by Jade, Ella
“Do you talk to her?”
“Occasionally, but I don’t reach out to her.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t pity me.” She shot me a warning glare.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“My past was shitty but my present is pretty awesome.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make your present everything it should be and don’t even get me started on your future. I’ve got that covered too.”
“I’m sure you do.” She traced my fingers with her thumb. “What was your childhood like?”
“Guarded.” I laughed. “Much like my adult life.”
“Has Joey always been with you?”
“For the most part. When I was younger, I thought it was normal to have a guard because all of my brothers did and my mom and dad too. Once I got to school, I realized it wasn’t.”
“That must have been awkward.”
“I went to private school so some of the kids’ parents were lawyers, senators, prominent people. I thought my dad was important too.” He imported stuff but when people asked what he did, I never really had an answer. “He kept his business to himself but as I got older, others knew who we were. Some were cool about it but other’s made jokes or stayed away from me because their parents insisted on it. I lost some friends growing up but didn’t understand why until I was older.”
“That must have been lonely.” She patted my hand. “You were a kid.”
“Don’t pity me.” I winked. “I had my brothers and lots of cousins. In college, I broadened my horizons and found by that age, people didn’t care who you were. I studied abroad and learned who I was away from the Marchelli stigma. It was an enlightening time but when I graduated, I knew where I belonged.”
“With your family.”
“Always.”
“That’s what I love most about your family. You’re all so supportive of one another.”
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.”
“I can see that with all of you.” She stared at our joined hands, her voice quiet, sullen. I noticed her mood changed when we talked about my family. I wondered if that was because hers was so distant. Her childhood sounded dreadful compared to mine. All the years she spent without her parents had taken a toll on her. As much as she wanted to leave the past behind her, it wasn’t as easy as she pretended it to be. “It’s beautiful to witness.”
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
Our eyes locked in on another’s gaze. She looked as if she didn’t believe me. I’d have to change that.
“I feel the same way about you.”
“I don’t let people in,” I reminded her. “That’s something that was instilled in us at an early age. We’re always on guard and often can’t trust people because of who my father is.”
“I know.” A worried look crossed her face.
“You have nothing to be afraid of.” I wasn’t telling her this to make her run away. “My family has kept me safe my whole life. Being with me might not be as low key as you’d like with the media attention but it isn’t dangerous.”
“Says the man with the bodyguard.” She squeezed my hand. “You have no idea.”
“That’s to humor my father. Joey has it easy with me. His biggest job before I met you was keeping all those women away.”
“He doesn’t have to do that anymore?”
“Thanks to Maria and her constant social media posts about us, things have cooled down in that department.”
“You must be devastated.” She laughed.
“That was never my style. Most of those women want to get close to me because of who I am not because they really want to be with me. Some have tried to get close to Dominick or Gianni by friending me.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Believe it or not, some women are drawn to danger.”
“I’m not.”
“As I said, my family can be overwhelming but you’re safe with me.” There would always be risks but I didn’t foresee any threats.
“I’m not afraid to be with you.”
“Good because I’ve dropped all of my defenses when it comes to you. I’ve never trusted anyone, other than my family, the way I trust you. I hope you know how difficult that was for me.”
“Sal, I...” A solitary tear slid down her cheek.
“Hey.” I went to her, kneeling in front of her chair. “This is supposed to be a positive conversation.” I wiped the tear away. “I’m pouring my soul out to you.”
“I know.” A few more tears fell, one landed on my pants. “It’s just that I, well, no one has ever been this good to me. I had no idea we would become this close. I didn’t mean to...” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know how your world works. What if I make a mistake?”
“First of all, I’m a legitimate businessman.” She’d never have to worry about my father’s connections coming for her. His life wasn’t mine. “Unless you screw up so poorly in the kitchen, you can’t take down the winery. I realize my family can be intimidating at times, but there is nothing you can do to hurt them. That world is separate from us.”
“They’re your world.”
“Now you are too.” I kissed her knuckles. “If my life ever becomes too much for you, I hope you’ll tell me. I don’t want you to run away from me.”
“I never could.”
“Well, you might change your mind after I tell you why I brought you out here to share with you.”
“What is it?”
Her legs twitched because she was anxious. For a woman who had such solid nerves in the kitchen, she was awfully jittery around me, especially when I tried to get serious. I had to chalk that up to the amount of time she’d spent alone in her life. I was learning her. Eventually, I’d break down her defenses.
“Relax.” I twisted a lock of her hair around my finger. “There’s someone who’d like you to cook with them. I think it’ll be a wonderful experience for you.” If she passed this test, I’d know she was the one.
“A chef?” Her nerves settled at the mention of cooking. “Local?”
“She’s not exactly a chef but she can cook.”
“She?”
