That's (Not Exactly) Amore (28 page)

He laughs and so do the uncles. Then, as though on cue, they sober up and silence ensues. The men are staring at Joe, clearly waiting for him to speak.

I frown, looking from one to the other. “Is everything all right, guys?”

Joe clears his throat. “The uncles would like to make you an offer.”

One I can’t refuse? But I don’t say it since it didn’t go over very well last time I quipped about Joe’s family being mafia.

He seems to read my face, and maybe I do sort of grin, because he sends me a “Don’t even go there” scowl. “Look, you guys,” he says. “She’s not going to listen to me. One of you can talk to her. I’m going to mingle.” And he stalks off.

I stare after him. “Sheesh.” Rolling my eyes, I give my attention back to the uncles. “You were saying?”

“You know he only gets mad ’cause he likes you so much,” Uncle Sam says.

“If he liked me any more, I’d probably be black and blue.”

“No. He’d never lay a finger on a woman. Joe ain’t that kind. He’s a good boy.”

I grin at the three brothers. “I know. I was kidding. So what’s this offer he was talking about? You’re not trying to arrange a marriage between me and Joe, are you? Because that kind of thing doesn’t go over real big in the U.S.” I’m feeling heady with the excitement of the evening, and that’s the only excuse I have for winking at this group. “This might look like the old country, but it’s really just the ambience.”

“Arranged marriage, ’ey?” Nick chuckles. “Not a bad idea. But we have something else in mind.”

“Just as well, because Joe gets on my nerves. I’d probably knock him in the head with a skillet inside of a week. Then who would run this place for Nick?”

“You got that right, young lady. I need that nephew of mine. So don’t hurt him.”

I grin at Nick, then pan the three faces. “Well, gentlemen,” I say. “I’m all ears. What can I do for you?”

Tony looks me in the eye and suddenly everyone is serious. “My breakfast and lunch crowds are up thirty percent since you started sending sandwiches and rolls. And it’s the same with these guys,” he says, jerking his thumb at his brothers.

Pleasure shoots through me. “I’m so happy for you!” I still haven’t had the guts to tell them I’m cutting back once I start working for Janine.

“You should be happy for yourself,” Nick says. “We want to set you up in business. Get you a little shop of your own and provide the dough to get you started.”

“By dough you mean . . .” Does he mean ingredients or . . . 

“Money,” Uncle Sam spits out. “You find a place, and we’ll front you the cost of getting started. You can’t keep working out of a house. You don’t have enough ovens for the orders we’re going to have and all the new business you’ll get when you’re in a better facility. Plus, now we’re going to want these croissants with weenies inside.”

“Pigs in a blanket,” Uncle Tony corrects. “Sam’s right. You let us help you, and mark my words, you’ll be a prosperous young lady in no time. Believe me, I recognize talent when I taste it.” He grins at his own cheesy joke.

Excitement bubbles up inside me at the very thought. “Are you guys serious? You know I can’t get a loan. I tried for a house a month ago and they said I don’t have enough of a credit history or enough job experience—with the new job—and it’s been over a year since I worked for Ace Accounting.” Although I don’t know who’s more qualified than someone who worked for eight years as a successful accountant.

“I know, honey,” Nick says. “We want to spot you the money. You’ll get fifty percent of the business until we’re paid off; then it’s all yours.”

“And that would be in writing?”

The guys burst into laughter.

“Listen to her,” Tony says. “Already playing hardball. You bet it would be in writing, doll. Anything you want in writing, we’ll sign. No one has that special touch like you. The place would be a gold mine. And don’t worry. You’d charge us just like anyone else. Our cut comes out of the bottom line.”

“Well, it sounds good. I’ll have to think about it and pray about it some.”

“You do that,” Uncle Sam says. “I go to Mass every couple of months, myself.”

Uncle Tony gives him an affectionate little backhand. “A guy like you oughtta go more than once every couple a months.”

“Looks like Joe wants you,” Nick says.

I catch my breath. “H-how do you know?”

“Because he’s waving for you to go over there by that iron rail. By the steps there.”

My face burns. “Oh. Okay, I’ll get back to you guys as soon as I’ve had time to process this.”

And just like that, I turn to find Joe grinning at me. Instinctively, I know he was rescuing me from his uncles. He knows all about their plans for me, so when I reach him, it’s only natural when he leans forward and asks, “So, what do you think?”

