Looking on the check, she thanked God it did have a number on it and quickly dialed it. Waiting for a moment, Jaslyn tried to find a pen that actually wrote in the cup next to the register. “Hello?”
“Yes, Mr. Cipriano, this is Jaslyn down at Timeless Treasures. I’m sorry for calling, but I need your mother’s address for delivery tomorrow.”
“It’s 14820 Chancery Cove and her phone number is 548-3643,” he said while she wrote down the information she needed.
“I will see if I can get our guys to bring it over around noon, if not I will call her and let her know when. Thanks so much, Mr. Cipriano.”
“I should be thanking you, Ms. Whitman, and please call me Renzo.” The way his tongue rolled the “R” in his name caused her heart to flutter a bit. It sounded way too good, she thought as they said their goodbyes.
“What’s wrong?” Delia asked her.
“Nothing.” Her hand rubbed the back of her neck, trying to prevent the hairs from raising up.
“Something is up. Did he say something wrong to you?”
Jaslyn shook it off, continuing to write up the order in the book. But she saw Delia walk over toward her, she swore she could feel her eyes scanning her every movement. “What did he say?”
“Nothing.”
“He had to have said something to you to make you get all silent. Tell me, go on and tell me what he told you.”
An exasperated breath released from Jaslyn’s lips when she looked at her friend’s face to say, “All he told me was to call him Renzo.”
Looking a bit perplexed by her answer, Delia said, “That is all he told you, to call him Renzo, huh?”
“Yup, just to call him Renzo.”
“All right, well if that’s all he said then why do you look like you just came off the sun. The only reason I say this is because you, girlfriend, are redder than a lobster.”
She scoffed. “Oh please.”
“It’s true.” They both began walking toward the back. “Tell me something, was it how he rolls his R’s when he said his name that got you all hot and bothered?”
“How in the hell did you know he rolled his R’s?”
Delia started to giggle. “Let’s just say I know Renzo and those R’s. The only time he rolls them is when he is interested in someone he wants to get to know a whole lot better.”
“So you think he wants to get with me then, huh?”
“Oh, sweetheart, I don’t think so. I know so. Plus it’s been a long time since he’s done that to any woman around here.”
Jaslyn just shook her head. Honestly she didn’t know why she let something as simple as how a man said his name get to her. But she had to admit, the sound rippled through her body like nothing she had ever felt before in her life.
* * * *
“Who was that?” asked Filomena while touching up her makeup.
“It was Ms. Whitman, she forgot to get your address for delivery. I’m just glad that you were able to find the statue, Mom. I know the others will be just as happy.” Renzo smiled holding her delicate hand.
“Your father would have been so happy. He thought there was no use in trying to find it after all these years. I kept telling him I would eventually and all would be well. So what are your plans for today?”
“Going back to the restaurant, but other than that nothing much else for today, what about you?”
“Probably finishing up my book since I can’t get out to the garden today, but my flowers needed this rain badly. Come by the house if you can, this is the first time in weeks since I’ve seen you.”
Renzo had been a busy man for the past couple of months. New ideas for both his restaurants seemed to have paid off and business was booming. When he had decided to open up his first restaurant, Filomena’s, his mother was honored to have it named after her. His brothers, however, were not as thrilled. They thought the idea would be stereotypical for an Italian to open a restaurant. He remembered Simone had told him he needed to figure out something better to do with his time than opening up another Italian restaurant. But he would remember the times when he was a young boy, watching his mother cooking in the kitchen, how the aroma of her cooking would lift his spirits as well as fill his stomach with such great food. This was something he wanted to share with the public. He wanted a setting where people would be comfortable while enjoying really good, authentic, Italian food like his mother made for them. When his first restaurant became a smashing success, three years later, he opened a second restaurant, Luana’s, also after his mother and success followed.
“I know, but business is prosperous. Come by anytime, everybody has asked about you lately.” Renzo smiled as they turned onto her street.
“I’ll come down next week sometime. I promise mia cara, Renzo.” She lightly patted his cheek. “Have you heard anything from the boys lately?”
“I talked with Federico and Simone yesterday. Of course both have been busy. I haven’t talked to Gianni in over a week since he’s been out of town. I think we need to have a family dinner sometime soon.”
“How about we do it on Sunday? Gianni will be coming home on Friday. I’ll make everybody’s favorites.”
Renzo liked the sound of that and nodded in approval. They pulled up to the gate of her home. Clicking the control button hooked to his visor, it immediately opened and he drove along the cobblestone driveway. The Cipriano brothers made sure their mother’s every wish came true. He remembered when he was just a little boy how his father made sure their mother was always happy. She was put upon a pedestal and treated like a true queen.
When they pulled up to the front, he grabbed the umbrella from the back and got out to help her. Taking out her keys, they walked to her door and she went to open it. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before she said, “Have a wonderful day, and thanks for coming with me to the shop.”
“You know I would do anything for you. Ma, I’ll talk with you later.” He watched her go inside before going back to his car to head back into town.
