38. Booth
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
booth
I raise a three-finger salute.
“ Scout’s honor, sir. I’m missing the tip of my pinky to prove it.”
Aly’s dad slaps the table, his deep laughter drawing the attention of the other diners.
Lydia rolls her eyes at his outburst, but it’s full of amusement.
Below the table, Aly squeezes my thigh.
She peers down at my left hand curled around my water glass.
“ Oh my god, you’re not lying.”
“Nope.” I hold up the digit.
“ First time I was asked to prepare a lobster, I got my finger caught in its pincer. It took two years before I could look them in their beady eyes again.”
The women join Daniel in his amusement, all cackling at my crustacean-related sob story.
It’s odd being served food that I usually prepare.
Most chefs hate eating where they work; I’m one of them.
This evening has been surprisingly relaxing, however.
I haven’t worried about how long the food takes or the presentation.
Maybe I should, but my attention has been on the woman to my right and her parents.
They’re not what I expected.
After Aly revealed her identity, I looked up Argiros Enterprises and my eyes almost fell out of my head when I saw its net worth.
Their wardrobe suggests they have money, but it ends there.
They’re down to earth, with dry senses of humor and nurturing demeanors.
I picture them sitting in a Michelin star exactly as they are now in my family’s restaurant.
The love they have for Aly —and each other—is clear as day.
When I left Aly after our argument, I didn’t hesitate in picking up the phone to dial the number on Argiros Enterprise’s website.
She needed support; the type I couldn’t provide.
It was easier than expected.
The moment Daniel’s secretary mentioned there was an incoming call regarding his daughter, he dropped everything and rang me back five minutes later.
Concern laced his voice, and he thanked me endlessly.
He assured me he and his wife would fly out as soon as possible.
Rather than end the call, however, we found ourselves discussing Aly .
His fatherly praise shone through the phone and nothing was stopping me from applauding her.
What silenced me was hearing him confirm Aly was leaving.
It was inevitable and hollowing.
A fact I had to face.
She took her sweet time turning up at my door, and I was furious with her.
Not over what she said, but that she robbed us of two days.
I refused to waste any more when a big red X marked her departure.
You’re not scared of letting your family down, but of going after what you want.
It’s an excuse.
Her words, though hurtful, left a lasting impression.
The truth hurts.
I wasn’t ready to admit it to Aly , or my brothers.
Plus , we only had time for one epiphany and Aly’s took priority.
Mine wasn’t worth the trouble, and I’d made peace with that.
Dwelling on it would only open up old wounds.
Daniel dabs at his mouth before dropping his napkin on his plate.
“ God , that was exactly like the home-cooked meals I had as a kid.” He admires the whitewash walls and fishing equipment.
“ There’s something welcoming about it all. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
There’s no containing my smile at his compliment.
“ That was what my father and George aimed for. Home away from home. I’m glad you can see it too.”
“Everything you’ve learned has been here?” Aly and her mom continue their own conversation, but the hand on my leg flexes at the question.
“Yes, sir.”
His head dips.
“ Daniel , please.”
I finish the last bite of my lobster roll.
“ I started off cleaning dishes and slowly worked my way up. I worked part time while I attended culinary classes at the local college. I was a cocky little shit as a teenager and thought I’d become head chef in no time.”
“That wasn’t the case?”
My head shakes with laughter.
“ If you knew my father, you’d know the answer. He wasn’t a ball buster by any means, but it was important to him we knew life wasn’t always easy and that hard work paid off.” My gaze falls to the framed picture of him and Johanna’s mother above the bar.
“ I owe him everything for where I am today. He was my biggest cheerleader.”
“That’s admirable. Sounds like a great man. I’m sorry for your loss.” He gestures across the table with a curious smile.
“ And this is the end goal? Or have you considered branching out with your talents?”
“Darling,” Lydia warns.
“ No work talk at dinner.”
Her interruption is a blessing.
Daniel doesn’t pick up on my stricken expression before I push it away.
But Aly does.
“Sorry, sorry.” He raises his hands in surrender.
“ Got to listen to the ladies, Booth . They’re in charge.”
“And you will do well not to forget it.” Lydia casts him a loving glance before turning her attention to me.
