"I do. This is amazing," I responded, trying to pretend I was interested in the finished product and not just in him.
Maddie turned to Josh. "Let Cassie see my jolly lifts for the mixer and food processor so you can show off your handiwork. I get to enjoy the end result," she said to me, "but other than seeing him a few times during the day when I'm passing through, I have no clue what went into making my kitchen so beautiful."
He was grinning now, his eyes focused on me instead of Maddie. He glanced away for a second to address her-"Okay"- then it was back to me. His strong arm stretched out and curled around my waist, moving me along. "So, you're going to teach cooking classes, huh?" he said, while I struggled to breathe. "I'll be the first in line to sign up for those."
"You will?"
"Absolutely. I can't wait to learn from you."
Or me from you coursed through my mind.
"Okay, let me show you around." His firm touch charged through my body like an electric current. I had a hard time focusing on the details. I think he was talking about the cabinet manufacturers and different types of cabinets I might want to consider, but I was too busy inhaling his cologne. I couldn't believe a contractor doing the kind of construction he did would take the time to add cologne before leaving the house. It said volumes about him caring about his appearance. That was a huge plus with me.
I became more alert when he showed me the center island with the large hood over the eight-burner cooktop with the griddle. To be honest, Charlie's endorsement of his work was really all I needed. Having him work for me was about eye candy being around-the icing on the cake-and a million other reasons I wanted to deny.
"So, what do you think?" he asked, gesturing around the kitchen.
"Huh?" I said like I was on another planet. "Oh, your work. Yes, I think you've done a great job."
"When can I come see your store?" He didn't wait for me to respond. "How about tonight? You could show me what you want and then we could grab a bite to eat while we're discussing it." He watched me expectantly. "What do you think?"
"That's a tremendous idea" Charlie's voice echoed in the half-empty kitchen and drew my attention. "You'll need to spend a lot of time discussing exactly what you want" He gave me a wink.
"But I don't even have my loan yet, Charlie" seared from my mouth. "Shouldn't I have that first before I discuss his working for me?"
"No" Charlie frowned. "You need to find out how much it's going to cost you first. Sheesh, Cass, how else will you be able to tell the loan officer how much money you need?"
I pointed my finger in his direction. "Good point." I turned to face Josh, trying to act more coherent. "The storefront is in New Jersey. Does that matter to you?"
"Where in Jersey?"
"Nutley."
"Oh, no problem," he said, giving me the hubba-hubba eyebrows.
I laughed, suddenly a little calmer. I had to admit it was comfortable being around him. "So you're a comedian too?"
"No. But I do try" He scratched his biceps, drawing my eyes to the outline of his bulging muscle. "I'll be done here about five thirty tonight. How about I show up at six thirty? Is the electric still on?"
"Yes, it's still a deli. My father hasn't moved his stuff out of there yet."
"That's fine. Just give me the address, and I'll be there."
I pulled out one of Dad's business cards with the address on it and handed it to him.
"Will it still be open when I come?"
"No. Dad closes at six o'clock."
"Okay"-he pulled out a pen from his pocket "let me have your cell phone number."
I watched as he wrote it down on a piece of paper with a thick pencil he'd removed from his tool belt as I spieled out the numbers, then reached into his back pocket and pulled out his business card.
"I'll see you at six o'clock, Cassie Pirelli," he said, with a gleam in his eye.
"I thought you said six thirty?"
"That's right, I did." He snapped his fingers. "See what you're doing to me?"
Oh ... my ... God danced through my mind at that precise moment, and I was astonished my wobbly knees hadn't already caved in and knocked me to the floor. Thankfully, I was still standing upright just barely.
"I meant," he said, his face now flushed, "I'm eager to see the job"
"Oh, of course," I said, trying to sound convincing, "I totally knew that" Disappointment hovered overhead and I reminded myself that he had a girlfriend, after all. "Uh, okay, I'll see you tonight at six thirty." I walked away, embarrassed and unable to believe how hard it was to control my feelings when I was around him. I am in so much trouble raced through my mind.
