“‘I’m going to tell them right now that I want Saturday evening off,” I didn’t realize that I’d spoken out loud until Tracy answered me.
“You might want to wait a minute. You have more pressing things to handle right now.”
I looked up at her. She gestured with her chin towards the entrance. Trenton came in, removing his hat and sunglasses. He was very handsome in his work uniform. Better said, he was downright edible. From where I stood behind the counter, I watched him slid into the booth and fold his hands on the table, looking out the window. Tracy elbowed me.
“Go get him, girlfriend. “
I smoothed my hair and checked my uniform before I headed over to him. I knew that he knew I was there before I said anything.
“Dining alone today” I asked, smiling down at him.
Slowly, he turned his head, fixing me with those striking eyes. Their intense blue hue always startled me. I’ve never seen anyone with such beautiful eyes. Perhaps it was because everyone in my family had either brown or black eyes. I wanted to stare at him. But right now, I had to take his order or get yelled at by my brother.
Trenton smiled at me and I felt my stomach do a flip. “I was hoping to have lunch with this really good-looking waitress. If she isn’t busy.”
I lowered my head pretending to pout. “Fine. I’ll get Tracy over here.”
Trenton grabbed my hand as I turned away. “Not her. I meant you, darlin’.”
Heat suffused my body from the point where his skin touched mine all the way to my toes. I nodded. “I’d like that.” It wasn’t like we were busy. I took his order and went to put it in.
Tracy wandered over. “So?”
“So?”
“What’d he say?”
I grinned at her over my shoulder. “I’m gonna take my break.”
“Oooo, a lunch date.”
“Who’s got a lunch date?”
Tracy and I turned to see Marco come up behind us with a stack of towels in his hands. I took them from him and put them in the bin under the counter. He watched me, waiting for me to answer.
When I didn’t say anything, he glanced at Tracy. “You got a lunch date, Tray?” He looked around the nearly empty restaurant, his eyes scanning possible dates for her. His gaze settled on Trenton and he nodded. “He seems ok.”
Tracy rolled her eyes. “Not me, dodo. Your sister.”
One dark eyebrow lifted and Marco studied Trenton with new eyes. “Since when are you dating that guy?”
I passed Tracy a look that plainly said, thanks a lot. Oh well. I couldn’t take it back now. Besides, I had no reason to hide anything from Marco, nor was I obligated to answer to him, or even to Mama and Papa for that matter. I was an adult and more than capable of handling my own affairs.
“I’m going to take a break, Marco,” I said quietly. I tried to keep the defiant note out of my tone but didn’t quite succeed.
“You never take a break,” he answered, looking from me to Trenton and back.
“Yeah, well I’m taking one today. We aren’t busy right now.”
I had him there. And he knew it. And he knew he couldn’t say or do anything to stop me. So he merely nodded and walked away. I hadn’t heard the last of this, I knew it. I only wondered when he would bring it up and if he would bring it up in front of our parents.
Tracy gave a low whistle after Marco went back into the kitchen. “Damn girlfriend,” she said softly. “He isn’t going to get you in trouble is he?”
I shrugged. “Let him go squeal. I’m an adult. Papa can’t ground me or forbid me to see him. The most they’ll do is grumble.”
She shook her head. “You should just go for it. I mean, you’re entitled to a little fun too.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yes I am. Besides, it’s only lunch. It’s not like I’m going to elope with him.”
Tracy grinned.
“Don’t even think about it,” I said warningly as I went over to the window to get our food. “Not happening.”
“Never say never. He might sweep you off your feet and you’ll have him taking orders from you.”
I laughed at her. “Not hardly. Be back in a bit.”
She waved me on. “Take your time. Sheesh. It’s not busy.”
Nodding, I walked over to the table with the tray. Trenton looked up and stood to take it from my hands.
“You will join me?” When I nodded again, he waited until I’d sat down to resume his seat.
I took one of the plates he offered me and our fingers brushed. Electric jolts shot down my arm from the innocent contact. I glanced at him quickly to see if he’d noticed the sparks. He was staring at me, his blue eyes smoldering. So he’d felt it too. I found that I couldn’t look away from him as I served a slice of the steaming pizza on the plate and handed it to him. He nodded his thanks and waited until I’d served myself before picking up his fork.
“Will you pass the parmesan cheese?” he asked softly.
The container was easily within his reach, but I picked it up and handed it to him. Once again, our fingers touched and this time, he closed his around mine on the glass container. I bit back the soft gasp and started to pull away.
“No,” he said softly. “Don’t. I just want to touch you for a moment. I’ve been thinking about you all the time. I want to talk to you, be near you all the time. Do you have that going on at all?”
I couldn’t answer for the span of a few heartbeats. I wanted to savor the feel of his warm skin against mine a moment more. Slowly, I nodded. “Yeah I do,” I murmured.
His smile took my breath away. “Good. That’s good.” His thumb rubbed against the back of my hand. Slowly, I let go of the container to turn my hand into his. This time, I couldn’t hold back the soft sigh as my palm sank into his. Trenton squeezed my hand and I knew he’d felt it too.
“Can I get you anything?”
