by Dena Blake
“I’ll give him the message when he checks in.”
“No, wait. Could you please call him and let him know?”
“That’s not our usual process.”
“I’ll be happy to give you a few complimentary meals at Gustoso for your trouble.”
The woman didn’t answer right away, and Dana worried he wouldn’t get the message.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks so much, Karen. What is your last name?”
“Anderson.”
“Great. I’ll leave your name with the hostess at Gustoso. You can come anytime.”
*
Mel hoped Tracy would have her children’s best interest at heart and agree to let Izzy visit them now and then. If those boys loved Izzy as much as she loved them, what could possibly be wrong with letting her see them?
The warmth of the sun put Mel into a sleepy daze, and she closed her eyes.
She felt the softness of Izzy’s lips brush hers and opened her eyes. It was already dark, and they were alone on the beach. Her lips continued down her neck to the valley between her breasts. She felt the gentle touch of her fingertips as they brushed across the fabric covering her breast, circling in on her taut nipple. They walked their way across her belly to the ridge of her bikini. She shuddered as they dipped beneath it.
“Hey, you awake?” Izzy’s voice rang through her dream, and Mel shot forward in her chair, hoping Izzy didn’t notice the heat flooding her body.
“Yeah.” She wiped the moisture from her forehead. “How’d it go?”
“She said yes.” Izzy grinned as though she’d just discovered ice cream.
“Wow. That’s great.”
“Yes, it is. Thanks for suggesting I talk to her.”
“You’re welcome.”
“She said I could see them anytime.” She glanced back at the boys. “Maybe we can do it sometime next week.”
“We?”
“Of course. I want you to get to know them. They’re great kids.” She frowned. “You’re not a kid-hater, are you?”
“No.” Mel shook her head. “I don’t hate kids. As long as I can send them home at the end of the day.”
“I’m with you there.” Izzy narrowed her eyes as Dana strutted out to the water. “I hate it that she uses them to get to me.” She flopped back into her chair. “I remember when they were born.” She hesitated for a minute, and Mel could see the light in her eyes. “We were halfway through dinner when Tracy called. She’d waited until the last minute, of course. She was already in full-blown labor by the time we reached the hospital.” Her face broke into a broad smile. “They were so tiny I was afraid to touch them.” She watched the kids playing in the water. “I guess a couple of good things came out of that relationship.”
Mel sat back in the chair. “So, you’re part owner in her restaurant?”
“No, not any more. I got out of it as soon as we broke up.” Izzy reached into the cooler and took out a soda.
“That was smart thinking.”
“Smartest thing I ever did besides breaking it off with Dana.” She popped open the can and took a swig.
“Is it an Italian place?”
“I’m not sure what it is, but I wouldn’t call it Italian.”
Mel glanced over at Dana, who was still keeping a close eye on her and Izzy. “Has she been coming here looking for you?”
“I’ve seen her here on the beach a few times.”
“She wants you back.” Mel watched the waves washing in and out on the beach. She didn’t want to pry, but she wondered what was so special about Dana that had made Izzy fall in love with her.
“I just want to forget about her.” Izzy took her hand and laced their fingers together. Mel’s temperature soared again. She didn’t know what the hell was going on with her body, but she couldn’t control the new sensations flooding it. “You okay?” Izzy sounded concerned. “You look like you’ve had a little too much sun.”
“I’m fine. It’s just my fair skin. I pink up a little faster than you do.” Mel could feel the heat on her face.
“You’re really red. Let’s go back to the house.” Izzy got up and folded up her chair. “I’ll get the cooler and the chairs if you’ll get the blanket and the bag.”
Mel slid the sunscreen into the bag, then got up and shook the sand off the blanket before folding it. “Did we get everything?” She scanned the area.
“Looks good,” Izzy said, motioning in front of her with her hand. “After you, beautiful.”
Mel smiled and followed the pathway woven among the scattered patches of tall grass. She was unsure of what might happen when they got to the house and how she was going to handle it. She’d set something into motion, and now she didn’t quite know how to stop it.
*
“The towels are in here.” Izzy tapped on the cabinet door in the guest bathroom “And you’ll find shampoo and body wash in the shower. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Izzy headed into her room and swung the door closed. She got in the shower and stripped her suit off, tossing it into the corner. Izzy could sense Mel’s anxiety as they walked to the house. She hadn’t mentioned anything about the kisses they’d shared. She smiled. They were certainly very nice and totally unexpected. Izzy decided to let whatever it was run its course on its own. It wouldn’t be easy, but letting Mel figure out what she wanted was probably the best way to go. The warm water felt good on her sore muscles. She thought about what Mel had said about the tub; right now it sure would be nice to soak in a hot whirlpool. She’d have to see about getting hers fixed.
Mel was already out on the couch when Izzy came out of her room. “Can I get you something to drink? A glass of wine?”
“No wine, thanks. A bottle of water would be great, though.”
“Water it is.” She grabbed a couple of bottles out of the fridge and handed one to Mel before plopping down on the other end of the couch. “You want to watch a movie or something?”
“I’m so tired, I don’t know if I’d last through a movie.”