As I exited the house, Charlie was close behind, walking me to my car. "So what did you think?"
"If my kitchen is half as beautiful as yours, I'll be a hit." I smiled at his anxious expression.
Charlie didn't say anything right away, but he studied me for a while, a wide grin on his face. "I already know you're a big hit with him, Cass. Ain't love grand?"
"Charlie, stop it." Charlie's sheepish grin made me suspicious. "Wait a minute. Did my mother put you up to this?" He shrugged. "I have no time for romance."
"Yeah, yeah. You've been singing that same tune for years, but your reaction to him is coming though loud and clear." His lips parted in a grin that would have made a Cheshire cat proud.
My body felt another wave of heat, like I was being roasted on a spit from the embarrassment I felt because my feelings were so transparent. If it was that obvious to Charlie, it had to be obvious to Josh, and Lord help me, I needed to get my parents out of the deli tonight before six thirty because my feelings sure as shootin' would be obvious to Lucy Pirelli.
"Just try to relax," Charlie said, squatting down to my eye level. "If he's the right one, things will work out the way they're meant to"
I glanced at him, convinced I was right about him being in cahoots with Mom. "You've been spending way too much time with my mother, haven't you?"
He laughed. "No. I just know how much they want you to get married. Look, I've known you since you were a toddler. You're like a sister to me. I want you to be happy too. Josh is a nice guy. Nice guys and nice gals go together."
My phone rang, and I noticed it was Mom. I held my finger up to Charlie. "Hi, Mom"
"Listen, your father and I will be moving some stuff out of the deli today. Want to help?"
"What time are you starting?"
"Right now. He's a little down, and I thought having you here might cheer him up"
"Sure, but I have a meeting tonight at six thirty at the deli with a contractor"
"How did you find him?"
"He's remodeling Maddie's kitchen. I'm at their house now to see this guy's work, and he's doing a wonderful job."
"Well, if Charlie's recommending him, he must be good"
"I'll see you in about a half hour."
I clicked off the call. "Mom said they've started packing up the deli," I explained.
"Then I guess it's official."
"It would seem so" I stared him down. "Charlie, so help me God, if you tell my mother about my interaction with Josh, I'm going to hate you for the rest of my life."
"Unless you cover up your reaction to him, I won't have to tell her anything." He kissed my cheek. "Go, get out of here"
My knees were so wobbly when I hit the sidewalk, I wasn't sure I'd make the train to Nutley in time. My thoughts were driving me crazy, recapping being around him and knowing I acted like a dimwit. I couldn't believe the effect this guy had on me. I slapped my hand to stop the landslide of thoughts, thankful I had busywork to do at the deli and praying it would squash the quivering in my stomach before Mom picked up on the fact that I was on the brink of infatuation with this guy.
HIDIN'-THOSE-LOVIN'-FEELINGS
FLATBREAD PIZZA MARGHERITA
TOPPING
Place the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and use the dough hook to combine. Let it rest while you're taking the next step. In
a measuring cup, add the yeast, 1/4 cup of warm water (105-110 degrees), and 2 of the 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Let it rest for 10 minutes and wait for it to foam to prove its worthiness. This is a good time to take a deep breath to allow your heart rate to slow down.
Pour the yeast mixture into the flour and mix until completely incorporated.
Now, add 3/4 cup of warm water, making sure the temperature maintains the 105- to 110-degree temperature, and mix until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl into a ball. The same way you should be pulling away from the temptation of getting involved with him.
Remove the dough from the bowl and lay it on a flat surface. Sprinkle more flour and knead with the heel of your hand until it's smooth and no longer sticky. Watch your facial expressions. Mama's no dummy when it comes to reading your mind, and things could get pretty darn sticky if you're not careful.
Place dough in a shallow bowl that has been coated with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil; cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a cold oven to avoid drafts. Allow the dough to double in size, approximately two hours. Imagine yourself opening up to a relationship with him and how wonderful it would be to have his arms wrapped around you. No? Not a good idea?
Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into thirds. Shape each section into a round disk or into a heart shape to remind yourself of just how easy it is to get your heart broken.
To begin making the pizzas, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Roll or stretch the dough disk into a 12-inch circle and brush entire surface with olive oil. Stretch your mind to accept a new love challenge. Sprinkle oregano and garlic slices over the top, but don't get too close to him now. Measure out 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, saving the rest for the other two pizzas. Spread it evenly over the top. And stop worrying you are spreading yourself too thin; it's good for character building. You know you can have both a romance and a business. You just need to make up your mind to do it.
Scatter tomato cubes over the top. Bake pizza on a pizza stone or directly on the oven rack for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted just the way your heart melts when you're with him. Remove from the oven, garnish the top of pizza with basil strips, and serve. This yields 3 pies.
Sol Sherman from Sherman's Jewish Deli was talking to Dad when I entered the store. His bushy eyebrows fanned out above the frames of his glasses like shrubs needing a trim. His five o'clock shadow did nothing for his appearance. Gilles Marini, the hot-looking actor, he was not. I had mixed emotions about the demise of the deli. It was sad to see my dad close up shop, yet I was excited about having my own business and scared to death I wouldn't be able to pull it off. Mom emerged from the back as soon as she heard the jingle of the bell on the door.
"You made it." She gave me a sad look and nodded toward Dad and Sol.
"It's so final," I said with a pout as I noticed the empty shelves, "but I'm thankful we have so many wonderful memories."
"We do, don't we? Remember when you tripped over that very threshold"-she pointed-"and lost your first tooth, and how quickly your lip swelled?"
I laughed. "I do remember that. I also remember my tooth rolling under the deli case and Dad lying on the floor trying to retrieve it, when a customer walked in and thought he was having a heart attack and rushed over to give him CPR." We both laughed. "The fairy godmother paid me off big-time that year. She left me a twenty-dollar bill."
"Well, she felt sorry for that swollen lip."
"And darn"-I snapped my fingers-"that was the last time she left so much. After that, it was a measly contribution." I smiled. "I guess I'm always tripping, aren't I?"
"Yeah," Dad said, heading toward us as Sol waved before pulling the door open to leave. "Just like you tripped trying to get away from Sammy Scarliotti that time you helped me cater the party at Mrs. Davis' house"
"Oh my God, the Dragon Lady. That was a horrendous night. I remember it all too well, even when she warned you against bringing me back to her house. Although, if Mom hadn't hid the fact that Sammy was going to be there"-I smirked-"I might not have made such a hasty getaway-"
Mom cut me off. "Ooh, so does that mean you would have given him a chance?"
"No, Mother, I would not have. I'm just saying I was very angry and might not have left so unprofessionally had I known of his presence ahead of time. In my haste, though, I tripped and tackled poor Mrs. Davis and caused her to fall backward" Mom was still grinning. And my dig? Slipped right past her without so much as a blink of the eye. "And I don't have a clue as to why my hand latched on to her hair ... I guess for security?" I shrugged. "I don't know how long it took me to realize I had a wig in my hand. But when I did, I tried to put the dang thing back on her head to cover the stocking she'd pinned to cover her hair, but I put it on cockeyed." Mom was nodding and laughing along with me. "But that wasn't even the worst of it. The wig was covered in Champagne and pieces of brie en croute that dripped down onto the bridge of her nose as she sat stunned and looking around at her guests"
The image brought back a host of memories, but Dad barely smiled. I hugged him. "Dad, you're not smiling. Listen, I know this is hard, but really, you don't have to retire."
Mom composed herself and was now nodding. "Oh, yes, he does"
Dad ignored her. "I know, Cass" He looked around the store. "This place has been my life for so many years, it's just hard to imagine not coming here to open up in the morning." He sighed. "But it's time to pass the baton-"
Mom interrupted, "And spend time with me"
"Yes, Lucy ... and spend time with you." He turned to me. "So, I hear you have a contractor coming over tonight to give an estimate on the kitchen."