When she had asked him to go with her to the antique store, he wasn’t looking forward to going shopping for antiques. But Renzo had heard so much about the place and its owner from one of his waiters, who said, ‘She’s a real nice piece of eye candy man!’ He couldn’t take his employee’s word for it. Renzo had to find out for himself. He had to admit that he was just about to give that guy a raise.
During the time his mother and Jaslyn were talking and having tea, he had been watching her from between the antiques. He had to admit that he liked what he saw today. When he had handed her the check, he really got a good look at her up close. Bright hazel eyes, the color of the honey his mom would get from the farmers’ market for her tea. A smile that could melt anyone’s cold heart and lips that looked like the softest he had ever seen—full, pink, and plump. It had seemed like forever since he had been in a relationship. Not since his divorce had he even been interested in any woman. His brothers called him ‘picky’ because they thought he could have gotten with any woman he wanted. He would always irk them by calling their good looks a curse since it seemed like whenever they all got together, the women would flock to them like a bee to a flower.
Renzo was completely different from his brothers when it came to women. They were looking for a one night stand, while he was looking for companionship and love. Something he had lost long ago in his divorce from Melanie. Now that was a topic that should have been buried when his signature dried on the divorce papers. But she would parade throughout the town in the most outlandish, skimpy and revealing outfits he had ever seen.
He remembered, one time in particular, when she came to his restaurant for dinner with a bunch of her model friends from New York. She wore this very tight black dress which showed off her breasts to the point where they could have popped out if she breathed. If that wasn’t bad enough, she couldn’t even walk in the thing because every step she made, the dress would rise up almost going over her ass. She would pull it down, but it kept going rig
ht on up. She made sure to let everyone in the place see her sashaying around as she tried her best to pull down that dress.
He had first met Melanie at his friend Al’s house warming party. He had no plans for hooking up with anyone that evening, but he saw her standing on the patio alone. She was the hottest looking woman he had seen in forever. She looked every bit like a model with long, blonde hair that curled past her lightly tanned shoulders. When she smiled, her dazzling pearly whites sparkled brightly along with her emerald green eyes. They ended up talking and getting to know one another the entire night. Soon the two were inseparable. The love making was mind blowing. She pushed him to a point where he never thought he could have gone.
When they decided to get married, his mother told him it was a bad idea. It was the one and only time he didn’t listen to his mother’s advice. She had told him how she didn’t like her eyes because of the way they seemed to shift whenever she was around his brothers. But, he told his mother he was indeed in love with Melanie and despite her protest the wedding would go on. She complied with his wishes to be civil to Melanie and this seemed to make things between mother and daughter-in-law work out just fine.
That was until it all went down in one big heaping pile of crap eight years ago on November the tenth. Things had been going pretty good for them—at least that’s what he thought. He had been hearing rumors of Melanie hanging around with some shady looking characters. But he knew in his heart these were all lies created by jealous people who wanted to see him fail.
He only wished he had listened to all the warnings from his friends as well as his own brothers. But when you love someone as much as he did Melanie, you avoid the negativity that crossed your path. He was on his way to meet her at a local café, but decided to head on home to pick something up that he forgot. When he made it home, he noticed a red Jaguar parked in the driveway. It wasn’t hers so he thought maybe it was one of her girlfriends. When he got inside, he saw a pair of men’s shoes next to hers near the door, then a trail of clothes leading to the backyard and the Jacuzzi. What he saw would be burned in his mind for years to come. He saw her riding the hell out of this mystery guy to the point where their moans were loud enough to echo inside the porch. It took about three cops to get him off of the guy. His mother was no solace when she came and almost tore Melanie’s hair out of her head.
This scandal was the talk of the town for the next year and a half and the messy divorce went for another six months. Renzo decided after the divorce he would not rush into another relationship right away. But it seemed that once he was divorced, he was prime real estate for every woman in town. He wasn’t about to have it, keeping mainly to himself, and keeping busy with his work as well as his family.
When he pulled into his parking spot at the restaurant, his thoughts continued back to the woman at the antique store. He hoped she would accept his invite for lunch or dinner. He wanted to see her again. Maybe he could stop by her shop again sometime to pretend to look for something. Now that he had her in his sights, he wasn’t going to let this chance of getting to know her slip away. He was a patient man. He didn’t plan on rushing anything.
“Mr. Cipriano, it’s good to see you,” Lisa the maître de said when he walked inside.
“Hello, Lisa.” He gave her a smile while walking to the kitchen, which was a buzz of clattering pots and pans, sizzling of beef, chicken, and seafood that smelled oh so good.
“Hey, Ren, what do you think of this sauce,” said Warren, the head cook stirring a huge stainless steel pot of pinkish red sauce. The aroma of whatever had been cooking hit him quickly making his stomach growl. He watched Warren put some rigatoni on a small plate and ladle the sauce over it. Grabbing a fork, he took a bite of the pasta and immediately felt as if he had died and gone to heaven.
“This is truly amazing Warren you’ve done it again. This is a vodka sauce, right?”
“Yes, how does it taste?”
“Oh, it’s just right. I’ll get Michael to make this tonight’s special if you plan to make a big batch of it.”
