No Vacancy

by Stephanie Rose

  In an effort to distract myself, I surveyed the lunch crowd. For October, on a weekday, it was still a healthy amount of people. Dad started an investment account for me, and the numbers were in good shape. That used to be all I needed to be happy until a gorgeous Italian girl from Brooklyn strolled into my restaurant looking for something to eat and upended my priorities. Now I needed her, and the more time passed without some kind of a reply, the more of a lost cause it became.

  “Joe?” Tommy, one of our waiters, tapped me on the shoulder. “I tried taking a customer’s order, but she’s insisting on speaking to you. She’s at the booth in the corner.” He tilted his chin toward the back and hustled to the next table before I could ask why. I blew out a slow breath and shook my head as I made my way to the corner, stopping in my tracks when I recognized the woman sitting in the booth.

  “I’m dying for some mutzadalle sticks. Think you could hook me up?” Caterina’s lips spread in a slow smile.

  I blinked a couple of times, wondering if this was an illusion brought on by wishful thinking. In the days following her departure, I saw her everywhere, and it had driven me mad. But as I stared at her head on, this wasn’t a sadness-induced mirage. She was here, sitting at the same table as she had that first night she’d stumbled in here looking for an escape. It seemed both like yesterday and a lifetime ago.

  She rose from her seat and walked toward where I stood, trying to will my heart back into my chest. She was so beautiful, it was unfair. I’d never stood a chance.

  I wanted to scoop her in my arms and kiss the hell out of her, not giving even one fuck about the bustle of customers around me, but we needed to talk first.

  She reached out to place her hand on my chest, stilling before her palm settled over my racing heart. “I’m sorry, Joe. I panicked, and I hurt you, and I never, ever wanted to do that.” She swallowed and darted her eyes away for a moment. “How I feel about you…it scares me. The two weeks I spent with you were the happiest I’ve ever been, and I was afraid of never having that again.”

  She took a deep breath and grabbed my wrist. “I love you. And I don’t care how hard it is. Whether or not I see you once a week or once every six months, I’m yours.” A watery smile stretched her lips before she laced our fingers together and squeezed my hand. “All yours, baby.” Her features hardened before she clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Again, if you could just blink or—”

  She squealed as I lifted her by the waist and crushed my lips against hers. I dug my fingers into her hair as I kept my other arm around her waist. After the past few days, afraid I’d lost her, she was back in my arms, and I couldn’t put her down until I was convinced this was really happening, not some dream my lonely mind had conjured because I missed her so damn much. We belonged together, and, now that she was back in my arms, I’d be damn sure to never let her go again.

  “Hey, lover boy!” We broke apart as we turned to Dominic’s voice. “Customers, dude.”

  Caterina giggled into my neck before I set her down.

  “So, you love me?” I whispered before tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “So, so much, Joe.” Her chin quivered as she nodded. “You have no idea how—”

  I grabbed her hand and weaved through the tables, pulling her behind me.

  “Sorry,” I muttered to a few patrons I recognized. “I haven’t seen my girlfriend in a long time.” I turned my head, searching for a wince at my use of the word girlfriend, but she didn’t flinch.

  “Where are we going?” Caterina asked as she tried to keep up with my swift pace out of the restaurant.

  “My apartment,” I told her before taking her mouth in another sloppy but grateful-as-all-hell kiss. “I won’t be able to hold back or be quiet.” The corners of my lips twitched when her eyes darkened. “And we both know you can’t.” I looped my thumbs into the waistband of her jeans and yanked her closer, right into the bulge in my pants that was about to break my zipper. “I need inside you…a few times. I’ll owe Dominic for taking the lunch rush.” I nipped at her jaw, loving the way she slumped against me. “And part of the dinner one, too, most likely.” I leaned my forehead against hers. “I love you so much. I’m afraid if I stop touching you, you’ll disappear.”

  “Nope.” She blinked away a tear and tried to cover it up with a swipe of the back of her hand. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Well,” I slid my hand to the nape of her neck, “you did say you loved me, and that you’re mine. You even called me baby.” I covered her mouth with mine again and grazed my teeth along her bottom lip as I pulled away.

  “Get upstairs before I get arrested in front of my own restaurant.” My hand came down on her ass with a loud smack before I opened my front door and pulled her up the stairs with me.

  Maybe we didn’t have it all figured out yet. But I knew, without a doubt, nothing would ever be better than this. Better than us.

  43

  Caterina

  One month later

  “He fits in really well!” My cousin Rosa whispered behind me as we peered at the zoo that was our family from the doorway of my mother’s kitchen. Thanksgiving was always a chaotic madhouse, and adding my family chomping at the bit to meet Joe for the first time, the energy had somehow intensified. Although the taste of anisette made me want to puke, I let my aunt pour a drop in my coffee to ease my anxiety.

  “He’s a tolerant man.” I sipped my coffee, cringing as the taste of licorice assaulted my taste buds each time I swallowed.

  “And hot as hell.” She nudged my side. “Nice work. I know I wouldn’t have come home if I’d had a taste of that on vacation.”