"Mom told you?"
"No, Charlie called me. He said he's a regular all-around good guy who comes from a good family and does great work"
"Yes, he does very nice work," I said.
"Is he only coming to give you an estimate on the kitchen?"
"Yeah. Why else would he be coming here?" I said, confused.
"No reason, I guess" His face cracked into a mischievous grin, and he winked at me.
Had Charlie given him an earful on Josh? This was so unlike Dad. His grin was beginning to make me feel uneasy, and I shifted from one foot to the other. I felt like I was on the hot seat and dreaded the thought of now having to deal with two parents pushing me into marriage. I said a silent prayer that I was imagining it.
"Why? Do I need him to do something else?"
"Yes," he said and cleared his throat. "How about building shelving with dividers for those kitchen tools and gadgets?"
"Oh boy, I sure do have a lot to learn." I sighed. "You'd better wait to make sure I have everything I need before you and Mom sail off into the sunset"
"Oh, don't worry about that, kiddo. I have every intention of making sure things are well on their way before we leave." He grinned mischievously. I ignored it. "Are your students going to cook with you?"
"They'll take part in some of the procedures, but for now, it's just the basic appliances and overhead mirrors so they can watch what I'm doing. Eventually, I'd like to set up another kitchen to have two classes in session at the same time." I handed him a picture of a demo kitchen I'd printed from the Internet. "I don't think I can afford this kitchen, but here's the general idea."
"Cass, this is beautiful"-Dad's brow furrowed-"but that's what loans are for. Deciding now saves in the long run." He handed the picture back to me. "And I think you'll need more than basic appliances-like what you used in school-because the contractor is only going to do what you tell him to, and there's no changing your mind after the fact unless you want to start all over again." He shook his head. "That'll only wind up costing you more money, so figure out what you want ahead of time." He grinned and began rocking back and forth on his heels; he whistled, his gaze darting around the room. "But then ... maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea keeping him around for as long as you can just in case you change your mind." He winked. "Know what I mean?"
I gave an internal groan. There was no way I was going to touch that comment. So much for prayers and trying to convince myself otherwise-yep, Dad had gone to the dark side. I continued talking as if I didn't get it. "You've made repairs look so easy all these years, I figured it might be something that could be fixed without much fuss." I shrugged. "All right, let me think about this some more. I don't want to have any regrets after the fact, that's for sure."
Mom rushed over. "Let me see the picture." I handed the picture over to her. "Ooh, that's very nice."
I glanced at Dad. "You think it's going to cost me too much money?"
"Well, it isn't going to be cheap, but you want this to last, don't you?" He raised his eyebrows. "From what your mother says, you'll have a lot of people signing up for classes. That will help you pay for the loan. Speaking of which, we should schedule an appointment with the bank soon, once you have all the figures of what it's going to cost. Do you know which gadgets you're going to stock?"
"No, Megan is helping me out by doing the research. She likes to cook, so I thought I could entice her to work for me by teasing her with the gadgets. But I'll have the figures before we go to the bank"
"How is she doing that when she works all day?" Mom asked.
"She's doing it on her lunch hour, but she's actually thinking about quitting her job"
"No kidding. Why?" Mom asked.
"Hang on to your hat for this one. Megan's pregnant," I said with excitement.
"Oh wow" Mom's face lit up, until the magnitude of Megan's condition hit. She pushed her lips. "I'm so envious. I'll bet her mother is already shopping for baby clothes." She released a hefty sigh. "I know if it was me, I'd be buying the store out for my grandchild." Her eyes filled with tears, and I wondered if I should run outside into the cold air or console her. "Megan's mama is one lucky lady." Another dramatic sigh, and the wrist went to the forehead like she was about ready to faint. "I wish she'd talk some sense into you," she said with resentment.
Dishing Up Romance Page 4