“I am way ahead of you there because I’ve already made two huge batches; I just wanted you to taste this.” Warren chuckled as Renzo plated himself some more and broke off a piece of crusty bread.
“Awesome. This is going to go just great for tonight.” Taking his plate, he headed back out to the dining area and sat in his own private booth. One of the many perks of owning your own restaurant is trying out the latest creations from the kitchen.
“I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re eating, Mr. Cipriano, but I needed to talk with you,” Lisa said.
“Sure thing, Lisa, sit down.” Wiping his mouth, he poured himself a glass of water.
“I know this is short notice, but I need next Saturday off. My sister is having surgery on Friday and needs my help afterwards.”
“Sure thing, Lisa, you can have Saturday off. I’ll get Natalie to come in.”
“Thanks so much, Mr. Cipriano, I do so appreciate this.”
As she got up, he decided to ask her something. “Listen, Lisa, let me ask you a personal question?”
“Sure what is it?”
“If a guy was to give you flowers, what kind would you expect to get from him?”
The surprised look on her face was priceless. She smiled. “Well my boyfriend gave me tulips since I am not much into roses. I know a lot of women love them, but for me I like something a bit different.”
He thought about what she said, roses would be way too predictable. Renzo didn’t want her to think of his offering as a mere thank you. “Thanks so much for your input, Lisa.” She walked away and he took out his phone to dial the local florist.
“Tilly’s Floral Shop, this is Megan speaking how may I help you today?”
“Hello, Megan, this is Renzo calling.”
“Why hello, Renzo, it’s good hearing from you. How’s your mom?”
“She’s just fine thanks. Listen I want to put in an order for tulips.”
“Tulips. You’re in luck because I got some fresh ones that just came in. How many do you want and who will I be delivering these to?”
“A dozen and a mix of whatever colors you might have. These are going to Timeless Treasures over on Columbia Place, for a Ms. Whitman.”
Chapter Two
Jaslyn had been going over the figures and it seemed with the recent sale of the statue this month was a record breaking one. “I called Rodger and he said it’s a go for the delivery. I’m going to get something to eat. Do you want anything while I’m out?” Delia asked Jaslyn.
“Um, where are you going?”
“The farmers’ market, I’m probably going to grab a little something to eat from the salad bar.”
“Bring me some fruit, please. You know what I want.” Hitting the print button she rubbed the back of her neck. Lord knows she needed a neck rub. She should get in touch with Chi for another back massage. It had been about a month since visiting Chi’s home, part of which was converted to accommodate her clientele. Both she and Chi had struck up a barter arrangement. If Jaslyn had gotten certain pieces of Chinese furniture—like chairs, tables or other home décor like paintings or statues that Chi would want—Jaslyn would get a free one hour, full body massage. She had to be seen this week before the pains in her neck and back made working impossible. Letting out a sigh, Jaslyn tried to concentrate on the work she needed to do despite the twinge of pain that would hit her every so often. Before she could get to the back room to grab what she printed, the bell over the door rang letting her know that someone was coming into the shop.
“Hello?” she heard someone say as she made her way toward the front. A young man was standing there with a bouquet of tulips in his arms.
“Yes, how may I help you?”
“Are you Jaslyn?”
She nodded and he handed her the bouquet. “Have a great day, ma’am.”
Before she could even ask a question, the young man had left. She looked at the beautiful array
of tulips in her arms. Bringing them to her face, she inhaled their gentle scent. The petals softly touched her nose. Never had she gotten anything so lovely before in her life. Admiring the pretty colors, she noticed the card in their midst. Taking it out, she opened up the card. A shiver went through her when she read it.
Jaslyn,
Thank you, mia cara, for making my mother so happy, which makes me very happy as well.
Renzo
She wondered what mia cara meant and quickly went to her laptop to find a translator. When she found out it made her smile even more. “My dear.”
“Now what can I put you in?” she wondered, searching for the perfect vase. Walking around the shop for a couple of minutes, she looked over the many vases before finally coming across one perfect for the tulips. “Befitting for such a beautiful bouquet.” Jaslyn smiled as she picked up the vintage, Italian vase and set it up for the flowers. She placed the arrangement on the same table where she and Mrs. Cipriano sat at earlier. They are too beautiful, she thought as she went back to work.
* * * *
During the lunch rush, Renzo couldn’t focus; all he could think about was whether Jaslyn received the flowers. He hoped she would have taken him up on his lunch invite, but as the day progressed she was nowhere to be seen. He didn’t understand why he was worked up over this woman. Hell, he just met her today and was starting to feel as if he was back in grade school trying to get the attention of the girls.
To keep himself busy, he concentrated on his customers, making sure their meals were impeccable along with the service from his wait staff. While he had been talking with one of his older customers, he heard a commotion up front and went to see what was going on. “I don’t understand why I have to wait!” shouted a woman’s shrill voice. It was Melanie.
“Ma’am, do you mind keeping your voice down?” Lisa said as Renzo approached the two.
“What are you doing, Melanie?”
“My friends and I have come to have lunch. This employee was giving me lip about waiting.” Even mad, the woman still looked amazing.
Renzo (The Ciprianos of Kellington) Page 2