by Chloe Blake
She hadn’t been stupid enough to believe that the night before meant anything, so why was she so upset? A small gasp from the table beside her prompted her to look up.
Her mother wore large dark glasses and followed carefully behind the hostess in the tallest heels Dani had ever seen her in. The reverence on the hostess’s face made Dani want to scream. She’s a model for Christ’s sake not the Pope.
“Nice shoes. I take it you won’t be shopping today.”
“That was yesterday. And you never know when you’ll be photographed.” Her mother’s gaze shifted to the table behind Dani and she mouthed a gracious hello.
“Are we here to eat or boost your Instagram followers?”
Her mother’s gaze locked with Dani’s. “What’s your problem?”
Dani was saved by their server, who read off the specials and nodded patiently while Francesca ordered something not on the menu, which only heightened Dani’s annoyance.
“There is a menu, Mother, why don’t you take a look at it?”
“Why should I when I know what I want? Chefs can cook anything, can’t they?”
Francesca’s tone rankled. The waiter diffused the tension by replying with an emphatic yes, taking Dani’s order and quickly skirting the table.
Francesca cleared her throat and cocked her head. “You look very nice today. Is that lip gloss?”
“It’s for your Instagram followers.”
“What the hell has gotten into you?” she harshly whispered.
“Nothing. I just want Marcello to get better so I can go home.”
“Back to your father?”
“No. Maybe I’ll go somewhere else.” Her mother narrowed her gaze.
“I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Sooo...indecisive. You’ve always known you wanted to cook. When you were a kid I’d come get you from the kitchen where Marcello was rolling pasta—” she chuffed “—but you would just cry when I showed up.”
Dani managed a smile. “You told Marcello child slavery was illegal.”
“Well, he wasn’t paying you. And he said, ‘she’s not a slave, she’s family.’ Then he made you roll a few more tortellini.”
Mother and daughter laughed, and then Francesca sobered. “You gonna tell me why you’re in a mood?”
“I’m just tired.”
“You slept with Toni, didn’t you?”
“How the—” The food showed up; a small arugula salad with berries and two minuscule pieces of grilled chicken for her mother, and her risotto parmesan and Caprese salad.
Dani waited until all of the servers were out of earshot. “Why would you say that?”
“Your eyes are bloodshot like you didn’t get any sleep and you’re wearing a sexy top. I know all this skin isn’t for me.”
“So what if I did? It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Well, I’m happy to hear that, if it’s true.” Her mother’s long look said she wasn’t buying it. “Is it true?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Oh Lord.”
“What? I’m a grown woman.”
“Who falls for every toxic man in a two-mile radius.”
“Toxic? Is that why you warned him off?”
“Sharing secrets, huh? This is worse than I thought. Don’t you see the similarities between him and Andre? Attractive, fast-talking, running around like a prince while you do all the work. Behind every good man is a good woman, because she allowed him to stand in front of her. You’re just going from one disaster to the next.”
“I’m really not sure I can take relationship advice from you, Mother. Regardless, you are taking this too far. I don’t work for Toni, I’m just helping temporarily.”
“Yeah, and every man loves temporary ‘help.’”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me.”
“Let me tell you something, missy, you better hope Ava doesn’t find out about you two. Talk about a bunny boiler. I’m convinced they modeled Glenn Close’s character on her.”
Dani closed her eyes. “She saw us kissing this morning.”
“Oh Lord. What happened? Did she say something to you?”
“She ran off.”
“Let me guess, he ran after her.”
Dani closed her eyes and nodded. Just like Andre.
“You better end this.”
“I will.” Dani sipped her coffee, wishing she didn’t care. “Tell me about your shoot.” Her mother’s phone rang and Dani prepared to be ditched when she saw it was Jessica, her mother’s agent. But Francesca swiftly silenced the phone and went back to talking. The phone rang again.
“Mom, why are you avoiding your agent?”
“She’s being insistent and I don’t want to talk to her right now.”
Dani’s phone buzzed with an unknown number.
“I don’t know who this is.” Dani held up the phone.
“Let me see. The nerve of her!”
“Who is it?”
“It’s Jessica. Don’t answer it.”
“What? How does she have my number?”
“I think you’re my emergency contact.”
“Oh. Well, maybe this is an emergency.”
“It’s not. Ignore it.”
“Okaaay.” Dani silenced the phone. But it rang again. “Mother, this is stupid. I’m going to answer it and tell her you’re asleep or something.”
“Just let it be—”
“Hello?”
“Danica!” Jessica squealed. “It’s been so long, how have you been? Look, I need to talk to your mother, do you know where she is? Vogue won’t wait any longer they need an answer. So, what did you think when she told you, were you nervous? Don’t be nervous, it will just be one or two shots of you together but your mother will be on the cover, can you believe it? It’s brilliant. I mean they are just piggybacking off of the Chanel campaign of course but to do a mother-daughter takes it a step further, don’t you think? It would be you two, Cindy and her daughter, Claudia...”
