Chapter 4 #2
Kathleen gritted her teeth. This man was too smug, too smooth, and, even more annoyingly, completely correct.
The waiter reappeared then with two glasses and a bottle of red wine.
He set the glasses down and then offered the bottle, label out, to Valardi.
Kathleen wanted to yell, just pour the damn wine already, but she bit her tongue as Antonio opened the wine and then poured a mouthful into Valardi’s glass.
The man took a sip, and his lips curled into an intriguing, satisfied smile.
He set his glass back down with a nod, and the waiter immediately filled Kathleen’s glass, then refilled Valardi’s glass.
“Is there anything I can get you? Are you ready to place a dinner order?” Antonio addressed Valardi.
He gave a brief shake of his head. Antonio nodded and left quickly.
“What did the waiter just do?” Kathleen asked.
“Do?” Enzo arched an eyebrow.
“There’s a certain level of deference they seem to have for you.”
“No, no,” he said with a small, placating smile. “I’m sure he’s like that with everyone.”
She didn’t buy that for a minute. Every man, maybe, but he wasn’t like that with her. Of course, she didn’t exude the same level of confidence as the man sitting across from her. Hell, she couldn’t even decide on what to drink.
“Well, thank you, I guess, for getting me what I assume is a better wine.”
“You are welcome,” Enzo said smoothly.
Kathleen stared at the man across from her expectantly. He needed to drink his wine and go.
Valardi just stared back.
“So, I take it that means you’re joining me for dinner?”
“Yes,” Enzo said easily. “And I hope you’re hungry.”
Kathleen shook her head. “Not really. After the day I’ve had, honestly, I think just this glass of wine will do.”
Enzo gave her another cool, assessing gaze, then, glancing over her shoulder, he raised his chin slightly. Antonio appeared almost instantly, moving with unusual speed. Enzo spoke to him in Italian, leaving Kathleen completely mystified, and more than a little pissed off.
Antonio nodded and scurried away.
“What was all that about?” Kathleen asked.
Enzo picked up his wine and took a sip. “I just ordered dinner,” he said.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Kathleen responded. “I thought I was pretty clear that I wasn’t hungry.”
Enzo’s face broke into a grin. “Oh, you were clear. But everybody needs to eat.”
Kathleen’s palm itched with the incredible urge to slap the grin off this man’s face. Who the hell did he think he was, ordering her dinner? “And what exactly did you order?” she asked tartly.
“It’s a surprise,” Enzo said, his grin widening enough to show a flash of his even, white teeth. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
The temptation to storm out was huge. The only thing stopping her was the fact that this man, this complete and utter jerk, was apparently a friend of her brother’s. Obviously, Jamie trusted him because he’d sent him here to check on her.
But then the thought hit her like a lightning bolt and, alarmed, she straightened in her seat. How did she know that was true? This man had just walked in and said her brother sent him. How did she know he was who he said he was?
“How do I know you are who you say you are?” she asked, eyes narrowing.
Enzo had been about to take another sip of his wine when he stopped and cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you say you’re a friend of my brother’s. How do I know that’s true?”
He gave her another assessing gaze, then nodded slightly. “Good point. Why don’t you call him and ask?”
Kathleen picked up her phone from the table and hit her brother’s number. He answered immediately.
“Kathleen, are you okay?”
“Did you send some smug, condescending pain-in-the-ass to check on me?”
There was silence on the other end, and then he chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I did. His name is Enzo Valardi. I’ve known him since we were kids. You’re safe with him, Kathleen.”
“What does he look like?” she demanded. In for a penny, in for a pound. She wanted to be sure and more importantly, she wanted Valardi to know that she, too, could be a pain in the ass.
Drake chuckled again. “He’s tall with black hair and a scar on his chin that I gave him when we got into a fight after drinking too much.”
Kathleen leaned forward, “Huh. I didn’t notice it, but now that you mention it, I see it. Okay then.” She sighed. “I’m fine as I said before. You didn’t need to send him.”
“I know,” Drake responded. “But it made me feel better. After everything that’s gone on, I have to know you’re safe.
” Her brother’s voice was tight, and she knew he was fighting the PTSD that had developed since she’d disappeared from his life all those years ago.
It was hard not to react to it in a way.
It made her feel awful, as if she’d hurt him on purpose.
It was not something she would ever get over, either.
“Fine,” Kathleen said grudgingly, through clenched teeth. “I am safe. You can send him away now.” With that, she clicked off the call and set her phone down.
“You can go,” she said flatly. “We’re good. My brother knows I’m safe. You’ve checked on me.”
Enzo sipped his wine, then set the glass on the table. “Oh, I don’t think so. I just ordered a lovely dinner. I think I’ll stay and enjoy it, at least.”
This man was insufferable.
That didn’t mean she had to stay. She could just take her wine and leave.
Kathleen just did not have the energy for this.
She opened her mouth to tell him off when his phone rang.
He pulled it out of his pocket, glanced at the screen, and stood.
“I need to take this,” he said, lifting one long, elegant finger as he brought the phone to his ear.
“I’ll be right back.” He got up and walked out of the dining room
Kathleen watched him go, frustration seething through her. “Damn him,” she muttered. He was insufferable. This was so annoying. She took a sip of her wine and lifted her brow. It was divine. Because of course it was, which annoyed her all the more.
Antonio returned and set a basket of bread in the middle of the table.
He started to turn away, and she caught his arm.
“You know what,” Kathleen said, “I’ll take my food as room service.
Just bring it up when it’s finished. And also, send me a bottle of this wine.
Oh, and throw in some of that warm bread too. ”
Antonio glanced at the empty seat, hesitating.
“Oh, Mr. Valardi will be having dinner down here,” Kathleen reassured him. Take that, you smug bastard.
“If you’re sure…” Antonio glanced around as if looking for Valardi.
“I’m sure,” Kathleen replied, but softened her biting tone with a large smile.
“Of course, Signora Drake.” Antonio nodded and then started back toward the kitchen.
Kathleen picked up her wine and glanced toward the door, only to realize Enzo was just outside the dining room, firmly between her and the elevators.
She whirled back around and called out to Antonio. “Is there another way out of here?”
The waiter nodded. “Yes, of course. Follow me.”
She moved through the restaurant behind him, past the restrooms, until he pointed down a hallway.
“Go down this hallway,” he said.
Kathleen followed his directions, slipping through a door at the end of the corridor and finding herself right in front of the bank of elevators, yet still around the corner from where Valardi stood.
Perfect. She jabbed the up button. He thinks he can order me around.
I don’t think so. She snickered. No point wasting the food, though.
If the wine was this good, chances were whatever he ordered would be amazing.