by Lulu Pratt
His door opens without warning and Nancy walks in, past me and stands directly in front of me.
“I need to talk to you, Rocco,” she demands.
“What is it?”
“I’ll wait until Joanne joins us. This is something you both will want to hear.”
Chapter 8
ROCCO
Nancy is angry about something so I wait patiently for Joanne to join us. She blocks Maddie from my sight until Joanne walks in and takes her position by my side.
“Okay, what seems to be the problem?” I ask.
Nancy puts her hand on her hip and leans forward on my desk. “I don’t think I can work in a place like this.”
“What is the issue?”
“It’s the food she made.” She turns and glares directly at Maddie. I wasn’t aware she knew Maddie was even in the room. “Do you have any idea how many complaints I had to deal with tonight?”
“What was there a problem with, specifically?” Joanne asks, concerned.
“Well, the strawberry upside-down cake she made was horrific and that chocolate mousse almost made one family sick.” She cocks her head to the side before turning back to me and Joanne. This girl is out for Maddie and I’m pretty sure I know why. Jealousy is a senseless, yet vulgar feeling that makes people do crazy things.
“Were there any complaints about the other desserts?” I ask before anyone says anything else.
“No, I mean, there were no praises about them, but I guess they were okay.”
“Maddie?” Joanne is quite concerned. “I thought everything went smoothly. You told me it was all set.”
“I am, I mean, I was.” She shoots me a worried glance.
“Joanne, I made the cakes,” I admit.
All heads turn to me, their mouths gaping open.
“What, Rocco? Why are you doing Maddie’s job?” Joanna crosses her arms and cocks her head.
“Joanne, you ask her to make four almost impossible desserts in one day and even after they were destroyed, you didn’t offer to change the menus or offer a helping hand. I knew Maddie had her hands full before the sabotage,” I stress, looking at Nancy, “so I took it upon myself to make the cakes at my apartment and bring them in. I know it isn’t the proper way to do things, but it was necessary given the circumstances.”
“Wait a minute. You tasted them, Rocco,” Joanne says. “I watched you.”
“And they were damned good too.”
“Nancy? Are any of the customers who have complained still here?”
“No,” Nancy says, shifting her weight. “They… left. They didn’t stick around. They probably wanted to get out of here as quick as possible.”
“Did you get their information?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why wasn’t I or Rocco informed immediately when there were so many complaints?”
“I thought…” Nancy’s face turns red with embarrassment when her ploy to sabotage Maddie backfires. “I thought I could handle it.”
“Did you?”
“Maybe I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
I look into her eyes and clench my jaw. “Nancy, I’m going to ask you something and I want a straight and honest answer. Your job here depends on it. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” she says in a demure voice.
“Did you destroy Maddie’s desserts last night?” I press my glare into her and wait for her to lie about it.
“No, I didn’t. I was just as shocked at the horrible mess as you were. I mean, who could have done such a thing?”
“Thank you, that will be all.”
I silently wish for Joanne to follow Nancy out of my office, leaving Maddie with me to continue the conversation she wanted to have in private, but Maddie is the first one to leave. I can’t blame her. In my heart, I know what she wants to tell me. I need to tell her as well, my feelings for her, my need to be around her, my desire to please her. But I need to take care of this first.
Chapter 9
MADDIE
I quickly leave Rocco’s office, not looking back until I’m out the front door and in a cab. Just as I get into my apartment, my phone goes off. I pull it from my purse and read a text from Rocco.
Meet me for a drink.
A drink? Should I? Isn’t this against company policy? He texts me again.
I’d really like to see you.
I smile at the idea.
Maybe continue our conversation before we were interrupted. Don’t feel bad about what happened. I will deal with Nancy.
I hesitate, but only for a moment. I want to meet him, but I’m not ready. I need time to let this Nancy thing play out and dissolve. I close my phone and turn off the ringer before piling myself into bed.
***
I get into the restaurant early to get started on the menu for the day. I like the quiet but it is short lived when I hear the front door open. I look at the clock and assume I will see or hear Joanne very soon. When Rocco walks into the kitchen, my heart speeds up and I look at the clock again.
“What brings you in so early?” I ask.
“Joanne has some personal business to attend to. I told her I would come in to be sure everything goes well.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Nothing to worry about.”
When he leans against the counter and watches me, my stomach begins to form a knot and an uneasy feeling creeps in.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” I say a little too quickly. “Everything is great.” I turn away from him to grab a pie tin, pretending not to see it right away so I can get my bearings about me. Why is he making me so nervous?
“I texted you last night.”
“I know, Rocco. I’m sorry I didn’t respond. I didn’t get them until this morning. I was so tired from what happened yesterday, I fell asleep as soon as I got home.”
“Maybe tonight?”
“Um, maybe.” I try to keep my voice upbeat but the way he is looking at me, I’m sure he can sense I am trying to put him off.
“Listen, Maddie. I don’t want to play games with you. I think I know what you wanted to tell me,” he says.