“Rocco’s trained with her.” I laughed when I thought about how he almost got thrown out of the kitchen. “She’s an expert on authentic Italian cooking. She’s already cooked for you but now she wants you to return the favor.”
“She’s cooked for...” The skin between her brow creased as she thought for a moment. “Oh, no! Your grandmother?”
“The one and only.”
Mama Stella wanted a chance to get to know Hayden. She had this sixth sense about her. We all joked that she always knew when a person found their true mate. She called it their one. If a couple got my grandmother’s stamp of approval then they were good to go.
“I don’t know about that,” she said. “Rocco said she was the toughest person he’s ever cooked for.”
“Mama adores him.” Rocco was the only person my grandmother gave her sauce recipe to. I didn’t even have it. “She taught him so much in a few hours. He still goes to visit her once a month and bounces ideas off her.”
“She scares me.”
“She scares all of us.”
Mama was a fireball. She spoke her mind and kept all of us in line but she loved deeply and only wanted the best for us. “Angelique and Nadia take cooking lessons from her.”
“She’ll hold me to a higher standard.”
“As she should.” I shuddered when I thought about their cooking skills. I loved them hard but I understood why Vincenzo and Gianni dined frequently at the winery. “You’re a trained chef. She wants to see what you’ve got.”
“I’m honored.”
“You should be.”
“She’s sharp.” She leaned down and kissed me. “As frightening as the thought of cooking in your grandmother’s kitchen is, I have a feeling it’s more than her wanting to see me cook.”
&
nbsp; “She wants to get to know you.”
“I want to get to know her too.”
“Thank you for doing that for her. It means a lot.”
“I’m doing it for you too.” She traced her finger along my jaw. “It’s small but I finally get to do something for you. If Mama Stella likes me, I’ve made it.”
“This isn’t small.” I pressed her hand against my face, indulging in her warmth. “This is one of the biggest things you’ll ever do for me.”
One day she would understand how important this was to me. I already knew what Mama Stella would confirm. Hayden is my one.
Chapter Thirteen
Hayden
I Believe Everything You Say
I sat at the counter, taking in everything I could as Rocco creatively stuffed the sushi. Rolling it with such care. It was obvious how much he loved to work with food. Getting to know him was the highlight of my career. He’d been in the business for almost thirty years. He’d seen and learned so much. He’d studied abroad, working with the finest chefs. He was a local celebrity. People cherished him. Sal often said Rocco was one of his dearest friends.
“Why so quiet today?” Rocco asked. “Usually, you’re full of questions.”
“I’m admiring your work.”
“You’re putting off asking me something.” He arched a brow at me. “I can’t respect Sal’s wishes if you don’t ask me.”
“He told you about my menu?” That man! “He said he would let me do it.”
“He said you were taking too long.” Rocco laughed as he finished tending to his sushi. “Salvatore can be a patient man but when he really wants something, he gets it done.”
“It sounds like you know him well.”
“I admire and respect him.” He sliced his latest creation and meticulously placed it on a plate. “So?”
“I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to ask you about this menu for days.” I reached into my pocket and took out a folded, tattered paper. “I didn’t want to overstep.”
“If you don’t take chances, you’ll never succeed. What is the worst I can do? Say no?”
“You sound like Sal.” I handed him the paper.
“Talking about me?” My handsome boyfriend entered the room, right on cue, dressed in one of his finest suits. How did he always manage to appear so put together?
He joined us at the counter, kissing the top of my head before sitting next to me. “That looks fantastic.” He motioned toward Rocco’s plate. “The presentation is spectacular. Have Maria photograph it and send it to the top blogs. She should post it over all of our social media too. Make sure she mentions it’s on the menu for a limited time. That will get them in here faster.”
“See what happens when this guy is in your corner?” Rocco winked at me. “The sky is the limit.”
“It’s easy when I have such brilliant people to work with.” He nodded at us. “Both of you are working so hard. The chemistry you have in the kitchen really shows. The customers and the critics are eating you up.”
“Almost as much as they’re taken by the two of you.” Rocco pointed at us. “They come here to see you walk her out of the kitchen every night.”
“Do they?” Sal shrugged. “I don’t notice anything when I’m with this one.” He kissed my cheek. “She’s amazing.”
“You’re extremely encouraging.” I should have been embarrassed by the attention but when Sal spoke, I listened. I couldn't remember my days without him other than they were isolated and dark. I never wanted to wake up and not see his face.
“I’m going to see what Maria thinks about my latest dish.” Rocco picked up the plate. “Hayden has shared some ideas with me. I’ll look them over and decide which one we can work on and get on the menu.”
“You finally showed him?” Sal smirked. “About time.”
“Hmm...” I shot him a pointed look. “Funny how he already knew.”
“I told you if you didn’t do it, I would,” he reminded me. “I always do what I say I’m going to do.”
