Grill Me, Baby (24 page)

“Oh. I finally got the courage to call Bobby earlier.”

Señora Fuentes nodded approvingly. She had been very vocal about Bobby needing to protect and support his new family. “I’m proud of you. What did he say?”

“He didn’t answer. I wonder if it was him trying to call me back,” Claudia fretted.

“I sure hope so,” Señora Fuentes said emphatically. “Don’t worry. If it was Bobby, he’ll try again.”

“Yes,” Claudia agreed, but she hoped it wouldn’t be right away. She needed just a little more time to figure out how she would confess everything. “What are you watching?” 

“
Pura Sangre
. It’s filmed in Colombia.
”
When a commercial came on, Señora Fuentes switched channels with the remote. 

Suddenly, Claudia exclaimed, “Stop! Can you go back to the last channel?”

“
¿Sí qué pasa?
” Señora Fuentes drew back and eyed Claudia with curiosity as she asked her what was happening. “I think that was a commercial for Maki’s show. I wonder if Paolo knows she has commercials on TV now.” If he did, he hadn’t mentioned anything to Claudia. Then again, her brother had barely been home. He had been very busy with the restaurant, Bernice’s constant demands about Palmentieri’s dinner party, and getting his gimmick ready for his show. 

“Who is Maki? The girl on the commercial?” Señora Fuentes asked.

“Maki is competing against Paolo to host the
Miami Spice
TV show. But that girl on the commercial wasn’t her. Just somebody who looks like her. Maki is a redhead and she doesn’t wear sexy clothes like the blonde had on.”

“
Qué tremenda
,” Señora Fuentes said, calling the blonde “fresh” in Spanish as her penciled-in brows knitted together. “What did she say about love bites?” 

“I think it was something about going to a website for more information about her show. They had www.luvbite.com on the bottom of the screen, so that must be it.” Claudia jumped up from the sofa. “I’m going to call my brother. He needs to get a commercial too!”

Señora Fuentes gave her a dubious, raised-eyebrow look and shook her head. “TV commercials are very expensive.”

Claudia sank back down on the sofa. “True…so what can he do?”

Señora Fuentes shrugged. “I don’t know, but there must be some way Paolo can get more exposure. Many years ago in Cuba, I was an actress on television, but I’ve lost my contacts.” 

“Didn’t you tell me you still do community theatre?”

“Yes, when they’ll have me.” Señora Fuentes sighed and raised her arthritic hands in a dramatic gesture. 

Claudia smiled and patted the older woman’s stooped shoulder. “I’d love to hear all about it sometime. Why don’t we go on the website and see what Paolo is up against?” She headed to the kitchen counter and opened the laptop. As soon as she was connected to the Internet, she typed in www.luvbites.com and up popped an interactive website featuring the same blonde on the TV commercial in a video telling about the competition and plugging Michaela’s cooking talents. After a few minutes of exploring the website, Claudia found links to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube with a gorgeous picture of Michaela on each. 

Señora Fuentes placed a sleeping Mikey in his carrier and joined Claudia at the kitchen counter. She pointed at the laptop screen. “
¡Qué bonita!
Is that Maki?”

“that’s Maki.” Claudia turned to Señora Fuentes with a worried look. “Paolo had better get busy if he plans on winning. Maki is all over the web with a sexy message.”
Sí
,

“Isn’t that similar to what he was planning? But he is going to have an all female audience, right?” Señora Fuentes asked, surprising Claudia that she had remembered Paolo talking about his segment called
Grill Me, Baby
a few days ago. 

Claudia grabbed her cell phone. “I better tell Paolo. He’s not going to be happy that Maki caught up with him in the hottie department.”

“I can’t believe that little sneak stole my idea!” Paolo stared intently at the computer screen. Claudia was on the other line prompting him to check out Maki’s ad campaign. He clicked on YouTube and watched the segment. “Damn, she looks hot too!” 

Claudia giggled. “
Sí muy guapa y caliente
. Maki always looks so buttoned-up. Who would have thought she had that hot body?”

Paolo was not amused by his sister’s observations. “What’s this I’m reading about a competition?”

“She’s holding a contest for guys to write in and explain why they should be chosen to be her date on her show.”

“What? That sounds like my idea, but now I’m thinking I won’t pick just one,” he said smugly. “
All
the women in the audience will be romanced.”

