruntled scowl crawls across his ugly face.
“You’re right, of course. I just don’t often find myself in Brooklyn.”
“Oh, don’t want to be slumming it in the outer boroughs?” I ask, ribbing him.
“It’s not about slumming it. I’m not exactly a welcome person with the Brooklyn families. With Joe’s family out of the picture, more or less, it should be okay, but old habits die hard, you know?”
Oh.
I did notice he was a little uncomfortable on the ride over and assumed it had to do with not knowing where we were going. Maybe I should have told him ahead of time.
“We can go,” I say, pushing away from the bar.