My heart speeds up another notch and I find myself fidgeting with the ingredients, not really knowing what I’m tossing together.
“I just want to let you know that I feel…”
“Good morning!” A bright and cheery Nancy bounces into the kitchen, interrupting Rocco’s confession at precisely the right time. She leans over the counter in front of Rocco as if he isn’t there and looks at me. “Can we talk, Maddie? Please?” She looks so sincere and almost lost.
I grab the opportunity, glancing at Rocco before I wipe my hands on my apron and I give all my attention to Nancy. Rocco turns away and walks out of the kitchen and my heart drops.
I’m not interested in what she has to say any longer. My main goal is to keep Rocco from confessing something I’m not ready to hear and I accomplished that. Now I feel crummy and want to make it right with him. My eyes trail after him as he disappears from sight and all I’m left with is Nancy.
“Listen,” Nancy continues.
“I want to sincerely apologize for the way I acted yesterday. I was jealous and I shouldn’t have been.”
“You’re sorry?”
“From the bottom of my heart.”
“For destroying my desserts?”
“Oh, no. For trying to get you into trouble with Joanne and Rocco. I didn’t destroy your desserts.”
“I know you did, Nancy.”
“I assure you, Maddie.” She is so convincing and sweet that I want to vomit. “If I knew who did that to you, I would have said something, but it wasn’t me. I will admit to trying to make you look bad in front of Rocco, only because I thought I liked him. But I can clearly see how you two feel about each other and I know when to back off.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I stop putting my pie filling together as I try to figure out what her angle is.
�
��Not at all. I want you to know that he is yours. I can see you are shy around him, but I think you should go for it. Rocco is a great catch,” she says, looking back at the door with enamor all over her face.
I do not believe her little act, but maybe she is right.
“So, why the change of heart?”
“I see the way he looks at you and I just wish I had that again.”
“Again?”
She nods with a solemn look in her eyes. “I was so in love once. He was my everything. When I lived back in Franklin, Minnesota, we ruled the town together.”
My heart begins to hurt for her as she unravels her love story gone wrong.
“What happened?”
“We were together for two years and he dumped me for Tanya Messinger.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. Small town like that, you can’t get away from it. That’s why I moved out here. I thought it was time to work on my acting career.”
“How long have you been in New York?”
“Long enough to know that it doesn’t happen overnight, or within a few months, or possibly never.”
Maybe I am a little hard on Nancy. I begin to sympathize with her. It can’t be easy changing your whole life because of a breakup.
“Can we get together after work, Nancy? Maybe we can come up with a plan.”
“I’d like that,” she says, smiling.
I smile back, praying I am making the right decision.
My shift ends a few hours before Nancy’s does so I take the courage I have worked up through the day and I find myself looking for Rocco’s name on the list of buttons on his apartment building. I push the buzzer next to his name and I have to fight myself to stay put long enough to justify why I’m there.
“Hello?” I hear his voice over the speaker.
I open my mouth to talk, but nothing comes out. This is wrong. What am I doing? I back away from the speaker and scurry down the stairs to the street.
“Maddie?” His voice is much clearer.
I freeze and close my eyes. My heart pounds through my chest and my mouth dries up. When I turn around, Rocco is standing in the doorway, his face smiling at me. I slowly walk back to him with my hands balled up together.
Chapter 10
ROCCO
When I open the main door and see Maddie there, my heart speeds up. I never imagined I’d get a chance with her.
“Maddie, come in. Please.”
I hold the door open for her until she brushes against me as she walks into the building. I walk her up to the second floor and invite her into my apartment. When she hesitates before entering, I know why she is here. I smile again as I try to play it cool.
“Would you like a drink?”
“No, thank you. Actually, yes. Wine or beer would be great.”
She follows me to the kitchen and I hand her a cold bottle of beer. I watch her as she struggles to open it then tip it back, drinking about half the bottle.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I am, I just…”
“Come here. Sit with me.” I cover her hands with mine and I can feel her tremble. “We don’t have to talk.” I lean to her and I kiss her forehead. My lips linger on her skin as I pick up the familiar scent of her shampoo. I close my eyes and inhale deeply. “God, you smell good,” I whisper. I kiss the side of her face, inhaling deeply again. I hear her breath catch when I slide my fingers up her arm. I kiss her cheek as I raise her face to mine. I watch her open her gorgeous brown eyes and they penetrate me to my soul.
It’s hard to tear away from them, but I do, only to look at her lips, so full and luscious. She parts them slightly and they beg me to kiss them. I cup my hands around her face, giving her a moment to pull away, but she doesn’t. Her breathing is shorter and faster. Her eyes don’t leave my face.
I savor the moment before my lips touch hers. That moment of angst knowing I will finally get what I want. Knowing I will feel her lips touch mine. I will taste her tongue on mine. I will feel her close to me again. I pray she doesn’t pull away from me this time.