I jumped, looking up at Marco. I slowly pulled my hand from Trenton’s, noting my brother watching us. Trenton passed me a speculative look, but he let go. He looked up at Marco. “No thank you. I think we’re alright.”
Marco looked down at me. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” I hissed. “Go away.”
He walked off, his jaw tight.
“Your boyfriend?” Trenton asked as he dumped Parmesan cheese on his pizza before taking a bite.
I rolled my eyes. “My brother.”
He glanced at me and I saw the flash of relief in his eyes. “Ok. I don’t have to beat him up.”
I choked on the swallow of soda. “Beat up Marco? Why?”
He shrugged. “Well, when a man wants a woman and another man is standing in his way, he has to be removed. But a brother is different. He’s just protecting his sister.”
“Is that Southern logic?”
Trenton lifted a shoulder. “I reckon it is.”
I nibbled on the edge of the pizza crust, regarding him. “I thought you fine Southern gentlemen didn’t fight.”
It was his turn to chuckle. “Well we don’t normally. But there are certain times when it’s necessary.”
“Such as?”
“Well, such as when the family honor is at stake. Or the honor of my lady,” he said, winking at me.
An emotion that I wasn’t ready to put a name to just yet, rose up in my chest. “I’m your lady, Colonel?” I teased him.
Again, Trenton reached over and put his hand over mine. “If you want to be.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Tracy watching with a big grin on her face. I also saw the frown on Marco’s face. I refused to meet his gaze. I curled my fingers around Trenton’s. “I’d be mighty pleased to be your lady, Colonel Boone.”
He laughed. “Your Southern accent has a tinge of Italian, darlin’,” he said, shaking his head. “We’ll work on it.”
We finished the pizza and I stood to clear the table. Trenton stood as well and pulled on his uniform jacket. I couldn’t help but stare at him. God but he was sexy in that uniform! I want
ed to touch him but I held back. Now was hardly the time or the place for that. Especially not with Tracy and Marco watching. Besides, his uniform was too pretty to mess up.
He followed me to the counter and waited patiently for me to put the plates into the gray bin. I turned back to the register but Marco got there first.
“$22.60 please,” he said to Trenton, his voice cool.
Trenton reached into his pocket for his wallet.
“It’s on me,” I said quietly to Marco.
Marco passed me an irritated look. “Dovrà pagare per il cibo di ogni cliente?” Will you pay for every customer’s food?
I gave him a look of my own. “No. Solo il suo.” No. Only his.
Trenton looked from one to the other. “$22.60?”
Marco nodded tersely. “Yes.”
Without another word, Trenton withdrew his credit card and passed it to Marco. He wouldn’t meet my gaze though I was staring holes into him. I couldn’t believe how Marco was acting! I could kill him! I watched as he handed the card back to Trenton and slide the receipt across the counter for him to sign.
“Thank you,” he said, pushing the paper back towards Marco. He put on his sunglasses, turning his head to look at me. “Thanks for lunch, darlin’. I’ll talk to you later.” And he left without another word.
When he was gone, I turned to Marco. “What the hell was that?” I asked him. “Why did you act like that to him?”
Marco shrugged. “What? And stop swearing. Ladies don’t swear.”
I stared at him like he’d suddenly sprouted two heads. “I can’t believe you acted like that. He’ll probably never speak to me again.”
“Good. You don’t need him around anyway. He’s not good for you.”
“And who are you to decide that for me?”
He closed the drawer to the cash register and turned to look at me. “I’m your brother and your boss. I don’t want him angling around you. There’s something about him that I don’t trust. I don’t know what it is, but I just think you shouldn’t get involved with him.”
I shook my head, glaring at him. “As my brother, you should have my back and let me live my life. Trenton has been nothing but nice to me.”
“For now. Until he gets what he wants from you.”
I grabbed a towel. “I’m a big girl, Marco. I can handle Trenton and whatever comes with it.” I started to walk away to clean off the table Trenton and I used. Marco grabbed me by the arm.
“I’m just trying to look out for you. Be a good brother, you know?”
I nodded. “I know. And I love you for it. But I have to try things on my own. He likes me and I like him. I have sense enough to get out if things don’t go the way they should.” I patted his hand. “Trust me, huh?”
He smiled. “I trust you, little sister. It’s him I don’t trust. I guess no one will ever be good enough for you in my eyes. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I won’t get hurt, Marco. I promise.”
______
Marco kept his opinions to himself until Friday evening at dinner. It was one of the few things that Mama insisted on. Once Marco and I were old enough, we started working in the restaurant and the family dinners all but stopped. We worked long hours and Marco and I had to juggle school as well. So Mama finally took a stand on something and decreed that Friday nights were De Luca family dinner night. Of course Friday, Saturday and Sundays were the busiest days for the restaurant but Mama put her foot down and it became a rule. Daddy would often go back after we ate. But at least she was placated.
Mama said grace and we crossed ourselves before she began filling plates and passing them around the table. Mama was a fantastic cook and the restaurant had been her brainchild. Papa would do anything for her and he invested more money than he had into the business. Years later, they had made enough to retire twice and pay for my college tuition. Marco didn’t want to go to college. Instead, he took a few business courses and was in line to take over the business when Papa decided he’d had enough. That was fine by me. I wasn’t really interested in running a business and Marco had the business mind.