  “That’s enough, Rosa,” my Aunt Renee scolded from across the kitchen. “Make yourself useful and put these out before we do Cat’s cake.” She handed my cousin a tray of cookies. This was why you never wore pants with buttons on an Italian holiday. We had a round of antipasto before dinner, which consisted of a large tray of lasagna in addition to the turkey, and seven different kinds of dessert, including my plain yellow birthday cake with chocolate frosting.

  “Is Phil still chewing his ear off about his restaurant?” Aunt Renee tsked as she swept her gaze over the couch, where my uncle droned on, and Joe sat in rapt attention. “You’re right, he is a tolerant man.”

  I grinned, loving having Joe here with my family. He was too good of a person to be anything but friendly and respectful when they all swarmed us the second we stepped foot in the door. Having Joe in my life was a gift I’d never expected to get, and I enjoyed every second.

  “Where the hell are the candles?” My mother rummaged through one of her many junk drawers before I tried to wave her off.

  “I’m thirty-four, candles aren’t necessary.”

  “Of course, they are.” My mother banged the box of old, reused-God-knows-how-many-times candles on her kitchen counter.

  “You didn’t lie about your age, did you?” Rosa dropped a hand on my arm, her brow furrowed in concern.

  I tried to hide my eye roll before shooting my cousin a glare. “No, I did not. Thirty-four isn’t old. In fact,” I said before catching Joe’s gaze .“I feel younger all the time.” He wore a dark blue sweater molded to his torso and dark jeans. His lips spread into a wide grin, and I wished we could move along with dessert so he could spread me back at my apartment. Something about having Joe in my apartment and in my bed excited the hell out of me. I’d been visiting him the past three weekends, thanks to my new work schedule, but this was the first time he was able to come in to see me.

  The Halloween Scavenger Hunt had been a success, and, next week, I’d be helping Joe and Dominic decorate for the Christmas tour I’d discovered online. The Beach Pub didn’t quite see the summer volume of business, but it had a lot more activity than usual after their busy season ended. My chest swelled with pride that I was able to help Joe and that I didn’t have to keep ungodly long hours to feel good about what I did for a living.

&n
bsp; I went out into the living room and made my way over to Joe. There was no room on the couch, and I’d never hear the end of it if I planted myself on his lap. I stood next to him, rubbing his back in slow, hopefully, soothing circles.

  “Thank you for your patience,” I whispered as he rested his head on my hip.

  “I’m happy to be here. No need for thank you.” He nodded toward the dining room table. “Now, I see why you love dessert so much. I own a restaurant, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much food in one day.”

  “We like to eat.” I shrugged. “And on holidays, we eat a lot.” My aunt fluttered around the cake, fussing with the lighter.

  “Where did you find a three and a four?” I groaned as I made my way over to the table after spotting two mint green number candles shoved into the cake.

  My mother shrugged. “I saved them from when you were little and just found them now. Easier than counting them out.”

  “Who knew candles lasted that long?” My Uncle Zaro snickered before elbowing my side.

  Joe snaked his arm around my waist from behind.

  “Can we leave after the cake?” His words fanning hot against my neck triggered goose bumps down my shoulder. “I need to wish a hot cougar a very happy birthday.”

  My mouth fell open before I turned my head. “I am not that much older than you are. Three years does not make a cougar.”

  His lips twisted as his head cocked from side to side. “Technically, now, it’s almost four. But—”

  Joe was cut off by the off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday” my family bellowed out. My icy glare only made him laugh harder.

  As a kid, I’d put a lot of effort into my wish each year. My family would yell to blow out the candles already, but I took my time because I refused to waste my wish. Yet, I’d never really expected anything I’d wished for to come true. Today, I blew the candles right out.

  After years of being afraid to go outside the lines, and only doing what I thought I was supposed to do, this was the year I realized all it had cost me and all I’d missed. I finally believed I deserved more than the tiresome life I’d allowed myself to have, and on one lowly Thursday night, I jumped in my car and decided to do something about it. After a lifetime of making excuses out of fear, I’d learned there was always room for the important things in life, and how important it was to fight for them, even when they seemed impossible.

  Joe buried his head into my neck and brushed a kiss behind my ear.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “Happy early birthday, baby.”

  I didn’t need my wish, because this was the year they all came true.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Joe

  “Nervous?” Dominic asked as we closed out the register for the day.

  “Nope. What’s there to be nervous about? We pretty much live together now. That’s like being married already. This is just sealing the deal, right?”

  Dom arched a brow. “You’re scared shitless, aren’t you?” He studied me as he filled the bank deposit envelope.

  “Terrified,” I finally admitted before letting my head drop into my hands. “This woman is my whole damn life. I don’t think I can handle it if she says no.” I’d had the ring for weeks already, but each time I thought of asking Caterina to marry me, I broke out into a cold sweat. It wasn’t because I was unsure. In fact, I’d never wanted anything more, which is why the thought of her saying no scared the shit out of me.

  She still traveled back and forth between Ocean Cove and Brooklyn, but sublet her apartment when she started working remotely from here most of the time. Thanks to her, The Beach Pub was now profitable all year long. Summer was still when most of the cash flowed in, but through events and social media, the off months weren’t dead anymore, and that was all Caterina.