I shake my head, still reeling with all the possibilities. I press my palm to my stomach and try to breathe. “I think your uncles might have just made me an offer I can’t refuse.”

27

T
he evening progresses nicely. By nine o’clock, an hour after the beginning of the reception, all the guests have arrived, including Janine, who is amazed by the entire place, especially since we have 11 x 14 glossy posters displaying Nick’s before the renovation.

“I just can’t believe what you’ve done,” she practically squeals. “I definitely made the right decision in hiring you. Now when do you get the results of your final so you can start going out on calls?”

“I’m not sure.” I would love to bask in the glow of all this praise (who wouldn’t?), but I know I’m not the one who should be receiving the credit. Really, all I did was suggest the floor. “You know, Janine, Nancy and Jazz were the two who really put this together.” I mention my suggestion of a faux stone floor. “But that’s really all I came up with. The first proposal blew up like a nuke. Just ask Joe if you don’t believe me.”

Janine waves away my concerns. “Listen, honey, I have more work than I can keep up with. You’ll learn, so don’t you worry. I’m giving you a chance because I see myself in you. When I first started, I had to lie to get a job. But before long, I caught on, and so will you.”

I wish I could believe her. But I’m just not so sure. The offer from Joe’s uncles seems like such a godsend.

Jazz walks up to us, carrying a plate of food and grinning big. “We’re a hit!”

“We sure are.” I motion to Janine. “Have you two met? This is my new boss, Janine.”

Jazz holds out a hand. “Nice to meet you. You made a great choice hiring Laini, here.”

“Actually,” I say, because I’m sick of the lie, “Jazz is the real genius behind all of this. She recently redecorated an office for a lady mourning the loss of her husband, and she got three more jobs from it.”

Jazz grins with pleasure as I sing her praises. Janine’s eyes get wide and I’m sure she’s thinking about the commission she’d make if Jazz joined her and gave her the seventy-five percent of the three jobs she’s landed.

“I think the two of you should talk.” As I stand there watching them, I realize that of the three of us, one of these things is not like the others. And I’m the odd man out. I don’t know if I’ll take the uncles up on their offer or not, but their confidence in me makes me realize I can work hard and make a living from my apartment. Cooking. Baking. I love it—that’s what I want to do. I’d love to tell Janine now, but she and Jazz are deep in conversation.

As I’m trying to figure out a graceful escape, my eyes land on my two best friends in the world. Tabby and Dancy are sitting together across the room. Tabby is devouring the food on her rounded plate. They grin and wave at me when they spy me watching them. It seems like ages since I’ve seen the two of them, and I realize that I’m aching for girl talk. I mean, who else am I going to tell about Mark and Kellie or this new offer from the uncles?

I turn to Janine and Jazz. “Will you two excuse me?” I grab a bottle of water and a couple of pigs in a blanket and head that way.

“This place is amazing!” Tabby exults as soon as I slide into a cushiony olive green booth. “I’m so proud of you, Laini.”

Her eyes water with emotion, and I figure any second she’ll be crying with joy. Tabby is a wreck since her hormones have risen to healthy levels for her baby. But she makes no apology and we wouldn’t want her to. Our time is surely coming. Surely.

“Thanks.” I grin and dip my pig in a blanket in a blob of ketchup.

Dancy is unusually quiet, and she keeps looking down at the table. Suddenly I realize what she’s looking at. Her hands are resting on the table just waiting for someone to notice the glittering diamond on her ring finger.

I gasp. “Dancy! You did
not
go and get engaged without telling us!”

Tabby grabs her hand. “Oh, my goodness. Look at that rock. When did this happen and why haven’t you told us?”

A look of pure joy flashes across Dancy’s face. “Jack just asked me Thursday night, but I didn’t want to say anything while Laini was studying for finals. Besides, I didn’t want to steal her thunder for tonight.”

“Oh, Dancy, that’s fabulous! And so much better than passing a final or this reception or getting a new job offer.” I’m so jealous I don’t even know what to say.

“Wait a minute. Do you know you passed?” Dancy asked.

“Well, no. But I hope so.”

“What about getting a new job offer?” Tabby asks. “Do you mean besides Janine?”

“Look who’s keeping all the secrets,” Dancy grouses. “All I did was go hide an engagement. Spill it, or am I going to have to put you through Chinese water torture to get you to open up?”