“Good. The Warriors are on, anyway.” She shot her a grin.
“So, you were just being polite when you asked about the movie?”
“Something like that.” She winked.
“I should probably go.”
“Why? You have someplace to be?”
“No,” Mel said, twisting her lip up.
“Then stay.” She patted the couch. “Put your feet up and relax.”
Mel leaned back into the corner of the couch and pulled her knees up. Izzy reached over, slid her hand behind her ankles, and pulled her feet onto her lap. Mel groaned when Izzy pushed her thumb into the ball of her foot.
“I should really be rubbing your feet after the hike I took you on.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be sure you make it up to me.” She kneaded her thumbs up and down the arch of Mel’s soft, manicured feet. Her toes, nails painted pink, wiggled with each press of Izzy’s thumb.
“You’re going to spoil me.”
That’s the plan. Izzy smiled and then focused on the game. Mel was asleep by the first basket. Her head dipped to the left, thick chestnut tresses mussed around her face. Small breasts rose and fell as she took in slow, even breaths. Izzy felt the impact of her beauty in full force. It took everything she had to look away from the beautiful view. She slid out from under Mel’s feet and went into the kitchen without looking back. She felt a little empty inside. It had been such a long time since she’d met anyone who listened and responded with coherent thought, someone who held her interest for more than a week. There was only one problem. She was off-limits.
*
Mel forced her eyes open. The ball game was still on, but Izzy wasn’t there. “What smells so good?”
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Izzy shouted from the kitchen.
“How could I sleep through that? It’s like an aromatic alarm clock.”
“I sautéed a couple of chicken breasts. Co
me on in and get a plate.” Izzy took a couple of dishes from the cabinet and plated the chicken. “You like broccoli?”
“Love it.”
She added a few trees to each plate. “Want some lemonade?” She handed Mel a plate and pointed to the pitcher on the counter.
“That sounds good.” Mel picked up the pitcher, poured herself a glass, and refilled Izzy’s.
“I think the game’s back on.” Mel sat down on the couch.
Izzy rushed back into the living room, set her plate and glass on the coffee table, and pulled it closer to the couch.
Mel finished her dinner and slid back into the corner of the couch and watched the game. When her eyelids became heavy, she didn’t fight it. It wasn’t food that woke her the next time; it was Izzy.
“Beautiful even in your sleep.” She heard in a soft sexy voice so close to her ear she could feel the warm breath upon it.
“Hmm?” She stirred awake.
“Mel, honey.” Izzy was kneeling by the couch, nudging her shoulder. “Wake up and come to bed.”
“Okay,” she said, still half asleep as Izzy led her into the bedroom.
She slid between the soft, cool sheets and moved up against the warm body lying next to her. Mel had been thinking about this for weeks. She ran her hand the length of Izzy’s body, her skin so soft. She didn’t know why she’d resisted for so long. God, she felt good. She heard the door click shut and opened her eyes. Wide-awake and cold, she slid her hand across the cool sheet. She was in Izzy’s guest room. Alone.
Chapter Twelve
Mel rolled over and slid her hand across the cool sheet. Still alone. She let out a low growl. She’d had such a beautiful dream last night. It was so real she almost felt guilty. She faintly remembered Izzy telling her to come to bed and thought she’d even called her honey. She lifted the sheet. Where were her yoga pants? More importantly, how had they come off? This wasn’t good. She needed to cool these feelings she was having for Izzy.
After a light knock on the door, it opened slowly. The scent of coffee wafted into the room.
“Mel? You awake?” Izzy asked softly.
“Hmm…what time is it?” She stretched an arm behind her head.
“A little before noon.”
“Jeez. I haven’t slept this late on a Sunday in ages.” She scooted over and patted the bed. “Come sit for a minute.”
Izzy seemed hesitant at first, but then crossed the floor to perch on the edge of the bed. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” She leaned against the fabric-covered headboard and pulled the sheet up across her chest. “I was so tired that I’m a little fuzzy about what happened last night.”
“Well, first off, it was a little difficult to hear the game over your snoring.”
Mel smiled. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware of that.”
“It’s okay. Once I squeezed your nose a couple of times, you rolled over and stopped.”
Now Mel knew she was teasing. “So that’s why my nose is so sore.” She reached up and touched it.
“You want some breakfast?”
“I feel like I’ve already taken advantage of your hospitality.”
“I’m going to fix it whether you eat or not.”
“Okay, but you have to let me cook.”
Izzy’s brows shot up. “You can cook?”
“As a matter of fact, I can.” She hitched her lip up into a smile.
“Then it’s a deal.” Izzy popped up off the bed. “Meet you in the kitchen.”
“I need eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, and potatoes. Oh, and orange juice,” she shouted as she snatched her yoga pants from the chair and pulled them on quickly.
Mel had already diced the potatoes and started them frying before she dropped the blended eggs into the pan. “What time are you going to the restaurant today?”
“I’m not.” Izzy plucked the crispy prosciutto out of another pan with the tongs. Apparently, she didn’t keep bacon in the house. Thankfully, prosciutto was a close second.