  I’d offered to give her some kind of salary hundreds of times for all she put into promotion, but she’d refused. She insisted helping me was its own reward, and she loved finding new ways to get our name out there. We were even able to keep half the staff instead of just getting by on two waitresses and a bus boy until Memorial Day. Combined with the investments my father made on our behalf, we were in a great place—the best place since I’d first opened.

  “She won’t say no. You guys are still attached at the hip after a year. Just don’t fuck it up tonight.” He smirked before handing the envelope back to me to put into the safe.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I barked out a laugh as I looked over the numbers before locking the envelope away. “If she doesn’t hit any traffic, she should be here in another hour or so. Plenty of time to set up what I need to.”

  “You aren’t taking her on the beach to propose, are you? It’s like twenty degrees out there.” He narrowed his eyes as he shrugged on his jacket.

  “I have a plan, no worries. What about you?”

  “What do you mean, what about me?” Dom had a defensive edge to his voice, as he always did whenever I asked him about his life outside of this place. He pushed me about Caterina but was tight-lipped about his own personal life.

  “You were the first one to tell me there’s more to life than working. I haven’t seen you with anyone since—”

  “I’m fine.” His answer was curt and not sarcastic like he usually was. “We just got you a life. Next year, maybe we’ll work on mine.” He slapped my arm before heading toward the door. “Good luck, man.”

  “Thanks, Dom. For everything.”

  He lifted his gaze to mine and rolled his eyes. “Save the sappiness for your woman. And thanks aren’t needed. You deserve this. You both do.” He reached for the door handle before glancing back at me. “Just don’t fuck it up.” His lip curled into a smirk.

  “I’ll do my best.” The door shut behind him, and I was alone. I sucked in a long breath before I got to work, first shoving the velvet box I’d hidden in the safe in my back pocket. My worries finally started to dissipate as I realized there was no way I could mess this up. From the very beginning, she’d been the one.

  Caterina

  “Joe?” I knocked on the locked door of The Beach Pub, shivering and praying Joe would put me out of my misery and let me in. This was the worst cold snap I ever remembered in November, and it made me dread the winter to come. Beaches might have been an oasis during the summer, but living so close to one during the cold months chilled me to the bone.

  I let out a white puff of relief when I spotted him on the other side of the glass door and heard the locks click open.

  “Thank God!” I pecked him on the lips and hurried inside. “It’s like Antarctica out there.” I pulled off my coat and gloves, rubbing my hands together in an attempt to get some of the feeling back. “I think you should invest in a fireplace.” I blew at my hands to defrost them, but it was no use.

  Joe took my hands in both of his before bringing them to his mouth and planting a kiss on both of my palms. I stopped shaking from the cold and shivered for a whole different reason. Even after being together for over a year, this man still had the power to melt my extremities to jelly.

  “We’re on the water, baby. It’s always colder here. I can warm you up, though.” He pulled me to him and brushed my lips with his.

  “That sounds great, but can you feed me first? I left right after the meeting to get a head start on the road, and I’m starving.”

  “I’ll make you something. Go sit down, and I’ll be right out.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead before heading into the kitchen.

  I plopped into the booth I always used, exhaling in relief after finally getting here after sitting in traffic for almost four hours. I could have slept at my mother’s house, but I didn’t like to spend a night without Joe if I could help it. The closer I got to Ocean Cove, the more I’d relaxed. Brooklyn would always be my home, but this was where my heart was.

  “You love that table, don’t you?” Joe came out of the kitchen and set a plate in front of me, along with a cup of tea.

&nb
sp; “I do,” I answered, chuckling when I realized he made me mozzarella sticks. “Still have a lot of these on hand, I see?”

  He nodded. “This table is where I first saw you. I bet you don’t even realize.”

  I crinkled my nose before taking a sip of tea. “Actually, I do. But how did you remember that?”

  “I remember when I came over to ask if I could help you, and you looked up at me with dark eyes and long lashes and the most kissable lips I’d ever seen.”

  I crossed my arms and leaned them on the table. “You didn’t know that yet.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “I found out soon enough, didn’t I?”

  “You did.” I held his gaze as I swirled a stick in marinara sauce.

  “I loved you from the second I saw you. Confused the shit out of me, but I couldn’t ignore it.” His lips curved as he leaned back.

  “Ignoring it didn’t work for me, either. I tried, but …” I shrugged. “No use.”

  “I remember that, too.” His eyes darted around the room. He seemed jumpy and impatient for some reason. “Grab your coat. I want to show you something.”

  “Ugh, Joe.” I groaned. “Can I finish my tea first before I freeze up again?”

  “Come on, it’s just for a minute.” He stood and grabbed my coat from where it was draped over the seat.

  “Fine.” I shrugged it on and stuffed my hands into my pockets as I followed Joe outside. “Where did you get all these?” I eyed the lanterns half buried in the sand around the patio. “Is this for the Christmas promo? I can’t believe I didn’t think of it last year. Maybe we could get a couple of space heaters? How much would it be to rent a few or maybe we could buy—”

  I trailed off when I turned and couldn’t find Joe behind me, my breath catching in my throat when I realized he was down on one knee.