“All right. I need your input anyway. It’s actually more than a job offer. And it’s not Janine.”

Dancy grasps my wrist with her left hand, and the light reflecting off the diamond on her finger practically blinds me. “Spill it, Laini.”

“Okay, here’s the thing.” I tell them about “the family” making me the offer.

Tabby’s eyes go wide. “Oh, wow. That sounds like a great opportunity.”

Dancy nods. “I’ve always said you should cook for a living.”

“So have I,” Tabby pipes in. “Don’t let Dancy take all the credit.”

“I’m thinking about it. But I also decided that even if I don’t take the uncles up on their offer, I’m not going to do interior design.”

“Bravo!” Tabby and Dancy applaud.

“Take the uncles up on the offer,” Tabby says. “It’s a great idea!”

“Wait,” Dancy says. “It’s a great idea
if
you can be sure they’re not selling drugs to little kids for the front money. I’m still not convinced at least some of the family isn’t connected, if you know what I mean.”

“Well, I don’t think they’d hurt kids.”

“Why? Because they seem so nice?” Dancy scowls. “Listen, most bad guys are really fun to hang around until you try to date one of their family members or run a little short of the rent money or something like that.”

“Well, they’re the ones pushing Joe at me. So I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. And as far as the rent goes, well, if they hurt me I won’t be around to bake their rolls, will I?”

“I can’t believe you’re being so flip about this,” Dancy says, shaking her head.

Tabby knocks on the table to get our attention. “What do you mean they’re pushing Joe at you?”

I glance her way for a second. “They like me even if I am Irish and not Italian.” Now back to Dancy. “I can’t believe you’re being so judgmental. You know Nick. He’d never hurt anyone.”

“No. But have you ever met Frank?” She glances around. “Joe’s dad is scary.”

“I know. I’ve met him.” I wonder where he is tonight. Joe hasn’t mentioned his absence, but it’s strange, considering his own son is transforming Nick’s into a force to be reckoned with.

Tabby gives us a frown. “How come the two of you have met him and I haven’t?”

“Just lucky, I guess,” I say, not quite ready to move on. “Look, I’ll make the right decision based on facts and prayer, not assumptions.”

A scowl mars Dancy’s face, and for some reason when she pushes her hair out of her face with her left hand, I see red. I think she’s rubbing it in that she’s engaged and I’m not.

I can’t believe she’s being so petty about my actually getting a great opportunity, when she has everything she wants. A beautiful condo with a view of Central Park, a book deal with a major publisher, and now marriage to a gorgeous Brit who clearly adores her. Is it any wonder I want to knock her down just one little peg? “Besides, you write for a company that publishes erotica. What difference does it make?”

Dancy opens her mouth, then closes it. “If you don’t see the difference between publishing sexy books and selling drugs to eight-year-olds, then no one will be able to convince you. Do whatever you want to do.” She waves me away, which sets my teeth on edge.

“Okay,” Tabby says. “You two, stop fighting. We should be celebrating. Dancy is getting married, and Laini has transformed Nick’s into an Italian villa. It’s wonderful. Let tomorrow take care of tomorrow.”

Dancy waves her away and points over my shoulder. “Hey, Laini. Isn’t that your cop coming in the door?”

My stomach loops as I turn. “Yeah.” Mark’s in uniform—is he here on duty? There couldn’t have been complaints about the noise coming from Nick’s. The club down the street is crazy noisy every night, especially on Saturdays like tonight.

Mark and his partner are looking around the room. Mark’s thumbs are locked through his belt. He looks like he means business.

“I’d better go see what’s going on.”

Dancy slides from the booth. “I’m going too.”

“You’re not leaving me here.” Tabby holds out her hand to Dancy. “Give a pregnant lady a boost, will you?”

“Go ahead and go, Laini,” Dancy says. “We’ll meet you over there.”

Joe beats me to the door, but barely. I hear him ask, “Officers, what can we do for you?”

Mark steps forward. “Joe Pantalone?”

Joe sneers. “You know who I am.”

“You’re under arrest for bribing a city official.”

“What are you talking about, Hall?”

Mark whips out his cuffs. “Your father is already at the station, and we have a confession from the official the two of you bribed to get the permits for this place. It’ll go a lot easier for you if you come peacefully.”