“Well, you’re going to have to step up your game. Maki is calling her segment
The Pleasure Palate
.”

“
Grill Me, Baby
is better,” Paolo countered.

“Better watch out,
hermano
, Maki is already very popular. She has thousands of people following her on Twitter and…”

“What the hell is Maki doing, putting herself out there with a sexy message on the net?” he groused. “It’s foolish and dangerous.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to find out exactly what else that little thief is planning and then beat her at her own game. Thanks for the heads up.”

“No problem.” Claudia hesitated before adding, “Um, Paolo…there’s something else you should know.”

“What?” Paolo asked, impatient to get off and get to the bottom of Maki’s shenanigans. 

“The Woodbridges’ lawyer, Max Weintraub, called again today.”

“And?”

“They’re still determined to take Mikey away from me, so I tried reaching Bobby, but he didn’t answer his cell phone.”

“Call him again, Claudia,” Paolo urged.

“I will.” She didn’t sound very convincing.

“Do it now.”

“I’ll try,” she said evasively. 

“Don’t worry about Bobby. If he gets difficult, I’ll talk some sense into him,” Paolo vowed, unable to take his eyes from Maki’s spicy image on her website. 

Paolo’s jaw dropped as he stared at the screen. In the “All About Me” section, a neck and shoulders headshot depicted Maki leaning slightly forward in an aqua blouse, the low-cut neckline highlighting her round, creamy breasts. Her long hair had been cut and styled in tousled layers with feathery bangs that made her aquamarine eyes appear huge, especially with the smoky eye shadow she wore. Maki’s glossy pink lips, slightly pursed and parted, and that look in her eyes was too provocative for a decent website! 

A surge of lust made Paolo tighten his hand on the mouse and he had to release it before he broke the damn thing. Proper Maki had transformed herself into a hot babe, a sex kitten, for all the men to ogle. Paolo didn’t like it, not one bit! If he was reacting this way, the men tuning into Maki’s website would surely be salivating over her. She was doing a stupid thing, putting herself out there as a target for all the weirdos in cyber land. 

“Paolo? Are you there?” Claudia asked. 

He hadn’t been paying attention to what Claudia was saying. All he knew was that he wanted to wring Maki’s neck. 

“I’m here with Señora Fuentes. I’ve gotta get off,” she said.

“Okay, call you later, Claudia.
Ciao
,” he said distractedly.

Paolo was so annoyed by Maki’s suggestive message beneath her photo, he barely heard Claudia’s good-bye. With mounting ire, he read the words aloud through tightly clamped teeth, imitating Maki in a falsetto tone:

“Hey, guys, write me. Tell me your story. What prompted you to shed unhealthy eating habits and get fit? The lucky winner gets a date with me on my show. At The Pleasure Palate, your dining wish is my command. And we’ll end the evening with my specialty…luscious luv bites.”

The only one giving love bites would be Paolo and Maki would be on the receiving end, he vowed malevolently, his gaze riveted to the screen.

Chapter Eighteen

Michaela and her favorite aunt sat yoga-style on a silk Balinese rug that partially covered the bamboo floor, sipping white pear tea and munching on crisp ginger wafers. Visiting with Aunt Willow was always a treat and tonight was no different. 

“You should see some of the emails that have come in.” Aunt Willow’s lips twitched with amusement. “Those guys are baying at the moon to get on your show.”

“That bad?” 

“No…that good! They really like your picture and they seem to think they’re going to get a chance for a real date with you.”

Michaela groaned. “Oh no.”

“What do you think about the website Tiffany created for you?” Aunt Willow asked.

“I’ve been meaning to check it out, but we had a fire in the kitchen a few days ago and it’s been hellish to say the least.”

“Maybe you should take a look.” 

“I will when I get home. I just haven’t had any spare time to look. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to filter the guys and help me make the final decision.”

Aunt Willow looked surprised. “Really?”

Michaela nodded. “Really, it would be a huge weight off my shoulders.”

Aunt Willow beamed. “I don’t mind at all, dear. I’m honored that you trust my judgment.”

“Of course, I do.”

After a thoughtful pause, Aunt Willow said, “One entry stood out in particular. Would you like to read it?”

“Can you give me a recap? It’s so comfy here, I’d rather not get up.” 