“I think that’s my indication to leave.” Rocco’s boisterous laugh filled the kitchen. “I’ll let you two figure this out. Go easy on him, Hayden. He means well.”
“Rocco.” Sal slipped off the stool, walking Rocco to the door. “Thank you for taking such good care of my girl.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“You’re an incredible friend.”
“It’s you, my friend, who is the incredible one.” He patted Sal’s back. “Take care of that one.” He smiled at me. “She’s a true gem.”
“I know it.” Sal walked toward me as Rocco left the kitchen. “I’ve missed you.”
“You just saw me this morning. I made you breakfast, remember?”
“While the breakfast was quite memorable...” He sat on the stool, pulling me off mine and guiding me to stand between his legs. “It was the shower for two that sticks with me the most.”
“That was a memorable experience, especially when you did that thing I really like.”
“I really like doing that thing.” He gripped my hips. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“I should be mad at you.”
“For?”
“Telling Rocco about my menu.”
“The one you happen to be carrying around in your pocket, trying to get up the nerve to ask him about?”
“How did you know it was in my pocket?”
“I’m observant.” He kissed my neck. “I see when you take it out and peek at it. It’s cute when you make adjustments to it when you think I’m not looking.”
“I don’t do that.”
When he stared at me with a subtle grin, I realized he was on to me. “You always look so lost in your tablet, busy with all of your winery responsibilities. How do you pay attention to me?”
“I always pay attention to you.” He kissed my throat, working his way up to my jaw, and then my lips. “You’re my main priority.”
“You’re my main everything.”
“You’re quite flattering.” He wrapped his arms around my waist. “I like the sound of being your everything.”
“I’ve never had anything like this before. I’m taking it all in and enjoying every second. It’s difficult for me to remember a time when I wasn’t with you.”
“There’s so much more.” When he dropped his gaze to my mouth, my insides scorched with lust. “I’m not only going to be your everything but I’m going to give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
“You already have.” I caught his bottom lip between my teeth. “All I need is you.”
“You had me the first time we met even if you had no idea who I was.” He tangled his fingers in my hair. “You continue to mesmerize me.”
“Kiss me.” My request was breathless and needy.
“I’ll do you one better.” He took my hand and led me out of the kitchen. “I’ll take you upstairs and do all the things you like.”
Yes!
SALVATORE
Fifteen minutes before dinner service and we had a bit of a problem. I didn’t think it was going to be a huge deal but my sous chef might. I caught Hayden as she was going into the kitchen.
“Hey!” I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me before she could disappear.
“Hi.” Her eyes sparkled when she saw me. That look she got when I was close would never get old. “How was your meeting?”
“Shitty.”
“Sorry.” She gently kissed my cheek. “You have a lot on your mind.”
“You’re observant.” I’d been trying to handle the day to day work but not having my mother here to help with any problems was taking a toll on me. Maria had really stepped up these last few days but the winery was growing. I’d have to think about how we should proceed with our expansion. These were not bad problems to have. Of course, the various shipping problems and odd occurrences I’d been finding were becoming worrisome. I’d have to address them and soon. But now I had to deal with the most pressing i
ssue. How we were going to serve a packed house without my head chef.
“I don’t want to add to your stress,” she said. “But Rocco isn’t here yet. I’ve left him a message but haven’t heard from him. I handled dinner prep. It wasn’t a problem but I’m worried about him. It isn’t like him to disappear.”
“He’s fine.” I’d heard from him a few hours ago. “His niece fell off her bike today and broke her arm in two places.”
“Oh, no!”
“She’s going into surgery now.” They were waiting for one of the top surgeon’s in the city to get to the hospital. I was able to cash in a favor and get him there to perform the procedure. I had to fly him in from his Vegas vacation. “Obviously, Rocco is with his sister.”
“Of course.”
“That leaves us without an Executive Chef tonight.”
“Did you call Martino?”
Martino filled in for Rocco on his day off. He was in charge before Rocco was hired. He was an old family friend who retired when I brought Rocco in but still filled in when I needed him.
“No.”
“Do you want me to call him? I know you’re busy with preparing the dining room and getting ready to greet the customers. I can do it. I don’t mind. I want to help you.”
“Why would we need Martino when I have you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re filling in for Rocco tonight.” I expected her resistance but there was no doubt she could do what I asked. There was no better opportunity to build her confidence. “There’s no time for another solution. Rocco sends his blessing.”
“Sal?”
“I need you to do this for me.” I took her face between my hands. “I need you to do this for you.”
“I can’t run the kitchen.” She swallowed hard as her jaw muscles tensed. “I’m not ready.”
“Yeah, you are ready and you can run the kitchen. You have a fantastic team in there. You can lead them.”
“You make me believe I can.” She closed her eyes. “I believe everything you say.”
“I love you, believe that.” I pressed my lips to her before she could protest. “Now get in that kitchen and cook.”