I took the plate from my mom. “This looks delicious, Mama,” I said, smiling at her.
She patted my hand briefly before filling another plate and passing it to me to pass to Marco. She set another plate in front of my father. He winked at her and she smiled, looking away as her cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink. I watched them with a smile. Even after all these years, Papa could make her blush. They were still in love with each other. Not that they didn’t argue. Come on, they’re Italian. But they always worked it out. I wanted a love like that. So far, I hadn’t found it. But that didn’t mean I never would.
“How was everything at the restaurant today, Marco?” Papa asked as he always did. As if he hadn’t been there to see it for himself.
Marco wiped his mouth. “Good. It was sort of slow this afternoon. But it picked up.” He gave me a sideways glance. “It was busier for some of us more than others though.”
I sent him a murderous glare. “Sta ziti!” Shut up.
Mama gave me a chiding look. “Alessandra, don’t be rude to your brother.” She looked at Marco. “What are you talking about, Marco?”
He gestured towards me with his fork. “Some of us decided to have lunch with one of the customers.”
“So?” Papa said, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s good customer service, son. Pass the bread.”
Marco handed him the small wicker basket. “Sure, Papa. But this man has been to the restaurant almost every day. And he’s been talking to Alessandra. And I don’t like it.”
Mama looked over at me. “Who is he?”
I swear I could kill Marco. He gave me a smug look, cocksure that Mama and Papa would shut down whatever was between Trenton and myself.
I shrugged. “He’s a guy that I met when he came to have lunch several weeks ago. He’s very sweet. And we’ve been out a couple of times.”
A look passed between my parents. I knew that look well. It was Papa’s deal with it look. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because there’s nothing to tell.”
“That’s not what it looked like to me,” Marco said, waving his fork. “They seemed awful cozy, holding hands and stuff.”
Mama smiled at my brother. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Marco. I’m sure you hold your date’s hand too.”
He frowned. “That’s not the point, Mama,” he answered. “He’s a service man. You know how they are Papa. I don’t trust him. I don’t want to see my sister get hurt.”
“You don’t even know him,” I snapped.
“Neither do you.”
I blew out a breath. “I know enough about him. And we are going out again.” I turned to look at my dad. “He’s asked me out for tomorrow night. I’d like to take the night off.”
Marco piped up as I knew he would. “Saturday night is one of our busiest nights.”
I had to grip my fork to keep from poking him with it. “Um, excuse me but you have enough people to cover the tables and the counter. And besides, it’s not like I ask for a night off all the time. I never ask for time off. Not even when I have exams. I work hard and I think I deserve a day off.”
We stared at each other until Papa cleared his throat. “I think it will be fine for you to take Saturday off, tesoro.”
“But Papa,” Marco began.
But Papa lifted a hand, cutting him off. “I think it will be fine, Marco,” he said. “Your sister is right. She deserves to have some fun. She works hard. Just as you do.”
I looked down at my plate so that my brother wouldn’t see me smirking at him. For once, my father stuck up for me. I should have known it would be short-lived.
“Where did you meet this boy?”
“He’s not a boy, Papa. He’s a grown man. He came into the restaurant with his friends and he caught my eye. He came back by himself a couple of times and we talked a bit.”
“Wha
t does he do?”
I tried not to roll my eyes. All these damn questions. “He’s a colonel in the Marine Corp,” I answered patiently. “He’s also a recruiter and teaches classes with the ROTC class at the high school.”
Papa and Mama exchanged another of their secret parent looks. I hated when they did that because they never said what was on their minds. “You like this man?”
I nodded. “Yes Papa. I do like him. But don’t worry. I’m not going to run off and marry him or anything stupid like that. We are just going dancing. That’s all.”
Marco snorted and leaned over his plate. “That isn’t all he wants from you, little sister,” he muttered under his breath.
I glared at him. “Shut up, Marco,” I snapped. “You don’t even know Trenton. How do you know what he wants?”
“You don’t know him either. I’ve seen their type before. They play with women, get what they want then add them as another notch in their belts.”
“Please. Spare me.” I faced him. “You could be a little supportive, you know. I was behind you when you wanted to marry that Angelina girl. I told you she was a dog, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“Which is why I’m trying to keep you from making the same mistakes I made.” He sighed, then said grudgingly, “Fine. Go. Have a good time.”
I reached over and covered his hand with mine. “Ti voglio bene,” I love you.
He smiled at me and squeezed my hand. I waited for Mama and Papa to voice their opinions about Trenton. But they remained quiet. I wanted to shake them, get some kind of response from them. Perhaps they were reserving judgement until they’d met him. Fair enough.
I stood to help Mama clear the table. I kissed my father on the cheek as I passed. He smiled and as we went into the kitchen, I could hear him asking Marco about business.
Mama glanced at me as she put away the food. “You didn’t tell us about this one, piccola,” she commented. “Why?”
I shrugged. “No reason.”
That didn’t satisfy her. “Is something wrong? Are you pregnant?”
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