Aunt Willow patted Michaela’s knee. “Me, neither. Let’s see…he sounds like he has a great sense of humor. He said he is a closet glutton, but because of health reasons, which he did not clarify, he has had to reform.”

Michaela nodded. “Sounds promising.”

“He said he has a great love and respect for butter and cheese, lots of it, his words again.” Aunt Willow smiled. “He doubts he will be convinced otherwise, but he loves your approach to healthy eating and wants to believe!”

“Hmmm…sounds like he might be a jokester.”

“I don’t know about that. He has a self-deprecating humor and his tone seemed sincere. Maybe we should ask for a picture.” Aunt Willow’s brow furrowed. “Tiffany put a notice on the website not to include one. She said you were adamant about it so the choice would not be biased.”

“It’s true. I don’t want to base the final decision on his looks. That wouldn’t be fair.”

“I agree. Personality is what counts. This one sounds like he’s fun. I like the way he confessed his weaknesses.”

“If you think he’s the best candidate, then sign him on. I really appreciate you doing this for me, Auntie. Thanks.” She leaned over and kissed Aunt Willow’s cheek.

“My pleasure, dear. It’s been very entertaining going through the entries, I must say. When your contestant is set to go, I’ll e-mail you his info.” She set her cup down on a bamboo tray resting on a lettuce-green tufted ottoman and turned concerned eyes toward Michaela. “Are you okay? You seem preoccupied.”

“I’ve been dealing with work overload,” Michaela admitted. “Every time I try to come up for air, something new needs my attention. Just this afternoon, Mr. Blumenthal’s secretary called to tell me that he wants me to cater the desserts for a dinner party he and Bernice are hosting for Palmentieri, the famous tenor.” 

“That’s wonderful!”

“Well, it would have been perfect except that Paolo will be catering the rest of the meal.” Michaela made a face to show how she felt about it.

“Why the face?” Aunt Willow studied her niece. “Something tells me this is more complicated than you’re letting on.”

Michaela sighed. “You know me too well. There is something that’s been gnawing at me.” 

Aunt Willow smiled serenely. “Tell me what’s bothering you and we can look for a solution.”

“It’s Paolo. He’s gotten under my skin. No matter how hard I try, I can’t shake off the attraction.” Michaela knew it was more than just attraction. She was falling for Paolo and couldn’t get him out of her mind…or out of her heart. 

“Do tell,” Aunt Willow said, grinning. “The two of you have combustible chemistry.”

“Is it obvious?”

“Absolutely. Such powerful energy! The day of the taping, the air was so charged, I thought the set would go up in flames.”

“That is what’s killing me. I’m the last person Paolo should be igniting.”
But the only one I want to ignite me
, she amended privately.

“I don’t know about that. Your kind of connection with him doesn’t happen often. You should run with it, not away from it,” Aunt Willow stated with certainty.

“I can’t,” Michaela wailed. “Paolo and I want the same thing and the stakes are high for both of us. How can we fiercely compete and build a loving relationship? I can’t see that happening. My feelings for him are deepening, but I have to stay focused on winning.”

“I see your problem.” Aunt Willow gave a reflective pause. “I’m pulling for you, dear, and I think you are the better chef by far,” she said loyally, “but what are you going to do if for some reason Paolo wins?”

Michaela shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t think about that now.”

“I understand. Just promise me one thing.”

Michaela braced herself. “What?”

“Stop thinking so much and start living. Look at Magda. She was always looking for the perfect man, always rejecting one after the other because he wasn’t her Mr. Darcy. Maybe if she’d given some of the guys a chance, she wouldn’t feel so alone now.” Willow clucked her teeth and shook her head. “She sure could use some lovin’ and groovin’.”

Michaela giggled. “You sound just like a sixties flower child.”

“How else am I supposed to sound? I was a sixties flower child and proud of it. Honey, don’t laugh. Without the lovin’, life ain’t worth livin’,” she drawled. “It’s not a cliché, it’s the truth. It’s been twenty-four years since Stephen died, and I’ve dated other men, but nobody has ever come close to making me feel the way he did. We were total opposites, but we clicked and all we wanted was for the other one to be happy.”

“I hear you. But Paolo is pretty hot to handle. Our personalities are poles apart. Our family backgrounds are very different too. He comes from a close-knit, loving family and has strong opinions on marriage and children.”