“Maddie,” I whisper. The feel of her lip brushes against mine and she leans in, pressing her mouth into me. I lose the ability to breathe for a moment, realizing I finally have her here with me, the way I need her to be. I wrap my arms around her and deepen the kiss. The sweetest gasp escapes her and it penetrates me to my core. My mouth opens and is greeted with the tip of her tongue as it glides along my top lip. My cock jumps to attention and wants to take control but I subdue it with a deep breath before I allow myself to go further.
She slides her hands around my body, collecting my energy as if feeding her own arousal with it. She pulls me to her as her mouth gets greedy for more of my tongue. The heat between us rises quickly. She lets go and I open my eyes, immediately searching for more. She leans back pulling up her top over her head and looking at me for approval. I barely blink as my eyes cascade over her sweet, milky white skin. Her small breasts are cradled behind delicate material I want to rip off with my teeth.
She is the most exquisite creature I had ever seen, so why do I hesitate to touch her? She isn’t bold and crass. She isn’t pushy and needy. She doesn’t force herself on me. Her eyes stay with mine. I feel differently with her. I want to protect her, love her and yet keep her pure. I raise my hand to her face, my fingers sliding along her jawline, following her neck down to her breast and I circle the roundness behind that delicate material. I hook my fingers around each of the straps that hold tight to her shoulders, pulling them down her arms slowly. I watch her face as they inch down, threatening to expose her to my eyes for the first time. I see the insecurity in her eyes, clouded with arousal and an awakening I have never experienced seeing in a woman’s eyes before this moment. I pause, the top of her bra dangling on the hardness of her nipples. She tries so hard to control her breathing and I love that.
“Maddie.” I say her name with a soft delicateness. She looks down to my chest, but she isn’t focused. What is she thinking? I need her soul to be here as well as her body. This can’t be just sex. Not with Maddie. “Talk to me.”
“No,” she says, barely audible. “No talking. Just,” she struggles, swallowing hard, “touch me.”
I will, baby. Just let me see your soul so I can. Let me in.
She closes her eyes and leans to me. I know she wants me to kiss her. I know she wants more, but where will that leave us afterward? Why am I feeling like this? The woman of my dreams sits in front of me, half naked, offering herself to me and I am apprehensive?
I lean into her and kiss her forehead. She knows it isn’t going to happen but she needs to know why. Her lip trembles as she looks away.
“What is wrong?” she asks quietly. “Don’t you want me?”
“I don’t want it this way.”
“Am I not pretty enough? Like your other lovers?”
“Oh, Maddie. That’s just it. You are so much more.”
Tears spring to her eyes and I can’t seem to get out the right words before she grabs her shirt and pulls it back over her head.
“Listen to me, Maddie, please,” I beg as she stands and turns away. “I haven’t seen anyone since I met you. Don’t you see? I want so much more, with you.”
“Don’t patronize me. I might be a virgin, but I’m not stupid.”
Her words strike me and leave me speechless. I watch as she puts herself back together and quickly leaves my apartment without another look in my direction. The urge to run after her hits me after I hear my front door close, but when I run after her she is nowhere to be seen.
“Damn it.”
I close my door and lean against the wall.
Chapter 11
MADDIE
Maybe I am overacting, but I couldn’t hold back the tears. I couldn’t let him see me cry because of my insecurities. The idea that I don’t hold up to Rocco’s expectations hurts me. I have imagined the women in his life, how beautiful they were, how confident they moved. I want
so much more with him, but I know that is the first step. A man like Rocco Santoro lives differently than most. He’s not like other guys I have dated.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door. Rocco? I wipe my face and look in the mirror. With a grimace, I walk quickly to the door and open it, only to be surprised to see Nancy standing in my doorway.
“Nancy? I thought we were going to meet for drinks later? How did you get my address?”
“I sort of looked it up in Joanne’s computer. I’m sorry, don’t be mad,” she pleads, her hand stretch out to me. “I really need a friend right now. I know we didn’t start out on the right foot, but I was hoping I could just talk. Things are worse for me than I let on.”
As much as I don’t want to hear this, I step back and force a smile, opening my door further and inviting her in.
“Thank you so much. I sometimes feel so alone in this big city.” She sits on my couch and I join her, staying on the edge and at the other end. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything. You look like you’ve been crying.”
“Ah,” I say, waving my hand in the air. “I was watching some of those sappy videos online. They always get to me.”
“You have to tell me how things went with Rocco. Did you tell him how you feel?”
She seems so interested, like a friend should be. And yes, she is the reason I bit the bullet and went to see him. But I feel funny telling her about my personal life. I feel funny that she is even in my apartment. Funny? No, violated. I need time to comprehend her reasoning for her change of heart.
“I, um, I haven’t found the right opportunity yet.”
“Oh. That’s weird. Weren’t you with him tonight?”
“What? How did you know I was…”
“He lives around the corner from my favorite coffee shop. They have the best coffee in the city,” she admits. “I thought I saw you go in. That’s why I had to find out what happened.” Her excitement is too much. I get up and walk to the kitchen with so many questions in my head. I ask only one.
“Would you like some coffee?”