“Is it okay to be away from the restaurant two days in a row?” Mel sprinkled the cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms on top of the partially cooked eggs and flipped the two sides into the middle.
“Sundays are kind of slow, and Tony and Gio need to learn to work alone together.”
“They look like they get along well.” Mel lifted the pan and, with a twist of her wrist, flipped the omelet up in the air. She caught Izzy’s lip quirked up to one side as the omelet landed on the other side in the pan. So she shot her a wink as she picked up the potato pan and did the same.
“Plates?” Mel asked, scanning the counter.
Izzy took a couple from the cabinet to her left, handed one to Mel, and set the other next to the stove. “Most of the time they get along, but they’re both very hardheaded. Tony wants the kitchen run his way, so he shoots down any idea Gio might have for a new dish or improvements to the kitchen.”
Mel slid the enormous omelet onto the plate, then cut it across the middle and moved half onto the other plate. “Even if it’s a good one?”
“Yep, but he eventually changes his mind without admitting Gio was right.”
“Wow. Does he do that to you too?” She carried the food to the table as Izzy brought the juice and silverware.
“Oh no. He doesn’t mess with me. He knows I’ll sic Bella on him. If nothing else, she did teach him to respect women. Besides, when we were growing up, he could see how the family worked. Bella was the one who did the books, made the sauce, and took care of the family.”
Mel smiled at the influence the Calabrese woman held. “She sounds like a very strong woman.”
“She always has been, but lately she’s been…she’s been tired.” Mel could see something, maybe sadness in Izzy’s eyes as she broke eye contact and reached for her fork. “Anyway, that’s why I leave them to work alone. I won’t always be around to buffer them.” She cut off a piece of the omelet and scooped it into her mouth. “Wow, this is delicious.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you cook a lot?”
“Not as much as I used to. You can probably tell that by how often I come to your place.”
“Life gets busy. If it didn’t, I’d be out of business.”
“I only cook a few things I really like, so I’ve gotten pretty good at them.”
Izzy pushed back from her empty plate. “Well, I’m impressed. That omelet was exceptional.”
“I only wish we’d had some crab. Mix that with a little Parmesan cheese, and you’ll never want anything else.” Mel closed her eyes and licked her lips.
“Well, that settles it. We’re going to the wharf to get some crab.”
“Izzy, as much as I’d like to spend the day with you, I need to go home.” She grabbed the bottom of her T-shirt and pulled at it. “I’ve been wearing these clothes for two days.” Plus, I’m way behind on this project I’ve been working on. She picked up the plates and took them into the kitchen.
“Let me get those.” Izzy jumped up and followed her. “You can’t tell me about something like that and then not fix it for me.” She took the dishes from her and set them in the sink. “Tell you what. We’ll swing by your place first so you can change and then make a quick run into the city, grab a couple of crabs, and you can make dinner tonight.”
The thought of it sounded really good to Mel. If she got home early enough, she could put in a few hours on her project. “Okay, but I’ll fix dinner in my kitchen.”
“Okay then.” Izzy gave her a big smile. “Let me get these loaded into the dishwasher and change. Then we can hit the road.”
“You don’t need to change.” Mel let her gaze sweep over Izzy, assessing the black flip-flops, khaki shorts, cream tank top, and black zip-up hoodie. “You look great.” She smiled as the color in Izzy’s cheeks deepened. Then she reached over and straightened the collar of her hoodie, letting her hands drift across her shoulders when she was finished.
They were headed out the door wh
en the phone rang. Izzy looked at the caller ID. “It’s the restaurant. Just give me a minute.”
“Hey, what’s going on?” she said, pressing the receiver to her ear. “Jonathan who?”
She seemed confused.
“From the Examiner?”
Her smile immediately vanished.
“Holy shit!”
She grabbed her forehead.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
She listened intently, pacing the room.
“What did he order?”
This was not good news.
“And?”
Then, after a moment, she threw her head back, put her fist into the air, and said, “Yes!”
Now Mel was confused.
“I guess he’ll think twice about protesting the next time Gio has a new recipe, won’t he?”
Her smile returned even bigger than before.
“I bet! That’s great news, Ang. Now I don’t feel so guilty about taking off.”
Hmm, it’s Angie, Mel thought. Something had happened at the restaurant.
“That’s great, tell them both, I’m very proud of them.”
She listened for another moment.
“I will. See you tomorrow.”
Izzy slid the receiver onto the cradle, pulled Mel into a tight embrace, and swung her around in place.
“What happened?” Mel said, sharing Izzy’s excitement.
“You know, Jonathan, the food critic from the Examiner?” She released her embrace and took Mel’s hands.
“The guy that tore the Balboa Cafe apart from top to bottom?”
“That’s the one.”
“Oh my God, Izzy. What happened?”
“He came in last night and ordered one of Gio’s additions to the menu, rigatoni boscaiola. Angie said Tony nearly had a heart attack.”
“And he loved it?” Mel could tell from Izzy’s excitement the news had been good.
“Yes, and Tony actually gave Gio a pat on the back after Jonathan left.”
“So your plan is working, huh?”