“ Booth , you must come visit us in New York . We will put you up in one of our hotels. It has a wonderful restaurant. The Silver Goddess will be much to your liking. That’s Alessandra’s favorite. We will introduce you to the head chef, Pedro .”
“Silver Goddess , hey?” My lips twitch as I hook an arm around Aly’s chair and whisper, “ Maybe I’ll start calling you that.”
She pinches my bicep.
“ Stop it.”
Lydia, with her keen ears, beams at us excitedly.
“ What’s funny?”
“I call Aly ‘ Silver ,’ though she didn’t like it at first.”
“Silly girl. She has never been good at taking compliments,” her mom teases and winks at her daughter.
“ Alessandra is the Silver Goddess . Argiros means ‘silver’ in ancient Greek —the hotel opened the same year she completed our family.” She studies how close we’re sitting before nodding eloquently.
“ A lovely coincidence.”
“You don’t say.” When I divert my gaze to the woman beside me, she chews her lip, gaze trained on her empty plate.
My hand finds hers under the table, and when those silver eyes stare at me, all the noise and people around us fall away.
“ A perfect coincidence.”
We walk Aly’s parents back to her apartment.
They have an early flight tomorrow and her mom was more than happy to suggest Aly stay with me again.
I think she and my mom would get on like a house on fire.
Aly and her dad are busy chatting about an upcoming project when I’m wrestled into the surprisingly strong arms of Lydia .
“Thank you for seeing her heart.” She cups my chin, smiling at me warmly.
“ I agápi íne san ton ánemo; den borís na ti dis, alá borís na ti niósis. ”
I laugh when she releases me.
“ I’m sorry, I don’t speak Greek , Mrs . Argiros .”
“Lydia, sweet boy.” With a pat on my cheek, she whispers, “ You will know what it means soon enough.”
Too stumped to reply, I step back, giving Aly space to say farewell to her parents.
When they disappear into her apartment, she wilts.
In a flash, I’m there, caging her in my arms.
“I have a little surprise for you.”
She shivers against me.
“ Is it in your pants?” Her hips push back.
“ If so, it really isn’t a surprise. Or little.”
Groaning, I bite the soft flesh below her ear, drawing a squeal from her.
“ Make that two surprises.”
Twisting her upper body, she peers up at me.
“ Are you going to tell me what my mom said?”
Chuckling, I lead her down the street, back still pressed to my front, waddling together like penguins.
“ I wish I could. Something in Greek .”
“Oh god. She’s insufferable.”
“Aren’t they all?”
Left.
Right . Left . Right .
Our legs work in tandem.
Aly giggles as we make our way down Robin Road .
Once inside my house, I flick the lights on and jerk my head toward the coffee table.
“ Go look.”
She narrows her eyes before wandering over.
Bending at the hips, she inspects the contents of the table I laid out earlier.
“ Paint by numbers?”
My cheeks flame as I stand next to her.
“ Okay , so your mom mentioned you haven’t done much painting since you got here and…” I squint at the ceiling.
“ It’s no grisaille , but it could be fun.”
She watches me, eyes glowing in the dim lighting before she says sardonically, “ Oh , sweetie, you said it right.” She fakes wiping away a tear.
“Har. Har .” I grip the back of my neck and grimace.
“ It’s dumb, isn’t it? I’ll give it to Lottie .”
Delicate fingers walk up my front, slink over my chest, then curl around my jaw.
“ Don’t do that.” She glances at the paint kit.
“ I love it.”
Her smile is too powerful.
The happiness that erupts over her face has my white flag waving.
I am done. You win, Aly .
Now give me all of you.
“So you’ll paint for me?”
Her gaze roams my face.
In this moment, I feel Aly’s trust. She’s shared details I know she doesn’t give freely and being trusted with them is major.
Something about the lightness in her voice, the freeness in her touch, and the secret smile that isn’t so secretive anymore is pivotal.
This . This is trust.
It’s tangible.
Heavy like granite and delicate as silk.
To have it is to cherish it.
The tip of her nail sends a shiver through my bones as she traces the contours of my face.
“ How about I paint you?”
My voice is raspy.
“ Like one of your French girls?”