The woman didn’t take a breath and as Dani tried to piece together Jessica’s rant, her mother began to look increasingly uncomfortable.
Dani frowned and briefly pulled the phone from her ear.
“Jess wants to know if we are doing the Vogue campaign.”
“She’s got nerve. Tell her no, we are not.”
“She said you could get a cover.”
“No.”
Dani put the phone back to her ear and heard Jess still talking. “Hello? Danica?”
“I’m here. Umm, I’m not really sure—”
“No more unsure. Time is up, they need an answer today. You and your mother hash this out and call me back ASAP. I mean to be over fifty on the cover of Vogue. Huh! Are you kidding! Game changer! Okay, you two talk and call me back!”
Jessica hung up and Dani put the phone down.
“Sooo, Jessica wants to know if we are doing the Vogue shoot. She needs an answer today.”
“She already has an answer. I told her no.”
Her mother never turned down an editorial. Never. “Okaaay, but she mentioned a cover.”
Francesca stopped chewing for a heartbeat, then stabbed another arugula leaf and shoved it in her mouth.
“It would extend my stay here by another week. I’m about ready to go home.”
“Are you even going to tell me what it is? Maybe I’d like to do it?”
“You wouldn’t like it.”
“Try me.”
Her mother shrugged. “It’s a mother-daughter editorial. Just a few full page shots with a small interview attached.”
“And the cover...”
“I suppose, but that’s never a given. Beyoncé could break a heel on stage tomorrow and the whole thing could be repl
aced by an in-depth interview about how her wardrobe malfunction made her feel.”
A film reel of all the times her mother shooed her away from her work played in her mind.
“Still hiding me, huh, Mother?”
“And what does that mean?”
“It means you still can’t deal with having a fat daughter.”
“Danica, You are not fat. You’re—”
“Full figured. So, you’ve said. I’m surprised you haven’t tried to take this plate away from me.”
“Well, there is too much cheese, if you ask me.”
Dani’s shoulders slumped. “And of course you have jokes. Because a supermodel having a fat daughter is funny.”
“My decision not to do the shoot has nothing to do with you! You’re just upset because you got loved and left this morning. Don’t take that out on me.”
The sting of her barb turned into a burn. “Okay, then let’s do the shoot.”
Francesca blinked. “Don’t you have to open that restaurant?”
“I’m sure I can make room.”
“No. You just want to do the shoot because I don’t want to. This is my career and I won’t take jobs on a whim.”
Dani jumped from her seat. “I can’t win with you, can I. Or at anything else for that matter. Goodbye, Mother.”
“Sit down. You’re embarrassing me.”
“Well, what’s new? I’ve always embarrassed you, haven’t I?”
Fuming, Dani left her mother in the restaurant and hailed a taxi. She’d been a fool, not once, not twice, but three times. First Andre, then Toni, and now her own mother. Dani stared out the window as they sped toward the hotel. To be fair, her mother hadn’t changed; Dani just wasn’t in the mood to placate her anymore. Or anyone, for that matter. She really was attracted to toxic, wasn’t she? But then each one of these issues had a common denominator...her. She had to stop allowing toxic into her life.
Her phone vibrated with Toni’s calls and texts, which she ignored, even the ones that said he was sorry. He’ll be sorry when she doesn’t come back to the restaurant, she thought. But in her heart she knew she would never go that route. One thing she wasn’t was a quitter and she really did feel that restaurant could be great. She just had to get through a few more days with Toni, but for that she’d need some help.
Ignoring several more texts, Dani picked up a few personal items from the hotel then took a car to the hospital. Marcello’s weak smile tugged at her heart. He looked gaunt and tired, the planes of his jovial face shadowed and sunken. The strength of his grip when she held his hand had waned and Dani did her best to keep her concern from her face. He didn’t look good and she was afraid he would never make it out of that bed.
“Bella, you look worried. You must tell me everything.” And aside from her concerns for his health, she did. She told him about the restaurant, how she felt about Toni and the issues with her mother. It felt like old times and as always, Marcello gave her guidance. “Dani, you are finished being a ghost, which you have been with both Andre and your mother. Step into your light and things will fall into place. That’s all you have to do. Toni is waiting for you.”
Dani blushed. “Toni has ex-wife drama.”
“Toni thinks keeping Ava happy will keep his daughter happy.” Marcello waved his hands in the air. “He wants everyone to be happy, but he never focuses on himself. But he is beginning to see himself with you, I saw it when you were here together.”
Could she have misinterpreted Toni’s need to run after his ex? Marcello broke into her thoughts.
“Your mother came to see me a few days ago. She thanked me, if you can believe it. She is proud of you, Dani.”
Dani’s head snapped up. “That woman is full of pride, but not for me.”
“She said it herself,” her mentor said with a gentle gaze. “She knows she wasn’t the most nurturing parent, but you get your drive and determination from her, Dani. She is the reason why you are a survivor.”
Marcello handed Dani a tissue as the tears began to fall. She squeezed her eyes shut and wiped her nose, and when she opened them, there stood Toni, his gaze full of remorse.
“It wasn’t what it looked like,” Toni said, stepping farther into the room.
“That’s what you said to her.” Dani hated the way her voice shook.
“I just don’t want her to hurt you.”
“I can handle her.”
Toni gave her a lopsided smile. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Dani stood and stepped into his arms. He hugged her tight, placing kisses in her hair, murmuring how stupid he was. He kissed her, sweetly at first, then more deeply, until a deliberate sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted. Dani pulled away and caught Toni shamelessly winking at his uncle. Dani’s gaze followed Toni as he greeted his uncle with kisses. She caught herself smiling, then lost that smile as her phone vibrated with a text from her mother.
We are doing the photo shoot. Jessica will give us the details. I hope you are happy now.
I am. Thank you. I love you.
I love you too.
Marcello was right, it was time to step into her light.
Chapter 18
Days later, Dani was standing in the restaurant kitchen, impressed. Marcello’s pasta chef, a sixty-year-old woman with poor hearing, rolled a perfect sheet of dough and began slicing off precise strips of linguini by hand. Perfetto. Slowly Dani strolled past the staff, touching and tasting, praising and correcting.
They had been at it all week, perfecting a rhythm, getting to know the kitchen and each other. Now they had twenty-four hours until the soft launch and all were aware that Marcello was counting on them. Day and night they were in the kitchen working on versions of the dishes they plucked from Marcello’s menu book. It kept her busy, too busy to think about Toni.
After the incident at the museum, they had come to a new understanding. They were dating for however long she was staying in Milan. No more rules or denying feelings. It would have been idyllic, except Toni had an emergency at one of his warehouses and stayed in Milan for a couple days.
There had been some sexting and a few filthy phone calls, but it wasn’t enough to quench her need to touch him in the flesh. He’d arrived hours ago, hell-bent on making love to her, until he saw the dining room staff waiting for him.
Dani lifted her head to stare into the dining room. Toni was introducing the wines to the waitstaff. She couldn’t hear him and watched as he poured tastings into each of their glasses and spoke animatedly with his hands.
She had to admit, the reprieve allowed her some much-needed kitchen time, and it showed. The staff was coming together nicely. Now all they needed to do was step into their light.
Standing off to the side, Liam caught her looking and gave her a cheeky wink. She returned his teasing with a frown and quickly turned, running headlong into her sous-chef carrying a rack full of lemon tarts. Her white coat looked like a Jackson Pollock painting.
“I’m sorry, Chef.”
“No, Dao, it’s my fault.” She swiped some of the tart from her jacket. “That’s pretty good.”
“Is everything all right?”
Her heart thudded uncontrollably at Toni’s voice. She only half turned.
“We’re fine. Just a dessert mishap.”
Toni moved closer, stuck his fingertip in one of the broken tarts and sucked the filling from his finger.
“That’s divine.” He picked up the tart. “May I?”
“Of course.”
He took a bite. Dani tore her gaze from his lips and took the opportunity to skirt away. But he was right behind her, licking his fingers.
“Can I talk to you?”
He was wiping his hands on a towel when she turned and looked at him. He was casual in an old soccer jersey that hugged his biceps. His clear gaze was questi
oning.
She nodded and bit her cheek against her body’s memory of how good he felt against her.
“Step into my office,” he joked. He followed her into the meat locker, the only place in the kitchen with privacy.
“What’s up?”
“How is Dao doing?”
“Great. He’s very efficient. I see why Marcello chose him.”
“Good.”
There was a long pause before Toni moved toward her.
“You’re really close.”
“It’s cold. I’m conserving heat.”
She stepped back and found herself against a leg of lamb. “Is there more to discuss?”
“My mother is coming back tonight. She is picking up Sophia and they are going to join us for dinner.”
“A trial run? Okay, that’s great.”
“Is the kitchen ready?”
“Should I be insulted that you just asked me that?”
“You did just have an accident.”
“We’re getting used to the space. We’re ready. I just wish Marcello could have blessed the menu.”
“The menu looks perfect.” Toni’s chilled breath brushed her ear as he leaned closer. “What would you do if I kissed you right now?”
She was finding it hard to breathe. “I’d run screaming.”
“Would you?” He chuckled, leaning in. “Did you think about me while I was gone?”
“No,” Dani whispered, fighting the urge to touch him.
“Liar. Sophia passed her last test.”
“Good for her.”
“I told her to bring that boy to the launch. I want to meet him.”
“Oh right. Now she is free to enjoy the opposite sex again.”
“I was thinking of letting you enjoy me.”
“Oh, just being considered is enjoyment enough.”
“Dani, you can’t avoid me forever,” he said, his voice as thick as honey.
“I’m not avoiding you, I’m working. As you should be,” she teased.
She pushed him aside, letting her fingers linger a little too long on his chest as she moved past him.
“Let me know when they get here,” she tossed over her shoulder before exiting the freezer.
A few hours later Dani was finishing the garnish on a chocolate cake when she saw something whizz by the window to the garden.